An IR-cut filter comprises a crystal plate and a multilayer film formed on one side of the crystal plate. The multilayer film is composed of first thin films made of a high refractive index material and second thin films made of a low refractive index material, which are alternately layered. The multilayer film is composed of a first layer, a second layer and a third layer sequentially from one side of the crystal plate. Film thicknesses of the layered first and second thin films differ from layer to layer so that the layers have different thicknesses. The layers have thicknesses which are sequentially increased. The multilayer film is provided with a sharpness prevention means for preventing a sharp change in transmittance within a visible region. The sharpness prevention means provides an inflection point at a wavelength band in which transmittance changes sharply.

An optical system of an electronic camera, typically including general video cameras, digital still cameras and the like, comprises an integrated optical system, an IR(Infrared Ray)-cut filter, an optical low pass filter, and an imaging device, such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or the like, which are placed sequentially along an optical axis with the closest to the subject listed first (see, for example, JP 2000-209510A).
An imaging device as described above has sensitivity characteristics that respond to light in a wider wavelength band than that visible to the human eye (visible light) as shown in FIG. 13. In other words, the imaging device responds to infrared or ultraviolet light as well as visible light. It should be noted that FIG. 13(a) shows the sensitivity characteristics of the human eye, while FIG. 13(b) shows the sensitivity characteristics of a general CCD.
As can be seen from these figures, the human eye responds to light in the wavelength range of about 400 to 620 nm in the dark and light in the wavelength range of about 420 to 700 nm in the light. In contrast, the CCD responds to light in the wavelength range of 400 to 700 nm as well as light having a wavelength of less than 400 nm and light having a wavelength of more than 700 nm.
Therefore, in an imaging device as described in JP 2000-209510A, an IR-cut filter is provided in addition to a CCD to prevent infrared light from reaching the imaging device, thereby obtaining a captured image which is more approximate to that perceived by the human eye.
Conventional examples of such an IR-cut filter include an infrared absorbing glass which is transparent to visible light and absorbs infrared light, an infrared cut coat which is transparent to visible light and reflects infrared light, and the like.
An example of an infrared absorbing glass is blue glass in which a pigment, such as copper ion or the like, is dispersed.
An example of an infrared cut coat is a dielectric multilayer film in which a high refractive index material, such as TiO2, ZrO2, Ta2O5, Nb2O5 or the like, and a low refractive index material, such as SiO2, MgF2 or the like, are alternately layered up to several tens of layers on a transparent plate.
The infrared absorbing glass and infrared cut coat will be hereinafter described with reference to FIG. 14. It should be noted that FIG. 14(a) shows transmittance characteristics when an infrared absorbing glass is used in an imaging device, while FIG. 14(b) shows transmittance characteristics when an infrared cut coat is used.
Firstly, as shown in FIG. 14(a), when an infrared absorbing glass is used, "characteristics in which transmittance decreases gradually" can be obtained from a visible region to an infrared region, which are approximate to the sensitivity characteristics of the human eye.
However, when an infrared absorbing glass is used, it is difficult to adjust a point, where the transmittance is substantially 0%, to 700 nm. In the case of the infrared absorbing glass of FIG. 14(a), light at about 750 nm is also transmitted. In other words, infrared light is not completely cut out, so that the infrared image is captured by an imaging device.
Next, as shown in FIG. 14(b), when an infrared cut coat is used, "characteristics in which transmittance decreases sharply" can be obtained. Therefore, it is easy to adjust a point, where the transmittance is substantially 0%, to 700 nm.
However, in the case where transmittance changes in such a sharp manner, an image captured by an imaging device has a color different from that perceived by the human eye.
Therefore, the present invention is provided in order to solve the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a ray cut filter which prevents transmittance from changing sharply in a predetermined wavelength band (e.g., a visible region) to obtain transmittance characteristics approximate to those perceived by the human eye.


A modular lighting system may include a plurality of magnets that may be provided to self-align a light pod casing with a pod accessory. Self-alignment of the light pod casing and the pod accessory may provide a secure connection of the light pod casing with the pod accessory. Self-alignment may occur when a first set of magnets attracts a second set of magnets in which opposite polarities attract and automatically initiate movement of the light pod casing towards the pod accessory.

While portable lights are known to provide some degree of versatility, portable lights are often unable to be adjusted and securely attach to a variety of accessories using a single portable light. Particularly because portable lights are too robust or too small in size, portable lights may not provide a structure capable of being securely attached to a variety of accessories. Generally, portable lighting does not provide the degree of versatility and performance desired by users, and battery-life or power cycles can be limited, therefore requiring new batteries, repair, and/or replacement of portable light components.


Heat flow sensor comprising a thermopile with a series of thermocouples and having a first side and an opposite second side, a first electrically and thermally insulating layer arranged on the first side; a second electrically and thermally insulating layer arranged on the second side; a plurality of first thermally conductive pads spaced apart from the thermopile by the first layer and extending substantially parallel to the first side; a plurality of second thermally conductive pads spaced apart from the thermopile by the second layer and extending substantially parallel to second side; a plurality of thermally conductive first pillars, wherein each first pillar extends from one of said thermocouples at least partially into the first layer and is attached to a corresponding one of the first pads and has a length greater than a thickness of the corresponding first pad.

A heat flux sensor is known from US 2005/0105582, which describes a thin heat flux comparator designed to receive a heat flux that is transmitted by contact, i.e. a conductive and/or convective heat flux, on each of its input faces. The known heat flux sensor comprises two substantially planar and mutually parallel input faces, capable of receiving each a heat flux, and comprises a thermoelectric circuit including at least a strip of a first metallic material partly covered on one of its surfaces with first separate metal pads of a second metallic material. The heat flux comparator also comprises layers of an electrically and thermally insulating material arranged on either side of the thermoelectric circuit, and second and third pads arranged on respective faces of the two layers of insulating material which are directed away from the thermoelectric circuit. The layers of insulating material have a same thickness. The second and third pads, which have a thermal conductivity greater than that of the layers of insulating material, and are preferably made of a same material, e.g. copper, have substantially a same thickness.
The known sensor's output depends significantly on the thermal conductivity of the material in which the sensor is used. For instance, when the sensor is attached to a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity, its output may differ significantly from when the sensor is attached to a material having a lower thermal conductivity, due to micro effects.
It is an object of the invention to provide a heat flow sensor which provides an output which is less susceptible to be influenced by micro-effects.

Heat flow sensor and method of manufacture thereof


A method for verifying liveness of a finger of a user by capturing a first fingerprint sample from the finger placed on a display by using a first sensor placed under the display. The method may involve transmitting light, by using a first light transmitting display area of the display, towards a first area of the finger. The first light transmitting display area may be smaller than a first sensor area. The first sensor may capture reflected light from the finger. The reflected light may be transmitted through the display. A first feature of the first fingerprint sample may be identified by using the reflected light. The first feature may include scattered light from the finger. The light transmitted from the display may include a first light component with a first wavelength from a first area of the display.

Today, it is common practice to use fingerprint recognition for verifying that a user of a mobile device is a legitimate user of the device. From recently launched mobile phones, it is well known to place a fingerprint sensor under the display of the mobile device for verifying the authenticity of the user. Usually, this is done by illuminating the finger with green light from the display and then reflecting the light to the sensor. By illuminating the finger with light, energy is reflected by the finger and information related to a fingerprint sample is captured. The information is compared to a fingerprint template and the fingerprint recognition is verified as a match or a non-match.
Due to that the fingerprint sensor is placed under the display, instead of being placed next to the display, there is no longer the same need to keep the fingerprint sensor small. When having the fingerprint sensor placed next to the display, the fingerprint sensor is preferably made as small as possible to provide for that as little space as possible on a front side of the mobile phone was needed to be set aside for the fingerprint sensor.
Having the fingerprint sensor placed under the display may result in that new algorithms for capturing the information related to the fingerprint sample must be developed to make sure that reliable and fast fingerprint recognition can be provided. For instance, the reflected light from the finger is to pass the display provided with light emitting elements before reaching the fingerprint sensor, which may affect the reflected light. Further, a glass as well as a protective film placed on the glass may also be provided between the finger and the fingerprint sensor, which further may affect the reflected light. In addition, to compensate for that the reflected light may be affected on its way from the finger to the fingerprint sensor in a different way than for fingerprint sensor not placed under the display, algorithms for determining liveness, i.e. whether or not the finger is real or fake, may need to be adapted.
Today when assessing liveness it is known to involves texture analysis combined by machine learning or deep learning based methods that do image and/or texture analysis classification at once.
Even if there are known solutions for placing a fingerprint sensor under the display of a mobile device, there is still a need to for methods and hardware arrangements that can ensure that the authenticity of the user is determined reliably and fast.

Method and a device for verifying liveness of a finger


A method for operating an internal combustion engine in whose exhaust gas region at least one SCR catalytic converter is arranged, a reagent which contributes to NOx conversion in the SCR catalytic converter being applied to said SCR catalytic converter, and a device for carrying out the method are proposed. A measure for the NOx current which occurs downstream of the SCR catalytic converter is both calculated and measured with an NOx sensor which has lateral sensitivity to the reagent. The difference between the calculated measure and the measured measure of the NOx current is determined. A reagent signal which defines the metering of the reagent is influenced as a function of the difference. Plausibility checking is provided, during which the reagent quantity which is metered in a predefined time period and the reagent quantity which is converted in the SCR catalytic converter and/or the converted NOx quantity are compared with one another. When a deviation is detected, a correction signal which also influences the reagent signal is made available.

In the German patent DE 199 03 439 A1 a procedure and a device to operate an internal combustion engine are described, in whose exhaust gas region a SCR catalytic converter (Selective Catalytic Reduction) is disposed, which reduces the nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine to nitrogen using a reagent substance. The metering of the reagent substance is carried out preferably as a function of the operating parameters of the internal combustion engine, such as, for example, the engine rotational speed and the amount of fuel injected. Furthermore, the metering is carried out preferably as a function of the exhaust gas parameters, such as, for example, the exhaust gas temperature or the operating temperature of the SCR catalytic converter.
Provision is made, for example, for ammonia to be the reducing agent, which can be derived from a urea water solution. The dosage of the reagent substance or of the source materials of the reagent substance must be carefully established. A dosage which is too small has the consequence that the nitrogen oxides in the SCR catalytic converter can no longer be completely reduced. Too large of a dosage leads to a slip of the reagent substance, which on the one hand can lead to an unnecessarily large consumption of the reagent substance, and on the other hand as a function of the composition of the reagent substance can lead to an unpleasant odor.
In the German patents DE 199 60 731 A1 and DE 199 62 912 A1, NOx sensors are described in each case, in which provision is made for the acquisition of the NOx concentration present in an exhaust gas current. The NOx sensors contain multiple chambers, which are connected to each other via diffusion barriers. The known multiple chamber NOx sensors have as a result of the measuring principle a lateral sensitivity to ammonia (NH3). For example as a reagent substance, the ammonia contained in the exhaust gas leads to a falsification of the sensor signal by way of the reactions 4 NHS+5 O2 →4 NO+6 H2O. If an increase of the reagent substance dosage thus occurs during the previously known procedural approaches, the sensor signal will increase when an excess dosage or a correct dosage of the reagent substance exists due to the reagent substance slip which arises; and when an underdosage of the reagent substance exists due to the increasing NOx conversion, the sensor signal will drop out. If on the other hand the reagent substance dosage is lowered, the sensor signal will drop out if an excess dosage of the reagent substance exists due to the decreased reagent substance slip; and the sensor signal will increase when a correct dosage or an underdosage of the reagent substance exists due to the NOx conversion, which is no longer complete.
In the German patent DE 10 2004 046 640 A1, a procedure to operate and internal combustion engine and a device to implement the procedure are described, in which a NOx sensor with a lateral sensitivity to a reagent substance is disposed downstream after the SCR catalytic converter. At least one SCR catalytic converter, which is impinged with a reagent substance, is disposed in the exhaust gas region. The reagent substance contributes to the NOx conversion in the SCR catalytic converter. Provision is made for the calculation of at least one measure for the NOx concentration arising downstream after the SCR catalytic converter. This calculation makes an increase in accuracy when establishing a dosage of the reagent substance possible. A reagent substance slip can be ascertained from the difference between the calculated measure for the NOx concentration and the measured measure for the sum of the NOx concentration and the reagent substance concentration. The fact is taken into account that a reagent substance slip as well as an insufficient NOx reducing reaction causes a deviation in the same direction between the calculated measure for the NOx concentration and the measured measure for the sum of the NOx concentration and the reagent substance concentration. According to one embodiment the dosage of the reagent substance is initially reduced when a difference as mentioned above occurs. If a reagent substance slip were present, the reduction of the dosage of the reagent substance would lead to a reduction of the reagent substance slip. The reduction of the dosage of the reagent substance proved in this case to be the correct step. If too small a dosage of the reagent substance were originally present, the difference ascertained would continue to increase due to a small NOx conversion, so that it could be suggested from this, that the reduction of the reagent substance was false and an increase of the dosage is to be conducted instead.
In the German patent DE 10 2004 031 624 A1, a procedure is described to operate a SCR catalytic converter used to purify the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, in which provision is made for an open-loop or closed-loop adjustment of the reagent substance fill level in the SCR catalytic converter to a specified storage set point. The targeted specification of the storage set point secures on the one hand that during transient states of the internal combustion engine, a sufficient amount of the reagent substance is available to remove the NOx emissions of the internal combustion engine before the SCR catalytic converter as completely as possible; and that on the other hand, a reagent substance slip is avoided.
The reagent substance fill level of the SCR catalytic converter is ascertained using a catalytic converter model, which takes into account the NOx mass flow entering into the SCR catalytic converter, the NOx mass flow departing the SCR catalytic converter, the temperature of the catalytic converter as well as if need be the reagent substance slip. The maximum possible reagent substance fill level of the SCR catalytic converter depends especially on the operating temperature of the SCR catalytic converter, which is the highest at low operating temperatures and drops off to lower values with an increasing operating temperature. The efficiency of the SCR catalytic converter depends on the catalytic activity; which is small at low operating temperatures, passes through a maximum with a rising operating temperature and drops off again when the operating temperature continues to rise.
The task underlying the invention is to indicate a procedure to operate an internal combustion engine, in whose exhaust gas region a SCR catalytic converter and a NOx sensor located downstream after the SCR catalytic converter are disposed, as well as a device to implement the procedure, which allows for the most optimal as possible result for the purification of the exhaust gas simultaneously with a minimal reagent substance slip.
The task is solved in each case by the characteristics indicated in the independent claims.

Method for operating an internal combustion engine and device for carrying out the method


An extract of seeds of Emblica officinalis which has triterpenoids and hydroxycinnamic acids is provided. A blend of extracts of seeds of Emblica officinalis which includes an extract of seeds of Emblica officinalis having triterpenoids and hydroxycinnamic acids and an extract of seeds of Emblica officinalis having fatty acids, such as, alpha linolenic acid, linoleic acid and oleic acid is provided. Methods of preparing the extracts of seeds of Emblica officinalis and methods of preparing the blend of extracts of seeds of Emblica officinalis are provided. Methods of treatment administering the extracts of seeds of Emblica officinalis and methods of preparing the blend of extracts of seeds of Emblica officinalis are provided.

Amla (or Amlaka, Amlaki, or other variants) is one of the most frequently used of the Ayurvedic herbs; it is the fruit of Phyllanthus emblica, also called Emblica officinalis. The fruit is similar in appearance to the common gooseberry (Ribes spp., a type of currant), which is botanically unrelated to amla. However, due to the similar appearance of the fruit clusters, amla is usually called the "Indian gooseberry." The plant, a member of the Euphorbiaceae, grows to become a medium-sized tree that is found growing in the plains and sub-mountain regions all over the Indian subcontinent from 200 to nearly 2000 meters above sea level. Indian gooseberry is a wonder herbs and one of the precious gifts of nature to man. It contributes towards health and longevity.
Emblica officinalis (EO) enjoys a hallowed position in Ayurveda-an Indian indigenous system of medicine. According to ancient Indian mythology, it is the first tree to be created in the universe. Emblica officinalis fruit is one of the key constituents of the celebrated Ayurvedic preparation, Chyavanaprash, used in India for thousands of years as a vitalizing and rejuvenating health tonic. According to Ayurveda, amla balances all three doshas. While amla is unusual in that it contains five out of the six tastes recognized by Ayurved, it is most important to recognize the effects of the "virya", or potency, and "vipaka", or post-digestive effect. The fruits of EO are widely used in the Ayurveda and are believed to increase defense against diseases. I
Coronary heart disease (CHD) continues to be the major cause of premature death in most developed and developing countries. A low level of HDL cholesterol is the second most important risk factor for CHD, as demonstrated in numerous clinical and epidemiological studies (Gorden, D. and Rifkind, H. M., N. Engl. J. Med., 1989, 321:1311-1315; Brewer, Jr., H. B., New Engl. J. Med, 2004, 350:1491-94) and HDL has emerged, during the past decade, as a new potential target for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The key role of HDL as a carrier of excess cellular cholesterol in the reverse cholesterol transport pathway is believed to provide protection against atherosclerosis. In reverse cholesterol transport, peripheral tissues, for example, vessel-wall macrophages, remove their excess cholesterol through the ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) to poorly lipidated apolipoprotein A-I, forming pre-.beta.-HDL. Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase then esterifies free cholesterol to cholesteryl esters, converting pre-β-HDL to mature spherical α-HDL.
HDL cholesterol is transported to the liver by two pathways: 1) it is delivered directly to the liver through interaction with the scavenger receptor, class B, type I (SR-BI); 2) cholesteryl esters in HDL are transferred by the cholesterol ester transferase protein (CETP) to very-low-density-lipoproteins (VLDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and are then returned to the liver through the LDL receptor. HDL cholesterol that is taken up by the liver is then excreted in the form of bile acids and cholesterol, completing the process of reverse cholesterol transport (Brewer, H. B. Jr., Arterioscl. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., 2004, 24:387-91). HDL is believed to have the ability to remove cholesterol from macrophages, thus preventing the formation of foam cells.
A second beneficial role of HDL in atherosclerosis is in protecting LDL from oxidation (Navab, M. et al, Circulation, 2002, 105:290-92). Unlike normal LDL, oxidized LDL is readily taken up by macrophage scavenger receptor SR-A or CD36 resulting in the formation of foam cells. Foam cells are a major component of the early atherosclerotic lesion. Further, HDL may slow the progression of lesions by selectively decreasing the production of endothelial cell-adhesion molecules that facilitate the uptake of cells into the vessel wall (Barter, P. J., et al, Curr. Opin. Lipid, 2002, 13:285-88). HDL may also prolong the half-life of prostacycline and preserve its vasodilatory effect (Mackness, M. I. et al, Atherosclerosis, 1993, 104:129-35).
Several lines of evidence support the concept that increasing the HDL level may provide protection against the development of atherosclerosis. Epidemiologic studies have shown an inverse relation between HDL cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease. Increasing the HDL cholesterol level by 1 mg may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 2 to 3 percent. Over expressing the apo-A-I gene in transgenic mice and rabbits and infusing complexes consisting of Apo A-1 and phospholipids into hyperlipidemic rabbits increase HDL cholesterol levels and decrease the development of atherosclerosis (Brewer, H B, Jr., loc. cit). In humans, infusing either of these complexes or pro-apo-A-I results in short term increase in HDL cholesterol, biliary cholesterol and fecal cholesterol loss, reinforcing the concept that elevating the HDL cholesterol level decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
More than 40 percent of patients with myocardial infarction have low HDL-C as a cardiac risk factor. (Genest, J. J., et al, Am. J. Cardiol., 1991, 67:1185-89). In the prospective and multicentric European Concerted Action on Thrombosis and Disabilities (ECAT) Angina Pectoris Study, Bolibar et al (Thromb. Haemost., 2000, 84:955-61) identified low HDL-C and low apoA-I as the most important biochemical risk factors for coronary events in patients with angiographically assessed CHD. By convention, the risk threshold value of HDL-C has been defined as 35 mg/dL (0.9 mmol/L) in men and 45 mg/dL (1.15 mmol/L) in women [Expert panel on detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults. The second report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) expert panel on detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (Adult Treatment Panel II). Circulation. 1994; 89:1329-1445)]. Because of interaction, the strength of the association between HDL-C and cardiovascular risk depends on the presence of additional risk factors. Therefore, threshold values are higher in men with diabetes mellitus or hypercholesterolemia or in the presence of multiple risk factors (von Eckardstein A, and Assmann G. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2000; 11:627-637). Low HDL-C has been identified as the most frequent familial dyslipoproteinemia in patients with premature myocardial infarction (Genest, J. J. Jr., Circulation. 1992; 85:2025-2033). Finally, in the Helsinki Heart Study (Manninen, V. et al, Circulation. 1992; 85:37-45) and the High-Density-Lipoprotein Cholesterol Intervention Trial of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA-HIT) study (Rubins, H. B. et al, N Engl J Med. 1999; 341:410-418), increases of HDL-C on treatment with gemfibrozil were correlated with the prevention of CHD events. Thus, HDL-C has become an important component of algorithms to assess the global cardiovascular risk of patients and also a target for therapeutic intervention and for the definition of treatment goals.
Strategies to correct dyslipidemia in atherosclerosis generally involve diet and/or drugs. The threshold serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations above which diet and drug therapy should be initiated, as well as the goals of therapy, have been defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program (JAMA, 1993, 269:3015-23). The target serum LDL-C is <160 mg/dl (4.3 mmol/1) for patients with no risk factors or only one risk factor for CHD; <130 mg/dl (3.4 mmol/1) for patients with 2 or more risk factors and less than 100 mg/dl (2.6 mmol/1) for those with CHD. Persons with diabetes also fall into the third category. A reasonable target for triglyceride concentration is 200 mg/dl or less; higher values are associated with a doubling of the risk of cardiovascular disease when serum cholesterol concentration exceeds 240 mg/dl or when the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio exceeds 5:1.
A number of studies have shown that reducing serum LDL-C below the target levels does not necessarily result in proportional reduction in the risk of CHD [(The Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study Group. Randomized trial of cholesterol lowering in 4444 patients with coronary heart disease, Lancet, 1994, 344:1383-89; Shepherd, J. et al, N. Engl. J. Med., 1995, 333:1301-7; Sachs, F. M. et al, N. Engl. J. Med., 1998, 315:1001-9; Circulation, 1998, 97:1446-52; The West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study Group, Circulation, 1998, 97:1440-45; Pederson, T. R., Circulation, 1998, 97:1453-60] because of the attenuation of the cholesterol-heart disease relation at lower serum cholesterol concentrations (Grundy, S. M., Circulation, 1998, 97:1436-39).
Dietary treatment of hyperlipidemia is a necessary foundation for drug treatment. Depending on the degree of hyperlipidemia, the Step I and Step II diets can be introduced sequentially. The Step II diet contains no more than 30% of calories from fat, less than 7% of calories from saturated fatty acids and less than 200 mg of cholesterol per day. In long term studies, the Step II diet decreased serum LDL-C concentrations 8-15% (Knopp, R. H., et al, JAMA, 1997, 278:1509-15; Walden, C. E., Arterioscl. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., 1997, 17:375-82; Denke, M. A., Arch. Intern. Med., 1995, 156:17-26). Diets more restricted in fat than the Step II diet result in little additional reduction in LDL-C, raise serum TG concentration and lower HDL-C.
The point to note, from the above, is that reducing LDL-C alone is of little value in reducing the risk of CHD. Further, diets meant for reducing LDL-C may reduce HDL-C to a similar degree (Hunninghake, D. B. et al, N. Engl. J. Med., 1993, 328:1213-19; Schaefer, E. J., et al, Arterioscl. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., 1995, 15:1079-85); Stefanick, M. L., N. Engl. J Med, 1998, 339:12-20).
Drug therapy is resorted to when the desired effects are not achieved with diets alone. Statins are the most popular among the lipid lowering drugs. These drugs lower serum LDL-C concentrations by upregulating LDL-receptor activity as well as reducing the entry of LDL into the circulation. The maximal reductions achieved with a statin ranges from 24-60%. Statins also reduce the serum TG levels; but they are often insufficient. Statins are ineffective in the treatment of patients with chylomicronemia. Adverse effects of statins include, gastrointestinal upset, muscle aches and hepatitis. Rarer problems include myopathy (muscle pain with serum creatine kinase concentrations more than 1,000 U per litre), rashes, peripheral neuropathy, insomnia, bad or vivid dreams and difficulty in sleeping or concentrating (Abramowica, M., Med Lett., 1996, 38:67-70; Vgontzas, A. N. et al, Clin. Pharmacol. Ther., 1991, 50:730-37; Roth, T. et al, Clin. Cardiol., 1992, 15:426-32; Partinen, M. et al, Am. J. Cardiol., 1994, 73:876-80). Other lipid-lowering drugs include bile acid-binding resins (e.g., cholesteramine and colestipol), nicotinic acid, and fibrates.
Drug therapy is not recommended for premenopausal women and men under 35 years of age unless they have serum LDL-C concentrations of more than 220 mg/dl (5.7 mmol/1), because their immediate risk of heart disease is low [Summary of the second report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP): expert panel on detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults, JAMA, 1993, 269:3015-23].
Thus, diets alone or in conjunction with lipid lowering drugs fail to yield the desired goal of safe lipid lowering. However, this goal is achievable with the present inventive composition containing the active principles of seed of Emblica officinalis. Emblica has been in safe use in India for thousands of years as component of Ayurvedic preparations. The composition from seed of Emblica officinalis offers the twin benefits of reducing the harmful LDL cholesterol and enhancing the desirable HDL cholesterol.
A number of studies have shown that Emblica officinalis is useful for reducing total cholesterol, reducing triglyceride, reducing LDL cholesterol and enhancing HDL cholesterol.
Ritu Mathur et al show the hypolipidaemic effect of fruit juice of Emblica officinalis in cholesterol fed rabbits. The juice is obtained from deseeded Emblica officinalis. U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,268, Ghosal discloses a natural antioxidant composition from Emblica officinalis using pericarp of fresh berries (Emblica officinalis). Biswas Gopa et al show the hypolipidemic efficacy of Amla (Emblica officinalis). The Amla used is dried Amla fruit juice powder. Muhammed et al evaluated the anti-hyperglycemic and lipid-lowering properties of Emblica officinalis powder in normal and diabetic human volunteers. Zhang et al discloses the phenolic constituents of Emblica officinalis juice. Chatterjee et al discloses a novel compounds with hypocholesteremic activity from crude Embilica officinialis (EO) fruit extracts. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,780,996, 8,158,167 and 8,455,020 discloses the method of reducing cholesterol, method of treating dyslipidemia and method of reducing triglyceride by extract of Emblica officinalis.
Amla is a fruit with wide range of medicinal properties. Our effort was to find the most bioactive molecule/(s) or purified fraction having bioactivity from Amla fruit. The fleshy part (pericarp) of Amla fruit is used for human consumption whereas Amla seeds are not edible and discarded. We evaluated different Amla extracts. Extracts prepared from fresh fruit of Amla; fruit juice of whole Amla including the fleshy part and seeds of Amla; juice of fleshy part (pericarp); dried fruit; flesh of Amla fruit without seed; or Amla seed alone were evaluated for anti hyperlipidemic activity. The methanol extract of all groups showed beneficial activity, but the most unexpected and superior result was obtained from the Amla seed alone extract. Amla seed alone extract was able to significantly reduce the total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL cholesterol and enhance the HDL cholesterol levels. Though Amla seed is not known to have any history of human consumption, we followed the lead with various extracts of Amla seed and found that the ethyl acetate portion of Amla seed extract is the most active. The ethyl acetate part was showing far superior activity compared to other extracts with Amla seed and also against other extracts of Amla.
In view of the above, the disclosure provides a composition and method of preparing an extract from the seed of Emblica officinalis unlike other references where the extract is prepared from Emblica officinalis, especially from its fruits which found its application for the treatment of reducing bad cholesterol, dyslipidemia and for reducing triglyceride. The disclosure provides a method of preparation of an extract of Emblica officinalis from the seed of Emblica officinalis and composition derived contain polyphenolic components and lipophilic components. The extract prepared from the seed of Emblica officinalis is useful for decreasing total cholesterol, decreasing triglyceride, reducing blood glucose level, enhancing HDL-Cholesterol level, increasing the HDL-Cholesterol to total cholesterol ratio, lowering LDL-Cholesterol level, reducing the CRP level, decreasing the intima media thickening, reducing atherogenic index of plasma, increasing Apo A-1 levels, decreasing Apo B levels, decreasing Apo B to Apo A-1 ratio, reducing homocysteine level, reduction in glycosylated Hb, modulating TSH level, decreasing HMGCoA reductase activity, lowering total cholesterol without changing CoQ10 levels even at a lower dosage level. The extract prepared from the seed of Emblica officinalis is useful for reducing hair fall in humans by applying topically or by oral administration.

Medicinal composition of extract of seed of emblica officinalis and method of preparing the same


A hand-held power tool includes an electronically commutated motor including a motor winding. Motor electronics of the hand-held power tool are configured to electronically commutate the motor winding using a selected one of a plurality of electrical precontrol angles, thereby adapting the motor winding to different mechanical load conditions of the electronically commutated motor.

Electronically commutated electric motors are widely used in mains-operated or mains-independent hand-held power tools due, inter alia, to their low maintenance and comparatively good controllability. Such electric motors usually require complex power electronics for control. Within the power electronics, a precontrol angle of the commutation is usually stored for at least every operationally relevant operating point of the motor, or the precontrol angle can be changed adaptively, by means of intelligent software, without any user intervention. The user cannot influence the precontrol angle, such that it is not possible to adapt it to a suitable operating point of the motor.
In many applications, the maximum possible mechanical power of the motor cannot be obtained. Even by adaptive precontrol angle adjustment, controlled operation in the range of the natural characteristic curve of the motor is not achievable. Since the true effective value of the current Irms (=root mean square) in the motor winding increases proportionally as the mechanical load on the motor increases, optimal operation of the motor is not ensured until the rotational speed drops for the first time as the load increases further. An unfavorable heat development, or high current peaks within the motor winding in the controlled rotational speed range, are the result. This results in an increased thermal cycling of the motor, such that the insulation system of the motor winding ages faster, which can lead to failure of the whole motor. In addition, the increased effective value of the current Irms in the motor winding in the case of a non-optimal precontrol angle results in a reduced efficiency of the electronically commutated motor.
DE 103 46 711 A1 relates to a method for commutation of a brushless direct-current motor having at least one motor winding. In the case of the direct-current motor, the position of the rotor in relation to the stator is determined and a commutation signal is generated therefrom, the motor winding being simultaneously supplied with current at a preset commutation angle in dependence on the commutation signal. Depending on the design and the current supply to the motor, it is provided, inter alia, that the polarity of the winding current is sensed upon the occurrence of a commutation signal, and the commutation angle is altered in dependence on the sensed polarity of the winding current, in such a manner that the winding current is substantially zero, or passes through zero, upon the occurrence of a commutation signal. The already known method for commutation of a brushless direct-current motor enables an automatic improvement of the commutation angle, or of the so-called precontrol angle, by the electronic motor control with a small amount of additional technical complexity and minimal additional costs.

Hand-held power tool having an electronically commutated motor


An implantable medical device may have an antenna for communication with external devices or other internal devices. Changes in the patient's body position, weight, composition or other factors may change the antenna efficiency and hinder communication. The disclosed circuit may automatically adjust a matching network for an implanted transceiver to dynamically maximize transmission and reception by controlling the selected value of a plurality of capacitors, inductors and resistors.

Electronic devices can communicate wirelessly with each other, such as by using RF communication between an antenna at each such electronic device. For example, an implantable medical device (IMD) can communicate wirelessly with an external device, such as a local external programmer for the IMD or a local RF transceiver. The local external programmer may then communicate with a remote external server or other device, such as by using a wired or wireless communication or computer network. The patient and doctor would benefit from improved communication between an IMD and external device.

Variable antenna matching network for an implantable antenna


A user equipment (UE) includes a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver is configured to receive, from a network, a paging message including an indication for delayed paging. The indication for delayed paging indicates that the UE is allowed to delay a response to the paging message. The processor is configured to identify the indication for delayed paging in the paging message.

3GPP SA2 Working Group has started a study on 5G CIoT in 3GPP Technical Report (TR) 23.724 for Rel-16 with several objectives:                Enable CIoT/MTC functionalities in 5G CN. The objective is to study how to support identified CIoT/MTC functionalities in 5G CN with potential connectivity to Wideband (WB)-EUTRA (eMTC) and/or NB-IoT for 5GS capable devices.        Co-existence and migration from EPC based eMTC/NB-IoT to 5GCN. The objective is to study solutions for coexistence and migration from EPC towards 5G CN for eMTC/NB-IoT. It will study solutions where the same service is offered to some UEs connected to EPC and some UEs connected to 5G CN e.g. using SCEF and equivalent functionalities in 5G CN. Solutions that assume that 5G CN needs to support EPC NAS signalling for legacy IoT devices access are not considered.        5G System enhancements to address 5G service requirements (based on 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 22.261 V16.2.0 and TR 38.913 V14.3.0). To study system architecture enhancements to address related service requirements defined in TS 22.261 V16.2.0 and RAN requirements defined in TR 38.913 V14.3.0 and how to enable them in 5G CN, if needed. At least the following service requirements have been identified: Enable the change of association between subscription and address/number of an IoT device within same operator and in between different operators.
3GPP SA2 has already identified multiple Key Issues in order to fulfil the objectives set in the 5G CIoT Study. One of the main areas identified for improvement in the 5G CIoT study is the further improvements in the UE power saving. For example Key Issue 5 of the TR 23.724 V0.1.0 is about UE Transmission (TX) Power Saving Functions. It is observed that when UE communicates with the network, the TX power consumption of each data transmission is more than ten times of the RX power consumption and the TX power consumption contributes much to the UE whole power consumption. So, optimizing the TX power consumption is an effective way to improve UE power saving. This key issue aims to optimize UE TX power consumption under certain conditions, e.g. in weak coverage, with high latency application, or any other conditions under which UE TX power consumption can be improved.

Paging for delay tolerant mobile terminals and applications


A platform shoe with detachable upper including a lower shoe member and an upper shoe member is disclosed. The shoe contains snaps or other connector components that provide a detachable attachment between the upper shoe member and the lower shoe member. Embodiments of the present invention include a lower shoe member having features that prevent damage to covering materials that may be caused by sharp edges of the connector components. In addition, the upper shoe member may be stretchable to allow attachment to a variety of lower shoe members of different shapes.

Shoes are typically constructed with a sole (bottom portion), mid-sole (internal part that connects between the foot and the sole) and an upper (part that covers the top of the foot). An upper may also be called a cover. The mid-sole often contains a shank (metal reinforcement for the arch of the shoe), fiberboard and/or thin stiffening agent made of pressed paper or cardboard and a light, medium or heavy padding. The mid-sole typically runs the entire length of the shoe and may be a standard product for all shoe constructions. When a shoe is made, an upper is typically attached to the mid-sole with nails, glue or other adhesive. Attaching the bottom sole of the shoe is generally the last part of the shoe construction process. Platform shoes, on the other hand, are typically made with a separate platform base of various different widths, lengths, sizes and the like.
Various footwear systems have been disclosed in the past, such as a detachable shoe strap system in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,058 to Jneid where straps are detachably couplable to a side wall of a sole member. This system, however does not address the interchangeability of straps between different sole members. U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,102 to DeVincentis discloses interchangeable shoe strap systems having spring connectors. However, this system does not include use with platform shoes and does not include flexible uppers, among other aspects. In addition, an article of footwear is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,294 to Riecken where straps are anchored to a platform to secure a platform to a wearer's foot. Here, the straps are not interchangeable so as to enable a user to change the upper portion of a shoe. None of the above-noted prior art uses interchangeable uppers or flexible interchangeable uppers in conjunction with platform shoes. Accordingly, it would advantageous to provide a platform base that offers a sturdier and more durable shoe system for interchangeable uppers, including flexible uppers.

Method and apparatus for fashion adaptable footwear


A novel chlorine-free modified polyolefin resin composition with excellent adherence to nonpolar substrates, excellent solubility in solvents, excellent compatibility with other resins, and without tack after painting and drying is obtainable by graft modifying a mixed resin having 40 to 99 parts by weight of polyolefin resin (A) and 1 to 60 parts by weight of ethylenic compound-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer (B) that contains 0.1 to 50% by weight of unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative, with unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative and/or its anhydride (C), the modified polyolefin resin composition having weight average molecular weight of 20,000 to 150 000 and the grafting weight of (C) being 0.1 to 20% by weight.

The present invention relates to a novel chlorine-free modified polyolefin resin composition with excellent adherence to nonpolar sheets, films and moldings of polypropylene, polyethylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, etc. with excellent solvent solubility and compatibility with other resins, and with no tack after painting and drying.
Because of low price and many excellent properties such as moldability, chemical resistance, water resistance and electrical characteristics, polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene are adopted widely in recent years as sheets, films and moldings, etc. Different from polar substrates such as polyurethane resin, polyamide resin, acrylic resin and polyester resin, however, polyolefin substrates are nonpolar and crystalline, leading to drawbacks of difficult paintability and adhesion.
So far, acid-modified polyolefins provided with various acid modifications to polyolefin or their chlorinated products have been used as paint additives, primers and adhesives, because of excellent adherence to said nonpolar substrates. While acid-modified chlorinated polyolefins are excellent in the adherence to substrates, solubility into solvent, compatibility with other resins, etc., the uses thereof have become to be kept at a distance from viewpoint of environmental problems in recent years.
On the other hand, while acid-modified chlorinated polyolefins have the adherence to nonpolar substrates, they have strong tack after painting and drying, thus arising problems of difficult winding of film after painting and handling of substrate, clinging of dirts, etc. Moreover, it has been known that, by using additives such as filler, the tack can be reduced, but remarkably decreased adherence cannot be avoided in this case, which posed a problem.
As another solution, a technique that alleviates the tack by blending with rigid tack-free resins has been known. But such rigid tack-free resins have poor solvent solubility as a rule, which posed a problem.
Furthermore, chlorine-free polyolefins are liable to have poorer solubility into solvent and compatibility with other resins compared with chlorinated ones, leading to restricted utilization toward the uses aforementioned. Based on the background as these, the development of a novel resin composition that combines excellent adherence to nonpolar substrates, solvent solubility, compatibility with other resins and low tackiness has been expected.
Conventionally, as the inventions that utilized ethylenic compound-maleic anhydride copolymer aiming at the adherence to polyolefin substrates, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. Hei 6-256731, Hei 7-82328, Hei 7-97452, Hei 7-267692, Hei 8-34960, 2000-17121, etc. are mentioned. In these inventions, by using ethylenic compound-maleic anhydride copolymer and polyolefin or low-viscosity resin in combination, or adding additional modification, resins suitable for the moldings, hot melt adhesives, etc. were found.
However, since these resins did not necessitate the solubility into solvent and compatibility with other resins, they could not be utilized for primer, paint, ink binder, adhesive, etc. Moreover, when simply combining with low-viscosity resin, when conducting modification, or the like, problems of occurrence of tack in dried film, etc. also arose.
In the field at which the invention aims, therefore, there has been no precedent hitherto, in which a characteristic resin was developed, utilizing ethylenic compound-maleic anhydride copolymer.
The purpose of the invention lies in providing a novel chlorine-free modified polyolefin resin composition with excellent adherence to nonpolar resin moldings, with excellent solvent solubility and compatibility with other resins, and with no tack after painting and drying. As a result of diligent investigations for solving this subject, the inventors have found that this purpose can be accomplished only when unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative and/or its anhydride is graft polymerized at a particular rate onto a raw material with polyolefin resin mixed with ethylenic compound-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer at a particular rate, leading to the invention based on this knowledge.
According to the invention, following (1) through (6) are provided.
(1) A modified polyolefin resin composition obtainable by graft modifying a mixed resin comprising 40 to 99 parts by weight of polyolefin resin (A) and 1 to 60 parts by weight of ethylenic compound-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer (B) that contains 0.1 to 50% by weight of unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative, with unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative and/or its anhydride (C), the modified polyolefin resin composition having weight average molecular weight of 20,000 to 150,000 and the grafting weight of (C) being 0.1 to 20% by weight.
(2) A modified polyolefin composition obtainable by graft modifying a mixed resin comprising 40 to 99 parts by weight of polyolefin resin (A) and 1 to 60 parts by weight of ethylenic compound-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer (B) that contains 0.1 to 50% by weight of unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative, with unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative and/or its anhydride (C) and ethylenic unsaturated compound (D), the modified polyolefin resin composition having weight average molecular weight of 20,000 to 150,000 and the grafting weights of (C) and (D) being 0.1 to 20% by weight, respectively.
(3) An adhesive containing the modified polyolefin resin composition of (1) or (2).
(4) A primer containing the modified polyolefin resin composition of (1) or (2).
(5) A paint binder containing the modified polyolefin resin composition of (1) or (2).
(6) An ink binder containing the modified polyolefin resin composition of (1) or (2).
The nonpolar resins to become the adherends of the invention point to sheets, films and moldings of poly-propylene, polyethylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. Also, they include these substrates surface-treated with plasma, corona or the like.
The polyolefin resins (A) to be used in the invention are homo- or co-polymers of xcex1-olefins with number of carbon atoms of not less than 2 to not more than 20, preferably not less than 2 to not more than 6 such as ethylene, propylene, butene-1, pentene-1, hexene-1, heptene-1, octene-1 and 4-methyl-1-pentene, cyclopentene, cyclohexene chain or cyclic polyenes such as 1,4-hexadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, divinylbenzene, 1,3-cyclopentadiene, 1,3-cyclohexadiene and 5-vinyl-2-norbornene, or styrene, substituted styrene, etc.
The proportion of such monomer in polymer can be selected arbitrarily, but, in the case of polypropylene being the adherend, since the inventive modified polyolefin resin composition has the adherence to adherend, the proportion of propylene is preferable to be not less than 50% to not more than 98%. If under 50%, then the adherence to adherend is poor, and, if over 98%, the flexibility is insufficient. The usable molecular weight of polymer can be selected freely so as the weight average molecular weight of the modified polyolefin resin composition after addition of ethylenic compound-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer (B) and modification to become 20,000 to 150,000, For example, even a polymer with weight average molecular weight of over 150,000 becomes usable by the publicly known methods for adjusting the molecular weight to suitable range by degrading in the presence of heat or radical, and the like.
The ethylenic compound-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymers (B) are ethylene-maleic anhyride copolymer, ethylene-propylene-maleic anhyride copolymer, ethylene-propylene-butene-maleic anhyride copolymer, ethylene-propylene-diene-maleic anhyride copolymer, copolymers of these with (meth)acrylic acid or its ester, or mixtures of at least two or more kinds selected from the group as described. Preferably, it is desirable to use ethylene-maleic anhyride copolymer or ethylene-acrylic ester-maleic anhyride copolymer. The content of unsaturated carboxylic acid in these copolymers is preferable to be 0.1 to 50% by weight, particularly 1 to 40% by weight. If under this range, then the solvent solubility is aggravated and, if above, the solvent transparency is aggravated, which is unpreferable. The usable molecular weight of polymer can be selected freely similarly to the case of (A). For example, even if the weight average molecular weight of polymer is under 20,000, it is only necessary for the molecular weight of the modified polyolefin resin composition to be within a range of 20,000 to 150,000 finally by increasing the molecular weight through crosslinking at the time of reaction or by properly selecting (A) to be used simultaneously.
Moreover, the proportion of (A) in the mixed resin of (A) and (B) is preferable to be 40 to 99% by weight, particularly 50 to 95% by weight. If under this range, then the solvent solubility and the adherence of modified polyolefin resin composition are aggravated, or decreased operativity, poor reaction, etc. due to increased viscosity at the time of reaction generate. If above this range, the tack occurs.
Unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives and/or their anhydrides (C) are those modified with maleic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, aconitic acid and their anhydrides, or (meth) acrylic acid or its ester. Moreover, preferably, it is desirable to use maleic anhydride or aconitic anhydride. The grafting weight of (C) in the modified polyolefin resin composition is preferable to become 0.1 to 20% by weight, particularly 1 to 10% by weight. If the grafting weight is under this range, then the solvent solubility and the adherence of modified polyolefin resin composition decrease. Also, if above inversely, much unreacted materials generate, which is unpreferable.
The ethylenic unsaturated compound (D) is at least one kind of compound selected from (meth)acrylic esters with number of carbon atoms of 1 to 12 such as glycidyl (meth)acrylate, cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate and ethyl acrylate, vinyl ethers such as butyl vinyl ether and cyclohexyl vinyl ether, styrenic compounds such as styrene, xcex1-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, t-butylstyrene, ethyl-styrene, cyanostyrene, aminostyrene, hydroxystyrene, vinyltoluene and N,N-diethylaminostyrene, and maleimides such as maleimide, N-phenylmaleimide and N-cyclohexylmaleimide. Preferably, it is desirable to use styrene. The grafting weight of (D) in the modified polyolefin resin composition is preferable to become 0.1 to 20% by weight, particularly 1 to 10% by weight. If the grafting weight is under this range, then the grafting weight of (C) in the modified polyolefin resin composition decreases, hence much unreacted materials of (C) tend to remain in the system. Also, if above inversely, the molecular weight increases and the solvent solubility are aggravated, which is unpreferable.
To the modified polyolefin resin composition of the invention, the stabilizer to adjust the stability of resin composition, the radical initiator to promote the reaction, and the like can be formulated further, depending on the purpose for use.
As the stabilizers, hydroquinone, benzoquinone, nitrosophenyl-hydroxy compound, etc. can be mentioned. The radical initiator can be selected appropriately from publicly known products, but, for example, it is preferable to use organic peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, di-t-butyl peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide.
The grafting reaction by the use of said compounds to obtain the modified polyolefin resin composition can be conducted by publicly known methods. For example, the solution method wherein the mixed resin of (A) and (B) is dissolved into solvent such as toluene under heating and then (C) and (D) are added, the melt method wherein, to the mixed resin of (A) and (B) molten by employing Banbury mixer, kneader, extruder, etc., (C) and (D) are added, and the like are mentioned. As the addition method of (C) and (D), they may be added one by one or in a lump, and the order is also not minded.
The weight average molecular weight of modified polyolefin resin composition thus obtained is 20,000 to 150,000, preferably 30,000 to 120,000. If under 20,000, then the adherence to nonpolar substrates and the cohesion become poor, and, if over 150,000, the workability, solubility into solvent and compatibility with other resins decrease due to increased viscosity. The weight average molecular weight can be determined by means of publicly known methods, for example, GPC method, light scattering method, etc. Moreover, the identification of the reaction can be performed by alkali titration method, FT-IR, NMR, etc.
The inventive modified polyolefin resin composition can be used as an adhesive or primer for nonpolar substrates, paint binder resin and ink binder resin. It can be used in the forms adapted to uses such as solution, powder and sheet. Moreover, at that time, additives, for example, antioxidant, light stabilizer, ultraviolet absorber, pigment, dye, inorganic filler, etc. may be formulated, if need be.
In the applications to adhesive and ink binder resin, not only nonpolar substrates such as polyethylene and polypropylene, but also polar substrates such as polyester, polyurethane and polyamide are often used in combination. The inventive resin also has the adherence to such polar substrates, hence it is suitable also for said applications.
Similarly, when using as a binder resin for primer paint, it is excellent in the adherence to upper paint and clear coating, hence it is suitable also for said application.
When using as an ink binder, other resins such as urethane resin, epoxy resin, acrylic resin, phenol resin, alkyd resin, polyamide resin, polyimide resin, silicone resin and nitrocellulose may be blended, if need be.
When blending with other resins in these applications, it is required to use the inventive modified polyolefin resin composition in amounts of at least 5% or more by solids based on overall resin weight to maintain the adherence to nonpolar substrates.
Moreover, the inventive resin can also be used after curing reaction with epoxy, isocyanate, etc.
In following, the invention will be illustrated in more detail based on examples, but the invention is not confined thereto.

Modified polyolefin resin composition and uses thereof


According to one embodiment, there is provided a superconducting magnetic apparatus that conductively cools a superconducting coil contained in a vacuum container with a cryogenic refrigerator. The superconducting magnetic apparatus includes a thermal conductor thermally connecting a cooling stage of the cryogenic refrigerator to the superconducting coil, a radiation blocking layer provided around the superconducting coil, and a coil supporting body supporting the superconducting coil by partial or entire contact with a surface of the superconducting coil.

In recent years, high-temperature superconducting tape materials, which are dramatically improved in property and lengthened, have been produced on a significantly larger scale. Therefore, application of the materials to various types of apparatus has been expected. For example, great advantages may be expected in applying a superconducting coil using a high-temperature superconducting tape material to an apparatus, such as a magnet for silicon monocrystal pulling or a magnetically suspended vehicle. Further, as cooling means for keeping a superconducting coil in the superconducting state, a system of storing the superconducting coil in a vacuum container and conductively cooling the superconducting coil by a cryogenic refrigerator begins to be adopted instead of a system of immersing the superconducting coil in a cryogenic coolant such as liquid helium.
In a case of using an oxide superconducting coil, which has a relatively high critical temperature, as well as a case of using a metal-based superconducting coil, a shield plate is used to block radiation from a vacuum container. As disclosed in Japanese Patents Nos. 2756551, 4095742 and 3486868, a space between a shield plate and a superconducting coil is a vacuum. To reduce a thermal load to the superconducting coil, the superconducting coil must be fixed by a coil supporting member, which has a delicate structure having a small cross-sectional area and which is passed through the shield plate. In addition, a thermal anchor must be provided at the position of the shield plate. Therefore, the mechanical strength of the magnetic apparatus may be low. Furthermore, since the coil supporting member has a delicate structure, production of the member is time-consuming and costly.
Japanese Patent No. 3082397 discloses an apparatus which conductively cools a high-temperature superconducting coil by a cryogenic refrigerator. In this apparatus, to reduce thermal radiation from a room temperature or entry of heat from a current lead, it is necessary to provide a shield plate and a two-stage cryogenic refrigerator and to cool the shield plate in the first stage of the cryogenic refrigerator. Although the superconducting coil uses a high-temperature superconducting material, the problem described above cannot be avoided.
The superconducting magnetic apparatus of the system of conductively cooling the superconducting coil by the cryogenic refrigerator described above generally uses a two-stage cryogenic refrigerator which achieves a temperature of about 4K or lower. However, the two-stage cryogenic refrigerator has a problem with reliability in long-term operation since the refrigerating capacity is considerably influenced by a change in the thermal load. Moreover, since the delicate supporting structure is used to reduce the thermal load in a cryogenic portion, the mechanical strength of the apparatus is low and much time and expenses are required to produce the apparatus. Alternatively, a single-stage cryogenic refrigerator may be used to cool the superconducting coil. The single-stage cryogenic refrigerator achieves a temperature of only about 20K but has a high refrigerating capacity and brings efficiency several times as high as that in the two-stage cryogenic refrigerator. In the case of using the single-stage cryogenic refrigerator, however, the thermal load on the superconducting coil may be increased by the thermal conduction or radiation. As a result, the temperature variation may occur inside the coil.
Under those circumstances, there is a demand for providing a superconducting magnetic apparatus with a simple supporting structure, which has high reliability and realizes cost reduction.


A control method can stop motor operation reliably when a mirror rotator is mechanically locked at a driven end of the mirror rotator. The control method operates a motor 18 according to battery voltage. The motor 18 is operated with an operating time set and is stopped after a lapse of the set operating time, where the operating time is a time required for the motor 18 to drive the mirror rotator 14 from the retracted position or the working position to the working position or the retracted position at which the mirror rotator 14 is locked by a stopper. The control method detects the battery voltage, and decreases the set operating time of the motor 18 when the detected battery voltage is high or increases the set operating time of the motor 18 when the detected battery voltage is low.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control method, control circuit, and control program for a power retractable mirror which allow motor operation to be stopped (allow a motor to be turned off) reliably when a mirror rotator is mechanically locked at a driven end of the mirror rotator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Power retractable mirrors are used as vehicle outer mirrors (mainly side mirrors), in which a mirror rotator (including a mirror housing and part which rotates together with the mirror housing) is moved by a motor from working (standing) position to retracted position and from retracted position to working position. Normally, a rotational movement of the power retractable mirror is started when the motor is started with the throw of a switch in the vehicle. Once the motor is started, the mirror rotator rotates automatically from standing position to retracted position (or from retracted position to standing position). When the rotational movement is mechanically locked at a driven end (retracted position or standing position) by a stopper, the motor drive stops automatically.
Techniques for automatically stopping the motor drive at the driven end of the rotational movement of the mirror rotator include those described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-40146 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-347522. The technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-40146 involves inserting a resistor in a drive circuit of the motor and stopping the motor by detecting a voltage across the resistor. Specifically, when the rotational movement of the mirror rotator is mechanically locked at its driven end, a current flowing through the motor increases (a locked-rotor current flows), causing an increase in the voltage across the resistor, and the motor is stopped when the increase in the voltage is detected. The technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-347522 involves inserting a PTC element (positive temperature coefficient thermistor) in a drive circuit of the motor and detecting a voltage at one end of the PTC element. Specifically, when the rotational movement of the mirror rotator is mechanically locked at its driven end, a current flowing through the motor increases, causing the PTC element to generate heat, which in turn causes an increase in resistance of the PTC element thereby causing an increase in the voltage at the end of the PTC element, and the motor is stopped when the increase in the voltage is detected.
With the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-40146, if there is a small difference between locked-rotor current and steady-state current, it is difficult to detect mechanical locking of the stopper. If the mechanical locking fails to be detected, the motor continues to draw power, which can result in burnout.
The technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-347522 has the advantage that it is easier to detect mechanical locking than with the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-40146 even if there is a small difference between locked-rotor current and steady-state current. However, even with the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-347522, if the control circuit including the PTC element is placed outside the mirror (especially in the vehicle), it is difficult to detect mechanical locking of the stopper due to temperature differences between placement location of the mirror (outside the vehicle) and placement location of the control circuit (inside the vehicle). That is, PTC elements have short detection time at high temperatures and long detection time at low temperatures, where the detection time is the interval between the time when mechanical locking occurs and the time when detection temperature is reached. Therefore, if mechanical locking occurs in summertime when it is hot outside the vehicle (the motor inside the mirror is hot) and it is cool inside the vehicle (the PTC element is cold) due to air conditioning, the PTC element is slow to detect the mechanical locking even though the motor is liable to generate heat, which can result in motor burnout.

Control method, control circuit, and control program for power retractable outer mirror for a vehicle


A scroll compressor includes a plurality of components which are force-fit together. The components include the separator plate, a pressure relief valve mounted in the separator plate, and a discharge tube. By force-fitting these components, the necessity of welding operations in the interior of the scroll member is eliminated. This will reduce the occurrence of weld splatter, which is undesirable. Further, the assembly of the scroll compressor is simplified by this invention.

This invention relates to a simplified method of forming a scroll compressor.
Scroll compressors are becoming widely utilized in refrigerant compression applications. A scroll compressor includes a pair of scroll elements, each having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from the base. The spiral wraps interfit to define compression chambers. One of the scroll members is caused to orbit relative to the other. A motor drives a shaft to cause the scroll member to orbit.
The motor and scroll unit are enclosed in a sealed housing. Within the housing there is a separator plate which separates a chamber at suction pressure, and another chamber at discharge pressure. A pressure relief valve within the separator plate is typically mounted to selectively communicate gas in the discharge pressure chamber to the suction pressure chamber. Further, the separator plate mounts a discharge tube and check valve. The compressor housing is typically closed by an end cap which is welded to the center shell. In the past, the separator plate has been welded to the end cap. Further, the pressure relief valve has been threaded into the separator plate, or, in at least one proposed compressor, resistance welded. Further, the discharge tube and check valve have typically been welded into the separator plate.
It is undesirable to perform welding operations in the vicinity of the separator plate. Weld splatter could enter into the compressor environment, and be found within the sealed housing in some percentage of the compressors having welded components.
Further, the use of a threaded pressure relief valve raises the requirement of expensive parts and complex tooling.
It is a goal of this invention to reduce the complexity of assembly of the scroll compressors. Further, while the invention is disclosed with reference to a scroll compressor, there may be application in other types of sealed compressors.
In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, the separator plate is interference fit into the end cap. In embodiments of this aspect, the separator plate may have an outer diameter which is greater than the inner diameter of the end cap. The difference in the diameters may be sufficient such that when the separator plate is forced into the end cap, it is fixed in place. In an alternative embodiment, the difference is less than this first embodiment. The second embodiment separator plate is sized to be larger than the inner diameter of the end cap for a sufficient amount that a fluid tight seal is provided at the connection, however, the separator plate may be still be moveable axially. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the separator plate rests upon a surface of the center shell to properly position and support the separator plate. Thus, the separator plate is not welded to the end cap, and no weld splatter occurs.
Further, the pressure release valve is preferably interference fit into the separator plate. In this way, no complex machining or welding need occur.
In further preferred features, the discharge tube and check valve are also interference fit within the separator plate. In this way, a subassembly of the end cap, separator plate, pressure relief valve and discharge tube may be all assembled and the entire subassembly then mounted to the scroll compressor and center shell. Since there is no welding, the present invention reduces problems with the prior art, and further reduces the complexity of forming the compressor over the prior art.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.


A sintered metal ceramic crucible suitable for high temperature induction melting of reactive metals without appreciable carbon or silicon contamination of the melt. The crucible comprises a cast matrix of a thermally conductive ceramic material; a perforated metal sleeve, which serves as a susceptor for induction heating of the crucible, embedded within the ceramic cast matrix; and a thermal-shock-absorber barrier interposed between the metal sleeve and the ceramic cast matrix to allow for differential thermal expansions between the matrix and the metal sleeve and to act as a thermal-shock-absorber which moderates the effects of rapid changes of sleeve temperature on the matrix.

This invention relates to a crucible, more particularly to a crucible for high temperature applications.
Currently, graphite crucibles are used to melt high purity reactive metals with high melting points, such as uranium, via vacuum or inert induction heating. However, because the carbon in the crucible contaminates the reactive metal, the graphite must be painted with protective layers of ceramics to slow the infusion of carbon into the metal. In addition, large non-graphite crucibles, such as those formed of silica, used for melting high melting point materials have a tendency to crack during the melt-casting process because of excessive mechanical stresses that develop within the crucible due to nonuniform heating of the crucible. Accordingly, a need in the art exists for a crucible that can be induction heated without cracking and allow for high temperature melting of reactive metals without appreciable carbon contamination.

Directly susceptible, noncarbon metal ceramic composite crucible

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


A surgical cutting instrument, disposed generally along a rotational axis, includes a member extending from a base. The member is rotatable to transmit torque from the base to a cutter carried at the distal end of the member. The cutter defines one cutting edge oriented in a right-handed direction, and another cutting edge oriented in a left-handed direction. The right-handed and left-handed cutting edges can be, e.g., defined by a symmetrical revolved surface, forward-swept, symmetrical, or separated by an uninterrupted circumferential band of material.

This invention relates to surgical instruments, and in particular to powered arthroscopic surgical instruments.
Powered arthroscopic surgical instruments typically include a rigid, stationary outer tube within which an inner tube is rotated by a motor. A cutting implement is disposed on the distal end of the inner tube. Tissue is exposed to the cutting implement through an opening in the distal end of the outer tube, and tissue or bone fragments cut by the cutting implement are often drawn through the interior of the inner tube along with irrigating fluid by the use of suction applied at the proximal end of the instrument. Examples of such surgical instruments are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,203,444, 4,274,414, 4,834,729, and 4,842,578, all of which are assigned to the present assignee, and all of which are incorporated herein by reference.


A transparent composite composition is provided which is low in coefficient of linear expansion and excellent in transparency, heat resistance and solvent resistance and can serve as an optical sheet for a liquid crystal display device or organic EL display device, for instance and can thus serve as a glass substitute. The transparent composite composition has a transparent resin (a) and a glass filler (b), and the transparent resin (a) is a copolymer obtained from at least one reactive monomer lower in refractive index than the glass filler (b) and at least one reactive monomer higher in refractive index than the glass filler (b).

Those display panel or device substrates for use in active matrix type liquid crystal display devices and organic EL display devices, color filter substrates, solar cell substrates and the like which are made of glass are generally in wide use. In recent years, however, for the reasons that glass sheets are breakable, inflexible, and unsuited to weight reduction, various plastics materials have been investigated as substitutes therefor.
For example, Laid-open Japanese Patent Application (JP Kokai) H10-77321 describes that a member obtained by curing a resin composition comprising a noncrystalline thermoplastic resin and an actinic radiation-curable bis(meth)acrylate with an actinic ray can be used as a substitute for a glass substrate, such as a liquid crystal panel substrate. Further, JP Kokai H10-90667 describes a liquid crystal display device in which a transparent substrate obtained by curing/molding a composition comprising a specific alicyclic-structured or aromatic bis(meth)acrylate with an actinic radiation or the like is used.
However, these known plastics materials as substitutes for glass are all high in coefficient of linear expansion as compared with glass sheets and, when used as display device substrates, in particular active matrix display device substrates, they may cause such troubles as warping and aluminum wiring breaking in the production process and, accordingly, it is difficult to apply them to such fields of use. Thus, plastics materials satisfying the transparency, solvent resistance and heat resistance requirements, among others, imposed on display device substrates, in particular active matrix display device substrates and, at the same time, showing a small coefficient of linear expansion are demanded.
For reducing the coefficient of linear expansion, attempts have been made in the art to produce composite materials by incorporating an inorganic filler, such as a glass powder or glass fiber, in resins. In the case of such resin-inorganic filler composite materials, however, the transparency of the substrates is often impaired. The main cause is the difference in refractive index between the inorganic filler and resin, which causes diffused refraction of the light passing through the resin.
To solve such problems, various methods have been proposed, for example the method comprising adjusting the composition of a styrene-methacrylate copolymer to thereby equalize its refractive index with that of glass fiber, the method of refractive index adjustment which comprises blending an acrylic resin with a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer and, further, the method of refractive index adjustment which comprises adjusting the composition of an N-substituted maleimide-olefin copolymer (e.g. JP Kokai S54-24993, Japanese Patent Publication (JP Kokoku) H06-94523, Japanese Patent No. 3216179). However, these materials are not sufficient in heat resistance and solvent resistance for their use as active matrix display device substrates in lieu of glass substrates.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a transparent composite composition low in coefficient of linear expansion, excellent in transparency, heat resistance and solvent resistance and capable of serving as a substitute for glass. The composite composition of the invention is suited for use in such fields of application as liquid crystal display device substrates, inclusive of active matrix type ones, organic EL display device substrates, color filter substrates, touch panel substrates, solar cell substrates and like optical sheets, transparent sheets, optical lenses, optical devices, optical waveguides, and LED sealing materials.


The present invention provides a semiconductor device fabrication method including the steps of: forming first gate insulating films in first to third active regions of a silicon substrate; wet-etching the first gate insulating film of the second active region through a first resist opening portion of a first resist pattern; forming a second gate insulating film in the second active region; forming on the silicon substrate a second resist pattern having a second resist portion larger than the first resist opening portion; wet-etching the first gate insulating film of the third active region through a second resist opening portion of the second resist pattern; and forming a third gate insulating film in the third active region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a semiconductor logic device, e.g., a logic LSI, one chip is partitioned into a core unit and an input/output unit. Of these units, the core unit mainly performs operations, and the input/output unit transmits or receives a signal to/from an external circuit.
MOS transistors formed in the core unit need to perform operations at high speed, and therefore gate insulating films thereof are formed to be thin. On the other hand, in MOS transistors of the input/output unit, since a high voltage used in the external circuit is used, gate insulating films thicker than those of the core unit are formed in order to increase the breakdown voltages between a substrate and gates and to reduce standby leakage currents.
However, if gate insulating films are thick, the driving abilities of MOS transistors are deteriorated. Meanwhile, if gate insulating films are thin, leakage currents between a substrate and gates may be increased. Accordingly, in recent years, gate insulating films having thicknesses intermediate between those of the above-described thick and thin gate insulating films have been formed in the core unit or the input/output unit, thus forming MOS transistors which have driving abilities more excellent than those of the input/output MOS transistors and in which leakage currents are reduced compared to those of the MOS transistors for operations.
As a result, in an LSI fabrication process, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-203988, it is necessary to form, on one semiconductor substrate, gate insulating films having three kinds of thicknesses, i.e., thin gate insulating films, intermediate-thickness gate insulating films, and thick gate insulating films.
There are several methods of forming three gate insulating films having different thicknesses as described above. In FIGS. 14 and 15 of the following Patent Literature 1, the formation and removal of thermal oxide films which become gate insulating films are performed at a plurality of times, thereby forming gate insulating films having different thicknesses in three regions of a semiconductor substrate.
However, if wet etching for removing thermal oxide films is performed at a plurality of times, there arises the problem that a device-isolation insulating film is etched at end portions of the gate insulating films and that an electric field concentrates at the vicinities of the etched portions (divots) of the device-isolation insulating film, as described in paragraph 0021 of the Patent Literature 1.
In order to solve the problem, the Patent Literature 1 proposes a method in which three gate insulating films having different thicknesses are respectively formed in three regions of a semiconductor substrate while the removal of a thermal oxide film which becomes a gate insulating film is performed only once in one region of the semiconductor substrate.
Even when the removal of a thermal oxide film is performed only once in one region as described above, it is necessary to advance the miniaturization of a semiconductor device which has been desired in recent years.
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-203988

Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same


Provided are a display panel and a display apparatus. The display panel includes a back panel, and a fingerprint identification unit, a specular reflection film layer and a touch unit which are disposed on the back panel, wherein the fingerprint identification unit includes a fingerprint identification electrode layer, the touch unit includes a touch electrode layer; and the fingerprint identification electrode layer, the specular reflection film layer and the touch electrode layer are disposed in a same layer.

With rapid development of display technology, the market demand for display products combining mirror and display is more and more extensive. Mirror display products may be applied not only to scenarios such as home, shopping malls, advertising, beauty and cosmetics, but also to scenarios such as car rear view mirrors.
At present, a manufacturing method of mirror display products is to manufacture a layer of highly reflective patterned metal on an encapsulation layer, which needs an extra process; and to adopt plug-in Touch Sensor Panels (TSPs) to realize touch of the mirror display products, which will increase thickness and cost of the panels. Moreover, a specular reflection material is made of highly reflective metal, which cannot realize a fingerprint identification function.

Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


The liquid delivery system includes a liquid receptacle (1) installable on the liquid jetting device, a liquid supply device (900), and a liquid flow passage member (910). The liquid receptacle (1) has a liquid storage chamber for storing liquid, an air flow passage connecting the liquid storage chamber to the outside air, a liquid delivery port for delivering the liquid to the liquid jetting device, an intermediate flow passage leading from the liquid storage chamber to the liquid delivery port, and a sensor disposed in the intermediate flow passage to sense whether the liquid is present or not. The liquid storage chamber includes a top storage chamber that is located at an uppermost position in the liquid storage chamber. The intermediate flow passage has a buffer chamber disposed downstream of the sensor, at a location adjacent to the top storage chamber. The liquid flow passage member (910) is connected to the top storage chamber, and a communication hole is formed in a wall that lies between the top storage chamber and the buffer chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid delivery system for delivering liquid to a liquid jetting device, and to a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ink-jet printers are an example of one known class of liquid jetting device. In an ink-jet printer, ink is delivered from one or more ink cartridges. In one known conventional technology, a large-capacity ink tank is provided outside of the ink-jet printer and is connected by a tube to an ink cartridge in the printer, thereby increasing the ink storage capacity.
However, depending on the type of ink cartridge, simply connecting a tube to the ink cartridge may result in loss of ink cartridge functionality, with a possibility that ink will not be delivered appropriately to the print head of the printer. This problem is not limited to ink-jet printers, but is a problem that is common generally to liquid jetting devices or liquid-consuming devices installable of liquid receptacles.

Liquid delivery system and manufacturing method for the same


A method for externally adjusting the axial length of a solenoid actuated fuel injector includes the step of externally forming a helical scribe mark in a housing component, thereby changing the axial length of the injector. By adjusting the length of the helical scribe mark and the depth of the scribe mark, and by measuring the stroke or the flow rate of the injector, the stroke or the flow rate of injector may be set precisely. The external adjustment of the length of the housing component may be made in cartridge form as well as in final assembly form of the fuel injector complementing the manufacturing process versatility.

Fuel injected internal combustion engines are well known. Fuel injection arrangements may be divided generally into multi-port fuel injection (MPFI), wherein fuel is injected into a runner of an air intake manifold ahead of a cylinder intake valve, and gasoline direct injection (GDI), wherein fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber of an engine cylinder, typically during or at the end of the compression stroke of the piston. GDI is designed to allow greater control and precision of the fuel charge to the combustion chamber, resulting in better fuel economy and lower emissions. This is accomplished by the combustion of a precisely controlled mixture under various operating conditions. GDI is also designed to allow higher cylinder compression ratios, delivering higher performance with lower fuel consumption compared to other fuel injection systems.
Generally, an electromagnetic fuel injector incorporates a solenoid armature, located between the pole piece of the solenoid and a fixed valve seat. Electromagnetic fuel injectors are linear devices that meter fuel per electric pulse at a rate proportional to the width of the electric pulse. The armature typically operates as a movable valve assembly. In a normally-closed injector, when the injector is de-energized, its movable valve assembly is released from one stop position and accelerated by a spring towards the opposite stop position, located at the valve seat. The distance between the stop positions constitutes the stroke.
A solenoid actuated fuel injector for automotive engines is required to operate with a small and precise stroke of its core or valve in order to provide a fuel flow rate within an established tolerance. The stroke of the moving mass of the fuel injector is critical to function, performance, and durability of the injector. Moreover, since GDI Injectors require a relatively high fuel pressure to operate that may be, for example, as high as 1700 psi compared to about 60 psi required to operate a typical MPFI injector, the fuel flow of GDI injectors is more sensitive to variations in stroke than MPFI injectors. Thus, a tighter control of the stroke set, such as about ±5 microns, is needed in GDI injectors.
In some current injectors, the stroke is adjusted at assembly by moving an adjustable valve seat a predetermined dimension from a seated valve position after related components are first crimped or welded in place. This allows the stroke setting operation to compensate for assembly tolerances which result from the crimping or welding operations. However, the requirement for an adjustable valve seat adds cost and complexity to the assembly process.
Other prior art stroke adjusting methods for solenoid operated injectors include, for example, pre-measurement of stroke followed by shimming to obtain a desired target stroke, movement of a component followed by welding or staking of that component to set the stroke, or application of multiple axial laser weld stitches to set the stroke. Setting the stroke in some of these ways typically leads to a change in the setting caused by the welding or staking, thereby increasing the tolerance capability of the process. Moreover, these stroke setting methods described do not readily allow for a static flow setting process.
What is needed in the art is a stroke setting method for a solenoid actuated fuel injector that permits an accurate adjustment of the static flow and that does not require welding or mechanical deformation processes to be performed after the stroke adjustment is made.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method for externally setting the stroke and the static flow of the injector while in cartridge form as well as in final assembly form.

External stroke/flow setting method for fuel injectors


A device characteristic testing system for testing a first DUT (device under test), a second DUT, a third DUT and a fourth DUT on a wafer, each of the DUTs includes a first end and a second end, the device characteristic testing system includes: a device characteristic testing circuit formed on the wafer includes a first conducting line connected to the second end of the first and the fourth DUT, a second conducting line connected to the second end of the second and third DUTs, a third conducting line connected to the first end of the first and second DUTs, a fourth conducting line connected to the first end of the third and fourth DUT, and a plurality of testing pads respectively coupled to the first, second, third, and fourth conducting line for receiving at least one testing signal to detect device characteristics of the DUTs.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a testing system and a testing method for DUTs (devices under test), and more particularly, to a testing system and a testing method having fewer testing pads for DUTs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well-known that, in the manufacturing process of ICs (integrated circuits) and chips, a testing operation is a commonly used step. Each IC, whether the IC is in the wafer state or in the packaging state, has to be tested through a standard testing procedure to ensure functions of each circuit of the IC. Generally speaking, accuracy and speed of a testing procedure are required because of two main concerns: new design of ICs and yield. For example, as IC design progresses, the ICs may have more functions, meaning that the inner circuits of the ICs become more complicated. Therefore, the accuracy of the testing procedure also becomes more essential.
The testing procedure of testing a single die of a wafer in the above-mentioned wafer state is also called wafer probing. As known by those skilled in the art, wafer probing is an essential test in manufacturing, and it is mainly used to detect device characteristics of each die on the wafer by establishing a temporary electronic contact between an external testing device and the dies on the wafer. Therefore, good ICs (that is, the produced ICs that conform to the needed specification) are selected from the whole wafer before all dies are separated and packaged. Furthermore, the yield of the wafer can be determined through the wafer probing. Therefore, engineers could know the problems of wafer manufacturing by analyzing the yield. In other words, if the yield is a high percentage, this means that the manufacturing procedure is correct, otherwise, if the yield is a low percentage, this means that some problems may have occurred in the manufacturing procedure and some steps of the manufacturing procedure need to be examined again.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a diagram of a testing circuit 100 according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, the testing circuit 100 comprises a plurality of DUTs (devices under test) 110, 120, 130, 140 and a plurality of testing pads 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, wherein the DUTs 110, 120, 130, 140 and the testing pads 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 are electrically connected in series. That is, every two DUTS of DUTs 110, 120, 130, 140 share one testing pad of testing pads 150, 160, 170, 180, 190. As known by those skilled in the art, the testing circuit 100 is positioned on a wafer. That is, the testing pads 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 and related conducting lines are formed in the same wafer through a semiconductor manufacturing procedure. In general, the above-mentioned testing pads 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 are metal welded pads or touched by probe pins for establishing the electronic contact between the external testing device (not shown in FIG. 1) and the DUTs 110, 120, 130, 140. Therefore, in the testing operation, the external testing device can establish a testing voltage (or a testing current) on each DUT 110, 120, 130, 140 through the testing pads 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, and detect the corresponding current (or corresponding voltage) in order to detect the device characteristics (for example, the impedance) of the DUTs 110, 120, 130, 140.
However, there is a serious disadvantage in the testing circuit 100 shown in FIG. 1. Because the DUTs 110, 120, 130, 140 and testing pads 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 are connected in series, as shown in FIG. 1, 4 DUTs need 5 testing pads. Following the above illustration, K DUTs need K+1 testing pads on the wafer. Therefore, the testing circuit according to the prior art occupies a huge wafer area because of the huge number of testing pads. In addition, the testing circuit in the prior art also limits the number of DUTs due to the consumption of the wafer area.

Testing system and testing method for DUTs