The present invention aims at developing a deinking method applicable to the deinking of, for example, waste OA (office automation) paper and telephone directories, whereby a deinked pulp having a high whiteness and little contamination with large ink spots and unliberated ink can be obtained. The object of the present invention can be achieved by deinking, for example, waste OA paper or telephone directories by using a deinking composition containing as an effective component a reaction mixture (III) obtained by conducting the addition reaction of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide with a mixture (I) comprising a fat and oil (a) and a mono- to hexahydric alcohol (b) and/or with a transesterification mixture (II) obtained by conducting the transesterification reaction of a fat and oil (a) with a mono- to hexahydric alcohol (b), in such a manner that the molar ratio of ethylene oxide to propylene oxide which are used as starting materials ranges from 0.8 to 1.2 and that the molar number of ethylene oxide which is used for the addition reaction ranges from 50 to 100 mol per mole of the fat and oil (a).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method to be used for the reclamation of waste papers. More particularly, it relates to a deinking method whereby a deinked pulp having a high whiteness and having little contamination by unliberated large ink spots having a particle size of 30 .mu.m or more and undisintegrated matter can be obtained by the deinking of, for example, magazines, waste OA paper, which is office automation waste paper, such as plain paper copies and ledgers, or telephone directories by flotation, washing or a combination procedure thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been a practice to reclaim waste papers including newspapers and magazines. Recently the effective utilization of waste paper has become more and more important in conjunction with the problems of the shortage of pulp resources and the rise in the prices thereof. Further, attempts have been made to expand the use of deinked pulp obtained from waste paper and to utilize it as a pulp of a higher rank.
On the other hand, recent improvements in printing techniques, printing systems and printing ink compositions have made it difficult to deink waste paper. Furthermore, the use of types of waste paper which have not been reclaimed heretofore have also made it difficult to deink waste paper. In order to facilitate deinking, therefore, attempts have been made to improve deinking devices and, furthermore, studies on deinking agents have been performed.
In order to remove inks and other impurities from waste paper, deinking compositions which comprise alkaline agents such as sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and sodium phosphate, bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide, hydrosulfites and hypochlorites, sequestering agents such as EDTA and DTPA, and deinking agents, either alone or in the form of a mixture thereof, including anionic surfactants such as alkylbenzenesulfonates, higher alcohol sulfates, .alpha.-olefinsulfonates and dialkyl sulfosuccinates, and nonionic surfactants such as ethylene oxide adducts of higher alcohols, alkylphenols and fatty acids, and alkanolamides, have been used. Although these deinking compositions have excellent foaming properties in the flotation method, their abilities to collect ink are limited. In the washing method, on the other hand, they are poor in detergency and, furthermore, the good foaming properties thereof cause problems in the effluent disposal step. As a result, only a deinked pulp of a low grade can be obtained by these methods.
When waste OA papers including plain paper copy (PPC) and computer print output (CPO) are to be deinked, in particular, a number of large ink spots having a particle size of 30 .mu.m or more remain unliberated after completing a common deinking treatment with the use of the above-mentioned conventional deinking compositions. A reason for this is that the printing inks (toners) used therein comprise styrene/acrylic binders or polyester binders, differing from the conventional ones used for printing newspapers. In waste papers containing a large amount of a strength additive for maintaining the strength under wet conditions (for example, telephone directories), on the other hand, a large amount of undisintegrated matter remains after the completion of a common deinking treatment with the use of the above-mentioned conventional deinking compositions.
It is therefore necessary to apply a large shear force energy or to use a large amount of alkali in order to deink these waste OA papers, magazines or telephone directories. However the use of a large amount of alkali suffers from some disadvantages including an increase in sticky matter, an increased load in the effluent disposal step, and increased brittleness of the pulp. Thus no method for effectively deinking waste OA paper, magazines, telephone directories and blends containing them has been established thus far.
The present inventors previously proposed the use of a reaction product obtained by the addition reaction of an alkylene oxide with a mixture of a natural fat and oil and a monohydric or polyhydric alcohol as a deinking agent (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 139486/1990, No. 293483/1990, No. 293484/1990, No. 293485/1990, No. 881/1991 and European Patent Laid-Open No. 039667 and No. 0241224). Subsequently, the present inventors have examined in detail the behavior of these deinking agents in the deinking step. As a result, they have found out that deinked pulp obtained by treating waste OA paper, magazines, telephone directories or waste paper blends containing newspaper and waste OA paper, magazines or telephone directories with deinking compounds in which the alkylene oxide is a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide and the addition ratio of ethylene oxide to propylene oxide ranges from 1.8 to 2.2 is contaminated with a number of unliberated large ink spots having a particle size of 30 .mu.m or more or a large amount of undisintegrated matter, though these compounds exert excellent deinking effects on waste newspapers.


This invention relates to a novel crossover valve combined double offset and triple offset butterfly valves with metal seal ball valve, the valve has a novel stem seals and seat seals with various material combinations, metallic and nonmetallic, full metals with novel lock methods, safe and secured handle operator assembly particularly to rotary valves or all valve stem seals with those novel features used for on-off and flow fluid controlling in pipelines, offshore platform, marine/submarine, refiners, chemical plant, power plant and oilfields. Those valves can performance under multiple extreme conditions or in severe services; such as the rocket engine/turbine fuel control system with highly oxidative fluid under extreme temperature of 1600 F, or with liquidized oxygen or hydrogen down to −425° F., the valve stem seals is used in chlorine gas process with extremely low emission leakage under 10 ppmv.

This invention relates to a novel crossover valve combined double offset and triple offset butterfly valves with metal seal ball valve, the valve has a new stem seals and seat seals with various material combinations, metal and nonmetal, full metals with novel lock methods, safe and secured handle operator assembly particularly to rotary valves or all valve stem seals with those novel features used for on-off and flow fluid controlling in rocket engines, pipelines, offshore platform, marine/submarine, refiners, chemical plant, power plant and oilfields. Those valves can performance under multiple extreme conditions or in severe services; such as the rocket engine/turbine fuel control system with highly oxidative fluid under extreme temperature of 1600 F, or with liquidized oxygen or hydrogen down to −423° F., the integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) under high temperature and pressure. platform, marine/submarine, refiners, chemical plant, power plant and oilfields, those applications also includes extremely long serve times from 10 to 50 years or extreme cycles with million without failure, the valve stem seals in chlorine gas process are required with extremely low emission leakage under 10 ppmv, finally fast shut off operation in pipeline valves are required with extreme speed of less than 1/10 to 2 second for emergency shut off, cut off valve for LNG terminal and HIPPS, rocket launch system with liquid oxygen and hydrogen valves.
This valve comprises a body with a flow port and a stem bore, a stem keyed with a disc is disposed in the stem bore to rotate the disc or ball between open and closed positions, this valve is fully metal sealed in the stem by a simple, reliable stem packing based on metal K ring and spring bearing and liquid seal in the port by a wedge seat ring assembly. The wedge seal seat assemblies have simple base structures with versatile configurations for various applications and are easy for manufacturing and repair, yet robust and reliable.
Conventional valves have been divided into three categories in terms of seat material and sealing mechanism; the solid metal to solid metal seal (hard seal) and the metal to nonmetal seal (soft seal) and solid metal to flexible metal seal (firm seal), since early 1950 after synthetic rubber and engineered plastics were developed, greatly number of soft seal valves are developed for low leakage requirements like butterfly, ball valves, there have been many specifications for seat leakage like ANSI FCI 70-2 for control valves, Class V and VI are considered as bubble tight, ISO 5235, MSS-61, but today the flow control industries are faced with more and more challenges with extreme temperature, pressure, fluid content and operation conditions, only one kind of seats no longer can solve high demanding problems, the hard seals are early developed for gate valves and check valve and stronger than the metal to soft seals in high pressure and high temperature conditions, but they not only have leakage problems and other many unsolved problems (a) for example, some float ball valves with the hardened facing meet class VI, but the hardened facing not only add high cost, but also increase operation torque as well as cost greatly (b) the triple offset butterfly valves with laminated seat meet ANSI class VI leakage under a new condition, but once the seat is used and can be easily damaged either by high velocity flow or operation friction or the melted adhesive between metal ring and graphite ring or graphite ring torn off between metal rings under high temperatures or compression (c) the hard seal seat is required with highly preload to secure seals between the seat and disc or ball at lower pressure and cannot stand for closing impact between the valve closure member and valve seat due to high impact and can cause spark, so they cannot used for fast shutoff or high cycle operations, in case of rocket engine, they can be used for controlling liquefied oxygen or hydrogen, moreover the most the failures are the seal surfaces wearing which includes abrasive wearing, adhesive and fatigue wearing beside erosive wear interaction between solid and fluid, finally hard seat is not field repairable (d) while the soft seats can stand for high impact as the closure member hit the seat, but the soft seat can be torn off fast especially in high temperature and cryogenic service like double offset butterfly valve and ball valves, even double offset butterfly valves with metal ring support, the metal ring alone cannot hold bubble tight seal in most cases, moreover the soft seal materials greatly reduce the valve usage for an example, according to API 609, the whole valve pressure ratings with PTFE and RPTFE are degraded by 30 to 60% under high temperature (e) axial bolting joint between retaining ring and seat ring for ID and side surface seal mechanism like most offset butterfly and ball valves, those joint devices are equipped with direct screws or sleeve to secure seal rings, such a method not only produces uneven pressing forces on seal rings and seats, but also has a lower reliability with multiple bolting and high probability of screws or bolts falling into downstream under vibration or high cycle conditions, according to Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), such a structure has the highest severity in high vibration, high temperature applications like turbine or jet engine systems, a risk of bolts falling in a pipeline system is very high due to vibration, quick cycle and high temperature creep (f) unidirectional seal, although many offset butterfly valve or single seat ball valve makers claim that their valves are bidirectional, in fact the upstream seal is tended to move the seat away from the body seal ring, moreover there are cumulative clearances between bearing inside diameter and stem, stem and disc hub, body bearing hole and bearing outside diameter, sometime after sudden closing, the valves start to leak due to the clearances, so the current solution is to tight the clearances, as a result, stem will tend to gall with bearing under high temperature or thermal cycle, in short those problems greatly reduce potential usage of the offset butterfly valve or single seat ball valve and prevent them from getting more market share so far there is no good solution.
While stem seal leakage have been neglected for long time, until the Clean air Act was passed in 1970, but today more than 95% valves in the use still have stem leakage between 100 to 500 ppmv, the specifications for stem fugitive emission are established under API 622 for stem packing, API 624 for rising stem valve and API 641 for part-turn valve, the stem leakage becomes more and more sensitive and important issues for the society as well the industries, EPA is a US gent to reinforce under Clean air Act, while the stem packing with PTFE and engineered plastics have lower leakage less than 100 ppmv only under 400 F temperature, while the graphite stem packing become main packing materials after asbestos were banned due to health risk in 1970s, but the graphite stem packing even with live-loaded device not only have high leakage between 100 to 500 ppmv, but also have high, uncontrolled packing torques, a few packing sets passed under fugitive emission specifications with less 100 ppmv, but they fails in the real applications and cannot meet the consent decreed issued by EPA, since the Poisson ratio of graphite is near zero, the load on graphite are proportional to density of graphite, the excessive packing force is need to provide stem seal with constant readjustment or replacement of packing, the actuation forces are unpredictable, while most graphite packing assemblies have a five set ring assembly, but only top three set rings have sealing function about 50%, 30% 20% affectedness, the packing mechanism is very inefficient due to low Poisson ratio near zero, in other words, any vertical displacement would generate a little radial displacements, so it is difficult to automate, in case of subsea flow devices or nuclear power plants, remote pipelines, the constant readjustment is impracticable, so far no prior arts ever clearly defines or understands real cause, the applicant's research has shown there are four causes for stem packing leakage (1) the stem dynamic enlargement account for 45% of stem leak failures due to misalignment between stem axis and packing axis during stem moving (2) stem wearing accounts for about 30% of stem leak failures due to friction between stem and packing (3) Corrosion accounts for about 20% of stem leak failures due to galvanized corrosion between noble graphite and less noble metal (4) foreign object inclusion accounts for 5% of stem leak failures, so far there is no real good solutions.
70% of all valves are manually operated, especially in HVAC system, refiner, power plants, oilfield, ship, submarine, offshore platform, 30% of automated valves are equipped with manual override devices, 99% of pipeline valves are manually operated at the testing stage, most manual valves have no clear sign devices to indicate the operation conditions, but the safety and security issues for the manual operation device have been neglected for long time, the safety and security become more important for the operators as well as the society and environment protection, there is no good solution so far for safe and secured handle with a good interface between human and the valves and anti-tampering device, even after many accidents happened and millions dollar lost.
Finally large numbers of the butterfly valves are used for burner or gas turbine exhaust dampening control, but most of them are used for releasing harmful gas into the air, like carbon monoxide, NOx, EPA and may states have regulations for vehicle emissions, but more and more states passed the laws for furnace and power generators emissions control.
In order to overcome the disadvantages or solve the problems of the conventional butterfly valves and ball valves or valve stems, many efforts have been made in the prior arts. The efforts in five fields were made to improve the conventional valves in the prior arts, but those works within a limited scope.
The first field is for improving the seat seal, many efforts were made, especially in metal to metal seat seal in high temperature, cryogenic environments or for highly abrasive or erosive fluid applications. Most prior arts are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,022,348, 5,145,150A to Robert T. Brooks shows a typical ball valve has single metal to metal seat, but it cannot seal under Class VI, still there are some practice issues to be solved like how to assemble and secure the seat or seal ring with disc, ball, plug or body, how to deal with or minimize closing impact on metal seat, how to improve the laminated seal ring for triple offset butterfly valve, how to improve soft seat for double offset butterfly valve and ball valve, how to improve hardfacing, which are used for most ball valve, butterfly valve, gate valve, or replace hardfacing with other method, so far there is no good solution.
The second field is for improving the stem seal packing, most prior arts are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,022,348, a recent study shows stem bearing and stem sealing are related to each other, the bad stem bearing cause bad stem sealing and vice, versa, most stem operation problem are either stem sealing or stem bearing problems, so stem seal issue should be dealt with both sealing and bearing, moreover most stem seals in the market are equipped with graphite and PTFE, major problem for graphite is required to readjust the packing constantly due to lack of elastic of graphite, major problem for PTFE packing is the temperature limitation up to 400 F, finally stem fugitive emission is a main issue for operators, industries, the society and the planet, so far there is no good solution.
The third field is for improving the joint between the seat and the main parts like ball, gate, disc plug or body, most prior arts are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,022,348, the foundational issue for hard seal is a joint method between the base parts like ball, disc, gate, plug or body and hardened materials like stellite 21 or 6, tungsten carbide, and chrome carbide by hot joint methods like welding, HVOF, hardfacing or cool joint method (mechanical joint) like screw, glue, and pin, retaining ring or eccentric plug/lock ring. Most prior arts in mechanical joint are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 233,444, some hot joint methods in valve industries are shown on U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,117,493; 6,326,582; and 6,582,126, but there are still some issues to be solved like cost, the environment protection, and manufacturing, field repair, reliability and inspection methods.
The fourth field is to improve handle performance; the conventional valve handle with a positioner was shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,693 to James et al (1989), the handle is not detachable from the valve and occupy large operation space to operate even butterfly valve is very compact, U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,724A shows valve handle with safety lock, it is an add-on device, the lock device not only add cost but also make the positioner less visible, in short all lock screws between the valves and positioners can be removed easily, all existing butterfly valve and some ball valve handles are not detachable and fully tampering-proof design, especially the handles which occupy too large operation space cause big problem in very limited working spaces, especially like ships, submarines, offshore planform, some places in power plant and refiners, finally the manual operated valves have no visible sign for operating condition like "open", "closed", "high pressure zone" in many emergence cases, it is difficult that only in few seconds, the operators should decide which valve should be opened, which valve should be closed from distances, any mistake can cause life and dollars loss, so far there is no good solution.
In short, all efforts in the prior arts never address or recognize needs for replacing the axial retaining ring bolting or the laminated seat with metal and graphite stem seal and for developing buckling metal seat instead of improving spring assistant seal force and wedge ring to help stem seal instead of live loading under high temperature and greatly reducing the operation torque, most efforts are focused on easing the consequence rather than finding the root of cause, finally other inherent problem for butterfly valve is the upstream load is supported by the stem rather than the seat and body like ball valve or gate valve, it causes unidirectional seal in most of the offset butterfly valves if the stem is not properly constructed, finally stem fugitive emission for all valve still is a mystery for most packing and valve manufactures.
So the flow control industry has long sought means of improving the performance of butterfly as well as rotary valve, improving the stem seal, creating a robust bidirectional seat seal, enabling the valve to handle various flows under multiple extreme conditions with safe and secured handle.
In conclusion, insofar as I am aware, no such butterfly or such rotary valve is formerly developed with versatilely, reliably sealed seats, highly reliable seat retaining device without high preload and risk of bolt and reliable stem seals with less than 50 ppmv, easy manufacturing at low cost they can be used for controlling bidirectional fluid and operated securely and safety to operators, the society and the planet even under multiple extreme conditions.

Crossover rotary valves and stem seal packing


A holder holds a disk cartridge, and two reversely moving members, being engaged with the holder, either lower of lift the holder as a result of being moved along reverse directions respectively. A linking member links the two reversely moving members, the linking member being rotatably supported on the holder. Each of the two reversely moving members has a guide groove inclined along a direction reverse of another direction along which a guide groove of the other one is inclined. The disk cartridge holder is adapted to be moved in one direction by means of a cam plate movable in a second direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to disk devices, in particular disk devices for recording information to/reproducing information from recording medium disks (discs), such as FD (floppy disk) drive devices, CD (compact disc) drive devices, MD (mini disc) drive devices and so forth.
The mini disc is an information recording disc such as that described, for example, in the Japanese journals, Movie Television Technology, 1992/10(482), pages 44-49, `Mini Disc as a Next Generation Audio Media`, written by Tetsuo Yoshida, (Audio Development Group, Sony Corporation, Tokyo), and Television Society Journal, Vol.47, No.6, pages 841-844 (1993), `Newly Developed Technologies for Audio Equipment; Mini Disc" written by Yasuaki Maeda (Audio Development Group, Sony Corporation, Tokyo), and also described in Dig Tech Pap IEEE Int Conf Consum Electron Vol.1993, pages 124-125, `MiniDisc System`, written by Yasuaki Maeda (Audio Development Group, Sony Corporation, Tokyo).
Further, the present invention relates to disk devices which perform a loading operation of drawing a disk cartridge into a holder in response to a part of the disk cartridge being inserted into the holder.
Further, the present invention relates to a disk device which automatically performs a disk loading operation and a disk unloading operation.
Further, the present invention relates to a disk device which holds a disk onto a turntable using a magnetic force.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general in a disk device such as a disc (MD) device, a rotational driving motor, a reading head and so forth are mounted on a frame of the device. In order to cause a media disc (hereinafter, referred to as a `disc`) to enter a reproducible state, it is necessary to convey the disc, held by a disc holder, to a position adjacent to the rotational driving motor, reading head and so forth.
FIGS. 1 and 2.show a lift type disc (MD) device in the related art which will now be described. A collet B (rotational driving motor) for rotating a disc contained in a MD disc cartridge MD and a reading head C for reading information stored in the disc are attached onto a frame A of the device.
A disc holder D for holding the MD disc cartridge MD is placed at a center of a top surface of the frame A. A pair of lift cam plates F.sub.1, F.sub.2 are placed at two sides of the disc holder D, and can move along an MD disc cartridge loading direction as sliding on guiding pins E provided on the top surface of the frame A. The lift cam plates F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are coupled with each other through an eject plate G extending along a direction perpendicular to the MD disc cartridge loading direction.
In detail, a respective one of force applying springs H are laid between each one of the lift cam plates F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 and the frame A. Due to the force applying springs H, the eject plate G and lift cam plates F.sub.1, F.sub.2 are pulled forward in FIG. 1. A plurality of following pins I are projected from each side wall of the disc holder D and are inserted into lift cams f formed in the lift cam plates F.sub.1 and F.sub.2. Movement of the following pins I are guided by the lift cams f.
Movement preventing nails J are projected from the frame A shown in the figures, and are engaged with some of the following pins I. The engagement prevents the disc holder D from moving along the top surface of the frame A in response to movement of the lift cam plates F.sub.1 and F.sub.2.
In the disc (MD) device, in response to the ejecting plate G being pressed against the pulling force due to the spring H, the lift cam plates F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 fixed to the eject plate G slide together. As a result, due to the function of the lift cams f, the disc holder D is lowered to enter a reproducible state as shown in FIG. 2. In the state, reproduction of information from the disc through the reading head C can be performed.
In the disc (MD) device, the eject plate G is provided between the frame A and the disc holder D. Accordingly, a lift/lower stroke of the disc holder D is elongated, and the disc (MD) device becomes thicker due to the thickness of the eject plate G. Thus, miniaturizing of the disc (MD) device is difficult. Further, the lift cam plates F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are fixed to the eject plate by spot welding and thus an angular `C`-shaped assembly is obtained. Therefore, it is difficult to ensure that the entire surface is lying in the same plane. It is needed that the assembly is in a plane coincident with a plane of the top surface of the frame A. However, ensuring the entire surface to lie in the same plane in use of the spot welding is difficult and thus the yield of the product is not good.
Recently, use of FD, CD, LD (laser disc), MO (magneto-optical disc), and MD are common when a disk (disc) is used as a recording medium for recording/reproducing information. For example, light and a magnetic field are used for recording information on/reproducing information from the MD. Therefore, an optical head for recording/reproducing, a magnetic head for recording, and various disk driving mechanisms are provided in the disk device.
FIG. 3 shows an exploded structure of a mini-disc device in the related art. In the mini-disc device 111, a driving unit 113 is attached inside an enclosure frame 112 and a cover 114 covers the enclosure frame 112.
In the driving unit 113, a loading mechanism having a holder 113b for holding a disc cartridge 115 and a recording/reproducing mechanism having an optical head and a magnetic head for recording/reproducing are provided on a unit frame 113a. The disc cartridge 115 contains, for example, a 2.5-inch magneto-optical disc 115a. A part, extending along a radial direction, of the disc 115a is bared as a result of a shutter 115b sliding in response to the disc cartridge 115 being loaded into the holder 113b.
A front bezel 116 is provided at the front of the enclosure frame 112, and is provided with a disc cartridge 115 inserting hole 116a and an eject button 116b. In the inserting hole 116a, a shutter 117 is provided in a manner in which the shutter 117 can rotate along a disc cartridge 15 inserting direction.
When the disc cartridge 115 is inserted into the inserting hole 116a of the front bezel 116, it is necessary to open the shutter 117 by pressing it and thus the disc cartridge 115 is inserted and thus loaded into the holder 113b of the driving unit 113.
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an operation of the shutter 117 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4A shows a state before the disc cartridge 115 is inserted into the inserting hole 116a. In the state, the shutter 117 closes the inserting hole 116a.
When the disc cartridge 115 is inserted into the inserting hole 116a, the shutter 117 is pressed and thus opened. During insertion of the cartridge 115 into the holder 113b, the shutter 117 opened state is maintained as shown in FIG. 4B. When the insertion of the disc cartridge 115 into the holder 113b has been completed, the holder 113b is lowered. Then, the top surface of the rear end of the disc cartridge 115 continues to be in contact with the shutter 117.
When the disc cartridge 115 is ejected from the disc device, the holder 113b is lifted and a predetermined length of the disc cartridge 115 is pressed out from the inserting hole 116a a predetermined distance.
Thus, an opened state of the shutter 117 is maintained as a result of being lifted by the disc cartridge 115 after the disc cartridge 115 has been loaded into the disc device. In this state, the rear end surface of the cartridge 115 closes a part of the inserting hole 116a.
In general, it is understood that it is not likely that optical disc devices such as the above-described mini-disc device, compact disc device and so forth are adversely affected by dirt/dust. Therefore, no special dirt/dust protection is provided therefor.
However, use of a mini-disc device, compact disc device and so forth as an external storing device for a computer or the like has been started. In such a case, differently from a case in which music data is reproduced, an error rate is strictly controlled. If in a mini-disc device, such as the above-described device 111, an opened state of the shutter 117 is maintained as a result of being lifted by the cartridge 115 after the disc cartridge 115 has been loaded into the disc device, as mentioned above, it is likely that dirt/dust will enter through the opened inserting hole 116a. As a result, dirt/dust may adhere to the disc 115a, the optical head, a pickup lens and so forth. Thus, the error rate may be degraded and thus data security may be degraded.
As shown in FIG. 5A, a mini-disc device 301 in the related art is provided with a holder 302 and a drawing mechanism 303. In a mini-disc cartridge 360, a cartridge body 361 contains, as also shown in FIG. 19, a magneto-optical disc 362. A concave portion 366 is formed at a part, near to the inserting-direction forward end, of the right side wall along the inserting direction of the cartridge body 361.
The above-mentioned drawing mechanism 303 has an engaging piece 304 for engaging with the above-mentioned concave portion 366, a slider 305 for supporting the engaging piece 304, a compression spring 306 for pressing the engaging piece 304 along a X.sub.2 direction shown in FIG. 5A and a loading motor 307 for moving the slider 305 along Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 directions. The engaging piece 304 is in a state in which the piece 304 projects inside the holder 302.
How the mini-disc cartridge 360 is loaded in the mini-disc device 301 will now be described.
A part of the mini-disc cartridge 360 is inserted into the device 301 manually as follows: An operator inserts the mini-disc cartridge 360 into the holder 302 along the Y.sub.1 direction to enter a state shown in FIG. 5B. At a last step of the insertion, a corner of the cartridge body 361 presses the engaging piece 304 along an X.sub.1 direction. Thus, when the insertion has been completed, the engaging piece 304 is engaged with the concave portion 366 and holds the cartridge 360 due to an elastic force of the compression spring 306, as shown in FIG. 5B.
Then, a drawing operation is performed as follows: When the cartridge 360 has been inserted to enter the state shown in FIG. 5B, the drawing mechanism 303 operates. Specifically, the loading motor 307 is started and rotates forwardly. As a result, the slider 305 slide along the Y.sub.1 direction,.and thus the cartridge 360 is drawn into the holder 302 as shown in FIG. 5C. Then, the holder 302 is lowered (is moved along a direction perpendicular to a plane on which FIG. 5C is printed), and thus the cartridge 360 is loaded in the device 301. In this state, recording information on/reproducing information from the disc 362 is performed.
When the cartridge 360 is then unloaded from the device 301, a pressing operation is performed as follows: When an eject button is pressed, the motor 307 is started and rotates reversely. As a result, the holder 302 is lifted and then the slider 305 slides along the Y.sub.2 direction. Thereby a part of the cartridge 360 is pressed out from the holder 302 and thus enters the state shown in FIG. 5B. In this state, the operator may pull out the cartridge 360 from the holder 302 as shown in FIG. 5A by pulling the cartridge 360 along the Y.sub.2 direction.
The above-described disc device 301 has the following problems:
It is likely that the loading operation of the cartridge 360 is unstable. This is because the cartridge 360 is pressed with a force F due to the spring 306 along the X.sub.2 direction after the cartridge 360 has been drawn in the holder 302. As a result, it is likely that the cartridge 360 is inclined so as to rotate in FIGS. 5B and 5C, and thus the loading operation may be not performed smoothly.
Further, the cartridge 360 inserting operation and drawing out operation may require a rather strong force to be applied by the operator. This is because, to achieve each of these operations by the operator's hand, it is necessary to cause the cartridge 360 to press the engaging piece 304 against the elastic force applied by the spring 306. This pressing out operation may require the rather strong force to be applied by the operator.
FIGS. 6A and 6B show a mechanism for loading/unloading of a disc cartridge in a mini-disc device in the related art. FIG. 6A shows a state before the loading is performed (after the unloading has been performed). FIG. 6B shows a state after the loading has been performed.
In a mini-disc cartridge 510 also shown in FIG. 27, a cartridge body 511 contains a magneto-optical disc 512 and has a shutter 513 attached thereto. An iron-made clamp plate 514 is provided to the magneto-optical disc 512 so as to cover a center hole 512a of the disc.
The mini-disc device 520 has a chassis 521, a holder 522, a lift/lower cam plate 523, a turntable 524, a disc motor 525, and a loading motor 526. A permanent magnet 527 is incorporated in the turntable 524. The holder 522 is provided in a manner in which the holder 522 can be lifted and lowered, and the holder 522 has projections 530 and 531 at a side wall. The lift/lower cam plate 523 has inclined cam grooves 532 and 533 therein. The projections 530 and 531 are fitted to the inclined cam cut-outs 532 and 533, respectively. Each of the inclined cam cut-outs 532 and 533 has a straight portion extending at an angle .alpha..sub.1 as shown in FIG. 6A.
When the cartridge 310 is inserted into the holder 522, the loading motor 526 is started and rotates forwardly. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6B, the lift/lower plate 523 slides along a Y.sub.1 direction, and thus the holder 522 is lowered along a Z.sub.2 direction to a height H.sub.2 as the projections 530 and 531 are guided by the inclined cam cut-outs 532 and 533, respectively. The cartridge 510 is lowered together with the holder 522 and thus the cartridge 510 is loaded. The clamp plate 514 of the magneto-optical disc 512 is magnetically attracted by the permanent magnet 527 and thus the disc 512 is loaded on the turntable 524. Thus, the loading of the mini-disc cartridge 510 is completed.
Then, the magneto-optical disc 512 is rotated by the disc motor 525 and then recording information on/reproducing information from the disc 512 is performed.
Then, after the information recording/reproducing has been finished, an ejecting operation may be performed. As a result, the disc motor 525 is stopped, and the loading motor 526 is started and rotates reversely. Thus, the loading motor 526 moves the lift/lower cam plate 523 a predetermined distance l.sub.1 along a Y.sub.2 direction, as shown in FIG. 6A. At this time, the inclined cam cut-outs 532, 533 guide the projections 530, 531, respectively, and thus the holder 522 is lifted along a Z.sub.1 direction to an original height H.sub.1.
The mini-disc cartridge 510 is lifted together with the holder 522. At this time, the clamp plate 514 is removed from the permanent magnet 527 and thus the magneto-optical disc 512 is removed from the turntable 524. Thus, the unloading of the mini-disc cartridge 510 is completed.
The above-mentioned distance 1 is limited to a predetermined distance in order to miniaturize a depth of the mini-disc device 520. A load borne by the loading motor 526 during the loading operation is approximately uniform.
A load to be borne when the holder 522 is lifted in the unloading operation will now be considered. When the clamp plate 514 is removed from the permanent magnet 527, a load is increased accordingly. After the removal, the load is decreased to be approximately uniform. Further, each of the inclined cam cut-outs 532, 533 has the straight portion extending at the angle .alpha..sub.1. Therefore, the load to be borne by the loading motor 526 varies in a manner, as indicated by a broken-line curve I shown in FIG. 29, in which the load has a peak value when the magneto-optical disc 512 is removed from the turntable 524.
In order to bear this load, the loading motor 526 has characteristics for generating a torque overcoming the peak load Lmax1 shown in FIG. 29. Such a motor is relatively expensive and has a large size. Accordingly, the mini-disc device 520 is costly and large.
FIG. 7 shows a turntable 610 of a mini-disc device in the related art. The turntable 610 is made from plastic or metal and has a center hub portion 611 and ring-shaped table portion 612. A ring-shaped permanent magnet 613 is fixed in the center hub portion 611. The table portion has a table surface 614 which is a plastic-made or metal-made surface.
In a magneto-optical disc cartridge 620 as shown in FIG. 7, a magneto-optical disc 622 is contained in a cartridge body 621. A center hole 623 is formed in the magneto-optical disc 622 and a central ring portion 624 is provided in the periphery of the center hole 623. Further, a iron-plate-made clamp plate 625 is fixed to the central ring portion 624 so as to cover the center hole 623.
The magneto-optical disc 622 is loaded on the turntable 610 as the center hole 623 is fitted by the center hub portion 611 as indicated by chain double-dashed lines in FIG. 7. In this state, the clamp plate 625 is attracted due to a magnetic force of the permanent magnet 613, and thus the magneto-optical disc 622 is pulled along a direction Z.sub.2 and the central ring portion 624 is pressed on the table surface 614. Due to a static friction force functioning between the central ring portion 624 of the disc 622 and the table surface 614 of the table portion 612, the disc 622 is fixed on the turntable 610.
The central ring portion 624 of the magneto-optical disc 622 is made from synthetic resin, and the table surface 614 is a plastic or metal surface. As a result, a static friction coefficient between the disc 622 and turntable 610 is small. Therefore, it is likely that the disc 622 slides on the turntable 610. If the sliding occurs during a state in which the disc 622 is driven through the turntable 610, a rotation speed of the disc unexpectedly varies and thus normal information recording on/reproducing from the disc 622 cannot be performed. In order to prevent such a situation, a magnetic coercive force of the permanent magnet 613 is large.
A disc device which is currently used for recording/reproducing audio signals may be used as information memory means incorporated in a computer apparatus. However, a disc rotation speed for the information memory means is double or triple than that for the audio signal case. As a result, it is likely that the sliding of the disc on the turntable will occur. Thus, the disc device in the related art may not be suitable for the high rotation speed use.
Further, because the magnetic coercive force of the magnet 613 is large as mentioned above, a relatively strong force is required to remove the disc from the turntable. As a result, a high-power loading motor is needed, and thus miniaturization of the disc device is difficult.

Disk device having movable cartridge holder and a cam plate having a cam groove with three successive inclined cam groove portions


A pet chew includes an outer layer; and an inner layer, the outer and inner layers being laminated and rolled into a cylindrical shape having knots at both ends, the outer layer including at least one of potato and sweet potato.

At present, edible pet chews produced from the prior art typically are made from rawhide and jerky, for example in the shape of a knotted bone, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,653. Such traditional knotted bone from rawhide, produced for the purpose of teeth grinding and chewing, has the disadvantages of mono-nutrition, excessively hard skin and poor palatability as well as environmental pollution, high cost and an insufficient source of raw materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,203, describes a knotted bone pet chew produced with plant starch as a main raw material for the outer casing. With plant starch as a main raw material, this chew has only the characteristics of dog feed and little or no teeth grinding and chewing functions.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2012/0234259 describes a knotted bone pet chew with a meat and rice based outer layer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Edible pet chew with gluten free outer layer


A memory address management method, a memory controller, and a memory storage device are provided. The memory address management method includes: obtaining memory information of a rewritable non-volatile memory module and formatting logical addresses according to the memory information to establish a file system, such that an allocation unit of the file system includes a lower logical programming unit and an upper logical programming unit. Here, the memory information includes a programming sequence, the allocation unit starts with the lower logical programming unit and ends with the upper logical programming unit, and an initial logical address of a data region in the file system belongs to the lower logical programming unit. Accordingly, an access bandwidth of the memory storage device is expanded.

1. Technology Field
The invention relates to a memory management method; particularly, the invention relates to a memory address management method for a rewritable non-volatile memory module, a memory controller, and a memory storage device.
2. Description of Related Art
Digital cameras, mobile phones, and MP3 music players have undergone rapid growth in recent years, thus resulting in escalated consumers' demands for storage media. Since a rewritable non-volatile memory module (e.g., a flash memory) is characterized by data non-volatility, low power consumption, small volume, non-mechanical structure, and so on, the rewritable non-volatile memory module is adapted to be built in a variety of portable multimedia devices as exemplified above.
Generally, a rewritable non-volatile memory module is controlled by a memory controller, and a host system issues commands to the memory controller to access data in the rewritable non-volatile memory module. An access bandwidth represents the amount of data written into the rewritable non-volatile memory module per second by the host system. The access bandwidth is subject to a number of factors. For instance, after data are written into the rewritable non-volatile memory module, the rewritable non-volatile memory module stays busy for a while, and at this time no other data may be written into the rewritable non-volatile memory module in the busy state. Besides, the writing speed of lower physical programming units may be greater than that of upper physical programming units. The number of write commands issued by the host system per second may also pose an impact on the access bandwidth. Accordingly, people skilled in the art pay close attention to the way to expand the access bandwidth of the memory storage device.
Nothing herein should be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art of any portion of the invention. Furthermore, citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the invention, or that any reference forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Memory address management method, memory controller and memory storage device


An adjustable dumbbell includes a handle having a narrowed neck segment formed on each end portion and having a base plate attached to each end portion, two or more weight members each having a slot for receiving the narrowed neck segment of the handle, and each having an enlarged opening communicating with the slot for receiving the handle and for retaining the weight members to the handle when the weight members are offset from the narrowed neck segment of the handle, and a lock nut is engaged with the handle for quickly retaining the weight members to the handle after the weight members have been disengaged from the narrowed neck segment of the handle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjustable dumbbell, and more particularly to an adjustable dumbbell including an improved structure for allowing the weight members to be easily and adjustably attached to or disengaged from the weight carrier or handle and for allowing the adjustable dumbbell to be easily operated by the users.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical dumbbells comprise a handle to be grasped or held by the user, and a number of weight plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle for weight lifting or exercising purposes, or for exercising or training the upper muscle groups or the lower muscle groups of the user.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,997 to Roth et al. discloses a typical adjustable dumbbell comprising a series of plates in stacked relationship, a handle having a shaft passing through the weight plates, and a sleeve and a plate engaged onto the shaft and the weight plates for selectively or adjustably attaching the weight plates to the shaft.
However, the sleeve and the plate may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the shaft and into the weight plates such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,274 to Mattox discloses another typical adjustable dumbbell comprising a series of weighted plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle, and a number of receptacles and spring-biased shafts are required to be attached onto the ends of the handle for mounting or securing the weighted plates on the ends of the handle.
However, the receptacles and the spring-biased shafts may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the handle such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,093 to Chen discloses a further typical dumbbell comprising a handle which can be grasped or held by the user, a number of weight plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle for exercising or training the arms or the feet of the user, and a latch attached onto the end of the handle and/or the weighted plates for selectively or adjustably mounting or securing the weighted plates on the ends of the handle.
However, the latch may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the handle or the weighted plates such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,674 to Krull, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,424 to Krull disclose the further typical adjustable dumbbells each comprising a series of weighted plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle, and a number of weight selectors or selector rods should be attached onto the ends of the handle and/or the weighted plates for selectively or adjustably mounting or securing the weighted plates on the ends of the handle.
However, the weight selectors or selector rods may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the handle or the weighted plates such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,931 to Liu, U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,536 to Liu, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,214 to Chen disclose the other typical adjustable dumbbells each comprising a series of weighted plates to be attached onto the ends of the handle, and a number of latching members or a complicated latch device should be attached onto the ends of the handle and/or the weighted plates for selectively or adjustably mounting or securing the weighted plates on the ends of the handle.
However, the latching members or the complicated latch device may not be easily or quickly assembled onto the handle or the weighted plates such that the typical adjustable dumbbell may not be easily or quickly assembled or manufactured.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional adjustable dumbbells.


A multicarrier communication apparatus and the like wherein the arithmetic amount required for calculating a reception weight by which a multicarrier signal is to be multiplied is suppressed, while the reception characteristic for the multicarrier signal is improved. In the apparatus, a subcarrier transmission weight generating part (513) generates a transmission weight of each subcarrier, based on channel information of each subcarrier received from a channel information generating part (511) and a reception weight of each subcarrier group received from a subcarrier group reception weight generating part (512). The subcarrier transmission weight generating part (513) inputs the generated transmission weights of the respective subcarriers to the corresponding ones of multipliers (522).

Currently, research and development relating to fourth-generation mobile communication systems is being carried out, and transmission methods for implementing high-speed, high-capacity data transmission are being investigated. One of these transmission methods is OFDM transmission. With regard to OFDM transmission, a technique is known that reduces the amount of computational processing for calculating a weight for each subcarrier when an OFDM signal is received by a smart antenna (adaptive array antenna) (see Patent Document 1, for example).
In the technique described in Patent Document 1, weight generation per subcarrier is avoided, and the associated amount of computational processing reduced, by grouping together a plurality of subcarriers and using the same weight for all the subcarriers in that subcarrier group.
FIG. 1 shows an overview of a radio communication system that uses the technique described in Patent Document 1. In the radio communication system shown in FIG. 1, a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus each equipped with a smart antenna both set one group by gathering together a plurality of adjacent subcarriers in an OFDM signal, and transmit/receive an OFDM signal weighted using weights Wr′0 through Wr′m−1 for individual subcarrier groups.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-198878

Multicarrier communication apparatus and multicarrier communication method


A radio frequency identification (RFID) controller within an RFID system includes an RFID interrogator interface configured to receive signals from an RFID interrogator. The RFID interrogator receives data from RFID tags. The RFID controller also includes a user interface configured to receive a selection of data processing units and an arrangement of data processing units. The RFID controller further includes a controller core configured to process the signals received from the RFID interrogator interface and configured to modify processing of the signals from RFID interrogator based on the selection and the arrangement of the data processing units.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) system identifies unique items using an interrogator and an RFID tag. Typically, the interrogator communicates with the RFID tag that is attached to an item. The interrogator, also known as a reader, communicates with the RFID tag through radio waves and passes the information read from the RFID tag in digital form to a computer system. The RFID tag is typically a microchip that stores the digital information. The microchip is attached to an antenna that receives signals from and sends signals to the interrogator. The RFID tag includes a unique serial number and may include other information, such as a customer account number.
RFID tags can be active tags, passive tags or semi-passive tags. Active tags include a power source that powers the microchip's circuitry and transmits a signal to the interrogator. Passive tags do not include a power source. Passive tags draw the power required for the circuitry and the transmission of information from the electromagnetic field generated by the interrogator. Semi-passive tags are similar to active tags; however, the power source is used to run the microchip's circuitry but not to communicate with the interrogator. Some semi-passive tags are inactive until they are activated by a signal from the interrogator, which conserves life of its power source.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) controller


A pre-formed synthetic turf module (10) includes a base tray (12), a flexible backing sheet (36) tufted with synthetic ribbons simulating grass blades, and a granular media infill material (40) in the voids between the ribbons, the tufted backing sheet and infill material being supported on the base tray so that a plurality of the modules may be installed side-by-side to form a media-filled synthetic turf surface. Each module may also include a peripheral wall (14) which is removed during the installation. A method of installing a synthetic turf surface, and the installation of heating elements (50) in the surface, are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a synthetic turf surface and a method of installation. In particular, the invention relates to a synthetic sports and recreation surface with improved ease of installation.
2. State of the Art
Synthetic turf is known and widely used for recreational areas and for sporting pursuits such as tennis, lawn bowls, horse racing, hockey and football. Such synthetic turf surfaces are formed as a flexible backing sheet into which is stitched (tufted) parallel rows of synthetic ribbons which extend upwards of the backing sheet to simulate blades of grass. The ribbon length and thickness, the gauge between the rows, and the tufting rate between adjacent tufts in each row, will depend on the intended use of the surface. A backing layer, such as latex, may be applied to the back of the backing sheet.
A particulate material, such as one or more layers of sand or crumbed rubber, is used as an infill material between the ribbons, to hold the ribbons generally upright and to provide resilience to the sports surface. The infill level typically extends to a short distance below the tips of the ribbons, so that the exposed ribbon tips resemble the appearance and playing characteristics of grass.
The prior art synthetic turf surfaces are manufactured, transported and installed in large rolls, typically sheets about 50 m by 3.7 m, comprising the backing sheet, any backing layer and the tufted ribbons. The particle size, shape and resilience of the infill material is important to the playing characteristics of the resulting surface, and therefore this infill material is typically sourced by tie synthetic turf manufacturer and transported with the rolls.
After preparation of the supporting surface, the synthetic turf rolls are rolled out with the ribbon side up. Joins between adjacent rolls are effected by taping and/or stitching the unrolled sleets together. Once the synthetic turf is positioned and appropriately tensioned, the infill material is distributed over the turf and groomed to the desired level.
This installation method is time-consuming. Where the installation is temporary, eg. for an indoor tennis tournament lasting about a week, installation and removal of the tennis surface may take almost as long as the tournament itself.


A device for the counter-current contacting of gas and liquid comprises a normally vertical column having a gas inlet and a liquid outlet at the lower end thereof and a gas outlet and a liquid inlet at the upper end thereof. The column contains gas/liquid contacting apparatus located between the gas inlet and the liquid inlet and a gas/liquid separation apparatus located above the gas/liquid contacting apparatus and below the liquid inlet. The separation apparatus includes a horizontal collection tray having passages communication with a separation device and with at least one vertical distribution tube extending through the horizontal collection tray to the gas/liquid separation apparatus. The separation device has a gas outlet communicating to the gas outlet of the column and a liquid outlet, which with the liquid inlet, discharges onto the horizontal collection tray. The device provides gas with a reduced quantity of entrained liquid and is useful for the drying of natural gas by contacting with ethylene glycol.

Columns for the counter-current contacting of gas and liquid are known in the art. One such device is disclosed by European Patent Application No. 169611. In this device, a liquid distributor is arranged above the gas/liquid contacting means of the column. The liquid distributor is provided with gas risers which communicate with the gas outlet of the column. Use of this contacting device does result, however, in a large amount of the liquid being entrained in the rising gas.
In European Patent Application No. 48508, a device is disclosed wherein the gas/liquid contacting means comprises a plurality of horizontal trays provided with contact swirl tubes arranged in openings of the tray. The contact swirl tubes have side entrances to allow liquid collected on the tray to enter and contact upwardly flowing gas in the contact swirl tube. These tubes also have outlets which communicate with a downcomer which discharges on the underlying tray.
In European Patent Applications 83811 and 124920 similar gas/liquid separators are disclosed which comprise a tray having separation swirl tubes. These separation swirl tubes can be used replacements for the trays of the device of European Patent Application 48508 when provided with a mixing chamber and separate inlets for gas and liquid. Thus, these latter two published applications combine contacting and separation in swirl tubes on each tray. However, it happens in these devices that good contacting will adversely affect separation, and vice-versa. Increasing the efficiency of the separation of each tray will necessarily restrict the flow of gas through that tray and thus reduce the contacting. It would be of advantage to provide a contacting-separation device which effectively performs both operations.


The invention concerns the use, in the induction of an immune response, of a synthetic microparticle polymer carrying on the surface one or more covalently bonded proteins capable of carrying one or more epitopes, the densities of the protein(s) on the surface of the microparticles, and their molecular weights, being adjusted so as to direct the immune response to the induction of a humoral and cellular response or to the induction of a largely cellular response. Said microparticles have an average diameter of approximately 0.25 to 1.5 .mu.m.

The object of the present invention is microparticles carrying antigens on their surf ace and their use in the induction of humoral or cellular responses.
More specifically, the invention also relates to microparticles carrying a significant density of antigens on their surface.
The B cells which express immunoglobulin receptors specific for an individual antigen are highly effective for the presentation of this antigen (Rock et al. C., J. Exp. Med. (1984) 160; 1102; Hutchings et al., Eur. J. Immunol. (1987) 17:393). For example, specific B cells can present tetanus toxin to T cells at antigen concentrations 10.sup.4 times lower than those required for the presentation by nonspecific B cells or peripheral blood monocytes (Lanzavecchia, Nature (1985) 314:537).
In addition, in vivo studies with mice deficient in B cells show that these cells are required for the activation of T cells of lymphatic ganglions (Janeway et al., J Immunol. (1987) 138:2848; Kurt-Jones et al. A.K., J. Immunol. (1987) 140:3773).
Mice deficient in B cells also show reduced responses with respect to specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from tumors, after immunization with Freund's murine leukemia virus (Schultz et al., Science, (1990) 291).
The capacity of B cells to modify and to present the antigen with a view to recognition by CD4+ helper T cells restricted by the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) forms the basis of a model for the activation of the B cells by T cells (Noelle et al., The Faseb Journal (1991) 5:2770).
The recognition of the peptide-class II MHC complex by CD4+ helper T cells on the surface of the B cells leads to the formation of physically stable conjugates between the T cells and the B cells (Kupfer et al. S. J., Proc. National Acad. Sci. USA (1986) 83:6080).
This direct recognition results in the proliferation and the differentiation of B cells in response to lymphokines such as Interleukin-2, Interleukin-4 or Interleukin-5.
The induction of the antibody response against an antigen requires the presentation of the antigen by the B cells.
The majority of the studies on antigen presentation have been carried out using soluble proteins such as tetanus toxoid, lysozyme, hemocyanin (LH). However, most of the antigens to which the immune system is exposed are contained in complex particulate structures such as bacteria or parasites.
It is well known that cells which are capable of phagocytosis such as the macrophages can present bacterial antigens to T cells.
However, it is not known whether cells which do not phagocytose, such as B cells, can present complex antigens of significant size.
It has recently been shown that, in vivo, bacterial antigens must be in a soluble form in order to induce an antibody-dependent response by the T cells (Leclerc et al., J. Immunol. (1990) 144:3174; Leclerc et al., J. Immunol. (1991) 147:3545).
However, it seemed advisable to determine also that, in vivo, bacterial protein antigens are exclusively presented to the T cells by the phagocytic cells and that the B cells cannot modify antigens in particle form.

Antigen-carrying microparticles and their use in the indication of humoral or cellular responses


A method and system for controlling multiple displays is provided. The disclosed method is used to control a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs), wherein every GPU controls one or more displays. The method includes the following steps: providing a graphical interface the same to a graphical program library of an operating system to replace the graphical program library to receive a drawing command from an application program; determining a display set of the GPUs according to a display region of the application program, wherein a frame displayed by the display controlled by each GPU is intersected to the display region; and delivering coordinate-transformed drawing commands to the GPUs in the display set according to the display intersection region, wherein each GPU in the display set only draws the content of the corresponding display intersection region.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a method for controlling a display and a system thereof. Particularly, the invention relates to a method for controlling multiple displays and a system thereof.
2. Related Art
Many techniques related to multiple displays have been developed, for example, a multiple output adapter is used to expand the number of displays, a plurality of computers are used to drive a plurality of displays, a display function is used to provide one video source to a plurality of displays, or an external switch is used to combine a plurality of displays into a display wall. The above techniques have their own advantages and disadvantages, in overall, implementation of the aforementioned techniques is generally over complex, expensive or is lack of capability for supporting high-resolution images, and most important one is lack of capability for supporting a three-dimensional (3D) image display technique, for example, a direct3D runtime library of Microsoft Corporation.
The 3D image display technique, for example, Direct3D including Direct3D image application or DirectShow video application, etc., all requires to use a Direct3D program library to process image contents. However, the current Direct3D program library only uses one display in logic, i.e. if a window of one application program is displayed on a plurality of displays, even if the multiple displays are controlled by a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs), Current D3D program creates only one instance of Direct3D device, and one instance of Direct3D device can only process and draw an image through one of the GPUs, and then Windows operation system will copy the drawn Direct3D image to each of the other GPUs for displaying according to a display position through the GPU. Since the copy operation is executed by the operating system, and is not accelerated by the GPU, a processing speed thereof is very slow.
Moreover, compared to establishment of a general 2D image content, computation complexity in establishment of the 3D image data display content is higher, so that a display control system (for example, a computer system) may consume more time to process and display the image. Therefore, if the 3D image is drawn by one GPU and is then copied to other GPUs according to the conventional technique, in the time-consuming image processing process, the processing process is further prolonged due to the copy operation, and such processing method severely influences the image display efficiency. Therefore, while considering the cost, how to quickly establish the display content of the 3D image data and display it on the multiple displays has become a major problem to be resolved.

Method for controlling multiple displays and system thereof


A lighting device for a display device includes a light source, an optical member arranged on the light emitting side of the light source, and a support member arranged to support the optical member from the light source side. A recess portion arranged to accommodate the distal end portion of the support member is provided in the surface of the optical member that faces the light source, and the recess portion is arranged to overlap with the support member when seen in a planar view.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting device for a display device, a display device and a television receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display device used in a television receiver typically includes a liquid crystal panel and a backlight arranged on the backside of the liquid crystal panel. One of the known backlights includes light sources such as cold cathode tubes, a chassis arranged to contain the light sources and having an opening on the light emitting side, and optical members arranged to cover the opening of the chassis and having functions such as a function for diffusing or converting light from the light sources into more uniform flat light.
The optical members often include a diffuser plate, which includes a number of diffusing particles distributed over a light transmissive base member of a predetermined thickness. For example, the diffuser plate can be supported by a support portion provided on the chassis side, so that the peripheral edge thereof rests on the support portion. In this case, the inner portion of the diffuser plate or the portion on the inner side of the peripheral edge can be supported from the chassis side, by support members mounted to the chassis (as shown in JP-A-2004-265709, for example).
In some cases, the above diffuser plate may arch or deform resulting in warpage in response to increases in the internal temperature of the chassis due to heat from the lighted light sources, so as to bulge toward the light sources. The support members can support the deformed diffuser plate from below (i.e., from the light source side), so that a distance is maintained between the diffuser plate and the light sources. However, the diffuser plate may continue to deform causing further warpage, which results in deformation of the support members in the case of the above supporting structure. In the course of deformation of the support members due to the diffuser plate having largely deformed resulting in warpage, friction will occur between the diffuser plate and the support members, which may cause frictional noise. After further deformation of the support members, the support members may return to the original state as a result of the elastic restoration. At that time, friction will also occur between the diffuser plate and the support members, which may also cause frictional noise. The frictional noise thus generated is extremely uncomfortable for users, and can lead to reduction in quality of the backlight and therefore of the liquid crystal display device that includes the backlight.

Lighting device for display device, display device and television receiver


The present invention relates to a novel form of the (−)-enantiomer of 5-methoxy-2-[[(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-2-pyridinyl)-methyl]sulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole, i.e. S-omeprazole. More specifically, it relates to a novel form of the magnesium salt of the S-enantiomer of omeprazole trihydrate. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing such a form of the magnesium salt of S-omeprazole and pharmaceutical compositions containing it. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to new intermediates used in the process.

The compound 5-methoxy-2-[[(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-2-pyridinyl)methyl]sulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole, having the generic name omeprazole, and therapeutically acceptable salts thereof, are described in EP 5129. The specific alkaline salts of omeprazole are disclosed in EP 124 495. Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor, i.e. effective in inhibiting gastric acid secretion, and is useful as an antiulcer agent. In a more general sense, omeprazole may be used for prevention and treatment of gastric-acid related diseases in mammals and especially in man.
Omeprazole is a sulfoxide and a chiral compound, wherein the sulfur atom being the stereogenic center. Thus, omeprazole is a racemic mixture of its two single enantiomers, the R and S-enantiomer of omeprazole, herein referred to as R-omeprazole and S-omeprazole. The absolute configurations of the enantiomers of omeprazole have been determined by an X-ray study of an N-alkylated derivative of the (+)-enantiomer in non-salt form. The (+)-enantiomer of the non-salt form and the (−)-enantiomer of the non-salt form were found to have R and S configuration, respectively, and the (+)-enantiomer of the magnesium salt and the (−)-enantiomer of the magnesium salt were also found to have R and S configuration, respectively. The conditions for the optical rotation measurement for each of these enantiomers are described in WO 94/27988.
Certain salts of single enantiomers of omeprazole and their preparation are disclosed in WO 94/27988. These compounds have improved pharmacokinetic and metabolic properties which will give an improved therapeutic profile such as a lower degree of interindividual variation.
WO 96/02535 discloses a process for the preparation of the single enantiomers of omeprazole and salts thereof, and WO 96/01623 discloses a suitable tableted dosage forms of for instance magnesium salts of R- and S-omeprazole.


An insulation sheet having first and second layers of facing; and a sheet of foam material laminated between the first and second layers of facing. A portion of the first layer of facing extends beyond an edge of the sheet of foam material to form a strip. The strip has an adhesive applied on one side of the strip.

This invention relates in general to an improved insulation product for use in building structures. Buildings, such as residential or commercial structures, typically include insulation material placed adjacent the interior surfaces of the roof and the exterior walls to thermally insulate the building from outside temperatures. Many different types of insulation products can be used, such as for example, blankets of fiberglass or loose fill insulation. Insulation sheets having a layer of foam material, such as expanded polystyrene or polyurethane, may also be used for insulation purposes.
The insulation foam sheets can be supplied as pre-cut rectangular rigid panels or in lengths of flexible rolls. Layers of metallic foil may be provided on the outer surfaces of the insulation foam sheets to reduce radiant heat transfer. Metallic foil may be provided on one or both major sides of the insulation sheets. Additionally, the foil sheets can be laminated with polymer films to provide strength from tearing and puncturing. Another strengthening feature is to laminate scrim or strands of webbing between the polymer film and the metallic foil layer.
To install rigid insulation foam panels, a worker holds the panels against the structural beams of the wall or the roof, and then fastens the panel to the structural beams, such as by self-tapping screws or nails. The next panel is then placed adjacent the previously attached panel and fastened in the same manner until the wall or roof is complete. Since the panels can be relatively large, it is often cumbersome for one worker to hold the panel in the proper position against the beams while driving a fastener through the panel to secure the panel to the structural beam. If the panels are installed on a roof, it is especially difficult since the worker generally holds the panel up above them. The seamns between the adjacent panels are then commonly covered with adhesive tape, such as reflective faced tape if the panels have an outer metallic foil layer. The tape helps to close or seal any gaps formed between adjacent panels.

Insulation sheet having an integral tape strip and method of using same


A method for preparation of a lithographic printing plate including: exposing with a laser a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support and a photosensitive layer containing a sensitizing dye, a radical polymerization initiator, a radical polymerizable compound and a binder polymer; and subjecting the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor to development processing with a developer having pH of from 3 to 9 to remove an unexposed area of the photosensitive layer, wherein the binder polymer is a polymer having an acid value of from 10 to 250 mg-KOH/g and the developer contains a compound represented by one of the formulae <1>, <2> and <3> defined herein.

In general, a lithographic printing plate has a surface composed of an oleophilic image area and a hydrophilic non-image area. Lithographic printing is a printing method comprising supplying alternately dampening water and oily ink on the surface of lithographic printing plate, making the hydrophilic non-image area a dampening water-receptive area (ink unreceptive area) and depositing the oily ink only to the oleophilic image area by utilizing the nature of the dampening water and oily ink to repel with each other, and then transferring the ink to a printing material, for example, paper.
In order to produce the lithographic printing plate, a lithographic printing plate precursor (PS plate) comprising a hydrophilic support having provided thereon an oleophilic photosensitive layer (image-recording layer) has heretofore been broadly used. Ordinarily, a lithographic printing plate is obtained by conducting plate making by a method of exposing the lithographic printing plate precursor through an original, for example, a lith film, and then treating the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor to remove the photosensitive layer in the unnecessary non-image area by dissolving with a an alkaline developer or an organic solvent thereby revealing a surface of the hydrophilic support to form the non-image area while leaving the photosensitive layer in the image area.
In the hitherto known plate-making process of lithographic printing plate precursor, after the exposure, the step of removing the unnecessary photosensitive layer by dissolving, for example, with a developer is required. However, it is one of the subjects to simplify such an additional wet treatment described above. As one means for the simplification, it has been desired to conduct the development with a nearly neutral aqueous solution or simply with water.
On the other hand, digitalized technique of electronically processing, accumulating and outputting image information using a computer has been popularized in recent years, and various new image outputting systems responding to the digitalized technique have been put into practical use. Correspondingly, attention has been drawn to a computer-to-plate technique of carrying the digitalized image information on highly converging radiation, for example, laser light and conducting scanning exposure of a lithographic printing plate precursor with the light thereby directly preparing a lithographic printing plate without using a lith film. Thus, it is one of the important technical subjects to obtain a lithographic printing plate precursor adaptable to the technique described above.
Based on the background described above, adaptation of plate making operation to both simplification and digitalization has been demanded strongly more and more than ever before.
In response to such a demand, for instance, it is described in JP-A 2002-365789 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") that by incorporating a compound having an ethylene oxide chain into an image-forming layer of a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a hydrophilic support and the image-forming layer containing a hydrophobic precursor, a hydrophilic resin and a light to heat converting agent, the lithographic printing plate precursor enables printing after conducting exposure and wet development processing using as a developer, water or an appropriate aqueous solution, besides on-machine development.
Also, a processing method of lithographic printing plate precursor is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0013968 which comprises preparing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (i) a hydrophilic support and (ii) an oleophilic heat-sensitive layer which contains a radical-polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, a radical polymerization initiator and an infrared absorbing dye, is hardened with infrared laser exposure and is developable with an aqueous developer containing 60% by weight or more of water and having pH of 2.0 to 10.0, exposing imagewise the lithographic printing plate precursor with an infrared laser, and removing the unhardened region of the heat-sensitive layer with the aqueous developer.
However, hitherto known methods for preparation of a lithographic printing plate including development with an aqueous near-neutral solution have problems in that the developing property is poor, in that the photosensitive layer remains in the non-image area, in that satin occurs in the non-image area of a printed material and in that unevenness occurs in the image area of a printed material.

Method for preparation of lithographic printing plate


A display comprises independently addressable pixels, a pixel comprising first and second electrodes (12a,12b) disposed on a first substrate and spaced apart from one another. A counter electrode (22) is provided on a second substrate, with an electro-optical material provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. A controller, in use, applies a first voltage to the first electrode of the pixel, a second voltage different to the first voltage to the second electrode of the pixel, and a third voltage to the counter electrode of the pixel to define in the pixel at least one of a first region (18a), a second region (18c) and a third region (18b). The first, second and third voltages are selected such that an area of the first region, second region and third region or each of the first, second region and third region defined in the pixel produces a desired greyscale level for the pixel.

It is desirable for an LCD to have a wide viewing angle so that an image viewed from an off-axis position appears identical to said image when viewed from an on-axis position. In order to improve the wide-view performance of LCDs, several technologies have been developed. Displays have been produced with angular compensation films such as the splayed-discotic Wide-View film for Twisted Nematic (TN) displays, multi-domained pixels for Vertically Aligned Nematic (VAN) and improved electrode geometries. These developments have enabled displays with no contrast inversion problem at wide viewing angles, i.e. although the absolute luminance of a pixel may change with viewing angle, a pixel which is switched to have an on-axis luminance higher than another pixel will remain brighter at all viewing angles, and vice versa. However, the amount of variation in pixel luminance with viewing angle is still a non-linear function of the on-axis pixel luminance in most types of LCD. This has the effect that in a colour display comprising an array of pixels, each of which is composed of a plurality of colour sub-pixels, such as red, green and blue sub-pixels in an RGB stripe display for example, if the pixel is displaying a colour consisting of different luminance values of the three colour components, these different luminance values can shift by a different amount with viewing angle, resulting in a shift in the perceived colour. In essence, the off-axis luminance response has a non-linear relationship with the on-axis luminance response, thus yielding an image that varies with viewing angle. In order to minimise angular dependent colour shift, various technologies have been employed to reduce the degree of non-linearity between the off-axis and on-axis luminance responses.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,460, US20050219186A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,063 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,079,214 describe the use of additional electronics to further divide each LCD colour sub-pixel into two (or more) sub-regions (split sub-pixel architecture). Aside from the black level, the first sub-region has a first relatively high luminance value and the second sub-region has a second relatively low luminance value. The average luminance from the first and second sub-regions of the sub-pixel yields the desired luminance of said sub-pixel. Displaying an image in this way reduces the degree of non-linearity between the off-axis and on-axis luminance responses of a sub-pixel, thus minimising angular dependent colour shifts. A disadvantage of these technologies is the reduction in maximum luminance. Maximum luminance is limited by the fact that the second sub-region never reaching its maximum possible luminance. Maximum luminance is also limited by the fact that the additional electronics required to further divide each sub-pixel reduces the overall aperture ratio of the sub-pixel.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,801,220 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,688 describe how the optical effect of split sub-pixel architecture can be effectively mimicked by image processing algorithms (running in software or in the LCD control electronics) that negate the need for the additional electronics required to divide each LCD sub-pixel into at least a further two sub-regions. These algorithms may be applied to any existing colour display by adjusting the luminance of whole colour sub-pixels up and down alternately, either in the spatial or temporal domain, to create the same optical effect as split sub-pixel architecture. Luminance is effectively transferred between the colour components of neighbouring pixels rendering no overall luminance change. The disadvantage of this technology is that the algorithms lower the perceived resolution of an image relative to an image that has not been processed by the algorithms.
GB2428152 and US2010214324 describe image processing algorithms (running in software or in the LCD control electronics) that exploit the non-linear relationship between the off-axis luminance response and the on-axis luminance of an LCD in order to create a privacy function. When the privacy function is activated, the image that is viewed on-axis is different from the image that is viewed off-axis.
A first conductive electrode in electrical contact with a second conductive electrode via a third resistive electrode enables a voltage gradient to be formed along the third resistive electrode. The use of this electrode arrangement for forming a voltage gradient to switch liquid crystal (LC) molecules has been disclosed in the literature. WO2005/015300A1 describes the use of a transient voltage gradient to control the direction of the electric field during LC switching in order to avoid the production of disclination lines in the LC layer. EP1484634A1 and US2011/0170030A1 describe the use a voltage gradient to spatially alter the transmission function of a window containing liquid crystal to enable an electronically controllable curtain for said window. U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,988, U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,629A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,278, U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,858A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,361A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,718A all disclose a non-pixelated liquid crystal display device that conveys information via the use of an analogue voltage gradient. U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,823 describes the use of a voltage gradient within each pixel of a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device. The ferroelectric liquid crystal display device is bistable and therefore inherently has only two grey-levels. However, the use of a voltage gradient as described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,823 enables continuous control over the transmission of light through each pixel thus enabling more than two grey levels per pixel.


The SOI substrate 1 has a supporting substrate 10, an insulating layer 20 formed on the supporting substrate 10 and a silicon layer 30 formed on the insulating layer 20. A through electrode 40 is provided in a device formation region A1 of the SOI substrate 1. The through electrode 40 reaches the insulating layer 20 from the silicon layer 30. Specifically, the through electrode 40 extends to an inner part of the insulating layer 20 originating from a surface of the silicon layer 30 while penetrating the silicon layer 30. Here, an end face 40a of the through electrode 40 at the insulating layer 20 side stops inside the insulating layer 20.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an SOI substrate and a method for manufacturing the SOI substrate, and a semiconductor device.
2. Description of Related Art
As for the conventional SOI (Silicon On Insulator) substrate, there is the SOI substrate, which is described in, for instance, the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-7909 (FIG. 57). The SOI substrate described in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-7909 (FIG. 57) has an insulating layer and a silicon layer formed on the insulating layer. A through electrode is formed in this SOI substrate, and the through electrode penetrates through both the silicon layer and the insulating layer. That is, the through electrode is formed so that an end face of the through electrode at the insulating layer side should project from the insulating layer. Accordingly, the through electrode reaches a supporting substrate in a state where the supporting substrate is provided on a lower face (opposite face to the silicon layer) of the insulating layer.

SOI substrate and method for manufacturing the same


An access control method applicable to a network including a plurality of communication terminals for achieving simplification in processing, improvement in response, and efficient use of bands is provided. In a terminal station, a transmission information generating section generates predetermined transmission information based on the amount of data stored in a buffer section. A packet transmitting section generates a packet including data and the transmission information for transmission to another terminal station. In a control station, a packet receiving section receives the packet transmitted by the terminal station. A transmission information obtaining section analyzes the received packet to obtain the transmission information and, based on the transmission information, determines whether the band currently allocated is to be changed. If a change is required, a packet transmitting section transmits a packet reporting a newly-allocated band to the terminal stations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to access control methods and systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to an access control method to be used in a communication system including a plurality of communication terminals for controlling a band to be used by each communication terminal for access based on a state of communication, and an access control system to which the access control method is applied.
2. Description of the Background Art
An example of a conventional technology for controlling a band to be used by a communication terminal based on a state of communication is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-87283. In this conventional technology, controlling over a communication band in an upstream direction from a subscriber terminal to a host communication device is achieved by band allocation using a reservation protocol, for example.
In communication over a large-scale network, such as the Internet or a CATV system, traffic is managed in various manners by using the controller communication device, an access point, a gateway, or the like. In the near future, however, a home network is expected to become widespread, and therefore traffic management in a small-sized network is expected to become important.
In such a home network, terminals included in home electrical products, such as personal computers, televisions, and air conditioners, are expected to be directly connected to one another. Therefore, communication band management has to be readily performed among the terminals at high speed. However, application of conventional technologies for use in a large-scale network, such as a band allocation technology using a reservation protocol for a home network and a technology for data transmission from one terminal to another via a band control device typified by an access point or a gateway, makes the overall processing complex and the response and band usage inefficient.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an access control method and system using a scheme in which each communication terminal reports its state of communication to another communication terminal, thereby achieving simplification in processing, improvement in response, and efficient use of bands.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A PMOS device less affected by negative bias time instability (NBTI) and a method for forming the same are provided. The PMOS device includes a barrier layer over at least a portion of a gate structure, a gate spacer, and source/drain regions of a PMOS device. A stressed layer is then formed over the barrier layer. The barrier layer is preferably an oxide layer and is preferably not formed for NMOS devices.

The scaling of VLSI circuits is a constant effort. With circuits becoming smaller and faster, improvement in device drive current is becoming more important. When device dimensions are reduced to 130 nm and lower, particular 65 nm and lower, conventional methods for improving device drive current, such as shortening gate length and increasing gate capacitance, become difficult to implement. Further methods such as increasing carrier mobility have thus been explored.
Among efforts made to enhance carrier mobility, forming a stressed silicon channel is a known practice. Stress, sometimes referred to as strain, can enhance electron and hole mobility. The performance of a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device can be enhanced through a stressed-surface channel. This technique allows performance to be improved at a constant gate length, without adding complexity to circuit fabrication or design.
When silicon is placed under stress, the electron mobility is dramatically increased. Stress in a device may have components in three directions: parallel to the MOS device channel length, parallel to the device channel width, and perpendicular to the channel plane. The stress parallel to the device channel length and width are called in-plane strains. Research has revealed that a bi-axial, in-plane tensile stress field can improve NMOS performance, and compressive stress parallel to the channel length direction can improve PMOS device performance.
Stress can also be applied by forming a stressed capping layer, such as a stressed contact etch stop layer (CESL), on the MOS device. When a stressed CESL is deposited, the stress is imparted to the channel region. To achieve optimized performance, NMOS devices and PMOS devices preferably have a tensile-stressed CESL and a compressive-stressed CESL, respectively, although higher cost may be involved in forming stressed CESLs. FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of this scheme. A PMOS device 2 has an overlying compressive-stressed CESL 6, and an NMOS device 4 has an overlying tensile-stressed CESL 8. The CESLs 6 and 8 are typically formed of silicon nitride (Si3N4) using different formation processes in order to generate different types of stresses.
PMOS devices formed using the conventional methods suffer reliability issues, however. The typical formation processes of Si3N4 generate hydrogen-containing by-products, which form bonds (Si—H) with silicon. These bonds may be broken later, generating interface traps at the interface of the gate oxide and silicon substrate, which causes a reliability issue called negative bias temperature instability (NBTI). NBTI results in a threshold voltage shift and a loss of drive current as a function of time. NBTI in PMOS devices has become one of the most critical reliability issues that ultimately determine the lifetime of integrated circuits.
Therefore, for future-generation integrated circuits, a fabrication method that solves the NBTI issue for PMOS devices is needed.

Selective CESL structure for CMOS application

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A sponge for cleaning grout that occupies the concave spaces between tiles has a cleaning surface that includes a plurality of rows of elongate convexities. In a first embodiment, the convexities are linear in configuration, are disposed in parallel relation to one another, and the space between the convexities is flat. In a second embodiment, the space between the parallel, linear convexities is occupied by secondary convexities that have less height than the primary convexities. In a third embodiment, the convexities are non linear and non-parallel. In all embodiments, the convexities may be aligned with the concave grooves between tiles or positioned at a right angle to the grooves. In both orientations, the convexities extend into the concavities and clean the grout between the tiles.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to tools used for cleaning tiles. More particularly, it relates to a sponge having utility for cleaning the grout between tiles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tiled floors or other surfaces are common in households, office buildings, and the like. Those attempting to keep the tiles clean typically use conventional mops, sponges, and other common cleaning tools. However, the grout between the tiles is difficult to clean because it lies in elongate concavities between contiguous tiles. When a conventional sponge is used in an effort to clean the grout, the flat surfaces thereof do not conform well to the concavities. Accordingly, the cleaning of grout with a conventional sponge is problematic.
The solution to the identified problem was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the tile cleaning industry in view of the prior art when considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made.