In a magnetic recording and reproducing system of the type wherein a plurality of rotating magnetic heads record the video signal on a magnetic tape as tracks which are inclined at an angle relative to the direction of travel of the magnetic tape, the audio signal is time compressed and recorded by the rotating magnetic heads on tracks contiguous with either or both ends of said video signal recording tracks, whereby even at a considerably low tape transport speed the audio signal may be recorded in a stable manner.

The present invention relates to a magnetic video signal recording and reproducing system (to be referred to as "VTR" in this specification) of the type wherein a plurality of rotating heads record the video signal on sequential discontinuous tracks on a magnetic tape and more particularly a magnetic recording and reproducing system which may record and reproduce the audio signal even when the tape transportation speed is considerably low.
In the prior art VTR, the video signal is recorded by a plurality of rotating magnetic heads on tracks inclined at an angle relative to the direction of transport of the magnetic tape and the audio signal is recorded by a stationary head on the edge of the magnetic tape.
The recording density of the video signal has been remarkably increased in VTR because of the improvements of the magnetic tapes, heads, techniques for processing the signal, accuracies and control techniques.
For instance, VHS VTR (capable of recording for four hours) has a recording density which is about 92 times as high as that of VTR units commonly used by broadcasting stations (of the type which uses a magnetic tape two inches in width and four heads) and about 11 times as high as that of EIAJ-I type VTR. VHS VTR uses a magnetic tape one half inch in width which is transported at the speed of 1.65 cm/sec. Extensive studies and experiments are continuing in order to further improve the characteristics of tapes and heads so that the recording density will be further increased in the future.
For instance, assume that the recording density will be doubled. Then the tape transport speed would become about 0.8 cm/sec when a magnetic tape with a half inch in width is used. At such a low transport speed, the magnetic recording and reproducing system with a stationary audio signal recording head cannot achieve high quality recording and reproduction because of the following reasons.
(a) At a low tape transport speed, the recording wavelengths become shorter so that the recording and reproduction of high frequencies becomes difficult and consequently a sufficient audio signal bandwidth (higher than 10 KHz) cannot be provided. (At a tape transport speed of 1 cm/sec, the highest frequency attainable at the present level of the audio-video techniques is 5 KHz.) PA0 (b) At a low tape transport speed, the output from a reproducing head decreases, a low S/N results and hum occurs. PA0 (c) At a low tape transport speed, the dynamic range of the level of the recorded signal becomes narrower and distortions tend to occur very frequently. PA0 (d) Accuracies of a system for transporting a magnetic tape at a low speed in a stable manner are limited so that wow and flutter are enhanced.
Because of the reasons described above, even though the video signal may be recorded at a high density the audio signal cannot be recorded at a high density.
One of the methods for obtaining a relatively high tape transport speed even when the recording density of the video signal is increased is to reduce the width of a magnetic tape to for instance 1/4 or 1/8 inches. When the recording density is same, a magnetic tape with the width of 1/4 inches must be increased in length twice as long as a magnetic tape with the width of 1/2 inches. As a result, a tape cassette may be slightly reduced in thickness but increased in surface area. (Since the wall thickness of a case, the thickness of reel hubs and the spacing between the case and the reels remain unchanged, the thickness cannot be reduced to one half but to 2/3.) As a result, a cassette loading a magnetic tape with the width of 1/4 inches would become considerably large in size as compared with a cassette containing a magnetic tape with the width of 1/2 inches when both the tapes are assumed to be capable of recording for two hours. Furthermore the 1/4 inch tape cassette would be unbalanced. With a magnetic tape with the width of 1/8 inches, a relatively high tape transport speed may be attained, but its cassette would be extremely unbalanced. In addition to the problem of shapes of cassettes, the reduction in width of magnetic tapes gives rise to the problem of skew due to the expansion and compression of a magnetic tape (that is, the discontinuity in time of the signal when the heads are switched from one to another). Furthermore the angle of inclination of the video tracks relative to the direction of travel of a magnetic tape would become small so that the recording and reproduction is easily susceptible to adverse effects by waving of a magnetic tape and consequently the interchangeability of magnetic tape cannot be ensured. Moreover a satisfactory air film would not be produced between a head and a magnetic tape so that the transport of the magnetic tape becomes unstable, resulting in jitter. Thus it is apparent that the wider the magnetic tape, the better the recording and reproduction becomes.
As described above, because of the prior art audio signal recording and reproduction systems, the recording density cannot be increased and the cassette in desired shape and size cannot be provided.
One solution to the above problems is to frequency modulate the audio signal at frequencies exterior to and lower than the bandwidth of the frequency modulated video signal, multiplex with the video signal and then record the multiplexed signal on a magnetic tape as in the case of the video disk techniques. However with this frequency multiplex system, it is impossible to record the audio signal after the video signal has been recorded. This system may be applied to an apparatus used only for reproducing signals such as a video disk, but cannot be applied to an apparatus for recording and reproducing the audio and video signals such as a VTR.

Helical scan video tape recorder for recording video and audio signals on contiguous tracks

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An organic light emitting display device includes a substrate including a pixel region, and a first electrode over the substrate and in the pixel region. An auxiliary electrode is disposed over the substrate, and is spaced apart from the first electrode and disposed in between the pixel region and another pixel region. A second electrode is placed over the first electrode and the auxiliary electrode, and an organic layer is disposed between each of the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second electrode and the auxiliary electrode. A conductive member is placed between the auxiliary electrode and the second electrode and electrically connects the second electrode to the auxiliary electrode.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to an organic light emitting display (OLED) device, and more particularly, to an OLED being capable of preventing a brightness non-uniformity problem.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Recently, flat panel display devices, such as a plasma display panel (PDP), a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and an OLED device, are widely researched and used.
Among these flat panel display devices, since the OLED device as a self-emission type display device does not require a backlight unit, the OLED device may have advantages of light weight and thin profile.
In addition, the OLED device has excellent characteristics of a viewing angle, a contrast ratio, power consumption, a response time, production costs, production yield, and so on.
The OLED device may include a switching thin film transistor (TFT), which is connected to gate and data lines, a driving TFT, which is connected to the switching TFT, and an organic emitting diode. The organic emitting diode is connected to the driving TFT and includes a first electrode, an organic emitting layer and a second electrode.
The first electrode may serve as an anode and may include a transparent conductive material having a relatively high work function. The second electrode may serve as a cathode and may include a metallic material having a relatively low work function. The metallic material may have an opaque property.
In a top emission type OLED device, the light from the organic emitting layer passes through the second electrode that is partially opaque. Accordingly, a thickness of the second electrode should be controlled such that the second electrode has a good light-transmissive property.
However, when the thickness of the second electrode is lowered, the resistance of the second electrode is increased such that a voltage drop problem in the second electrode is generated. Namely, a brightness non-uniformity problem in the OLED device is generated.
Particularly, the above brightness non-uniformity problem is serious in a large-size OLED device.
To prevent the above brightness non-uniformity problem, an auxiliary line, which is connected to the second electrode, may be formed to reduce the resistance of the second electrode.
FIG. 1 is a schematic plane view of the related art OLED device, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, the related art OLED device includes a substrate 11, which includes a plurality of pixel regions P, a first electrode 50 disposed on or over the substrate 11 and in each pixel region P, an auxiliary electrode 53 disposed at a boundary of the pixel region P and a bank 57 disposed at the boundary of the pixel region P. The auxiliary electrode 53 is spaced apart from the first electrode 50. The bank 57 covers the auxiliary electrode 53 and edges of the first electrode 50 and includes an auxiliary contact hole 55 exposing a portion of the auxiliary electrode 53.
The auxiliary electrode 53 and the auxiliary contact hole 55 have substantially the same width as the first electrode 50 and are separately arranged at each pixel region P.
Referring to FIG. 2, a semiconductor layer 13 including a first region 13a and second regions 13b at both sides of the first region 13a is formed on the substrate 11. The first region 13a is formed of intrinsic poly-silicon, and the second region 13b is formed of impurity-doped poly-silicon.
A gate insulating layer 15 is formed on the semiconductor layer 13, and a gate electrode 25 corresponding to the first region 13a of the semiconductor layer 13 is formed on the gate insulating layer 15. An interlayer insulating layer 17 is formed on the gate electrode 25.
In this instance, semiconductor contact holes 21 are formed through the gate insulating layer 15 and the interlayer insulating layer 17 to expose the second regions 13b of the semiconductor layer 13.
A source electrode 33 and a drain electrode 36, which are spaced apart from each other, are formed on the interlayer insulating layer 17. The source and drain electrodes 33 and 36 are electrically connected to the second regions 13b of the semiconductor layer 13 through the semiconductor contact holes 21, respectively.
The semiconductor layer 13, the gate electrode 25, the source electrode 33 and the drain electrode 36 constitute a driving TFT DTr.
A passivation layer 19, which may provide a flat top surface, is formed on or over the driving TFT DTr and over an entire surface of the substrate 11. A drain contact hole 43 exposing the drain electrode 36 of the driving TFT DTr is formed through the passivation layer 19.
The first electrode 50, which is connected to the drain electrode 36 through the drain contact hole 43, is formed on the passivation layer 19 and in the pixel region P, and the auxiliary electrode 53, which is spaced apart from the first electrode 50, is formed on the passivation layer 19 and at the boundary of the pixel region P.
The bank 57, which includes the auxiliary contact hole 55 exposing the auxiliary electrode 53 and covers edges of the first electrode 50 and the auxiliary electrode 53, is formed a the boundary of the pixel region P.
The bank 57 has a lattice shape to surround the pixel region P, and an organic emitting layer 60 is formed on the first electrode 50 in the pixel region P. In addition, a second electrode 70 is formed over an entire surface of the substrate 11 including the bank 57 and the organic emitting layer 60. As a result, the second electrode 70 is electrically connected to auxiliary electrode 53 through the auxiliary contact hole 55.
The first and second electrodes 50 and 70 and the organic emitting layer 60 therebetween constitute an organic emitting diode E.
Since the auxiliary electrode 53 is electrically connected to the second electrode 70, the sheet resistance of the second electrode 70 is lowered. As a result, the brightness non-uniformity problem can be prevented or minimized.
On the other hand, the organic emitting layer 60 may include a hole injection layer (HIL), a hole transport layer (HTL), an emitting material layer (EML), an electron transport layer (ETL) and an electron injection layer (EIL) sequentially stacked on the first electrode 50.
Each of the layers of the organic emitting layer 60 may be formed by a solution process or a deposition process. For example, since some materials for each layer of the organic emitting layer 60 has bad stability for the soluble process, the HIL, the HTL and the EML are formed by the soluble process and the ETL and the EIL are formed by the deposition process.
In addition, the blue emitting material does not provide the desired property by the soluble process. Accordingly, the blue emitting material pattern may be formed by the deposition process over an entire surface of the substrate 11. Namely, each of the HIL, the HTL, the red emitting material pattern and the green emitting material pattern is formed in each pixel region P by the solution process, while each of the blue emitting material pattern, the ETL and the EIL is formed over an entire surface of the substrate 11 through a deposition process.

Organic light emitting display device with auxiliary electrode and conductive member and method of fabricating the same


A method for operating a power plant (2), which includes at least one compressor (3), at least one turbine (4), and a burner arrangement (5), involves, to enhance the power plant (2), feeding a combustion exhaust gas from a pre-burner (8) of the burner arrangement (5) to an oxygen-removal device (11), which removes gas of the oxygen from the combustion exhaust gas in which it is contained.

1. Field of Endeavor
The invention relates to a method for operating a power plant. The invention also relates to a power plant for carrying out this method.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Throughout the world, a significant proportion of power generation is based on combustion reactions in which fossil fuels are burnt. As far as it is possible to predict, this will also continue to be the case in the future. However, firstly the combustion of fossil fuels is irrevocably linked to the production of carbon dioxide. Secondly, the increase in the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is regarded as being a primary cause of global warming. To allow environmentally friendly use of fossil fuels, there are numerous known measures which can be used to reduce the emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases. By way of example, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by operating power plants more economically through increasing their efficiencies. Furthermore, the use of fuels which have a relatively high hydrogen/carbon ratio leads to reduced emission of greenhouse gases. However, fuels of a high hydrogen/carbon ratio, such as for example crude oil and natural gas, are unavailable or have only restricted availability in some parts of the world, which is attributable to geographic and/or political consideration. By way of example, the USA and China each have extensive coal reserves, making this fuel correspondingly inexpensive. Accordingly, in these regions the generation of power based on the combustion of coal will continue to be of relatively great importance, and consequently measures are required to lower the carbon dioxide emissions in this field.
WO 2004/042200 A1 has disclosed a power plant which includes a compressor, a turbine and a burner arrangement with a pre-burner and an afterburner. There is also an oxygen-removal device, which can remove some of the oxygen contained in the combustion exhaust gases from the pre-burner therefrom. The oxygen removed from the combustion exhaust gas from the pre-burner can be discharged from the oxygen-removal device by means of a sweep gas with the aid of a sweep gas device. Dividing the burner arrangement into a pre-burner and an afterburner, combined with the removal of some of the oxygen gas contained in the combustion exhaust gas from the pre-burner from this exhaust gas, means that in this combustion process, in addition to hot combustion exhaust gases which can be expanded in the turbine, gaseous oxygen is thus additionally produced and can then be utilized in basically any desired way. Arranging the oxygen-removal device between the two burners ensures that the oxygen-removal device can operate at relatively high but not excessively high temperatures, which are provided by means of the combustion exhaust gases from the pre-burner. Then, in the subsequent afterburning, the temperature is increased further, in order to enable a combustion exhaust gas with a particularly high energy content to be fed to the turbine.
In the known power plant, the sweep gas used is a mixture of natural gas and steam. In the known power plant, the oxygen-removal device simultaneously serves as a partial oxidation reactor which converts the natural gas supplied at least into hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
In the known power plant, therefore, the oxygen-removal device is exposed to relatively high thermal stresses, which shorten the service life of the oxygen-removal device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method of deploying a borehole filtration device is provided utilizing the steps of:                deploying a filtration device comprising a polymer foam having a first cell structure, a portion of the molecular structure of which polymer foam is degradable by exposure to a post-treatment fluid, into a borehole; and        exposing the polymer foam to the post-treatment fluid, thereby modifying the cell structure of the polymer foam to a second cell structure.

Sand control is a well known discipline in downhole drilling and completion industries. Those of skill in the art are well versed in the various methodologies and systems available for gravel packs. Those skilled are also cognizant of the time and cost associated with gravel packs and the potentials for and modes of gravel pack failure. In view of such conditions, many alternatives have been used over the years; however, new and different alternatives are always well received that might be more appropriate for or function better in certain environments or could be less costly or more durable.

Polymer foam cell morphology control and use in borehole filtration devices


An improved capsule receiving conveyor bar to be carried by a transport conveyor of a capsule transport and printing device is disclosed. The conveyor bar includes a bar member and an insert attached thereto. The insert comprises a plurality of capsule receiving pockets formed therein. When the capsules are to be transported and subjected to a spin printing operation, each of the pockets comprise at least one recessed pocket portion so that indicia imprinted on the capsules in loci corresponding to the recessed portions will not smear as the capsules are rotated about their longitudinal axes during the spin printing operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a capsule receiving conveyor bar which is carried by the transport conveyor in a capsule transport and printing device. The bar receives capsules therein and carries them to working station such as a "wrap around" or "spin" printing station wherein the capsules are spun about their longitudinal axes as they are imprinted.
2. Prior Art
Many devices are known in which a multiplicity of randomly arranged capsules are first loaded onto a transport conveyor, transported to a rectification means wherein the capsules are all aligned in predetermined dispositions, and then further transported to a "wrap around" or "spin" printing station. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,295 (Ackley-of common assignment herewith). In the device disclosed in the --295 patent, a plurality of individual carriers 33 are provided to transport the capsules to the printing station after transfer from the main transport cylinder.
In FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,900 (Ackley--of common assignment herewith), there is taught the provision of a plurality of separate capsule receiving devices for use when adjacent rows of capsules are carried.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,859,689 (Ackley--of common assignment herewith), the pellets are not rectified, but are transported to the printing station by transverse bars 110 which span and are connected to a pair of conveyor chains. Each bar is provided with a plurality of spring loaded pellet carrying cups which yield under the weight of the printing rolls so that the pellets therein disposed will not be crushed during the printing operation.
A plurality of separate capsule carrying pedestals 40 positioned on a conveyor bar are disclosed in conjunction with the conveying apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 2,785,786 (Bartlett).
Despite these prior art devices, problems still exist with respect to capsule transportation in conjunction with the class of machines disclosed by the prior art patents. For instance, these machines usually create a great deal of static electricity which often times attracts dust and other particulate matter to the mechanism, resulting in the jamming of certain parts and reduced overall machine efficiency.
In the prior art mechanisms in which separate pedestals and the like are provided to carry the capsules, dust often collects between the separate capsule carriers, and is difficult to remove therefrom.
Also, the configuration of the capsule carrying pockets of each of the pedestals or carriers must be varied in accordance with the dimensions of the capsules to be carried therein. The prior art provision of individual carriers increases the difficulty of machine changeover to a different capsule type since each carrier must be individually removed from the machine and replaced by another formed in accordance with the configuration of the new capsules to be processed.
Further, in many prior art capsule carriers, the capsules can become smeared when imprinted in "wrap around" or "spin" fashion since the capsules are rotated about their longitudinal axes during the printing operation and since the printed indicia on a capsule may rub against a surface of the pocket.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a capsule carrying conveyor bar which reduces the problem of dust accumulation between capsule carriers.
It is a further object to provide a capsule carrying conveyor bar which minimizes machine changeover time when different capsule sizes are to be processed.
It is a further object to provide a capsule carrier which will minimize smearing of the indicia imprinted thereon during the "spin" printing process.
These and other objects are met by the improved conveyor bar with pocket insert for capsule printing mechanisms herein disclosed which will be further described in the following detailed description and appended drawings.

Conveyor bar with pocket insert for capsule printing mechanisms


The invention provides creep resistant, highly lubricious, tough and ionic hydrogels, creep resistant, lubricious, tough ionic hydrogel-containing compositions, and methods of making the same. The invention also provides methods of implanting or administering the creep resistant, highly lubricious, tough and ionic hydrogels including ionic PVA-hydrogels, ionic PVA-PAAMPS-hydrogels, or the ionic hydrogel-containing compositions to treat a subject in need. Methods of cross-linking pre-solidified or pre-gelled ionic hydrogels and making cross-linked ionic hydrogels and cross-linked ionic hydrogel-containing compositions also are disclosed herein.

Biocompatible hydrogels for cartilage repair or as interpositional devices require mechanical integrity, high water content, and excellent lubricity to fully function under the high stress environment in the human joint spaces. Hydrogels are good candidates for such purposes, but currently available hydrogels do not provide sufficient mechanical strength, creep resistance, and lubricity compatible to that of natural articular cartilage. Most hydrogels systems available for articular cartilage repair or replacement applications do not have required mechanical strength to withstand the high loads of the human joint. Various dehydration methods, described below, can be used together in combinations to alter the properties of hydrogels.
Solvent dehydration of hydrogels is described by Bao (U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,780). Bao describes immersion of PVA hydrogel into solvents such as ethanol/water mixture at room temperature to dehydrate PVA hydrogel without shape distortion.
Hyon and Ikada (U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,358) and Bao (U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,780) describe the use of water and organic solvent mixture to dissolve PVA powder and subsequently cooling the solution below room temperature and heating back up to room temperature to form a hydrogel. The hydrogel is then immersed in water to remove the organic solvent. Hyon and Ikada contend that PVA hydrogels thus formed are transparent, as opposed to the ones formed by freeze-thaw method that uses water only as the solvent to dissolve the PVA powder. Freeze-thaw gels are described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,780.
Bao (U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,898) describes dehydration methods that use air dehydration, vacuum dehydration, or partial humidity dehydration to control the rate of dehydration and prevent shape distortion of PVA hydrogels for use as prosthetic spinal devices to replace the nucleus pulpous.
Ku et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,826) describes a freeze-thaw method to form a PVA hydrogel by subjecting a PVA aqueous solution to freeze-thaw followed by immersion in water and additional cycles of freeze-thaw while immersed in water.
The creep resistance of PVA is currently achieved in the field by reducing the equilibrium water content (EWC) of the hydrogel, which also reduces the lubricity of the hydrogel. The strength and the creep resistance of a hydrogel can be increased by methods described elsewhere (see Muratoglu et al., WO 2006/132661). The lubricity of the hydrogel can be increased by increasing the hydrophilicity of the hydrogel (see Muratoglu et al., U.S. provisional patent application Nos. 60/913,415, filed Apr. 23, 2007; and 60/913,618, filed Apr. 24, 2007).
Same hydrogels lack the presence of ionic components/moieties. Cartilage is a composite structure containing ionic moieties, which are along the backbone of the glucoseaminoglycan (GAG) molecules. The GAGs are polymers of disaccharides that contain alternating sequences of glucuronic acid (GlcA) and either N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) or N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc). The GAG family members, including hyaluronic acid (HA), chondroitin sulfate (CS), keratan sulfate (KS), and heparan sulfate (HS), plays an important role in the mechanical and transport properties of extracellular matrix (for example, CS, HA) (see Grodzinsky et al., Annu. Rev. Biomed. Eng. 2000, 2:691-713) and in cell surface ligand binding interactions (for example, HS) (see Lander et al., J. Cell. Biol. 2000, 148:227-232). For example, chondroitin sulfate GAG (CS-GAG) contains on the average one negatively charged carboxylate and sulfate group per disaccharide which is ionized under physiological pH conditions. Therefore, the high negative charge density and associated electrical repulsion between CS-GAGS play an important role in electromechanical and physicochemical interaction within biological tissues such as cartilage. The role of electrical repulsive interactions can be important in articular cartilage, providing compressive and shear stiffness during the relative motion of opposing joint surfaces. The compressive resistance of cartilage is mainly due to highly charged CS-GAGs, which are attached to a core protein, forming the proteoglycan known as aggrecan (see Moonsoo and Grodzinsky, Macromolecules 2001, 34:8330-8339). These ionic moieties also increase the ability of the cartilage to hold water. In an effort to design a synthetic hydrogel to mimic the properties of cartilage it is also important to have ionic moieties to mimic the role of the GAG molecules. Therefore, there remains a long felt but unmet need for a creep resistant, highly lubricious, and tough cartilage-like ionic hydrogel composition having ionic moieties and increased the ability to hold water and mechanical strength. Such a creep resistant, highly lubricious, tough and ionic hydrogels comprising polyacrylamido-methylpropane sulfonic acid (PAAMPS) and methods of making such a composition were not known until the instant invention. Others have failed in such endeavors.

Creep resistant, highly lubricious, tough, and ionic hydrogels including PVA-PAAMPS hydrogels


Two pill crushing/dispensing cups are provided, with a base cup and a nesting cup being snap-fit together top-to-top which defines a cavity for storing a dosage of pills. By decoupling the cups with the base cup facing upward and inserting the nesting cup therein the pills are crushed/ground between a pair of opposing abraded surfaces. A flange on the exterior of the nesting cup limits the advance of nesting cups such that the opposing abraded surfaces do not mesh. The nesting cup is removed and a liquid is added to the base cup. The cups are again snap-fit together and shaken to facilitate complete suspension of the pill crushings. The cups are decoupled and the suspension is administered directly from either cup.

Administering medication and vitamins, in tablet or capsule form to infants, the elderly, and otherwise feeble hospital patients can be problematic. Not only do these patients have difficulty swallowing the pills, when feeble hospital patients die it is not uncommon for an autopsy to reveal multiple intact pills within the deceased body because the liver failed to produce sufficient enzymes to break through the pill shell. This, of course, prohibits the medication from being dispersed timely into the bloodstream and may contribute to the patient's death. As a result, medication such as aspirin, antibiotics, and other drugs are frequently available in liquid form for easy administration to hospital patients experiencing difficulty with pills and capsules.
For those instances where the medication is only available in pill or capsule form, the pills are frequently crushed in a first container (i.e. with a pestle and mortar), and the pill crushings are then transferred to a second container or dispensing utensil where they can be mixed with a fluid for oral administration to the patient. As detailed in the parent hereto, as cross-referenced above, there are several drawbacks with the pestle and mortar technique such as the risk of low and unpredictable dosage compliance, cross-contamination, and the necessity to purchase and maintain an inventory of multiple utensils and containers for the crushing, mixing, and dispensing tasks. As disclosed and claimed in the parent, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, a similar problem of administering medication in pill or capsule form exists for comatose and many infirm adult patients physically unable to swallow medication in pill or capsule form. The solution thereto was provided by the pill-crushing syringe disclosed and claimed in the inventor's prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,072, noted above. The invention disclosed and claimed therein is a good and valuable invention which itself may be used to crush pills for suspension in a fluid for administration principally through an intravenous tube or the like but which may also be administered orally.
As disclosed in the parent cross-referenced above, the inventors herein have built upon the general pill crushing concept by successfully designing and developing a single use pill dispensing cup with a cup bottom having an abraded surface on its interior and exterior surface. The cup is designed to nest and, when used as a nesting pair, a pill may be placed between an upper and lower cup and crushed between the two abraded surfaces on the interior and exterior of the cup bottoms. Although prior art single use medicine dispensing cups are typically thin walled and flexible, the present invention contemplates a more substantial construction for the cup so as to withstand the force required to crush the pill as the cups are pushed together against the pill and twisted. Additionally, if desired, the cup may have a wider lip to provide a finger grip for the hands as the cups are twisted together.
The abraded surfaces on the interior and exterior surface of each cup bottom are formed from a plurality of pyramidal shaped protrusions with the protrusions having a flatter angle on the exterior surface than on the interior surface. This flatter angle on the exterior surface makes it less likely that pill crushings will be trapped between the protrusions and instead will remain within the bottom cup. After the pill is crushed, fluid is added to the bottom cup to create the suspension which may then be administered. If there are any pill crushings clinging to the exterior surface of the top cup, it may be conveniently "dunked" in the fluid contained in the lower cup and agitated to remove any remaining pill crushings therefrom. This helps to insure high dosage compliance.
After a nested pair are used to crush and administer a pill, they may be conveniently discarded because of their low cost and this eliminates any risk of cross contamination. As a single cup design is used, it may be readily manufactured at high volume using plastics such as polypropylene or polyethylene and thereby produced at a very low cost. Furthermore, the pill crushing feature of the invention is an added bonus and need not be used should the cups be desired simply for dispensing medication as with the prior art cups presently used.
While the pill crushing syringe and the pill crushing/dispensing cups are elegant, simple designs which are amenable to low cost, high volume manufacture, the inventors herein have again built upon the pill crushing concept in order to solve further problems in the prior art and to meet a long felt need. The inventors herein have succeeded in developing a pair of pill crushing cups which enable a pill to be safely stored, crushed, mixed with a liquid, and dispensed directly from one of the cups with minimal risk of contamination and a high degree of dosage compliance.
The cups snap-fit together, top-to-top, defining a cavity therebetween to store a dosage of medication in pill, tablet, or capsule form. The pair of cups includes a base cup, a nesting cup, and a pair of opposing abraded surfaces on the interior and exterior bottom of the base cup and nesting cup, respectively. The snap-fitting feature is achieved by an annular detent adjacent the top of the base cup and an annular recess adjacent the top of the nesting cup for mating with the detent.
To crush the pill(s) stored within the cavity of the cup pair, the snap-fit engagement is decoupled with the base cup facing substantially upward. The nesting cup is nested within the base cup such that the pill is lodged snugly between the opposing abraded surfaces of the base cup and nesting cup. The two cups are pushed and twisted with respect to each other until the pill is crushed and/or ground into fine particles. An annular flange on the outside of the nesting cup engages the rim of the base cup to prevent the abraded surfaces of the base cup and nesting cup from meshing. This allows the particles to be finely crushed/ground by the opposing abraded surfaces, but minimizes the possibility of pill particles being packed within these abraded surfaces which would make a full suspension of the medication more difficult. The nesting cup is then removed and a liquid is added to the base cup for mixing with the pill particles. The abraded surface of the nesting cup may be dipped into the liquid to wash any residual pill crushings therefrom, and the nesting cup is again snap-fit with the base cup. The snap-fit engagement provides a substantial fluid seal which allows the cup pair to be shaken vigorously thereby facilitating rapid and complete suspension of the pill crushings with the liquid. The snap-fit engagement is then decoupled and the suspension may be administered directly from either cup.
While the principal advantages and features of the present invention have been briefly described above, a more thorough understanding and appreciation for the invention's advantages and features may be attained by referring to the drawings and descriptions of the preferred embodiment which follow.

Top mounted cups for storing crushing and dispensing pills


A dual sensor camera that uses two aligned sensors each having a separate lens of different focal length but the same f-number. The wider FOV image from one sensor is combined with the narrower FOV image from the other sensor to form a combined image. Up-sampling of the wide FOV image and down-sampling of the narrow FOV image is performed. The longer focal length lens may have certain aberrations introduced so that Extended Depth of Field (EDoF) processing can be used to give the narrow FOV image approximately the same depth of field as the wide FOV image so that a noticeable difference in depth of field is not see in the combined image.

Digital camera modules are currently being incorporated into a variety of host devices. Such host devices include cellular telephones, personal data assistants (PDAs), computers, and so forth. Consumer demand for digital camera modules in host devices continues to grow.
Host device manufacturers prefer digital camera modules to be small, so that they can be incorporated into the host device without increasing the overall size of the host device. Further, there is an increasing demand for cameras in host devices to have higher-performance characteristics. One such characteristic that many higher-performance cameras (e.g., standalone digital still cameras) have is the ability to vary the focal length of the camera to increase and decrease the magnification of the image, typically accomplished with a zoom lens, now known as optical zooming. Optically zooming is typically accomplished by mechanically moving lens elements relative to each other, and thus such zoom lenses are typically more expensive, larger, and less reliable than fixed focal length lenses. An alternative approach for approximating this zoom effect is achieved with what is known as digital zooming. With digital zooming, instead of varying the focal length of the lens, a processor in the camera crops the image and interpolates between the pixels of the captured image to create a "magnified but lower-resolution image.
There have been some attempts to use two different lenses to approximate the effect of a zoom lens. It has been done in the past with film cameras in which the user could select one of two different focal lengths to capture an image on film. More recently, a variation on this concept with camera modules has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2008/0030592, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, which discusses a camera module with a pair of sensors, each having a separate lens through which light is directed to the respective sensor. In this publication, the two sensors are operated simultaneously to capture an image. The respective lenses have different focal lengths, so even though each lens/sensor combination is aligned to look in the same direction, each will capture an image of the same subject but with two different fields of view. The images are then stitched together to form a composite image, with the central portion of the composite image being formed by the relatively higher-resolution image taken by the lens/sensor combination with the longer focal length and the peripheral portion of the composite image being formed by a peripheral portion of the relatively lower-resolution image taken by the lens/sensor combination with the shorter focal length. The user selects a desired amount of zoom and the composite image is used to interpolate values therefrom to provide an image with the desired amount of zoom. Unfortunately, the disclosure in this publication is largely conceptual and lacks in certain details that would be needed to provide optimal performance.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.


When it is difficult to apply a rephasing gradient magnetic field of a predetermined order according to an imaging parameter value set as input, a rephasing gradient magnetic field of a smaller amount of application is calculated, and at least some echo signals are measured using the calculated rephasing gradient magnetic field of the smaller amount of application.

The MRI apparatus is an apparatus which measures an NMR signal generated by the object, especially, nuclear spins which form human tissue and images the shapes or functions of the head, abdomen, limbs, and the like in a two-dimensional manner or in a three-dimensional manner. In the imaging, different phase encoding and different frequency encoding are given to NMR signals by the gradient magnetic field, and the NMR signals are measured as time-series data. The measured NMR signals are reconstructed as an image by two-dimensional or three-dimensional Fourier transform.
In the above MRI apparatus, when a moving material or tissue in motion, such as blood, is present in the imaging region, the phase of the spins caused by the movement or motion is reconverged (rephased) without depending on the speed or acceleration of the movement or motion by the pulse sequence in which a rephasing gradient magnetic field based on the GMN method is added, so that the influence (that is, artifacts) on the image quality is eliminated or reduced (hereinafter, this is called a rephasing effect). This rephasing gradient magnetic field is applied in the form of first order or second order in at least one direction of a slice direction, a phase encoding direction, and a frequency encoding direction (for example, PTL 1).

Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and gradient magnetic field application method


A patient contacting assembly comprising a patient contacting member that secures to the surface of a patient by means of an adhesive disposed between the patient contacting member and the patient. A channel is defined through the patient contacting member to enable a release fluid to be injected between the patient contacting member that the patient. Providing the release fluid between the patient contacting member and the patient at least partially reduces the bonding strength of the adhesive, making it easier to remove the patient contacting member from the patient and provides a pneumatic lift, urging the patient contacting member off of the surface of the patient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a patient contacting article including a pneumatic release mechanism for comfortably and safely disengaging the patient contacting article from the surface of the patient to which it is adhered. The present invention also pertains to a method of using such a pneumatic release mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are numerous situations where a medical implement must be securely, yet temporarily, affixed to the surface of a patient with an adhesive. U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,136 to Fox et al., for example, teaches a medical electrode that adhesively secures to the surface of the patient. Such medical electrodes can have a variety of configurations, sizes, and functions. These surface mounted medical electrodes are commonly used in an EKG, EMG, or EEG system to monitor electrical activity within a patient, typically requiring that they remain adhesively affixed to the patient for a relatively long period of time. Surface mounted electrodes are also used to deliver electrical energy to a patient. For example, a TENS device attempts to relieve pain by delivering small electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the skin to underlying nerve fibers. Electrical stimulation of the nerve fibers can block a pain signal from being carried to the brain and cause the body to releasing natural chemicals that act as analgesics.
Other situations in which a medical device must be securely and temporarily attached to a patient include the adherent face mask taught by U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,426 to Cohen. The mask taught by the '426 patent includes a relatively large, pliable peripheral edge that adheres to the patient's skin on the face and neck. The adhesive capability of the mask must be sufficient to prevent gas leakage at the mask-patient interface. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,820,572 and 6,059,742 both to Palmer disclose a negative pressure chest brace in which the components of the brace are adhesively attach to the front and back of the patient's chest.
It can be appreciated that the adhesive used to secure a medical device or implement to a patient must be sufficiently strong to accomplish their intended function. For example, the adhesive used in chest brace apparatus must be sufficiently strong to allow the brace to apply a distending force on the patient. On the other hand, the adhesive must be capable of being removed from the patient relatively easily without damaging the patient's skin or tissues and with little or, preferably, no pain. This latter requirement can be especially difficult to meet in patients, such as infants, that have very delicate and sensitive skin. Often in conventional situations where a medical adhesive is used, the adhering strength is sacrificed in favor of providing an adhesive that can be easily and comfortably removed from the patient. Therefore, there is a need for an adhesive attachment technique that provides a strong degree of attaching capability without sacrificing ease and comfort when detaching the medical device or article from the patient.

Pneumatic release mechanism for a patient contacting article


Methods and devices are provided for the plasma-catalytic conversion of materials to produce chemical base materials. The methods and devices allow a plurality of chemical processes to be carried out in a plasma-catalytic manner to produce chemical base materials from simple raw materials (for example methane and biogas) with an improved selectivity and energy balance. A hydrocarbon-containing or other starting material is reacted under the action of a plasma to produce chemical base materials, or such a starting material is converted into an intermediate product in a first step under the action of a plasma, and the intermediate product is converted into the desired base material in a subsequent step. The devices for carrying out plasma-catalytic reactions are characterized by a jet pump arranged downstream of the plasma reactor, a tubular recipient (reaction chamber) having a diameter of at least 4 cm, or a catalyst-containing wall of the recipient.

The invention relates to methods for the plasma-catalytic conversion of materials, in particular for the production of key chemicals from simple starting materials. The invention further relates to devices which are particularly suitable for carrying out the methods according to the invention.
It is well known that the use of plasmas for chemical reactions, particularly of gaseous reactants, is advantageous because under the action of a plasma—due to the activation of the reaction components caused thereby—an acceleration of chemical reactions can be achieved. Therefore, such plasma-enhanced reactions are often called "plasma-catalytic". However, the use of plasmas in chemical synthesis processes, in particular for the production of key chemicals, has so far gained little importance, unlike plasma processes for purifying exhaust gases or for material processing.

Method and device for the plasma-catalytic conversion of materials


A circuit configuration and method for a traction slip control system which evaluates the speed (v.sub.ER) measured at a driven spare wheel with a correction factor K(t) in order to maintain or improve the control function even when a smaller size spare wheel has been mounted. This correction factor (K(t)) is determined by axlewise comparison of the rotating speeds (v.sub.na1, v.sub.na2 ; v.sub.a, v.sub.ER) of the wheels of one axle and by comparison of the speed differences measured on the driven and nondriven axles, with traction slip control being inactive. Upon transition from a very slippery road surface (.mu..sub.low homogeneous) to a dry road surface (.mu..sub.high homogeneous), without any prior determination of the correction factor, the slip threshold (S) is raised temporarily. When starting with different right/left friction coefficients (.mu.-split), with the spare wheel being mounted on the high friction coefficient side, a higher slip threshold (S.sub.ER) will be effective for this spare wheel.

This invention relates to a circuit configuration and method for maintaining or improving the control function for a traction slip control system with brake and/or engine management for automotive vehicles when a smaller spare wheel has been mounted as a driven wheel instead of a normal size wheel. In the present invention, the rotating speed of the driven wheels is compared with the vehicle speed or with a corresponding measurement parameter for the purpose of detecting the traction slip. A correction factor is obtained from the rotating speeds measured with stable rotational behavior of the wheels. Traction slip control is triggered when wheel slip exceeds a predetermined limit value, namely the so-called slip threshold.
There are known circuit configurations for traction slip control systems. The information needed for control is obtained by means of wheel sensors, important information being developed from the comparison of the rotational behavior of the individual wheels and by distinguishing between the driven wheels and the non-driven wheels.
Replacing a normal wheel by an emergency wheel of the type in current use today, the dimensions of which often differ considerably from those of normal wheels, can lead to faulty information for traction slip control.
What, above all, is critical is the replacement of a driven wheel by an emergency wheel, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the normal wheel. The traction slip control system identifies the higher rotating speed of the emergency wheel, caused by the smaller diameter, as "traction slip", with the control system responding and metering braking pressure into the wheel brake of the emergency wheel. This metering-in of braking pressure may completely prevent the car from starting in some situations such as in case of different right/left friction coefficients when the emergency wheel is located on the higher friction coefficient side. Up to now, in order to avoid this situation, it was necessary to turn off the traction slip control when an emergency wheel has been mounted.

Circuit configuration and method for controlling a traction slip control system with brake and/or engine management


The invention concerns an illumination system for wavelengths less than 193 nm, especially for EUV-lithography with

The invention concerns an illumination system for wavelengthsxe2x89xa6193 nm, i.e., VUV and EUV-lithography with a plurality of light sources, for example, as well as a mirror or lens device for producing secondary light sources, comprising several mirrors or lenses, divided into raster elements.
In order to allow even further reduction in the structural width of electronic components, especially to the submicron range, it is necessary to reduce the wavelength of the light used in microlithography.
For wavelengths smaller than 193 nm, lithography with weak x-rays or so-called EUV-lithography is discussed.
A suitable illumination system for EUV-lithography should homogeneously or uniformly illuminate, with as few reflections as possible, a pregiven field for EUV-lithography, especially the annular field of an objective lens, under lithography requirements. Furthermore the pupil of the objective lens should be illuminated up to a particular degree of filling "sgr", independently of the field, and the exit pupil of the illumination system should be situated in the entrance pupil of the objective lens.
Regarding the basic layout of EUV-illumination systems, we refer to the applicant""s pending applications EP 99 106348.8, submitted on Mar. 2,1999, entitled xe2x80x9cIllumination system, especially for EUV-lithographyxe2x80x9d, U.S. Ser. No. 09/305,017, submitted on May 4, 1999 entitled xe2x80x9cIllumination system particularly for EUV-lithographyxe2x80x9d, and PCT/EP 99/02999, submitted on May 4, 1999, entitled xe2x80x9cIllumination system, especially for EUV-lithographyxe2x80x9d, whose disclosure contents are incorporated in their entirety in the present application.
The following are discussed herein as light sources for EUV-illumination systems:
laser plasma sources
pinch plasma sources
synchrotron radiation sources
In the case of laser plasma sources, an intensive laser beam is focused onto a target (solid, gas jet, droplet). The target is heated so strongly by the excitation that a plasma is formed. This emits EUV-radiation.
Typical laser plasma sources have a spherical beam, i.e., a radiation angle of 4xcfx80, as well as a diameter of 50 xcexcm to 200 xcexcm.
In pinch plasma sources, the plasma is produced by means of electrical excitation.
Pinch plasma sources can be described as volume radiators (D=1.00 mm), which emit in 4xcfx80, whereby the beam characteristic is dictated by the source geometry.
In the case of synchrotron radiation sources, one can distinguish three types of sources at present:
bending magnets
wigglers
undulators
In bending magnet sources, the electrons are deflected by a bending magnet and emit photon radiation.
Wiggler sources comprise a so-called wiggler for deflection of the electron or an electron beam, and this wiggler comprises a multiple number of alternating polarized pairs of magnets arranged in rows. If an electron passes through a wiggler, it is subjected to a periodic, vertical magnetic field and the electron oscillates in the horizontal plane. Wigglers are also characterized by the fact that no coherency effects occur. The synchrotron radiation produced by a wiggler is similar to a bending magnet and radiates in a horizontal solid angle. In contrast to the bending magnet, it has a flux that is intensified by the number of poles of the wiggler.
There is no clear dividing line between wiggler sources and undulator sources.
In case of undulator sources, the electrons in the undulator are subjected to a magnetic field of shorter period and smaller magnetic field of the deflection poles than in the case of a wiggler, so that interference effects occur in the synchrotron radiation. The synchrotron radiation has a discontinuous spectrum based on the interference effects and emits both horizontally as well as vertically in a small solid-angle element; i.e., the radiation is highly directional.
It is critical for an EUV-illumination system to provide a sufficiently high Lagrange optical invariant or etendu. The Lagrange optical invariant of a system is defined as the product of the illuminated surface times the square of the aperture.
If the numerical aperture in the plane of the wafer is in the range NAwafer=0.1-0.25, then in the case of 4:1 systems, a numerical aperture in the reticle plane of NAreticle=0.025-0.0625 is needed. If the illumination system is supposed to illuminate this aperture homogeneously and independent from the field up to a filling degree of "sgr"=0.6, for example, the EUV-source must have the following 2-dim Lagrange optical invariant or etendu: (LC).
xe2x80x83LCill.="sgr"2LCObj=0.149 mm2-0.928 m2
The Lagrange optical invariant LC, is generally defined as follows for the lithography system described herein:
LCill.="sgr"2xxc2x7yxc2x7NA2="sgr"2Axc2x7NA2,
wherein A is the illuminated area. The area comprises 110 mmxc3x976 mm, for example, in the reticle plane.
The Etendu of a laser plasma source is defined as the product of the illuminated surface of an imaginary unit sphere around the source and the square of the Numerical Aperture at which each field point of the imaginary unit source sees the spherical source.
LC=Axc2x7NA2
ALPQ=2xcfx80[cos(xcex81)xe2x88x92cos(xcex82)]xc3x97(Rsphere)2, with Rsphere=1 mm
NA≈rLPQ/Rsphere=0.100
where xcex81 is the minimum beam angle with respect to the optical axis and xcex82 is the maximum beam angle with respect to the optical axis
LCLPQ=2xcfx80[cos(xcex81)xe2x88x92cos(xcex82)]xc2x7r2LPQ
With the typical source parameters:
1. rLPQ=0.1 mm, xcex81=0xc2x0, xcex82=90xc2x0 yields: LCLPQ=0.063 mm2. This corresponds to 27% of the required value of the Lagrange optical invariant LCill of, for example, 0.236 mm2.
2. rLPQ=0.025 mm, xcex81=0xc2x0, xcex82=90xc2x0 yields: LCLPQ=0.0039 mm2. This corresponds to 1.7% of the required value of the Lagrange optical invariant of, for example, LCill=0.236 mm2.
The Lagrange optical invariant LCPinch of a pinch plasma source with a diameter of 1 mm, xcexa9=0.3 sr, for example, is:
LCPinch=Axc2x7NA2=(xcfx80xc2x71 mm2/4)xc2x70.30532=0.073 mm2.
Thus, the pinch plasma source provides 31% of the required value of the Lagrange optical invariant of, for example, LCill=0.236 mm2.
The Lagrange optical invariant or Etendu for the undulator source can be estimated by a simplified model assuming a homogeneous two-dimensional radiator with diameter
Ø=1.0 mm and aperture NAUnd=0.001 with
LCUnd=Axc2x7NA2
AUnd=xcfx80xc2x7(Ø/2)2
=0.785 mm2
NAUnd=0.001
as
LCUnd=Axc2x7NA2=0.00000079 mm2=7.9e-07 mm2.
As can be seen from this rough calculation the Etendu or Lagrange optical invariant of the undulator source is much too small in comparison to the required value of the Lagrange optical invariant.
To increase the Lagrange optical invariant, an illumination system comprising a synchrotron radiation source known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,759, comprises a condenser system with a plurality of collecting mirrors, which collect the radiation emitted by the synchrotron radiation source and form it to an annular light beam that corresponds to the annular field being illuminated. By this, the annular field is illuminated very uniformly. The synchrotron radiation source has a beam divergence greater than 100 mrad in the plane of radiation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,781 shows an illumination system with a synchrotron radiation source, in which the Lagrange optical invariant, is adjusted by means of a scattering plate in the entrance pupil of the objective lens, wherein the scattering plate can comprise a plurality of pyramidal structures. Also, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,781, the synchrotron radiation source has a beam divergence greater than 100 mrad. The synchrotron radiation according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,781 is also focused, for example, by means of a collector mirror.
The disclosure contents of both of the above-mentioned documents
U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,759
U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,781
are incorporated into the disclosure contents of the present application by reference.
The object of the invention is to supply an illumination system of easy construction having the required Etendu in the objectxe2x80x94or reticlexe2x80x94plane.
The object of the invention is solved in that several light sources are coupled in order to illuminate the exit pupil of the illumination system up to a predetermined degree of filling.
The coupling of several light sources also results in an increase of intensity. A coupling of several light sources is possible as long as the total Lagrange optical invariant of all coupled sources is less than the Lagrange optical invariant of the illumination system LCill.
There are three basic possibilities for coupling:
1. Addition method: Identical or similar illumination systems are distributed about an axis of the system. The exit pupil of the illumination system is illuminated by the circular pupils of the system parts, which must not overlap. The partial pupils are located on the side face of a pyramid-shaped input mirror, which superimposes the light bundles on the object or reticle.
2. Mixing method: In this case, each system part illuminates the entire exit pupil of the illumination system, but with regions free of light between the secondary light sources. The individual grids of the secondary light sources are staggered by superimposing, so as to uniformly fill the pupil. The coupling mirror consists of a raster element plate, whose raster elements or facets have the shape of pyramids. Each side face of an individual raster element pyramid is illuminated by a secondary light source.
3. Segment method: Similar to the addition method. Unlike the addition method, a segment of any desired shape is illuminated by appropriate beam deflection, instead of a circular segment of the exit pupil.
Preferred embodiments of the invention making use of at least one of the above-mentioned methods are the subject of the subsidiary claims.

Illumination system with a plurality of light sources

Abstract: a plurality of light sources

Abstract: a mirror device for creating secondary light sources comprising several mirrors, said mirrors are comprising raster elements.

Abstract: The invention is characterized in that

Abstract: the plurality of light sources are coupled together in order to illuminate the exit pupil of the illumination system up to a predetermined degree of filling.


Electrically-conductive films of tin oxide are prepared by a novel process utilizing gaseous chemical compounds which react to form a tin-fluorine bond at a temperature which is (1) high enough so that the newly-created tin-fluorine bond-bearing molecule remains in the vapor phase; and (2) low enough so that oxidation of the molecule occurs only after the indicated re-arrangement. Films prepared by the process of the invention are characterized by surface resistances as low as 1 ohm per square when the film thickness is as thin as about a micron. These films are also characterized by extremely good reflectance of infrared radiation.

Various metal oxides, such as stannic oxide SnO.sub.2, indium oxide In.sub.2 O.sub.3, and cadmium stannate Cd.sub.2 SnO.sub.4, have been the most widely used materials for forming transparent, electrically conductive coatings and layers.
The earliest methods of applying these coatings were based on spraying a solution of a metal salt (usually the chloride) on a hot surface, such as glass. In this way, satisfactory transparent, electrically resistive layers were first made for de-icing aircraft windows. However, the spray process produced rather corrosive by-products, hot chlorine and hydrogen chloride gases, which tended to attack the hot glass surface, producing a foggy appearance. U.S. Pat. No. 2,617,745 teaches that this undesirable effect can be mitigated by first applying a coating of pure silica on the glass. However, a silica protective layer is not very effective on glass with a high alkali content and high thermal expansion coefficient, such as common soda-lime glass. In addition, these corrosive by-products attack metal parts of the apparatus, and the metallic impurities, such as iron, may then be deposited in the coating, with deleterious effects on both the electrical conductivity and transparency of the coating.
Another problem has been a lack of uniformity and reproducibility in the properties of the coatings. U.S. Pat. No. 2,651,585 teaches that better uniformity and reproducibility are obtained when the humidity in the apparatus is controlled. The use of a vapor, rather than a liquid spray, as described for example in German Pat. No. 1,521,239, also results in more uniform and reproducible coatings.
Even with these improvements, more recent studies have been made using vacuum deposition techniques, such as evaporation and sputtering, in order to achieve cleaner and more reproducible coatings. Despite the much higher cost of these vacuum processes, the reduction of corrosive by-products and unwanted impurities introduced by the spray methods is felt to be important particularly in applications involving high-purity semiconductors.
The intentional addition of certain impurities is important in these processes, in order to achieve high electrical conductivity and high infrared reflectivity. Thus, tin impurity is incorporated in indium oxide, while antimony is added to tin oxide (stannic oxide) for these purposes. In each case the function of these desirable impurities ("dopants") is to supply "extra" electrons which contribute to the conductivity. The solubility of these impurities is high, and they can be added readily using all of the deposition methods referred to above. Fluorine has an advantage over antimony as a dopant for tin oxide, in that the transparency of the fluorine-doped stannic oxide films is higher than that of antimony-doped ones, particularly in the red end of the visible spectrum. This advantage of fluorine is important in potential applications to solar cells and solar thermal collectors. Despite this advantage of fluorine, most--and perhaps all--commercially available tin oxide coatings use antimony as a dopant. Possibly this is because fluorine doping has only been demonstrated in the less satisfactory spray method, whereas the improved deposition methods (chemical vapor deposition, vacuum evaporation and sputtering) are not believed to have been shown to produce fluorine doping. In addition, a recent report by a committee of experts in the American Institute of Physics Conference Proceedings No. 25, p. 288 (1975), concludes that fluorine equilibrium solubility in tin oxide is inherently lower than that of antimony. Nevertheless, it is noted that the lowest resistivity tin oxide films reported in the prior art are those of U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,814 to Gillery. Using a spray method, he obtained fluorine-doped tin oxide films with resistances as low as 15 ohms per square by utilizing a compound, as a starting material, which has a direct tin-fluorine bond. The lowest resistance in a commercially available tin-oxide coated glass is presently in the range of about 40 ohms per square. When one wishes to obtain coatings of as low as 10 ohms per square, one has heretofore been forced to use the much more expensive materials like indium oxide.

Electrically conductive, infrared reflective, transparent coatings of stannic oxide


A multi-directional tumbling cylinder for use in concentrating or cleaning of products such as dross, salt cake, slag, carbon blocks, both, or cast or molded metal pieces, wherein the tumbling cylinder is of length, the cylinder mounted upon a base, is rotated through the operations of a motor, with the cylinder capable of turning in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The cylinder has an intake end and an outlet, and a series of liner segments disposed therein, that interconnect together to form an inner cylinder, and the segments have a series of rifling provided upon the inner surface, and series of vanes formed upon their outer surfaces, with the riffling and vanes having sloped lateral edges, at select degrees, to provide for controlled movement and volumetric flow of product being processed, either towards the outlet, tumbled within its midsection, moving product back towards the inlet, for regulated processing and cleaning of such product. An entrance vane provides for the prompt or slower movement of castings into the cylinder for processing during its operation.

There are many tumbling units, crushers, casting shake-out units, that have been designed, manufactured, and marketed, in the past. These devices fit the category of rotary lump crushers, sand reclaimers, rotary slag separators, metal reclaimers, casting/sprue cleaners, and related types of machines. These machines run continuously, or by batch operation, depending upon their applications. Many of these types of machines have been invented by the family of Didions, as can be seen from their various United States patents as identified herein. These patents include U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,262, upon A Casting Shake-Out Unit and Method of Operation. Other related patents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,808, upon Liner Segments Retention Means. U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,691, discloses a Dual Sand Reclaimer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,968, shows a Rotary Media Drum With Cooling Components. U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,827, shows a Sand Reclaiming Drum. A further U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,603, discloses a Sand Reclaiming Drum With Media Recycler. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,890, shows the Interlocking Liner For A Casting Shake-Out Unit. U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,865, discloses the Rotary Media Drum For Reclaiming and Reclassifying Sand and Related Aggregates From Lump Materials. U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,902, shows the Improved Sand Reclaimer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,902, discloses the Rotary Dryer Drum. U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,176, shows the Interlocking Liner for A Casting Shake-Out Unit. U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,267, discloses the Liner Lock Key For A Tumbler Liner Segments. U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,400, shows the Granular Product Cooling and Blending Rotary Drum. U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,636, is upon the Granular and Aggregate Product For Blending, Cooling and Screening Rotary Drum. U.S. Pat. No. 7,942,354, discloses the Rotary Tumbler and Metal Reclaimer. And, U.S. Pat. No. 8,245,962, once again, shows a Rotary Tumbler and Metal Reclaimer. These are examples of the variety of developments that have been made by some of the inventors herein, upon various types of tumbling units, principally used in the casting, mining, and related industries.
Many other types of tumblers are also available in the art, as shown in their various patents. Examples of these can be seen in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,635, upon the Method and Apparatus for Reclaiming Sand.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,774, shows a Centrifugal Impact Crusher.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,944, to Larsen, shows a Laminar Mill Liner.
The patent to Musschoot, U.S. Pat. No. 8,544,782, shows another Liner for Drum and Method of Assembly. Another patent to Musschoot, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,982, shows a Sand Cleaning Apparatus. A tumbling apparatus is shown in the Patent to Musschoot, No. RE. 33,542. A further patent is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,598, upon an Apparatus for Grinding, Milling, Crushing, Scrubbing, Sizing and/or Classifying Material. These are all examples of various types of materials classifying systems, that are available in the prior art.

Multi directional rifling and multi flow variable speed rifling for liner segments for crushers, reclaimers, separators and cleaners for products


A system and method for sharing data and resources among a plurality of applications on a mobile device is disclosed. Embodiments provide a mobile applications architecture that is able to link applications and share the linked applications simultaneously on an Android (or other operating system) mobile device such as a smart phone or table computer. The mobile applications architecture creates a framework that provides an easy interface for third-party applications to quickly integrate and leverage already constructed components and sharing of data among multiple third-party applications thereby reducing the complexity of newly developed capabilities for mobile applications architecture on not just a single device, but multiple devices.

Android is a Linux-based operating system designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smart phones and tablet computers. Android has a large number of applications (commonly referred to as "apps") written primarily in a customized version of Java, and which extend functionality of the mobile devices. Certain obstacles to application development include the fact that Android does not use established Java standards, e.g., Java SE and ME, that are used for non-Android platforms. This prevents compatibility among Java applications written for non-Android platforms and those for the Android platform. Instead, Android only reuses the non-Android Java language syntax and semantics, but does not provide the full class libraries and APIs bundled with Java SE or ME, or other non-Android Java standards. In addition, by nature of the Android architecture, sharing of data between applications is severely constrained, if not impossible.
For example, the "Dalvik Virtual Machine" is an isolated virtual guest operating system which rests on top of a Linux kernel on an Android device to execute Android processes. By design, the Dalvik Virtual Machine separates Android applications from one another, effectively segregating the processes of a single application in order to prevent the apps from communicating with one another. The idea is if a malicious Android application shared the same space as other applications, the malicious app could potentially exploit other innocuous apps that may have been poorly designed, lacked security, and/or contained some kind of exploitable flaw. As a result, collaboration between applications is constrained to Android Inter-process Communication(s) (IPC) or requires privileged or root access to the phone.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a framework on the Android platform that facilitates seamless collaboration while reducing or removing the disadvantages involved with Android Inter-process Communications.


A device for measuring the bonding load of the bonding arm of a bonding machine including a frame body, a screw shaft rotatably installed in the frame body, a turning member for turning the screw shaft by hand, a screw assembly screw-engaged on the screw shaft so as to be movable on the screw shaft when the screw shaft is rotated, a slider connected to the screw assembly, a gauge holder provided on the slider for installing a tension gauge, a lifting member attached to the tension gauge so that the engagement part of the lifting member can engage with the bonding arm, and a mounting assembly for mounting the frame body to the wire bonding machine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for measuring the bonding load in a wire bonding machine.
2. Prior Art
In wire bonding machines, bonding wires are passed through capillaries which are attached to the tip of bonding arms and then pressed against the electrodes of semiconductor pellets and the leads of an outer lead frame so that bonding is performed between the electrodes and the leads in order to connect them. Thus, the bonding load with which the capillaries press the wires against the electrodes and leads have a great deal of effect on the quality of bonding. It is, therefore, necessary to measure and know the bonding load so that the bonding load is set as a predetermined appropriate value.
Conventionally, the measurement of the bonding load is performed using a tension gauge as shown in FIG. 6.
A wire 50 having a loop 50a at one end thereof is attached to the measuring lever 34 of the tension gauge 31. The loop 50a is hooked on the capillary fastening screw 7 which attaches the capillary 6 to the bonding arm 5, and then the tension gauge 31 held in hand is pulled upward. The bonding load is thus read from the scale of the tension gauge 31. If the read value is not equal to a set value, the bonding load is adjusted by increasing and decreasing the voltage of a linear motor which applies the bonding load to the bonding arm 5.
Thus, in the prior art, the bonding load is measured by a hand-held tension gauge 31. However, hands tend to be unstable when holding a gauge, and it is likely that measurement differs from person to person. Thus, the reliability of the measured value tends to be low. Furthermore, since the stable measurement value cannot be obtained easily, it takes a considerable period of time to adjust the bonding load to a set value.


The characteristics of compacted sodium silicate, in particular the bulk density, are improved by heating the material at an elevated temperature in an agitated bed. Bulk density in the region of 1 kg/liter can be obtained.

Detergent compositions intended for mechanical dishwashing will usually require a component capable of providing a considerable alkalinity in the wash liquor. Sodium silicates having a SiO.sub.2 /Na.sub.2 O mole ratio from about 1.5:1, preferably from 1.8:1 to about 3.3:1, preferably to 2.2:1 are particularly suitable for this purpose and also they protect glassware from corrosion. There is a general movement towards providing detergent compositions with increased bulk densities i.e. above about 700 g/l, preferably above 850 g/l and more preferably up to 1 kg/l. Sodium silicates within the mole ratio 1.8 to 2.2:1 range will be referred to herein as sodium disilicates, although strictly this term is applicable only to those silicates having a mole ratio of about 2:1. Disilicates and other silicates can be formed into a product of the desired bulk density by compacting the appropriate feedstock, which may be spray-dried material, between rollers to provide a compacted sheet-like product which is subsequently broken up and sieved to provide the desired particle size range. Examples of procedures which provide these compacted materials will be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,875,282 (Stauffer Chemical Co.) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,036 (Philadelphia Quartz Co.). Compacted silicates obtained from spray dried powders will usually have a water content of about 23%. Usually the maximum tolerable water contents for spray dried silicates with ratios between 1.5 and 3.3 is 14% to 30%. For disilicates the range is 14%, preferably from 19% to 23%.
The method of the invention is of value in preparing compacted silicate products with BDs above 850 g/l and, more preferably, above 900 g/l having suitable use properties. For compacted silicates already having a BD above 850 g/l the method provides a route to reducing attrition loss.


A method is disclosed herein for inducing differentiation of a B cell progenitor into a memory B cells and/or a plasma cell. The method includes contacting a population of cells including a mature B cell or a B cell progenitor with an effective amount of IL-21, and isolating memory B cells or plasma cells. In one embodiment, the B cell progenitor is an immature B cell. A method is also disclosed for enhancing an immune response. The method includes contacting a population of cells including a B cell progenitor with an effective amount of IL-21, and isolating memory B cells or plasma cells. The memory B cells arid/or the plasma cell are then introduced into the subject to enhance the immune response. A method is also disclosed for treating a subject with a condition comprising a specific deficiency of at least one of memory B cells and plasma cells. A method is disclosed for identifying an agent with a physiological effect on one or more of a memory B cell and a plasma cell differentiation. A method is also disclosed for identifying agents that inhibit an activity of IL-21.

Cytokines exert their respective biochemical and physiological effects by binding to specific receptor molecules. Receptor binding then stimulates specific signal transduction pathways (Kishimoto et al., Cell 76:253-262, 1994). The specific interactions of cytokines with their receptors can be the primary regulators of a wide variety of cellular processes including activation, proliferation, and differentiation of cells (Arai et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem. 59:783-836, 1990; Paul and Seder, Cell 76:241-251, 1994).
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a type I cytokine whose receptor is expressed on T, B, and NK cells. IL-21 was isolated from a cDNA library derived from activated CD3 (+) T cells (Parrish-Novak et al., Nature 408 57-63, 2000). The IL-21 cDNA encodes a secreted protein of 131 amino acids protein most closely related to IL-2 and IL-15. The IL-21 gene has been mapped to human chromosome 4q26-q27 near the IL-2 gene.
IL-21 mRNA is expressed in activated CD4+ but not in activated CD8+ T cells. In addition, IL-21 was expression was not detected in B cells and monocytes (Parrish-Novak et al., Nature 408:57-63, 2000). IL-21 has also been shown to stimulate proliferation of naive (CD45RA+) cells, but not memory (CD45RO+) T cells, mediated by engagement of CD3. IL-21 has also been shown to stimulate the proliferation of bone marrow progenitor to cells and to enhance the expression of the NK-cell marker CD56 in the presence of IL-15 (for review, see Horst Ibelgaufts' COPE: Cytokines Online Pathfinder Encyclopedia, available on the internet). In vitro, IL-21 can act as a co-mitogen for anti-CD3-induced thymocyte and peripheral T cell proliferation (Parrish-Novak et al., Nature 408:57-63, 2000), augment NK cell expansion and differentiation from human CD34+ cells when cultured with IL-15 and Flt-3 ligand, and can also activate NK-cytolytic activity (Parrish-Novak et al., Nature 408:57-63, 2000; Kasaian et al., Immunity 16:559, 2002).
The IL-21 receptor has been isolated and was found to be expressed by CD23+ B cells, B cell lines, a T cell leukemia line, and NK cell lines. The receptor gene has been mapped to human chromosome 16p12 (see Parrish-Novak et al., Nature 408:57-63, 2000; Ozaki et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:11439-11444, 2000). The receptor (538 amino acids) is most closely related to human IL-2 receptor beta chain, and contains a WSXWS motif in the extracellular region, typical of type-1 cytokine receptors (see Ozaki et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:11439-11444, 2000; Parrish-Novak et al., Nature 408:57-63, 2000; and Nat. Rev. Immunol. 1:200-208). The common cytokine receptor gamma chain, an indispensable subunit of the functional receptor complexes for IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-15 has been shown also to be part of the IL-21 receptor complex. The functional signaling complex signals in part through the activation of Jak1 and Jak3 as well as Stat1, Stat3, and Stat5 (see Asao et al., J. Immunol. 167:1-5, 2000; Ozaki et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:11439-11444, 2000). However, the specific effects of IL-21 on the differentiation and populations of B cells and the activity of specific B cell populations have not previously been elucidated.

Method of inducing memory B cell development and terminal differentiation

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


System and method of controlling an object via control device having integrated touch and displacement control. An embodiment includes an input device having a control stick with an integrated touch sensor, where the control stick may be displaced to provide control of a first functionality of an object, and a user touch sensed by the integrated touch sensor provides control of a second functionality of the object. Additionally, a method is described for controlling an object using a control device integrating displacement and touch control modes. A motion of the object may be controlled, such that inputs from the control device control a relative movement, an absolute movement, and/or a combination of relative and absolute movement for the object. An embodiment includes a game controller having a control device according to the present disclosure.

Joysticks may be used as an input means for a wide variety of control devices. Conventionally, a joystick is mounted in or on a user input or control device in such a way as to allow movement of the joystick, where the joystick movement is interpreted by the control device as a command regarding a controlled object, e.g., in a game application. The object may be a physical object, such as a remote controlled car or plane, or a graphical representation of an object, such as a cursor on a computer display.
Typically, the movement of the joystick is a physical displacement or a deflection away from a center, or resting, position. The displacement of the joystick is registered by the control device, which executes a function with regard to the controlled object according to the input indicated by the joystick position. Often the joystick controls a motion of the object, specifically, a velocity of the object. The direction of the joystick deflection from the center position indicates a commanded direction of motion for the object, while the magnitude (e.g., angle of deflection) controls the rate at which the object is commanded to move.
Conventionally, a joystick includes one or more springs that operate to return the joystick to its resting position when the joystick is released from a deflected position. However, due to friction forces within the control device, the joystick may not consistently return to a centered, or rest, position—or it may do so only after a substantial passage of time. This can make it unclear if a small deflection of the joystick from the center position is due to friction forces preventing the joystick from returning to the center, or if instead a user is purposefully causing the small deflection in the joystick position. For this reason, a region around the center position is often designated wherein a deflection of the joystick is ignored, a so-called "dead band," which establishes a threshold joystick deflection necessary to register with the control device and to control an object. Further, the joystick input may be limited to only one function regarding the controlled object.
Another disadvantage of a conventional joystick is that it is basically a relative position control interface and sometimes the user needs an absolute position control interface.

Control device integrating touch and displacement controls


A multiple speed automatic transmission includes an input member, an output member, a plurality of planetary gear sets, a plurality of interconnecting members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the plurality of planetary gear sets has a sun gear, a planet carrier with a plurality of planet gears and a ring gear. The torque transmitting devices include three clutches, a conventional first brake and a second brake comprising a parallel combination of an overrunning clutch and a light duty or coast clutch. Eight forward speeds and one reverse speed are achieved by selective engagement of the five torque transmitting devices.

A typical modern multiple speed automatic transmission includes a combination of planetary gear assemblies and selectively engaged friction clutches and to achieve a plurality of gear ratios.
Increasingly demanding economic and performance goals continue to encourage automatic transmission research and development. A result of this effort has been an increase in the number of available forward gears or speed ratios provided by the transmission.
Whereas three and four speed automatic transmissions were once commonplace, considered both suitable and to provide sufficient flexibility and performance, the industry and consumer preference is moving to six, seven and eight speed automatic transmissions.
In such transmissions, the various elements of a plurality of planetary gear assemblies are connected by permanent couplings, selectively connected by clutches and selectively grounded by brakes. Specific combinations of the clutches and brakes are engaged or activated to provide a sequence of numerically related gear ratios and thus speed and torque ratios.
Because they so closely match the power and torque curves of the engine to the vehicle speed and load, such six, seven and eight speed transmissions provide significant performance enhancements and fuel consumption reduction.
Careful study of these transmission configurations, however, reveals that improvements are both possible and desirable. For example, each of the torque transmitting devices, i.e., the clutches and brakes, contribute to frictional losses, referred to as spin losses, when they are not engaged. Two primary factors influence spin losses: the size or torque capacity of the clutch and the instantaneous speed difference across the clutch. A particularly disadvantageous condition arises if the device is a high torque capacity, multiple plate clutch functioning as a brake with a high speed difference across it. Since a brake typically has one half of its friction members connected to ground which are therefore always stationary, the spin losses in such a situation may be relatively significant.
The present invention is directed to reducing frictional or spin losses created by the clutches and brakes of a multiple speed automatic transmission.


The present invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement for processing signals for an active motion sensor which generates at least one first sequence of input pulses that contain motion information. By at least one integrating filter circuit, each input pulse of a pulse train is integrated, and an associated output pulse is generated during a period in which the integrated signal is in excess of a predeterminable second threshold value after a predeterminable first threshold value has been exceeded so that the output pulse has a time delay with respect to the input pulse. As a result, noises of a duration which is shorter than the delay time are effectively suppressed.

The present invention generally relates to a system for reducing noise in an electrical signal and more particularly relates to a method and a circuit arrangement for processing signals for an active motion sensor which generates a sequence of input pulses.
Active motion sensors are generally comprised of a pick-up for measuring data with a magnetostatically sensitive element with a permanent magnet (sensor element) which is coupled magnetically to an encoder (measuring data emitter) that executes a motion being sensed. The sensor element responds to a change in the flux density or the field vector which is induced by this motion. The output signal of the sensor element is sent to a modulator which either generates a periodic sensor voltage or a periodic sensor current, and the frequency is determined by the motional speed.
A special advantage of these active sensors compared to prior art passive sensors includes that the voltage of the sensor signal developed is irrespective of the motional behavior and, especially, the motional speed so that level adaptions and protection circuits are virtually unnecessary. Active motion sensors are increasingly employed for this reason. Depending on the design, a pulse voltage or a pulse current is generally produced which is sent as a sensor signal to a signal processing device to be conditioned and evaluated and, thereafter, transmitted as a motion signal to a traction or brake slip control system.
However, provisions must be made in this arrangement to prevent noises and, in the event of noises occurring nevertheless, prevent reactions which might jeopardize the vehicle""s operation. In this respect, a distinction must be made between noises which cause a total failure of the sensor signal and noises which influence this signal in such a manner that the affected control no longer reacts in a way appropriate for the actual vehicle operating condition. These last-mentioned noises may be caused, for example, by ignition pulses, ESD discharges, and other signals, the duration of which may amount up to a third of the duration of the useful signal. The result of the noises is that by superposition on the sensor signal the said""s frequency is temporarily changed, and a change in the motional speed is thereby indicated erroneously by the signal processing device.
Because a distinction between a change in the sensor signal due to an actual change of the motional behavior and a noise-induced change which impairs the sensor signal is difficult and intricate to make, one has so far obviously refrained from taking precautions for preventing a possible misinterpretation of the sensor signal.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a circuit arrangement for processing signals for an active motion sensor of the type referred to hereinabove which permits preventing the effects of noises that occur only temporarily and in a way that might lead to misinterpretation of the sensor signal.
This object is achieved by a method for processing signals for an active motion sensor of the type referred to hereinabove which is characterized in that each input pulse of a pulse train is integrated and an associated output pulse is generated during a period in which the integrated signal is in excess of a predeterminable second threshold value after a predeterminable first threshold value is exceeded so that the output pulse has a time delay with respect to the input pulse.
Further, this object is achieved in a circuit arrangement for processing signals for an active motion sensor of the type referred to hereinabove which includes at least one integrating filter circuit by which each input pulse of a pulse train is integrated and an associated output pulse is generated during a period in which the integrated signal is in excess of a predeterminable second threshold value after a predeterminable first threshold value has been exceeded so that the output pulse has a time delay with respect to the input pulse.
The advantage of these solutions is that noises which are shorter than the delay time will extend this time only slightly and can be rated as minor speed variation within a tolerable range. Only those noises which last longer than the delay that is due to the integration can cause a fault which, however, will only occur with this time delay.
Accordingly, the integrating filter circuit may be an analog filter with a capacitor and at least one current source to which can be sent the input pulse for charging the capacitor and for generating the integrated signal, and the first and the second threshold value is in each case defined by a predetermined voltage value which declines at the capacitor.
As an alternative, the integrating filter circuit may also be a digital filter with at least one counter, to which the input pulse can be sent for activation, wherein the integrated signal represents a counter reading, and the first and the second threshold value is respectively defined by a predetermined counter reading that is to be reached.

Method and circuit for processing signals for a motion sensor


Methods are presented for synthesizing a metal precursor for a cathode-active material. The methods include adding urea to a solution comprising dissolved ions of at least one transition metal selected from Mn, Co, and Ni. The methods also include increasing a pH of the aqueous solution to a threshold pH. The methods additionally include heating the aqueous solution to precipitate a compound that includes the at least one transition metal. Such heating may involve urea decomposition. Methods are also presented that include filtering the compound from the solution and contacting the compound with at least a lithium precursor to produce a reactant charge. In these methods, the reactant charge is calcined to produce the cathode-active material. Other methods are presented.

Batteries employ cathode-active materials to release and store cations during charge and discharge operations, respectively. Such cathode-active materials include transition metal oxides, which are commonly used in lithium-ion batteries to exchange lithium cations with an electrolyte. Transition metal oxides can include Mn, Ni, or Co, which have received particular attention due to their improved performance as cathode-active materials. This improved performance can result in higher energy densities, increased operating voltages, longer cycling lifetimes, and faster charge/discharge rates for the batteries involved. Other benefits are possible.
The performance of transition metal oxides can be influenced by a manner in which they are formed. Conventional methods of forming transition metal oxides involve solutions of transition metal salts, which are raised in pH to precipitate a transition metal precursor. Base additives, such as ammonium hydroxide, are used to effectuate this raise. However, these base additives typically offer little control over nucleation and growth processes in solution. Thus, particles precipitated using conventional methods may exhibit undesirable characteristics, including low densities, poorly-defined morphologies, broad particle size distributions, and deficient chemical stoichiometries. Such characteristics can limit an effectiveness of the transition metal precursor in producing a transition metal oxide that has improved performance (i.e., as a cathode-active material).

Cathode-active materials, their precursors, and methods of forming