The present invention relates to the field of biochemistry and pharmaceutical technologies. The present invention provides nanobodies that bind to human pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) as well as the preparing methods and use of the same. The nanobody comprise an amino acid sequence having the formula of Q(x)2LVESGG(x)2V(x)2G(x)SL(x)LS(x)24E(x)n2 KG(x)4S(x)n3T(x)2Y(x)C(x)n4S(x)n5V(x)n6R; wherein x is amino acid; n2˜n6 are positive integers; 1≦n2≦21; 1≦n3≦19; 1≦n4≦50; 1≦n5≦22; 1≦n6≦8. The present invention take fresh frozen sections of lung as antigen, gene sequences with high affinity with hSP-A were obtained by constructing an SP-A antibody library and affinity selection, and nanobodies with high affinity and small molecular weight were obtained by induced expression of the gene sequences through a prokaryotic expression vector. Immunohistochemistry and in vivo imaging in nude mice showed the nanobodies have high specificity for targeting lung tissue.

In the beginning of 20th century, the Nobel Prize winner German scientist Paul Ehrlich proposed the idea of "magic bullet" for future drug development, i.e., an ideal drug that would selectively destroy diseased cells without affecting healthy cells. In the past several decades, scientists have been exploring to develop such ideal drugs.
In the 1970s, targeted drug delivery system were developed and widely used for the treatment of cancer. Meanwhile, with the advancement of research, new targeted drug delivery carriers have, emerged, the routes of administration have, been broadened, and targeted drug delivery system have been expanded to treat many diseases other than cancer.
Developing targeted drugs for respiratory diseases is one of the hotspots, and it is primarily focused on the following areas:
1. Targeted treatment of airway diseases by inhalation.
Starting in the early 1950s, inhaled corticosteroids have been used for the treatment of asthma and COPD. Since then, with the improvement in inhaled drugs and devices, inhaled corticosteroids have become the main therapeutic agents for the treatment of asthma and COPD. However, inhaled drugs are mainly suitable for topical treatment of airway diseases, and are not effective against parenchyma and interstitial lung diseases due to low bioavailability.
Passive lung-targeting drugs through drug carriers.
2. Currently, a variety of drug carriers such as liposomes, microparticles, microspheres are used in the research of lung-targeted drug delivery. However, these passive targeting drug carriers have poor tissue selectivity, and cannot avoid significant residue in the liver, spleen and other organs. Therefore, they don't achieve optimal targeting effect.
The ligand-receptor or antigen-antibody binding is a special recognition mechanism of the human body, and it has been reported that the mechanism could achieve active drug targeting to enhance drug efficacy and reduce the side effects. For example, a composite drug made of paclitaxel liposomes and a monoclonal antibodies against the epidermal growth factor has anti-tumor effect 25 times greater then that of the drug without the monoclonal antibody. Thus, to achieve ideal active lung targeting effect, it is critical to find a receptor in the lung tissue with high specificity and prepare a targeting ligand with high affinity. Studies have shown that pulmonary alveolar type II epithelial cells which account for 16% of the total cells in lung parenchyma have proliferation and secretion functions. Type II cells can synthesize and secrete pulmonary surfactant. The main components of the pulmonary surfactant are lipids (90%) and proteins (10%), and the proteins are specific pulmonary surfactant proteins (SPs). SPs have been named as SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, SP-D, based on the order of discovery, and SP-A was first discovered and has strong expression in pulmonary alveolar type II epithelial cells with abundant signals, and is rarely expressed in other tissues. Thus, SP-A is highly lung-specific, and is an ideal receptor in the lung tissue with specificity.
In addition to high affinity, an ideal targeting ligand should have a low molecular weight, high tissue penetration, and weak immunogenicity. Antigen-antibody binding is the strongest recognition mechanism, and therefore an antibody is the preferred ligand. However, although of high affinity, full antibodies are not ideal ligands due to their large molecular weight (with a relative molecular weight of 150,000), weak tissue penetration and strong immunogenicity. With the development of antibody and gene engineering technologies, antibody fragments (Fab, ScFv) now have the advantages of low molecular weight and weak immunogenicity, but they have lower stability and affinity than full antibodies.
In 1993, scientists from Belgium first reported the existence of Heavy Chain antibodies (HCAbs) without the light chain in the blood of camelids. The variable domain (VHH) of the heavy chains of HCAbs has a complete and independent antigen-binding capacity, and if cloned, a single domain antibodies in the nanometer scale which are known as Nanobodies® (Nbs) can be obtained. A nanobody has many advantages as a ligand: 1) small molecular weight, strong tissue penetration, and high affinity. It has a molecular weight of only 15,000 which is the lowest molecular weight among the known antibody molecules; its ability to penetrate tissues is significantly superior to full antibody, and its affinity with specific antigen is of nmol scale. 2) Stable structure. It can maintain stability even if stored at 37° C. for a week, under high temperature (90° C.), or under strong denaturing conditions such as being exposed to chaotropic agent, protease and strong pH value. 3) Weak immunogenicity. As its gene has high homology with human VH III family, it has weak immunogenicity and good biocompatibility. Because of these advantages, nanobodies have been studied extensively as new antibody drugs, but their use as targeted ligands for SP-A has not been reported.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Lung-targeting nanobodies against human pulmonary surfactant protein A and a method for producing the same


An electronic device and a method for starting up the same, wherein the electronic device includes a firmware control unit, a power supply state storage unit, a basic input output unit, and an Ethernet interface coupled to power supply apparatus to a Power over Ethernet to receive a power supply via a network cable. The firmware control unit determines whether the power supply state of the power supply is in a first power mode, by checking a power supply state signal. When the power supply state is not in the first power mode, the basic input output unit executes a second power booting program. The firmware control unit communicates with the power supply apparatus via a network, increases the rated power of the power supply, sets the power supply state signal for controlling the power supply state to be in the first power mode, and restarts the electronic device.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates to an electronic device and a start-up method thereof which can be applied to the electronic device start-up technology and more particularly applied to the power over Ethernet (POE) technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
Power over Ethernet is a relatively novel power supply technology recently, which can transmit power and data to a corresponding electronic device via a twisted pair in the Ethernet. Since the power over Ethernet technology can enable the electronic device to be powered without modifying the cable architecture of the Ethernet, electronic devices (such as an Internet Phone, wireless access point, a Webcam, a hub, and a computer) applying the POE technology can be used without additional power supply sockets, which lowers the construction costs of the whole equipment system.
The POE technology is mainly divided into two parts: power supply apparatus as the powering end and a powered device (PD) as the powered end. In addition, the existing power over Ethernet technology supports two basic specifications: one is the 802.3af specification (also referred to as 802.3at first type specification) which provides a smaller electronic power (such as 12.95 watt (w)). Another is the 802.3at specification, and the 802.3at first type specification is compatible with the 802.3af specification, while the 802.3at second type specification can provide a larger electronic power (such as 25.5 watt (w) so as to drive a powered device with higher power consumption requirements.
The power supply apparatus can also be classified as a physical layer (Layer1) or a link layer (Layer2) when realizing how to detect the POE specification (such as 802.3af (802.3at first type) or 802.3at second type) of the powered device. Applying the physical layer (Layer1) is that, for example, the corresponding hardware is provided at both the power supply apparatus and the powered device, thereby actively detecting the POE specification of each other through the matched hardware. Although applying this method is very convenient, higher hardware costs are required. In addition, applying the above-mentioned link layer (Layer2) is that, for example, when the powered device requires a larger amount of electronic power, the powered device actively communicates with the power supply apparatus via a network using the link layer discovery protocol during operation, so as to change the POE specifications thereof from 802.3af (802.3at first type) to 802.3at second type.
However, if applying the link layer (Layer2), an ordinary powered device cannot start up the network function to change the POE specification before booting. Therefore, for electronic products requiring higher power consumption during booting, these electronic products cannot utilize the power over Ethernet technology to be powered during booting.

Electronic device and start-up method thereof

Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation


In a vehicle control system that is able to accurately recognize an approaching user, excessive detection operations are suppressed to reduce battery consumption. Control is performed at an optimum timing as desired by a user. The vehicle has a controller for forming a large area, using low power electromagnetic radiation. Within the large area, a large area ID request signal can be received. When a portable transceiver enters the large area and returns a response ID in reply to the large area ID request signal back to the controller of the vehicle, the controller then forms a plurality of small areas in which a small area ID request signal for detailed detection can be received. When it is confirmed that the portable transceiver entered any of the small areas, the controller unlocks the vehicle door associated with that small area, allowing the user to enter the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle control system, and particularly to a vehicle control system for controlling a vehicle-mounted device, using a portable transceiver (transmitter/receiver).
2. Description of the Related Art
As vehicles become more intelligent, many proposals have been made to control vehicles with less operator effort. Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. Hei 5-71257, for example, discloses an automatic door-lock device which can automatically lock or unlock vehicle doors without a manual operation for locking or unlocking. This device, referred to as a smart entry system, unlocks a vehicle door when it detects a user coming close to the vehicle, and locks the door when it detects a user going away from the vehicle. Specifically, when a dedicated portable transceiver carried by a user receives an ID request signal sent from a vehicle, the transceiver returns a corresponding response ID to the vehicle. When the response ID is confirmed as an authorized response ID on the vehicle side, a door of the vehicle is duly unlocked, while otherwise the doors are kept locked. In this manner, an authorized user can automatically unlock the door without manual operation when he enters the vehicle. Likewise, when the user simply leaves the vehicle without conducting manual door-lock operation, the vehicle door can thereby be locked automatically. With the above arrangement, the user is released from the risk of leaving the door unlocked and the duty of troublesome door-lock operation.
In the above smart entry system, a vehicle must continually send ID request signals to search for a portable transceiver carried by a user. When a transmission area for the ID request signals is set covering too vast a region, a user approaching the vehicle cannot be easily recognized. For example, a user who only passes near the vehicle may erroneously be understood as a user preparing to enter the vehicle, and the door may erroneously be unlocked before the authorized user reaches the vehicle. This is undesirable in view of crime prevention as it may cause a risk that a third person would get on the vehicle.
To solve the above problem, the transmission area can be made smaller to aid accurate determination of whether a user is in fact approaching the vehicle. However, this arrangement is not desirable in terms of control as it may require formation of a number of detection areas using a number of detection means for full-time observation, leading to heavy use of the vehicle""s battery. These problems, such as early control timing and waste of battery power, also can occur when vehicle-mounted devices other than a door-lock mechanism are controlled.
The present invention was conceived to overcome the above problems and aims to provide a vehicle control system capable of accurately recognizing approach by a user and controlling a vehicle-mounted device at an optimum timing while suppressing battery consumption.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle control system, comprising large area ID request means for sending an ID request signal to a portable transceiver present in a specific area around a vehicle to form a large area; ID verification means for receiving a response ID in reply to the ID request signal to conduct verification with the response ID received; area switching means for activating at least one detection means using a detection area smaller than the larger area when the response ID received is verified coincident with a reference ID; and control means for controlling operation of a vehicle-mounted device based on a detection result by the detection means.
Here, a xe2x80x9clarge areaxe2x80x9d represents a detection area with relatively low detection accuracy which is formed having a radius of approximately 10 m with the vehicle at the center. A xe2x80x9csmall areaxe2x80x9d represents a detection area with high detection accuracy, which is formed in a region close, e.g., within 1 m in radius, to a specific point on the vehicle, such as the driver seat door or a passenger seat door. A xe2x80x9cvehicle-mounted devicexe2x80x9d may include a door-lock controller, a lighting controller, an engine starting controller, a driving condition controller, and so on.
With the above arrangement, since the detection means using a small area is activated after confirmation was made that a user carrying a portable transceiver entered the large area formed around the vehicle, highly accurate detection operation using a small area is carried out only when the user has approached sufficiently close to the vehicle. That is, as such detection, which consumes a relatively large amount of battery power, is performed only in the case where the user has approached sufficiently close to the vehicle, wasteful consumption of battery power can be suppressed. In addition, when highly accurate detection is carried out using a small area, approaching state of a user to the vehicle can be highly accurately detected. As a result, the vehicle-mounted device can be controlled at the optimum timing.
As stated above, in the above vehicle control system, the control means may control a door-lock controller for controlling locking/unlocking operation with respect to doors of the vehicle.
With this arrangement, verification with a reference ID for door unlocking operation completes at a timing when a user carrying a portable transceiver enters the large area. This enables subsequent swift and reliable recognition of a user in a small area, so that the door can be smoothly unlocked at the optimum timing. The control means also locks the door in response to a user carrying a portable transceiver going away from the large area.
Additionally, in the above vehicle control system, the large area ID request means may form a first large area and a second large area in lateral directions with respect to the vehicle on a driver side and a passenger side, respectively, at a predetermined timing, and the area switching means activates individually at least one detection area formed either on the driver side or the passenger side of the vehicle, based on a response ID sent from a portable transceiver having entered at least one of the first large area or the second large area.
The large area ID request means may form the first and second large areas either at the same or different timing.
With the above arrangement, as only the detection means on the side to which a user carrying a portable transceiver approaches is activated, wasteful battery consumption can be further reduced. Moreover, as preparation for, and execution of, door-unlocking operation is applied only to the doors on the side with an approaching user, intrusion by the third person to the vehicle through the doors on the other side can be prevented for improved security. Further, formation of the first and second large areas at different timing can further reduce wasteful battery consumption.
Yet further, in the above vehicle control system, the detection means may be small area ID request means for sending an ID request signal which is different from the ID request signal to be sent to the large area, and the control means controls operation of the vehicle-mounted device when the ID verification means verifies that a response ID in reply to the ID request signal sent from the small area ID request means coincides with a reference ID.
With this arrangement, as ID verification is made twice, detection reliability for an authorized user is improved, as is security in door unlocking operation.
Yet further, in the above vehicle control system, the detection means may be a body detection sensor for detecting an approaching vehicle user.
Here, xe2x80x9cbody detection sensorxe2x80x9d may include a photo-sensor or any other sensor which can detect, for example, a user""s hand extended to the door knob because the user intends to opening the door, based on a changing gain of the antenna incorporated into, for example, the door knob.
With this arrangement, approach of a portable transceiver (i.e., a user) can be accurately detected. Moreover, as ID verification completes at a timing where the portable transceiver (i.e., a user) enters the large area, subsequent processing to the detection using a small area can be simplified, enabling prompt controlling of the vehicle-control system.
Yet further, the above vehicle control system, may further comprise operation area selection means for selectively activating one detection means, the one being associated with a specific location.
Here xe2x80x9cspecific detection means associated with a specific locationxe2x80x9d indicates detection means for detecting approach by a user or a portable transceiver to, for example, the driver seat door. The detection means can perform minimum detection so as not to impede a user""s smooth entry to the vehicle, even when the battery is left less than a predetermined amount. With this arrangement, the function of the vehicle control system can be utilized while reducing battery consumption.
Yet further, the above vehicle control system, may further comprises area changing means for changing a transmission area for the ID request signal sent from the small area ID request means.
With this arrangement, a transmission area for an ID request signal from the small ID request means can be desirably determined. That is, with a small transmission area, excessive user detection will be prevented when, for example, the vehicle is in a narrow space, such as in a garage, leaving little space around the vehicle and the user may have to pass near the vehicle even when he does not intend to get on the vehicle. An approaching user can be accurately recognized and his intention of getting on the vehicle can be precisely confirmed. On the other hand, with a large transmission area, control over the vehicle-mounted device can be begun at an early stage.
Still further, in the above vehicle control system, the area switching means suspends operation of detection means associated with an unlocked door.
With such an arrangement, as operation of the detection means on a door once used by the user carrying a portable transceiver is suspended, battery consumption can be reduced while, as other detection means continue to operate despite the suspension, approach to other doors by other users carrying other portable transceivers with an authorized ID can be detected, so that associated doors will be promptly unlocked for the user""s smooth entry to the vehicle.
Yet further, the above vehicle control system may further comprise driven state detection means for detecting a driven state of the vehicle, and operation suspension means for suspending operation of the large area ID request means and the detection means while driven state of the vehicle is kept detected.
With this arrangement, when it is assured that the vehicle is in a condition being controlled by the user himself, by detecting a driven state of the vehicle, for example, activation of an engine or travelling of the vehicle, in other words, the fact that the user has gotten in the vehicle, operation of the large area ID request means and the detection means is suspended. As a result, battery consumption is reduced.
Still further, in the above vehicle control system, the large area ID request means may send a wake-up signal at a predetermined interval for detecting whether or not a portable transceiver is present around the vehicle, and forms the first large area and the second large area based on a predetermined priority order when presence of the portable transceiver is confirmed.
A xe2x80x9cwake-up signalxe2x80x9d may preferably be transmitted at a relatively long interval, such as, for example, 300 msec. With this arrangement, as a large area is swept intermittently, battery consumption is further reduced. Also, alternate formation of the first and second large area enables further reduction of battery consumption while achieving reliably detection of approach by a portable transceiver


An apparatus comprises a transceiver, a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to obtain an identifier and a first set of values from a device via the transceiver, to determine a second set of values, the second set of values being based at least in part on the first set of values and a probabilistic function, to transmit the second set of values to the device via the transceiver, and to create an event indicator associated with the identifier in the memory, the event indicator comprising at least a portion of the first set of values.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are inexpensive wireless microchips used to identify physical objects. RFID tags are present in a variety of physical objects, including passports, drivers' licenses, shipping cases, clothing, payment cards, etc. A major driver of the deployment of RFD systems is to prevent and detect counterfeiting, or the introduction of fake goods into a supply chain. By affixing RFID tags directly to goods or the cases in which they are transported, supply chain partners can automatically track goods in transit, facilitating the detection of counterfeit goods. RFID tags typically emit unique identifiers. A supply chain partner can in principle confirm an object's authenticity by checking its serial number against a shipping manifest or with a directory service spanning supply chain partners. Electronic Product Code (EPC) Information Services (EPCIS) is one example of such a directory service. Counterfeit detection is of vital importance to many industries in which counterfeit goods cause large profit losses. In some industries, such as the pharmaceutical industry, counterfeit goods may also lead to patient deaths.

Event indicator creation using first and second sets of values


A contact process for a semiconductor device is described. A substrate having a doped region and a dielectric layer over the doped region is provided. A contact hole is formed through the dielectric layer and exposing the doped region. An insulating liner layer is formed a in the contact hole. A portion of the insulating liner layer at a bottom of the contact hole is etch-removed and over-etching is performed. A conductive epitaxial layer is formed from the doped region in the contact hole, and then the contact hole is filled with a conductive material.

Field of Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor process, and particularly relates to a contact process for a semiconductor device and a contact structure formed thereby.
Description of Related Art
A doped region of a semiconductor device that is required to be electrically connected to other element is usually connected to a contact plug first. In order to prevent ion impurity from entering the contact plug and also avoid a short circuit with a conductive part other than the target doped region, such as the gate in a MOS structure of the semiconductor device, an insulating liner layer is often formed on the sidewall of the contact hole before the conductive material of the contact plug is filled in the contact hole.
The insulating liner on the sidewall of the contact hole is usually formed by depositing a blanket layer and anisotropically etching the same to remove the portion of the insulating liner layer at the bottom of the contact hole. In order to well remove the portion to ensure a good electrical connection, over-etching is usually performed. However, it is possible that the metal silicide layer on the doped region for lowering the contact resistance is etched through in the over-etching process so that the contact resistance is increased.

Contact process and contact structure for semiconductor device


A system utilizable by a patient engaged in strengthening, stretching or range of motion exercise therapy of the ankle which contains a number of interactive components combinable in any one of several different configurations to provide the patient with specific ankle exercise devices. One such device provides ankle dorsiflexion and inversion/eversion strengthening exercises performed by moving the patient's foot in various directions against the elastic resistance of an elastomeric tube while the device is anchored in a door jamb. Another device provides ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion and inversion/eversion strengthening by exerting the foot against resistance from the patient across a strap. Yet another device provides ankle supination/pronation, toe flexion/extension, and isometric eversion exercises by performing various movements with the toes or feet to deform a towel. The final device is for stretching and ankle range of motion exercises by placing the patient's foot on a platform and rocking the platform on curved runners in various directions.

Rehabilitation of the ankle joint following skeletal or soft tissue injuries is facilitated by a structured and supervised strengthening, stretching, and range of motion exercise program. Rehabilitation is most effective when the exercise program can be periodically performed by the patient on a frequent basis, even as much as several times daily. Patient participation in the exercise program is usually increased if the patient can perform the exercises within the framework of his or her daily activities without the necessity of traveling to a special facility for ongoing supervision or specialized equipment. Thus, exercise programs are desirable which can be performed in the home or the workplace with safe, simple, and inexpensive equipment once the supervising physician or therapist has adequately structured and demonstrated the exercise program to the patient.
A number of devices are known which may be utilized in the performance of ankle rehabilitation exercises. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,635,932 to Dewees and 4,739,986 to Kucharik et al both show balance platforms on which the patient stands to kinematically exercise the ankle. Both devices are somewhat unwieldy for transporting which limits the ability of the patient to integrate an ankle exercise program using one of these devices into a daily routine, particularly when the patient is away from home. Furthermore, although the devices have safety control features, they are difficult to gauge by the patient. Thus, the patient runs the risk of aggravating the injury being rehabilitated when using the device in the absence of supervisory personnel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,938 to Smith is a much more simple and transportable device for exercising the leg than the above-described devices, but it lacks any controls for protecting the safety of a patient when being used. Thus, the device has little utility in a rehabilitation exercise program.
All of the above-described devices also suffer from the fact that they are narrow in their purpose, only providing for exercise of a limited number of muscle groups related to the ankle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,671 to Hagerman et al is a multi-functional exercise device, but still lacks the versatility to provide the full range of ankle exercises necessary for a patient undergoing rehabilitation from an ankle injury.
As such, a need exists for an ankle exercise system which has the versatility to enable a patient to perform a broad range of ankle exercises for full rehabilitation of an injured ankle without the necessity for constant medical supervision once a physician or therapist has initially structured the exercise program. A system is further needed which is portable for ease of transportation and use in remote locations. A system is needed which is simple to assemble as well as simple and safe to use by the patient. Finally, a system is needed which fulfills the above-recited needs, yet which is relatively inexpensive to produce and maintain.


A method for estimating wave field characteristics in 3D comprising the following steps: using a ray trace model to estimate RF wave front paths as they propagate from a transmitter to a plurality of given points within a geographical area of interest; constructing a ray bundle for each point; sorting the points into mode constellations according to the points' hop count and apogee characteristics; constructing a Delaunay triangulation of each mode constellation; computing a covariance estimation for each triangle in each mode constellation; and estimating the wave field characteristics over the entire geographical area of interest based on a summation of constituent ray bundles' characteristics within each mode constellation.

This invention relates to the field of estimating radio frequency (RF) wave field characteristics in three dimensions (3D). Using existing point-to-point ray tracing programs to model the propagation of RF energy over a wide area is computationally expensive and has inherent limitations. For example, in refractive waveguides, ray treatments can result in caustics, where infinite rays cross the same focus points, leading to the incorrect calculation that the field intensity is infinite at those points (i.e., singularities). Less extreme issues arise from the infinitesimal nature of the ray paths, even without the occurrence of caustics. It is difficult to estimate wave intensity, for instance, in areas where the incidence of rays is sparse, as neighboring rays may have originated from very different initial angles, and may have very different phase paths, as a result. Such cases can arise because of the non-linearity of propagation through the refractive medium, or they may arise because of how the model was implemented by the user. There exists a need for a better way of estimating 3D, RF wave field characteristics.

Method and apparatus for wave field estimation

The United States of America as represented by Secretary of the Navy


An array substrate having a substrate witha bonding region on one side, the bonding region having a plurality of bonding pads arranged in order, where at least one dummy pad is provided in a first position of the bonding pads. The at least one dummy pad is used for dividing the bonding region into a plurality of bonding sub-regions, where each bonding sub-region has a plurality of bonding pads. This disclosure further provides a display panel.

As the requirement for display effects of displays becomes higher and higher in recent years, the number of pixels comprised in a liquid crystal display per inch is increased continuously, which requires more pixels to be arranged per unit area on a display panel of the display and thus more wires.
In related technologies, an array substrate of the liquid crystal display has a bonding region on the periphery of a display region, the bonding region comprising a plurality of bonding pads arranged in order. Each bonding pad has data lines or signal lines for connecting to an integrated circuit module so as to control the display of the liquid crystal display.

BOE (HEBEI) MOBILE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including the following steps, forming a resin layer on a surface of a semiconductor chip, the surface is provided with a bump formed thereon, the resin layer having photosensitivity and adhesiveness, exposing an upper surface of the bump by removing a part of the resin layer right above the bump by exposing and then developing the resin layer, and bonding the semiconductor chip provided with a resin film formed of the resin layer face-down to a substrate, the bump of the semiconductor chip and a conductive section of the substrate being electrically connected by the resin film functioning as an adhesive.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device equipped with a semiconductor chip, a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device by a face-down bonding process, and a mounting structure of the semiconductor device.
2. Related Art
As a mounting method of a semiconductor chip by a face-down bonding process, a method using an anisotropic conductive membrane (See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-32171.) composed of anisotropic conductive paste (ACP) or an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) and a method using insulation resin for bonding (See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-82241.) composed of insulating nonconductive paste (NCP) or a nonconductive film (NCF) are known. In such methods using resin as an adhesive, when a semiconductor chip is mounted on a substrate, the resin, namely thermoset resin or light curing resin, is previously provided on the substrate. And, then the semiconductor chip is set on the substrate and fixed thereon by further executing a pressure heating process.
However, in such a method in which the resin provided to the substrate side is used as the adhesive, a dedicated coating device is required in case, for example, the resin is in a paste form, or another dedicated coating device in case the resin is in a film form. Therefore, the dedicated devices required therefor problematically raise the mounting cost.
Further, in the method in which the resin is provided to the substrate side and the semiconductor chip is bonded thereon by a face-down bonding process, since a bump of the semiconductor chip is connected to a land (a conductive section) on the substrate while pushing through the resin to move aside, the resin (the adhesive) cannot be prevented from remaining between the land and the bump. And, the land and the bump could be exfoliated from each other because of the difference in the thermal expansion coefficient between the residual resin and the land or the bump, thus problematically lowering the mounting reliability. Further, the contact resistance between the land and the bump is problematically enlarged by the residual resin.
Still further, since the semiconductor chip pushes the resin (the adhesive) to run aside when bonding the semiconductor chip by a face-down boding process, another component to be positioned adjacent to the semiconductor chip cannot be disposed at the nearest position, which results in a dead space on the substrate, thus making a cause of degrading high-density mounting.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device including exposing a dicing line on a wafer


In a tilt handle, including a steering shaft, supported by a sleeve the lower end of which is pivotably provided so as to adjust an inclination angle of the tilt handle with relation to a car body, a device for adjusting the inclination angle of the tilt handle includes a stationary bracket, a movable bracket and spring means therebetween, the stationary bracket being positioned at a proper portion of the car body. The movable bracket is located at a suitable portion of the sleeve and is movable within the stationary bracket. The spring means is provided for energizing the sleeve to move upwardly.

The present invention relates to a tilt handle in which a position of a steering wheel may be adjusted so as to conform to the contour of the body of a driver and in particular relates, to a device for making it easy to adjust the inclination angle of the tilt handle.
In the prior art tilt handle, the inclination angle of a steering shaft is adjusted in a vertical direction by an adjusting mechanism to change the position of a steering wheel thereby properly positioning the steering wheel, to conform to the contour of the body of the driver. For example, as can be seen in FIG. 1, such a type of tilt handle includes a steering shaft 1, one end of which is joined to a steering wheel 2 and the other end of which is connected through a universal joint 3 to a joint shaft 5 for a steering gear box 4 or to the gear box 4 directly. A sleeve 6 rotatably supports the steering shaft 1 by a ball bearing or a bush (not shown). The sleeve 6 is fixed at its relatively upper portion through a device for adjusting an inclination angle of the steering shaft. In the prior art adjusting device as above-mentioned, however, when the fastening of the bracket is loosened by the adjusting lever, the sleeve 6 and other portions relative thereto are apt to incline downwards due to the fact that the steering shaft and the sleeve are not supported by any means. Accordingly, it is necessary that the driver holds the steering wheel to support same, when the tilt handle inclination is adjusted to a desired angle, until the lever is clamped in a desired position. Due to the sleeve and other portions relative thereto being very heavy, operation thereof requires some amount of force and becomes troublesome.

Device for adjusting an inclination angle of a tilt handle in a vehicle


A method of producing a piston ring to be incorporated in an internal combustion engine includes first nitriding surfaces of a steel base material in a high temperature range and then continuously nitriding in a low temperature range. Finally a porous layer of at least a sliding surface is removed to expose a diffusion layer under the porous layer.

This invention relates to a method of producing a piston ring to be incorporated in an internal combustion engine, and more particularly, to a method of producing a steel piston ring such as a steel compression ring.
Internal combustion engines including those supercharged have been improved for high speed, while having a high compression ratio according to user's needs. Therefore, it is also required to improve the piston ring such as the compression ring incorporated in the internal combustion engine.
An unleaded fuel is widely used for the internal combustion engine because of an air pollution problem. However, a leaded fuel is still used for the internal combustion engine in many countries. In a cylinder of the internal combustion engine supplied with the leaded fuel oil, hydrochloric acid gas and sulfuric acid gas create a strongly corrosive atmosphere. Accordingly, in the conventional piston ring plated with a chrome, a chromium plating of a sliding surface of the conventional piston ring is remarkably worn away. To overcome this problem it has been known to plate thickly with chrome the piston ring to prevent the sliding surface from wearing. However, such a solution is costly.
An improvement in wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the piston ring is eagerly required at present. For this purpose, the sliding surface of the piston ring is subjected to a nitriding treatment.
FIG. 7 shows a part of a conventional compression ring 1 as a piston ring. As shown in FIG. 7, a surface of a steel base material 2 is provided with a nitrided layer 3 formed by a nitriding treatment. When the nitrided layer 3 is formed by nitriding, a very fragile porous layer called a "white layer" is formed on a surface portion of the nitrided layer 3. The fragile porous layer on the surface portion of the sliding surface 4 or on both side surfaces and the sliding surface 4 is removed during a successive steps, and then a product of the piston ring can be finished.
A first example of materials composing the steel base material 2 will be described hereunder. The materials are described by weight percent.
C (Carbon): 0.80-0.95
Si (Silicon): 0.35-0.50
Mn (Manganese): 0.25-0.40
Cr (Chromium): 17.00-18.00
Mo (Molybdenum): 1.00-1.25
V (Vanadium): 0.08-0.15
Fe (Iron): Remaining percent
Unavoidable impurity material: Trace
A second example of the materials is as follows.
C: 0.87-0.93
Si: 0.20-0.40
Mn: 0.20-0.40
Cr: 21.00-22.00
Mo: 0.20-0.40
Ni (Nickel): 0.90-1.10
Fe: Remaining percent
Unavoidable impurity material: Trace
The compression ring 1 is incorporated in the internal combustion engine, so as to be placed in a groove formed on a piston of the internal combustion engine. While the internal combustion engine is operated, the compression ring 1 in the piston's groove repeatedly expands and shrinks along a radial direction and repeatedly strikes against a wall of the groove. Accordingly, sometimes the nitrided layer 3 of the sliding surface 4 has cracks 5. If the cracks 5 grow, a part of the nitrided layer 3 flakes away thereby generating a flaking portion 6 on the sliding surface 4. This phenomenon causes a scuffing (extraordinary abrasion), and the compression ring 1 is broken in some cases.


A scanning type probe microscope apparatus for measuring a surface state of a sample by scanning the sample by use of a probe is disclosed. In the apparatus, the sample is inclined relative to a scan direction of the probe by a inclination mechanism. Of a signal component corresponding to the surface state of the sample, a signal component having an optional space frequency is selected to be detected by a detecting circuit. The inclination mechanism is controlled on the basis of a detection result of the detecting circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanning probe microscope having a mechanism for correcting an inclination between a scan plane of a probe and a sample plane, and a recording and reproducing apparatus having a similar mechanism, and an inclination measurement mechanism.
2. Related Background Art
An SXM collectively refers to a technique to measure a surface status of a sample by scanning a probe on a surface of the sample while detecting various mutual actions which depend on a distance between the probe and the sample. It is a measurement method derived from a scanning tunneling microscope (hereinafter referred to as STM) which utilizes a tunneling current, and it is explained by referring the STM. The STM developed by G. Binning et al. [G. Binning et al., Helvetica Physica Acta, 55, 726 (1982)] utilizes a phenomenon that a tunneling current flows when a metal probe approaches a conductive sample at a distance of approximately 1 nm while a voltage is applied therebetween. Since the current very sensitively increases monotonically with the change of the distance between them, the surface status of the sample can be very precisely detected if the sample is scanned while the tunneling current and the height of the probe are detected.
When the surface status of the sample is observed while the probe is scanned on the sample, either a method for measuring the change of the height of the probe while controlling the height of the probe so that the tunneling current is kept constant (constant current mode) or a method for measuring the change of the tunneling current Jt when the probe is scanned while the height thereof is fixed at a constant level (constant height mode) is used. In any case, it is required that the scan of the probe is parallel to the sample plane. For example, when a crystal of highly oriented graphite (HOPG) is observed, a result as shown in FIG. 1 is to be obtained in accordance with the arrangement of atoms.
However, if the sample is arranged obliquely, the surface shape is observed with distortion. If a range of scan of the probe is relatively small, it may be possible to separate a signal caused by an actual structure of the sample surface by use of electrical filter, but when the inclination is large, it is difficult to observe over a sufficiently wide range. For example, in the constant current mode, continuous measurement is not attainable when a total heightwise displacement of the probe due to the inclination of the sample exceeds a heightwise fine adjustment range of the probe.
When the constant height mode is selected, if the sample is inclined, the probe may be too far away from the sample to detect the tunneling current or the probe may contact to the sample. In order to avoid this, a feedback is applied even in the constant height mode so that the detected tunneling current is maintained within a certain range, and the height of the probe is gradually changed. In such a case, the correction beyond the heightwise fine adjustment range of the probe is not attainable.
Even if it is within the range, as far as the scanning surface (hereinafter referred to as XY plane) direction of the probe and the sample surface (hereinafter referred to as X'Y' plane) direction are not parallel to each other, there exists a difference between a displacement of the probe and a real space distance as shown in FIG. 2. Namely, where an angle defined between the sample surface and the scan plane is .theta., a change in the height due to the inclination is superimposed on the detected signal. Even if a low frequency component due to the inclination of the sample is cut off by an electrical filter as is done in the prior art to extract a signal produced by a periodical structure of atoms, the distance in the resulting signal is compressed by a factor of cos.theta. because the displacement of the probe scans over a length of 1/cos.theta. times on the sample surface. As a result, a distance precision is low, and the larger the observation area is, the larger is a difference between the real space and the scan distance.
This equally applies to the STM which has the same movement mechanisms of the probe and the sample as those of the STM. Further, in a high density recording and reproducing apparatus of a molecule order by using the SXM, the anticoincidence or the antiparallelism between the XY plane and the X'Y' plane lose a precision of recording, reproduction and erasing.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2-147803 proposes an STM having a mechanism for manually rotating a sample in order to solve the above problem, but it is difficult and troublesome to manually conduct such a strict operation.


A grate block for an incinerator has a top wall and a front wall that extends from the front wall. A pair of side walls wherein each sidewall extends from the top wall and the front wall. Each of the side walls of the grate blocks engage the side wall of the adjacent grate block. Each side wall has a recess in proximity to the front wall/upper wall interface. The recess defines a gap between the side walls of the adjacent grate blocks. An opening in the recess through the side wall allows for the flow of air from a cavity within the grate block. The slot created by the recess of the two adjoining grate blocks has a narrower slot opening created by a shallow upper recess and a broader slot opening created by a deeper lower recess. In that the openings are not directly aligned with any of the exposed surfaces, the air is required to make a perpendicular turn prior to exiting the recess of the grate block. This allows for sufficient pressure to drop across the surface of the grate block for a uniform distribution of primary air. Furthermore, the pressure drop makes it difficult to plug the opening with ash and debris by the change in direction. Furthermore, the deeper lower recess below the shallow upper recess creates a self-relieving channel.

As a result of changes in the composition of refuse or garbage, and particularly due to the increase in caloric value of such material, the combustion grate is exposed to high thermal stresses, particularly certain individual portions thereof. Furthermore, the operator of municipal waste mass burning applications typically has no control over the composition of the trash being fed into the system. At any given moment, one section of the grate can have a pile of wet yard waste while another section can have bags of high caloric or energy content plastic containers.
Due to the dual function of the combustion grate as a combustion support with ventilating means and also as a transfer or conveyance means for the material to be burned, the grate structure often includes such features as alternating fixed and movable grate sections and is a relatively complex multi-part structure. By having a uniform distribution of air beneath the grate, the basic design and operation ensures adequate oxygen for good combustion. The grate area and length is selected for sufficient residence time to allow for complete burnout, generally less than 2 percent unburned carbon content remains in the ash residue.
There are numerous factors in the combustion process that are monitored and/or attempted to be controlled. One such factor or boundary condition that is attempted to be controlled is the grate temperature. The specific control intervention involves establishing combustion temperature controls such that the average temperature of the grate layer does not exceed 300° C. with a combustion temperature of, for example, 1000° C.
Local overheating of the grate layer due to heat accumulation leads to increased corrosion and an increased scale formation rate. This results in excess wear of parts of the grate within a relatively short time and extensive annual maintenance. In these annual maintenance periods, large segments of grate parts are replaced.
One preventative measure for preventing high corrosion or scaling rates and the resulting increased mechanical wear which leads to the premature destruction of larger segments of grate block is provided by cooling off the grate blocks. There are several techniques for cooling including passing a coolant such as water through a chamber in the grate blocks and forcing air through the grate blocks. Generally, when cooling air is used, the cooling air is additionally used as the primary combustion air. Thus, the control of the primary combustion air is also a temperature control measure.
For forced cooling purposes, the under grate blast generally flows against the grate layer and air passage openings in the layer which allows part of the cooling medium to pass into the refuse bed to be burned where it participates in the combustion process as the primary combustion air. Clogging of the air openings leads to reduced flow and increased back pressure in the cooling air path and, consequently, to accumulation of heat at the particular point of the grate layer. This leads to thermal overstressing of the grate part, increased wear, higher scaling rates and, within a short time, the failure of portions of the grate.

Grate block for a refuse incineration grate


A punching device is provided that includes a frame disposed on a base and a pair of wall members, a lever having one end pivotally coupled between the wall members, a block slidably retained between the wall members by two plates and having an upper end linked to the lever a recess formed in the block, and a rod having an upper end fixed to the block and including a bore in communication with the recess of the block. The rod is movable downwardly by the lever to punch holes in paper, and provision is made for the residual of the paper to move through the bore of the rod, through the recess of the block, and into an access with a removable cover. A downwardly biased foot presses against the sheet materials on the base before the rod punches through the sheet materials. The base includes two interconnected support racks which are simultaneously adjustable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a punching mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical punching mechanisms include at least one rod which can be pressed downward by a handle in order to punch holes through paper. The residual of the paper is punched downwards through the holes formed in the base for supporting the paper by the rods.
The present invention has arisen to provide a novel punching mechanism.

Pingho Tsun, Tatsun Hsiang, Changhua Hsien


A conductive bonding material having an improved preservation stability, and hardens when desired, preferably immediately hardens at a low temperature is provided. In one invention, the conductive bonding material comprises a conductive particle ingredient, an epoxy resin ingredient, and a hardening agent ingredient for said epoxy resin and the hardening agent ingredient for said epoxy resin further comprise a reforming agent having a thiol group. In another invention, a conductive bonding material comprising an epoxy resin hardening ingredient, wherein said epoxy resin hardening ingredient contains a sulfur-containing compound having an end group which can coordinate with a surface of the metallic particles, and the sulfur-containing compound comes to perform as a hardening agent for the epoxy resin by dissociating from the surface of the metallic particles. The conductive bonding material may contain fragrance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electroconductive (hereinafter, also referred to as "conductive") bonding material comprising an electroconductive particles ingredient, an epoxy resin ingredient and an epoxy resin-hardening ingredient, a method for producing an electric/electronic circuit, as well as an electric/electronic device having such an electric/electronic circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
In the field of producing electric/electronic circuits, an electroconductive bonding material, i.e. an electroconductive adhesive is widely used for the purposes of mounting electric/electronic components (hereinafter, also collectively referred to as "electric components") onto a circuit board and the purposes of forming conductor pattern on a circuit board. The electroconductive adhesives, which are used in the field of mounting the electric components, basically having a composition comprising a resin composition as a binder and conductive particles of such as metallic particles which are dispersed in the resin composition. The conductive adhesives, wherein the resin composition has a paste-like form, are referred to as the conductive paste.
Such resin composition contains a resin-hardening ingredient, which makes the resin composition harden by being subjected to a condition, e.g. by being subjected to a predetermined temperature condition. When a conductive adhesive is subjected to a predetermined temperature condition, the resin composition therein volumetrically shrinks while hardening, so that the volume of the resin composition as a whole decreases. As a result, the conductive particles which were dispersed in the resin composition come to contact one another and form a continuous conductive path through the hardened conductive adhesive.
As an example of such conductive adhesives, there is an epoxy-based conductive adhesive composition which contains an epoxy resin as the resin composition, a hardening agent for hardening the epoxy resin, and metallic particles such as silver or nickel as the conductive ingredient. The conductive adhesive compositions of such type hardens generally by being heated to a temperature of 120 degree centigrade or more.
Recently, electric components having lower heat resistance property are frequently used in connection with the advancement of the functions of electric components. Accordingly, a conductive adhesive (i.e. a bonding material for mounting) which hardens at a lower temperature is highly required. Further, considering the operability at work sites, preservation stability for a period from several days to several weeks in the adhesive component state is also required for a one-component adhesive composition as mentioned in the above.
Intending to prepare a conductive adhesive paste having lower hardening temperature, applying one-component type epoxy resin composition having a low hardening temperature, which has been known as an adhesive material, to a conductive paste is examined. For example, a resin composition containing an epoxy resin, a thiol compound as the hardening agent and a latent hardening promotor of solid dispersed type is known as an adhesive (Patent Document 1). Furthermore, aiming to improve preservation stability, a conductive paste containing a borate ester compound in addition to the above composition is proposed (Patent Document 2).    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 211969/1994    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 2000-230112

Electroconductive bonding material and electric/electronic device using the same


Methods, devices, and systems for wafer processing are described herein. One method of wafer processing includes modifying a peripheral edge of a wafer to create a number of edge surfaces substantially perpendicular to a number of dicing paths and dicing the wafer along the number of dicing paths. In one or more embodiments, the method includes modifying the peripheral edge of the wafer with a first tool and dicing the wafer with a second tool different from the first tool.

Integrated circuits (ICs) form the basis for many electronic systems. Essentially, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a vast number of transistors and other circuit elements that are formed on a single semiconductor wafer or semiconductor chip and are interconnected to implement a desired function. Increasing complexity of these ICs leads to an increasing number of linked transistors and other circuit elements.
An individual integrated circuit or chip is usually formed from a larger structure known as a semiconductor wafer, which can be comprised of various materials such as silicon, gallium arsenide, indium phosphide, ceramic, copper, glass, glass-ceramic, lithium niobate, quartz, sapphire, silicon on insulator, and/or silicon on sapphire glass, among various other materials. Such wafers often have round peripheries and can have a plurality of integrated circuits arranged in rows and columns with the periphery of each integrated circuit being rectangular. The wafer can be sawn or "diced" into rectangularly shaped discrete integrated circuits along two mutually perpendicular sets of parallel lines, e.g., streets, lying between each of the rows and columns thereof. Hence, the separated or singulated integrated circuits are commonly referred to as dice.
An example, a wafer sawing operation can include attaching the wafer to a wafer saw carrier, mechanically, adhesively or otherwise, as known in the art, and mounting the wafer saw carrier on the table of the wafer saw. A blade of the wafer saw is passed through the surface of the wafer by moving either the blade relative to the wafer or the table of the saw and the wafer relative to a stationary blade, or a combination of both. In various cases, to dice the wafer, the blade cuts precisely along each street, returning back over (but not in contact with) the wafer while the wafer is laterally indexed to the next cutting location. Once all cuts associated with mutually parallel streets having one orientation are complete, the blade can be rotated 90 degrees relative to the wafer or the wafer can be rotated 90 degrees, and cuts can be made through streets in a direction perpendicular to the initial direction of cut.
Various dicing blades are available commercially. By way of example, a sintered diamond blade includes diamond particles which are fused into a soft metal such as brass or copper, or incorporated by means of a powdered metallurgical process; a plated diamond blade includes diamond particles which are held in a nickel bond produced by an electroplating process; and a resinoid diamond blade is one in which diamond particles are typically held in a resin bond to create a homogeneous matrix, among various other dicing blades.
The type of dicing blade used to dice a wafer can depend on various factors such as the type of wafer. For instance, the type of dicing blade used can depend on whether the wafer is comprised of silicon, glass, ceramic, sapphire, and/or a combination thereof. In some cases, the wafer can be a number of wafers bonded together forming a wafer stack. In such cases, each wafer of the stack can be comprised of a different material or a combination of different materials.
In dicing operations, the sharpness of the tool blade can affect the effectiveness of the cutting and/or the yield of a wafer dicing process. The blade sharpness can be affected by various factors including blade speed, torque, depth of cut, and feed rate, among others. Dull dicing blades can slow the wafer dicing process, which can cause problems such as reduced throughput as blades are replaced and/or sharpened. The high cost of these wafers, together with the value of the circuits fabricated on them, makes it difficult to accept anything less than high yield at the die-separation phase.


An electric steering apparatus designed to eliminate backlash by enabling a hypoid pinion 7, which operates with rotation of a steering assisting motor, to swing with a bearing as a fulcrum and deflecting the hypoid pinion 7 in a radial direction by an elastic member 16. With this electric steering apparatus, it is possible to satisfactorily eliminate backlash without being affected by dimensional errors of parts such as gears used for assisting steering and to automatically eliminate backlash if it is caused by an increase of abrasion of teeth of the gears.

The present invention relates to an electric steering apparatus using a motor as a source of generating a steering assist force.
An automobile is steered by transmitting a rotational operation of a steering wheel disposed inside the compartment of the vehicle to a steering mechanism provided outside of the compartment for steering-control wheels (in general, front wheels).
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electric steering apparatus according to a conventional example.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, an electric steering apparatus for an automobile comprises a first steering shaft 101 connected to a steering wheel; a torque sensor 104 for detecting a steering torque by relative displacement in a rotating direction between the steering shaft 101 and a second steering shaft 103 connected to the steering shaft 101 through a torsion bar 102; and a reduction mechanism 108 including a hypoid pinion 106 for increasing a torque of a steering assisting motor 105 driven based on a torque detected by the torque sensor 104 and for transmitting the increased torque to the steering shaft 103 and a hypoid wheel 107 meshing with the hypoid pinion 106, and is arranged to assist the operation of the steering mechanism corresponding to the rotation of the steering wheel by rotation of the motor 105 so as to reduce a driver""s labor for steering.
The hypoid pinion 106 is integrally coupled to one end portion of a rotating shaft 109 of the motor 105. Moreover, movement of the hypoid pinion 106 in a radial direction and in an axial direction is inhibited by a pair of bearings 110 and 111 supporting both end portions of the rotating shaft 109, while a pair of bearings 112 and 113 prevent the second steering shaft 103 to which the hypoid wheel 107 is attached from moving in a radial direction and in an axial direction.
By the way, in the case where the hypoid pinion 106 and hypoid wheel 107 are used, the clearance between the teeth of the hypoid pinion 106 and hypoid wheel 107 is initially set in assembling. At this initial setting, a variation of the clearance between the teeth is caused by dimensional errors of parts, such as the hypoid pinion 106, bearings 110 through 113, hypoid wheel 107 and second steering shaft 103, and the accuracy of the crossing angle in assembling. Consequently, backlash occurs after the assembling, and noise caused by this backlash will be heard inside the compartment of the automobile.
Further, with the progress in an increase of the power of the steering assist force in resent years, the abrasion of the teeth of the hypoid pinion 106 and hypoid wheel 107 increases and a problem arises that occurrence of the above-mentioned backlash is unavoidable. In this case, since the movements of the hypoid pinion 106 and hypoid wheel 107 are inhibited, the backlash can not be adjusted and consequently noise caused by the backlash will be heard inside the compartment of the automobile.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electric steering apparatus capable of solving the above problems.
An electric steering apparatus according to the first invention is an electric steering apparatus for assisting steering by rotation of a motor, comprising: a driving gear provided on a supporting shaft which operates with rotation of the motor for assisting steering; a driven gear meshing with the driving gear; a steering shaft to which the driven gear is provided; and a first bearing for supporting the supporting shaft; and characterized in that the driving gear can deflect in the radial direction, and deflecting means for deflecting the driving gear in its deflecting direction is comprised.
An electric steering apparatus according to the second invention is characterized, in addition to the first invention, in that the deflecting means includes an elastic member having at least three protrusions for energizing the driving gear in the deflecting direction from at least three positions along a circumferential direction.
An electric steering apparatus according to the third invention is characterized, in addition to the first invention, in that the driving gear is able to swing with the first bearing as a fulcrum.
An electric steering apparatus according to the fourth invention is characterized, in addition to the third invention, in that the deflecting means includes an elastic member having at least three protrusions for energizing the driving gear in the deflecting direction from at least three positions along a circumferential direction.
An electric steering apparatus according to the fifth invention is characterized, in addition to the third invention, in that the supporting shaft is a rotating shaft of the motor, and one end portion of the supporting shaft is supported so that it is able to swing with the first bearing as a fulcrum, the other end portion of the supporting shaft of the motor is supported by a second bearing which is deflectable in a radial direction, and the driving gear is integrally coupled to the one end portion of the rotating shaft.
An electric steering apparatus according to the sixth invention is characterized, in addition to the fifth invention, in that the deflecting means is interposed between the second bearing and a housing for holding the second bearing.
An electric steering apparatus according to the seventh invention is characterized, in addition to the fifth invention, in that the deflecting means includes an elastic member having at least three protrusions for energizing the driving gear in the deflecting direction from at least three positions along a circumferential direction.
An electric steering apparatus according to the eighth invention is characterized, in addition to the third invention, in that both end portions of the rotating shaft of the motor are supported by a pair of third bearings, and the driving gear is coupled to one end portion of the rotating shaft through a universal joint.
An electric steering apparatus according to the ninth invention is characterized, in addition eighth invention, in that the deflecting means includes an elastic member having at least three protrusions for energizing the driving gear in the deflecting direction from at least three positions along a circumferential direction.
An electric steering apparatus according to the tenth invention is characterized, in addition to the eighth invention, in that the driving gear is supported by a fourth bearing interposed between the first bearing and the universal joint so that it is deflectable in a radial direction, and the deflecting means is an elastic member for energizing the fourth bearing in its deflecting direction.
An electric steering apparatus according to the eleventh invention is characterized, in addition to the first invention, by further comprising fifth and sixth bearings made of iron for limiting movement of the driven gear in an axial direction; and an elastic member, interposed between the fifth bearing and a housing made of aluminum into which the fifth and sixth bearings are fitted, for energizing the fifth bearing toward the driven gear, and in that the driven gear is formed by using a hypoid wheel.
According to the first invention, since the driving gear can be deflected toward the driven gear by the deflecting means, it is possible to satisfactorily eliminate backlash without being affected by dimensional errors of parts such as the driving gear and the accuracy of the crossing angle in assembling and to improve the yield. Moreover, even when the meshing state of the driving gear and driven gear changes with time because of abrasion of the teeth of the driving gear and driven gear due to steering, it is possible to satisfactorily eliminate backlash and to prevent noise from being generated by backlash and heard inside the compartment of an automobile.
According to the third invention, in the first invention, it is possible to eliminate backlash without changing the supporting point of the driving gear.
According to the fifth invention, in the third invention, even when the driving gear is hypoid pinion integrally coupled to one end portion of the rotating shaft of the motor as the supporting shaft, it is possible to swing the driving gear in a simple manner.
According to the sixth invention, in the fifth invention, the rotating shaft rotates a slightly clockwise centering with the first bearing because the second bearing is energized downwardly. Accordingly, the driving gear provided on the left end portion of the rotating shaft is energized upwardly and can securely mesh with the driven gear.
According to the eighth invention, in the third invention, since the center of rotation of the driving gear and that of the rotating shaft can be arranged to cross each other, even when the deflection of the driving gear increases, it is possible to eliminate backlash while retaining the rotating characteristic of the driving gear.
According to the tenth invention, in the eighth invention, since the driving gear is energized via the fourth bearing, it is possible to satisfactorily retain the rotating characteristic of the driving gear and satisfactorily prevent positional displacement of the meshing point of the driving gear and driven gear.
According to the second, fourth, seventh and ninth inventions, in the first, third, fifth and seventh inventions, it is possible to apply the elastic restoring forces of the protrusions to the driving gear via the bearing and energize the driving gear toward the driven gear. Therefore, even when the meshing state of the driving gear and driven gear changes with time because of dimensional errors of parts such as the driving gear and abrasion of the teeth of the driving gear and driven due to steering, it is possible to automatically eliminate the clearance between the driving gear and driven gear and to satisfactorily eliminate backlash. In addition, when number of the protrusion is one or two, accurate assembling becomes hard, so that it is becomes hard to prevent the positional displacement of the meshing point of the driving gear and driven gear.
Moreover, since at least three protrusions come into contact with the bearing and energize the bearing from at least three positions along a circumferential direction, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent positional displacement of the meshing point of the driving gear and driven gear. Furthermore, even when a rotational torque applied to the meshing point of the driving gear and driven gear generates a force for separating the driving gear from the driven gear, the movement of the bearing with respect to the elastic member can be limited by the intermediate protrusions, thereby preventing the bearing from coming into contact with the elastic member and generating noise.
According to the eleventh invention, in the first invention, even when the ambient temperature of the driven gear increases and the clearance between the housing and the bearing in the axial direction increases because of the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the housing made of aluminum and the bearing made of iron, the movement of the bearing and driven gear in the axial direction due to this clearance can be satisfactorily limited by the elastic member, thereby automatically eliminating the clearance between the driving gear and driven gear and satisfactorily eliminating backlash.
The above and further objects and features of the invention will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description with accompanying drawings.


A container assembly for housing a jamming device includes a box having a bottom section, a wall extending from and surrounding the bottom section and an opening for insertion of the jamming device into the box. The box or a frame, dimensioned to receive the box therein, includes coupling members for interconnection of another container thereto. A lid is applicable above the box to substantially cover its opening. A locking assembly includes a first locking member provided on the lid which cooperates with a second locking member on the box or the frame. This locking assembly cooperates with a locking assembly of the other container when interconnected through the coupling members to maintain the lid fixedly positioned to cover the opening.

Jamming means to be housed in the container refer to both active jamming means, such as IR-burning bodies and passive jamming means, such as radar chaff. Other examples of jamming means are smoke delivering means and radar reflectors.
A container according to the above is previously known from SE B 8700504-7. Commonly, such containers are put together into long rows. The outermost container at one of the ends of such a row is not able to keep its contents of jamming means without special measures. This is not a great problem as long as the containers are kept together in long rows and the outermost open container is left unfilled.
In certain connections, however, it is desirable to divide the row into shorter rows, for example to optimize the filling of a container magazine in a dispenser. This situation may occur for example, when the standard length of the container rows or a multiple of such length is not adapted to the length of the container magazine of the dispenser or when container magazines are to be filled which are only partly emptied at a preceding activation of the dispenser.


A health monitoring system of an aircraft includes a plurality of sensors and interfaces that are non-invasively installed in a system of the aircraft. Further, the health monitoring system includes a data concentrator unit that is coupled to the plurality of sensor and interfaces. The data concentrator unit receives data associated with various components of the aircraft system from the plurality of sensor and interfaces. Responsively, the data concentrator unit processes the received data to generate a single output data stream that is transmitted to a configurable data receiver unit of the aircraft. The configurable data receiver unit transmits the received single output data stream to a ground server and an on-board display to monitor and determine a health and/or performance of the aircraft system.

An air-conditioning system of an aircraft is designed to provide a constant flow of fresh air into a pressurized body of the aircraft for ventilating one or more cabins of the aircraft and/or to maintain a relatively constant and comfortable temperature and humidity level of the ventilation air for the passengers and crew in the aircraft, both on the ground and in the air. Typically, the air-conditioning system includes at least two substantially symmetrical and independent air-conditioning units referred to as air-conditioning packs, e.g., left air-conditioning pack and right air-conditioning pack, that are disposed in an unpressurized area of the aircraft. The air-conditioning packs are configured to receive engine bleed air, process the engine bleed air, and generate conditioned air for air-conditioning and pressurization of the one or more cabins of the aircraft.
The air-conditioning packs are generally known to have low inherent reliability because they are a high vibration and high heat system which results in frequent performance degradation and/or failure of the air-conditioning pack components. Such performance degradation or failure of the air-conditioning packs may result in high operational and maintenance cost to the aircraft operator. For example, if one or both the air-conditioning packs fail during flight, the aircraft may be restricted to fly at a lower altitude than the aircraft's typical cruise altitude. Flying at a lower altitude results in significantly higher fuel burn, which in turn translates to high operations costs and monetary losses for the aircraft operator. Furthermore, the failure or even a degradation in performance of the air-conditioning packs that control the temperature inside the passenger cabins would result in passenger discomfort. Also, in some cases, the failure or degradation in performance of the air-conditioning packs may result in maintenance delays, cancellation of flights, and/or flight exceptions, resulting in huge monetary losses for the aircraft operator. Therefore, the a health of the air-conditioning packs of the aircraft is vital to an efficient operation of the aircraft as well as to ensure passenger comfort.
Conventional systems for monitoring the health of air-conditioning packs (air-conditioning health monitoring system) in aircraft, such as Boeing 737, McDonnell Douglas MD-88, etc., are limited to one or two sensors that monitor the temperature of the conditioned air at the output of the air-conditioning packs. The conventional systems may generate an alert when the temperature of the conditioned air is above or below a threshold temperature value or when at least one of the air-conditioning packs fail. However, said alerts do not identify the discrepant component of the air-conditioning packs that is causing of the performance degradation or failure of the air-conditioning packs. Further, it may be difficult for the maintenance crew to reproduce a performance degradation or failure of the air-conditioning packs that occurred while the aircraft was in flight since the exact variables of flight are not present while the aircraft is on the ground for maintenance. Therefore, the maintenance crew often has to conduct extensive troubleshooting to determine which component of the air-conditioning packs has failed or is functioning incorrectly, replace said component, and/or send the failed component for repair. An error in the troubleshooting may result in the wrong component being replaced and the maintenance crew may have to spend additional time finding the discrepant component, thereby increasing the maintenance time. Additionally, when the wrong component is replaced and sent to the repair shop, the component has to be tested and recertified before installing it back on the aircraft resulting in additional maintenance cost and time.
Additional sensors can be installed in the air-conditioning packs to provide detailed information regarding the performance of the different components of the air-conditioning packs, thereby improving the ability of the maintenance crew to rightly identify and troubleshoot a discrepancy in the air-conditioning packs in a first attempt. However, electrical and hardware limitations of aircraft, such as Boeing 737, McDonnell Douglas MD-88, etc., restrict the number of additional sensors that can be installed in the aircraft for monitoring the health of the air-conditioning system. For example, a flight data acquisition unit of the aircraft that is a central collection point for the sensor inputs has less than ten sensor input ports available for system monitoring purposes, thereby limiting the number of additional sensors that can be installed for air-conditioning health monitoring. In other words, the configurable data receiver unit may have limited bandwidth for additional sensors. Further, the conventional air-conditioning health monitoring systems follow a reactive approach where alerts are generated after the components of the air-conditioning packs have failed.
Newer aircraft, such as Boeing 777, Boeing 787, etc., do have a more predictive air-conditioning health monitoring system. However, said systems on the newer aircraft are invasive, that is, they require significant structural modifications to the aircraft ducting and/or equipment, such as drilling holes. Such modifications would increase the chances of fatigue failures, cracking, etc., which translates to additional operational and/or maintenance costs to the aircraft operator. Further, the features of the predictive air-conditioning health monitoring system in the newer aircraft are not available in the base model of the aircraft. Instead, they are provided as add-on features in higher models or as accessories that can be purchased at a higher premium.
In view of the above mentioned shortcomings of existing air-conditioning health monitoring systems, there exists a need for an improved air-conditioning health monitoring system that is also cost-efficient.

Non-invasive and predictive health monitoring of an aircraft system


An ink jet heater chip having improved thermal. The chip includes a semiconductor substrate, a first metal resistive, a second metal conductive layer on a first portion of the resistive layer and on a second portion of the resistive layer defining a heater resistor element. A passivation layer having a thickness defined by a deposition process is deposited on the second metal conductive layer and heater resistor element. A cavitation layer is deposited on the passivation layer and etched. A dielectric layer is deposited and etched to provide a dielectric layer overlying the first portion of the resistive layer. An electrical conduit via is etched in the dielectric layer. A third metal conductive layer is deposited in the via for electrical contact with the second metal conductive layer. Separately deposited dielectric and passivation layers enable independent control of the thickness of the dielectric and passivation layers.

Ink jet drop on demand printers are available in two main types, thermal ink jet printers and piezoelectric ink jet printers. The printheads for such printers may be configured as roof-shooters or side-shooters depending on the orientation of the nozzle holes with respect to the actuation devices which cause ink to be ejected through the nozzle holes. Thermal ink jet printers rely on resistive heating elements to heat ink and cause formation of a vapor bubble in an ink chamber adjacent the heating element which urges ink through an orifice toward the print media at an extremely rapid rate. High pressures generated in the ink chamber during the bubble formation and collapse can damage the heating elements during the life of the printhead. Accordingly, ink jet heater chips containing the heating elements as the ink ejection devices are typically fabricated with multiple layers of passivation and protection materials on the resistive heating elements.
As the speed of ink jet printers increases, the frequency of ink ejection by individual heating elements also increases thereby increasing the frequency of mechanical shock experienced by the heating elements. Increasing the thickness or number of protection material layers on the heating elements can increase the life of the printhead, however, the thermal efficiency of the heating elements suffers as the thickness or number of protection layers over the heating element increases. A need exists for ink jet heater chips having increased thermal efficiency and processes for making the heater chips which do not significantly increase printhead fabrication costs.


A method, system, and computer program product for enforcing logical partitioning of a shared device to which multiple partitions within a data processing system have access is provided. In one embodiment, a firmware portion of the data processing system receives a request from a requesting device, such as a processor assigned to one of a plurality of partitions within the data processing system, to access (i.e., read from or write to) a portion of the shared device, such as an NVRAM. The request includes a virtual address corresponding to the portion of the shared device for which access is desired. If the virtual address is within a range of addresses for which the requesting device is authorized to access, the firmware provides access to the requested portion of the shared device to the requesting device. If the virtual address is not within a range of addresses for which the requesting device is authorized to access, the firmware denies the request.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system and, more particularly, to an improved logically partitioned data processing system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved non-volatile random access memory access for logically partitioned data processing systems.
2. Description of Related Art
A logical partitioning (LPAR) functionality within a data processing system (platform) allows multiple copies of a single operating system (OS) or multiple heterogeneous operating systems to be simultaneously run on a single data processing system platform. A partition, within which an operating system image runs, is assigned a non-overlapping sub-set of the platform""s resources. These platform allocable resources include one or more architecturally distinct processors with their interrupt management area, regions of system memory, and I/O adapter bus slots. The partition""s resources are represented by the platform""s firmware to the OS image.
Each distinct OS or image of an OS running within the platform are protected from each other such that software errors on one logical partition cannot affect the correct operation of any of the other partitions. This is provided by allocating a disjoint set of platform resources to be directly managed by each OS image and by providing mechanisms for ensuring that the various images cannot control any resources that have not been allocated to it. Furthermore, software errors in the control of an OS""s allocated resources are prevented from affecting the resources of any other image. Thus, each image of the OS (or each different OS) directly controls a distinct set of allocable resources within the platform.
Currently, some resources existing singly within the data processing system are shared by more than one partition. It would be desirable to have a mechanism by which these single resources may be logically partitioned and have the logical partitioning strictly enforced.
The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for enforcing logical partitioning of a shared device to which multiple partitions within a data processing system have access. In one embodiment, a firmware portion of the data processing system receives a request from a requesting device, such as a processor assigned to one of a plurality of partitions within the data processing system, to access (i.e., read from or write to) a portion of the shared device, such as an NVRAM. The request includes a virtual address corresponding to the portion of the shared device for which access is desired. If the virtual address is within a range of addresses for which the requesting device is authorized to access, the firmware provides access to the requested portion of the shared device to the requesting device. If the virtual address is not within a range of addresses for which the requesting device is authorized to access, the firmware denies the request.

Virtualized NVRAM access methods to provide NVRAM CHRP regions for logical partitions through hypervisor system calls

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus for sorting conical bobbin tubes for textile machines with their tip ends located to one side comprises a supply device supplying individual bobbin tubes transversely of their axes along a guide table and between two lateral guide edges. The distance of the lateral guide edges from the guide table is equal to the mean bobbin tube diameter and the mutual distance between which diminishes, seen in the direction of the bobbin tube supply, from a value greater than the bobbin tube length to a value smaller than the bobbin tube length. During their movement in the supply direction the bobbin tubes are forced to move longitudinally in the direction of their tip end, which permits sorting them with their tip end to one side. For also automatically sorting bobbin tubes of varying diameter with their tip end to one side, the guide edges are connected with a feeler, designed as a rod, which checks the mean bobbin tube diameter, in such a manner that their distance from the guide table always corresponds to the mean bobbin tube diameter.

The present invention concerns an apparatus for sorting to the same side the ends of conical bobbin tubes for textile machines, in particular but not exclusively for spinning or twisting machines, by supplying the individual bobbin tubes transverse to their axes along a support means between two lateral guides. The distance of the guides from the support means is substantially equal to the mean bobbin tube diameter, and the mutual distance between such guides, seen in the direction of the bobbin tube supply, diminishes from a value exceeding the bobbin tube length to a value smaller than the bobbin tube length. In this specification the term "mean bobbin tube diameter" refers to the external diameter of an individual bobbin tube at a location approximately midway between two ends. The term is not limited to the diameter of the bobbin tube at the exact mid-length thereof. An apparatus as defined above will be referred to hereinafter as "an apparatus of the type described".
In an apparatus of this type the bobbin tube during its movement in the supply direction is forced by the guide contacting the bobbin tube foot (the end of larger diameter) to move in the direction of the bobbin tube tip (the end of smaller diameter), owing to which movement the bobbin tube may be presented in front of the opening of a chute in such manner, that owing to its weight distribution, it falls with its foot end first, and thus the bobbin tubes are sorted with the same ends to the same side, i.e. in this case, feet downwards.
Devices of such type are applied in the textile industry at all places where conical bobbin tubes are mechanically handled for their further processing, i.e. where the bobbin tubes are to be presented parallel and oriented with their foot ends, or tip ends respectively, to the same side. This is e.g. the case in the automatically functioning bobbin tube donning device on a ring spinning or ring twisting machine, on which empty bobbin tubes are to be donned to the spindles arranged along one or more rows.
The term "sorting of bobbin tubes" in the context of the present invention is understood in the broadest sense of establishing a geometric arrangement of the conical bobbin tubes depending on their dimensions; their material, weight, color, etc. not being considered. Sorting of bobbin tubes with the same ends to the same side is referred to hereinafter as "orienting" of bobbin tubes.
In a known bobbin tube orienting device of the type described (German DE-AS 2,003,594) two lateral guide edges are arranged in a plane substantially parallel to a guide table in such manner that their distance from the guide table is invariable and substantially equal to the mean diameter of the bobbin tubes to be sorted. This arrangement permits correct orienting of bobbin tubes of identical dimensions, i.e. of bobbin tubes, the largest diameter of which is larger, and the smallest diameter of which is smaller than the fixed distance between the guide edges and the guide table. It presents, however, the disadvantage, that it does not permit automatic orienting of tubes of different diameter, e.g. of bobbin tubes of the same inside diameter but of different thickness. Such bobbin tubes, which can be donned on the spindles without difficulties, cannot be oriented or jam in the machine. This results in a disturbance of the sorting process. This disadvantage is of great practical importance, as in normal spinning mill practice different bobbin tubes are used according to the respective applications on the same machine; these may vary from doffing cycle to doffing cycle. In particular, alternating use of thin walled disposable bobbin tubes and of thickwalled card board or plastic bobbin tubes occurs frequently.

Apparatus for sorting conical bobbin tubes of textile machines


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which contextual bids for an auction are provided for advertisement requests for presentation of an advertisement in an identified context. Each contextual bid is based on an effectiveness measure associated with a corresponding advertisement and the identified context. Each corresponding advertisement can be served in a plurality of contexts, and the corresponding advertisement has a corresponding plurality of effectiveness measures, each effectiveness measure determined from evaluation results received from evaluations conducted in the plurality of contexts.

This document relates to measuring the effectiveness of online advertisements.
The rise of the Internet has enabled access to a wide variety of content items, e.g., video and/or audio files, web pages for particular subjects, and news articles. Such access to these content items has likewise enabled opportunities for targeted advertising. For example, content items can be identified to a user by a search engine in response to a query submitted by the user. One example search engine is the Google™ search engine provided by Google Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., U.S.A. The query can include one or more search terms, and the search engine can identify and, optionally, rank the content items based on the search terms in the query and present the content items to the user (e.g., according to the rank). The query can also be an indicator of the type of information of interest to the user. By comparing the user query to a list of keywords specified by an advertiser, it is possible to provide targeted advertisements to the user.
Another form of online advertising is advertisement syndication, which allows advertisers to extend their marketing reach by distributing advertisements to additional partners. For example, third party online publishers can place an advertiser's text or image advertisements on web pages that have content related to the advertisement. As the users are likely interested in the particular content on the publisher webpage, they are also likely to be interested in the product or service featured in the advertisement. Accordingly, such targeted advertisement placement can help drive online customers to the advertiser's website.
The serving of the advertisements can be further optimized by evaluating the effectiveness of the advertisements. One technique for evaluating the effectiveness of an advertisement is to survey an audience for advertisement recognition and brand linkage. The measure of advertisement recognition can, for example, be based on the percentage of a survey audience that recognizes the advertisement, and the measure of brand linkage can, for example, be based on the percentage of the survey audience that correctly identifies the featured product and/or brand of the advertisement. An advertisement can be brand obfuscated, i.e., branding and/or product information can be removed from the advertisement, and an audience can be surveyed to measure the brand linkage and advertisement recognition.
Such surveys, however, are typically conducted after an advertising campaign has run. Additionally, such surveys are typically context-independent, i.e., the surveys do not measure how effective an advertisement may be in the various contexts in which the advertisement may be presented.