The invention provides an osteotomy device, and kit and methods for realigning varus angulated knees. The device involves a substantially wedge-shaped body having two intersecting principal surfaces angularly offset. These principal surfaces extend in a direction of a drive axis about a principal plane from an insertion end to a drive surface at a drive end. At least one of the principal surfaces is adapted to engage mechanically a surface adjacent thereto. The drive surface is also adapted to receive a force in the direction of the drive axis toward the insertion end. The kit of the present invention includes substantially such an osteotomy device having cannular opening along its drive axis and an osteotomy pin. A method of the invention involves making a transverse incision partially into the tibia; realigning tibial portions above and below the incision with respect to each other to create a predetermined angle A between opposing faces of the incision, thereby creating a wedge-shaped opening; providing a substantially wedge-shaped body having two angularly offset intersecting principal surfaces, wherein at least one of the surfaces is adapted to engage mechanically a surface adjacent thereto; and driving the body into the opening. Another invention method involves making the incision and realigning the tibia substantially as described above followed by positioning an osteotomy pin within the wedge-shaped opening; and placing the substantially wedge-shaped body having a cannular opening along a drive axis within the wedge-shaped opening such that the pin is positioned in the cannular opening of the body.

Varus angulated knees are deformities which are characterized by abnormal angulations of the leg in relation to the thigh. Stedman's Medical Dictionary, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Md. (1995). For example, the genu varus angulated knee condition is characterized by an outward bowing of the legs and is commonly referred to as bowleg. Another example, the genu valgus angulated knee condition, is characterized by a lateral angulation of the leg in relation to the thigh and is commonly referred to as knock-knee. Either of these conditions may result in abnormal loads on the femurtibial joint. Further, such loads may cause tensile forces to develop in the collateral ligaments and other soft tissue structures. Persons with varus angulated knee conditions may experience knee pain, swelling, recurrent loss of stability related to activity, functional limitations, and subluxation. Both the genu varus and genu valgus angulated knee conditions may require reconstruction of the surrounding ligaments as well as correction of the abnormal angulation.
High Tibial Osteotomies (HTO) are surgical methods used to correct the abnormal angulations of varus angulated knees. Frank R. Noyes, et al., High Tibial Osteotomy in Knees with Associated Chronic Ligament Deficiencies in Master Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery, Reconstructive Knee Surgery, 185, 185-187 (1995). In accordance with such methods, the desired angle of correction is first determined. Transverse and oblique incisions are then made into a lateral portion of the upper tibia forming a triangular-shaped opening. The opening is closed by rotating the lower portion of the tibia relative to the upper portion of the tibia so that the long axes of the lower and upper portions of the tibia are substantially aligned or slightly (e.g., 5-13 degrees valgus) over-corrected relative to the desired correction angle. A. Miniaci et al., Proximal Tibial Osteotom. A New Fixation Device, 246 Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 250, 250-259 (September 1989). The closure is secured with an L-shaped bracket or buttress that is screwed into the tibia on each side of the closure.
Accordingly, the HTO procedure requires shortening of the tibia and the fibula. Such shortening may lead to ankle pain. Additional incisions may also be necessary because it may be difficult to determine the amount of bone removal required.
Unilateral frame distraction procedures are alternative surgical methods for the correction of abnormal angulation of varus angulated knees. In accordance with such methods, the medial cortex of the tibia is divided leaving the medullary bone, the lateral aspect of the joint, the tibia and the peroneal nerve intact. James J. Elting, M.D. et al., Unilateral Frame Distraction: Proximal Tibial Valgus Osteotomy for Medial Gonarthritis. Vol. 27 No. 5 Contemporary Orthopaedics 435, 436 (1993). Pins or screws are placed, respectively, transversely into the proximal tibia epiphysis and into the mid-shaft region of the tibia, and used to attach the axial fixator. The purpose of the fixator is to distract the bone in order to position the tibia in the proper alignment. After surgery, the patient distracts the fixator approximately 1 millimeter per day (0.25 mm, 3 to 4 times per day) until the tibia is in the proper alignment and knee pain is relieved. Once callus formation occurs, the fixator is dynamized to encourage film bone consolidation. When the newly-formed medially based bone wedge appears mature and fully consolidated, the fixator is removed.
In contrast to one-time surgeries, the above-identified procedure may require approximately an additional three-month post-surgery distraction period to complete the correction, as well as removal of the fixator after that period. Further, during the post-surgery distraction period, the procedure may require active patient participation which may or may not be reliable. Moreover, the patient's wearing of the externally attached fixator may be cumbersome and embarrassing for the patient. In addition, whether the tibial realignment remains stable over time is not yet known.
Another surgical method for the correction of varus angulated knees involves a spacer attached to a blade plate. Dr. Ch. Mansat, The Mansat Staple Blade, Sales brochure from Societe De Protheses Othopedie Reeducation Traumatologie, Saint-Jean 31240 France. In accordance with this method, a transverse incision is made in the medial to lateral direction in the upper, medial portion of the tibia leaving the lateral cortex portion of the tibia intact. The lower portion of the tibia below the incision is positioned at a pre-determined angle to correct the varus deformity, with the intact lateral cortex of the tibia acting as a hinge. Angularly positioning the lower tibia portion separately from the upper portion of the tibia above the incision forms a triangular-shaped opening at the incision point. A square-shaped spacer attached to a blade plate is positioned in the mouth of the opening and secured with screws through the blade plate into the tibia.
In the above-identified method, a significant amount of bone growth is required to fill the opening, since the spacer has a different shape from the triangular-shaped opening formed by the surgical incisions. Further, once the spacer is properly positioned, the surgical method requires the additional step of fixing the screws of the blade plate into the tibia to secure the spacer to the bone.
Thus, there is a need for devices, kits and methods to correct varus angulated knee deformities which avoid shortening the tibia and fibula causing ankle pain. Further there is a need for devices, kits and methods which do not require the wearing of external devices and lengthy post-surgery correction periods involving potentially unreliable active patient participation. In addition, there is a need for devices and kits and methods that both promote bone growth and minimize the amount of bone growth required for correction and strengthening. Further, there is a need for varus angulated knee correction devices which are secured in the desired positions without the need for additional securing structures.

Osteotomy wedge device, kit and methods for realignment of a varus angulated knee


Provided are polyfluorinated carboxylic acids and their salts containing an ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene moiety. The polyfluorinated carboxylic acids and salts are useful as surfactants in polymerization processes.

A typical process for the aqueous dispersion polymerization of fluorinated monomer includes feeding fluorinated monomer to a heated reactor containing a fluorosurfactant and deionized water. Paraffin wax is employed in the reactor as a stabilizer for some polymerizations, e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) homopolymers. A free-radical initiator solution is employed and, as the polymerization proceeds, additional fluorinated monomer is added to maintain the pressure. A chain transfer agent is employed in the polymerization of some polymers, e.g., melt-processible TFE copolymers to control melt viscosity. After several hours, the feeds are stopped, the reactor is vented and purged with nitrogen, and the raw dispersion in the vessel is transferred to a cooling vessel. For use in fluoropolymer coatings for metals, glass and fabric, polymer dispersion is typically transferred to a dispersion concentration operation which produces stabilized dispersions used as coatings. Certain grades of PTFE dispersion are made for the production of fine powder. For this use, the dispersion is coagulated, the aqueous medium is removed and the PTFE is dried to produce fine powder. Dispersions of melt-processible fluoropolymers for molding resin use are also coagulated and the coagulated polymer dried and then processed into a convenient form such as flake, chip or pellet for use in subsequent melt-processing operations. Successful production of the high solids fluoropolymer dispersion generally requires the presence of a surfactant in order to stabilize the dispersion preventing coagulation of the fluoropolymer particles.
Fluorosurfactants used in the polymerization are usually anionic, non-telogenic, soluble in water and stable to reaction conditions. The most widely used fluorosurfactants are perfluoroalkane carboxylic acids and salts as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,559,752 to Berry, specifically perfluorooctanoic acid and salts, often referred to as C8, and perfluorononanoic acid and salts, often referred to as C9. Because of recent environmental concerns with regard to perfluorooctanoic acid and salts, there is interest in reducing or eliminating perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts in fluoropolymer polymerization processes.
It is also desirable to provide new and improved fluorinated surfactants in which the perfluoroalkyl group of the prior art is replaced by partially fluorinated terminal groups that require less fluorine and show increased fluorine efficiency. By "fluorine efficiency" is meant the ability to use a minimum amount of fluorine to obtain a desired surface effect or surfactant properties, or to obtain better performance using the same level of fluorine. A surfactant having high fluorine efficiency generates the same or greater level of surface effect using a lower amount of costly fluorine than a comparative surfactant.

Use of ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene carboxylic acids and salts as surfactants for aqueous emulsion polymerization of fluorinated monomer


An apparatus and method for manufacturing small quantities of cigarettes provides for such manufacture in a substantially simultaneous fashion while maintaining consistent quality between the cigarettes. The apparatus and method provide for delivering at least one charge of tobacco filler from a supply of tobacco filler onto a predetermined length of wrapping paper in a garniture. The wrapping paper can be formed about the charge of tobacco filler by a forming mechanism in the garniture to form a cigarette rod having a finite length. The formed cigarette rod can then be transferred to a cutting device where, in a separate step, the cigarette rod can be cut into a plurality of individual cigarettes. The cigarettes may have filter elements attached, and may be packaged for a consumer. The filter element and tipping paper can provide for air dilution of the cigarettes.

Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, have a substantially cylindrical rod-shaped structure and include a charge, roll, or column of smokable material, such as shredded tobacco, surrounded by a paper wrapper, to form a "cigarette rod," "smokable rod," or a "tobacco rod." A typical cigarette has a cylindrical filter element axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship with the tobacco rod. Typically, the filter element comprises plasticized cellulose acetate tow circumscribed by a paper material known as "plug wrap." Certain cigarettes incorporate filter elements comprising, for example, activated charcoal particles. Typically, the filter element is attached to one end of the tobacco rod using a circumscribing wrapping material known as "tipping paper." A ventilated or air-diluted smoking article can be provided with an optional air-dilution means, such as a series of perforations, each of which extend through the tipping material and plug wrap. Conventional automated machines for making cigarette rods that have been employed for the manufacture of commercially popular packaged cigarettes are of the type commercially available from Molins PLC or Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. KG. For example, a description of a commercially available "Protos" cigarette-making machine is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,190 to Brand. Other types of equipment suitable for the manufacture of cigarettes are set forth in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2004/0129281 to Hancock et al. A cigarette-making machine for making relatively small amounts of cigarettes has been available commercially as "Hauni Baby" from Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. KG. Another type of portable cigarette-making machine has been set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,229 to Hurt.
Cigarettes are commercially available in a wide variety of types. For example, different brands of cigarettes are available containing different individual types of tobaccos having unique or characteristic flavors and aromas (e.g., Burley, Oriental, and Virginia tobaccos). Cigarettes are also available that contain blends of tobacco types and/or flavoring agents in or on the tobacco. Different colors and flavors of wrappers and different types of filter elements are available providing variety in, for example, flavoring, strength of flavor, and tar yield. Conventionally, consumers obtain commercially available cigarettes in a pack containing a single type of cigarette. Thus, consumers wishing to smoke different types of cigarettes typically have to purchase multiple packs of cigarettes. Some consumers purchase wrapping materials, filters, and loose tobacco for so-called "hand-rolling" of their own cigarettes. While this approach allows a consumer to produce a variety of his own cigarettes, the making process requires a certain degree of skill, time, inconvenience, and/or some specialized equipment. A variety of hand-operated devices for manufacturing individual cigarettes have been proposed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,376,103 to Wahl; 2,425,888 to Matteson et al.; 2,427,884 to Snodgrass; 2,427,957 to Getts; 2,496,375 to Carter; 2,594,747 to DuLaney; 2,699,788 to Kastner; 2,714,383 to Ming Gee; 2,731,971 to Kastner; 2,850,019 to Sosa; 2,868,209 to Marcotte; 3,006,348 to Banning, Jr.; 3,011,498 to Armelin; 4,832,056 to Bryant et al.; and 4,534,367 to Newsome; PCT Application Pub. No. WO 2004/110187 to Szabo; and European Patent No. EP 1,177,731 to Tinkles et al.
Various methods for filling paper cigarette tubes with tobacco have been proposed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,633,133 to Higgins; 3,124,141 to Seitter; 3,202,156 to Kappeler et al.; 3,892,245 to Asbill, Jr.; 4,167,948 to Moscovitch; 4,572,216 to Josuttis et al.; and 5,072,740 to Gatschmann et al. See, also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,491,768 to Paynter and 3,693,313 to Sexstone which set forth manners and methods for manufacturing individual cigarettes by filling a tube, or "spill," with a tobacco charge and a filter plug. One type of cigarette-making machine for the manufacture of one cigarette at a time using loose tobacco and a filtered cigarette tube has been marketed as "BUGLER™" filter cigarette-making machine by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation. Another type of automated machine for filling pre-formed cigarette tubes with loose tobacco filler has been available commercially as "Cig-a-mat" from Jenkins & Ott, Inc. A device representative of such a machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,272 to Jenkins et al. Yet another type of automated device for filling pre-formed cigarette tubes with tobacco filler is an electrically-operated cigarette-making machine that has been available commercially as "Easy Roller" from C. P. Rolling ApS of Denmark.
Another cigarette machine for filling pre-formed cigarette tubes with tobacco filler has been produced commercially by The Central Tobacco Mfg. Co. Ltd. and marketed as "PREMIERE SUPERMATIC™." Other types of cigarette machines for filling cigarette tubes with tobacco have been marketed as "Escort" and "Pressta Deluxe" by CTC Canada Inc. See, for example, the representative types of machines set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,900 to Kastner and U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,793 to Kastner.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,710 to Bramhill proposes manufacturing individual cigarettes by inserting a cartridge of tobacco into an empty filter-tip cigarette tube. Other manners and methods for manufacturing individual cigarettes are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,887,617 to Ruppert et al.; 5,018,536 to Liebich; 5,105,830 to Brackmann et al.; 5,133,366 to Liebich; 5,141,000 to Ruppert et al.; 5,167,248 to Ruppert et al.; 5,197,495 to Ruppert et al.; 5,615,692 to Ruppert et al.; and 5,713,377 to Gerding et al.; and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2006/0021625 to Nyffeler.
Other methods for manufacturing small quantities of cigarettes, for example 20 cigarettes, in an automated fashion by filling paper cigarette tubes are disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/143,889, filed Jun. 1, 2005, to Thomas et al., and Ser. No. 11/281,083, filed Nov. 17, 2005, to Barnes et al., each of which applications is incorporated herein by reference is its entirety. A representative device for manufacturing cigarettes disclosed in these applications can include a reservoir for containing loose tobacco filler, a means for delivering a portion of the tobacco filler into pre-formed tubular wrappers, and a means for controlling the portion of the tobacco filler delivered into the wrappers, such as a compression mechanism for arranging tobacco filler into a charge of tobacco filler of pre-determined shape and size or a means for controlling the rate of movement of the wrappers as they are being filled. The device can include a tray or cartridge for containing a plurality of the tubular wrappers, which can be aligned with corresponding receptacles, and an insertion means, such as plunger rods or auger conveyors, for delivering each charge of tobacco filler from a receptacle into a wrapper. The cartridge, filled with manufactured cigarettes, can be removed from the cigarette-making device, excess tobacco can be cut away from the ends of the cigarettes with a cutting device, and the cigarettes can be transferred from the cartridge into a cigarette packaging device. As such, a small lot of cigarettes of consistent quality (for example, in terms of components, dimensions, and weight) are produced. The device can be employed in a commercial setting such that a customer can choose a type or blend of tobacco filler for a package of cigarettes. For other manners and methods of manufacturing small quantities of cigarettes, see also co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/375,700, filed Mar. 14, 2006, to Thomas et al.
Yet other manners and methods for fabricating cigarettes have been proposed. For example, the manufacture of cigarettes has been proposed using a dispensing-type machine, such as the machine referred to as "Cigaretterie," marketed by National Amusement Network, Inc. A device representative of such a machine is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,975 to Lord.
It would be desirable to provide for the manufacture of relatively small lots of cigarettes in an efficient and effective manner. It would be desirable that all of the cigarettes within each lot are of consistent quality. That is, it would be desirable that all of the cigarettes within such a lot be substantially identical to one another in appearance, size, shape, weight, and component materials, including tobacco filler materials. It also would be desirable that the cigarettes within such a lot exhibit similar performance characteristics, such as smoking character, puff count, and smoke yield. Alternatively, it may be desirable to efficiently and effectively manufacture simultaneously a plurality of cigarettes with different smoking characteristics (for example, flavors, tobacco types), all while maintaining consistent smoking quality of the cigarettes.

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes


The disclosure provides a dyeing method using bio-dye. A first compound containing an X group is reacted with a second compound containing a Y group to form a third compound, in which the X group is selected from the group consisting of an isocyanate group, a carbodiimide group, an aziridinyl group and an epoxy group, the Y group is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and an amine group, and the second compound is an amine compound and contains two or more Y groups. Cationization of the third compound is carried out with a fourth compound containing a carboxyl group to form a cationic modification agent. A cationic modification treatment is performed on a fiber material by using the cationic modification agent to form a cationized fiber material. Thereafter, a dyeing treatment is performed on the cationized fiber material through a dye solution containing bio-dye to color the cationized fiber material.

Toxic substances such as formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and other pollutants are prone to being generated in the production process of chemical synthetic dye. Although pollution problems are prone to being caused in the production process of the chemical synthetic dye, bio-dye is less selected as a dye source currently in the textile industry due to the fact that problems of insufficient degree of dyeing, difficult industrialization caused by incapability of commercialized specifications and the like exist because of insufficient binding strength of the bio-dye and fibers.
In recent years, methods for improving the affinity of the bio-dye and the natural fibers have been proposed, such as a method for improving charge repellence of dye and fibers by adding salt mordants, metal salt mordants and the like, but the methods may still produce insoluble metal complex compounds, salt sludge and other pollutants.
Therefore, how to increase the degree of dyeing by improving the affinity of the bio-dye and the natural fibers is still a to-be-achieved target in the field at present.

Dyeing method using bio-dye and cationic modification agent utilized thereof

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A waler assembly for floating docks and walkways includes an elongate metal extrusion for engaging the side of a series of adjoining float components. The extrusion includes a compartment for conformably receiving an elongate wedge. Connector rods join the extrusion and wedge to the float components. The extrusion carries an elongate strengthening plate that extends across the compartment of the extrusion. Each of the extrusion, wedge and strengthening plate includes a plurality of discrete segments that are aligned end to end. The joints between adjoining segments of the waler assembly are offset to provide improved structural integrity of the waler assembly and the floating dock or walkway.

Floating marine docks and walkways, and other floating platform structures conventionally employ a waler system that includes structural beams attached to longitudinal sides of the deck or other walking surface of the structure. Most often, the beams comprise structural timbers composed of wood. In known floating docks, the wood beams formed along respective sides of the dock are interconnected to one another by a series of threaded rods mounted through sleeves or other openings formed transversely across the float components of the dock. Appropriate types of nut and washer arrangements are attached to the respective ends of the rods to hold the entire structure in place.
Waler systems of the type described above exhibit a number of disadvantages. Typically, the structural timbers used in the walers are provided in lengths of approximately 16-20 feet. Accordingly, in most docks, a number of generally aligned wood beams must be installed end to end along each side of the floating deck. As a result, each side of the waler usually includes a number of joints or splices formed between successive wood beams. This significantly weakens the overall structure. To address this concern, most waler systems featuring wood beams employ at least two juxtaposed lengths of structural timbers, which are installed longitudinally side by side. Typically, the inner and outer longitudinal beams are staggered so that the joints in the respective lengths of wood beams do not align with one another. Nonetheless, such walers tend to be structurally weaker and more susceptible to failure than optimally desired. When a double set of timbers are used, the effective strength of the waler is limited to the thickness of a single one of the side by side beams, due to the joints between the successive longitudinal pieces.
Waler systems composed of wood tend to experience a number of additional problems. Wood deteriorates and rots over time. This can cause marine cleats attached to the waler to loosen and can also cause eventual structural failure of the dock itself. Moreover, because multiple lengths or layers of wood must be installed along each side of the deck, the waler requires at least twice as much wood as would be otherwise dictated by the nominal length of the dock or walkway. Installing walers of this type can be quite labor intensive, time consuming, expensive, messy and tedious. Repairing standard walers can be similarly inconvenient and problematic. The structural timbers used in most walers typically comprise pressure treated lumber, which has a relatively limited lifespan and is environmentally undesirable to use in many applications.


The device shown herein is made of essentially two parts one of which parts is essentially a hollow tube closed for a substantial distance at one end having a hollow cap with only a side opening therein. The second part is a rod with an end portion adapted to snugly fit into the interior of the cap of the first part. This second part is rotatable on its linear axis and when held in a particular axial position, the second part end portion is adapted to block the side opening so as to cut off communication between the interior and the exterior of this cap. This second part end portion has a cut-away section so that when this second part is rotated axially, preferably in the neighborhood of 180.degree. , this cut-away section is positioned adjacent to the side opening of the cap of the first part thereby allowing communication of fluid through the opening in said cap.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for removing fluid biopsy samples from a body cavity. More specifically, it relates to a two-part device, a second part substantially inside a first part. Still more specifically, it relates to an interior cavity in an end portion of the first part adapted to receive a fluid biopsy sample through a side opening in said cavity. Still more specifically, the second part is adapted to rotate on its linear axis and by such linear rotation to control the position of a portion of the second part which permits the flow or non-flow of fluid biopsy sample into or out of the cavity in said first part.
2. State of the Prior Art
In the determination of biopsy tests on fluids within parts of the body it is desirable to remove and recover samples of the fluid. Rather crude methods have been made to retrieve samples of these fluids for biopsy tests.
In one such present method a device which has a top or cap for a test tube with two sticks projected downward from the cap and into the tube which is a sterile culture sensitive test tube. The two sticks are each wrapped at the lower end thereof with a cotton swab. The top or cap is removed from the tube carrying with it the swab wrapped sticks. These cotton swabs are dipped into the body fluid for which biopsy tests are to be performed so as to absorb samples of the same into the cotton. Then sticks are reintroduced into the tube and the cap top recapped onto the open end of the test tube. This method permits the fluid samples to be unprotected against contact with air bacteria and contaminated with the same.

Device for removing a biopsy fluid sample from a body cavity


A radio communication system comprises a transmitting antenna for transmitting radio signals. Each radio signal is transmitted via one of a plurality of beams of different maximum radiated directions. The system also comprises a transmitting section for adding to a radio signal, transmitted via an i-th beam among the plurality of beams, beam identification information that identifies on which i-th beam of said plurality of beams said radio signal is being transmitted. The system further comprises a receiving antenna for receiving the radio signals transmitted by the plurality of beams and a receiver for selectively receiving a signal transmitted by a specific beam according to a predetermined estimation standard. Alternatively, the system may comprise a first radio station and a second radio station. The first radio station may include a transmitting antenna for transmitting signals with beam identification numbers and a receiving antenna for receiving signals from other radio stations. The second radio station may include a receiving antenna capable of receiving signals transmitted by the first transmitting antenna and a receiver for selectively receiving a signal transmitted by a specific beam according to a predetermined estimation standard. The second radio station may also include a transmitting antenna that forms a wide-angle beam to transmit the specific beam.

The present invention relates to a radio communication system using a portable mobile terminal. More specifically, the invention relates to a radio communication system for realizing a high transmission rate and a large quantity of information.
In recent years, with the development of mobile communication and the enhancement of the quantity of communication, it is expected that there will be a great demand for high-speed, large-capacity mobile radio communication systems using potable mobile terminals in the near future.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional mobile radio communication system. In this figure, a base station 1 forms an omni-directional beam 11, which can covers a given area, by means of a transmitting antenna, so as to allow communication to be established wherever a mobile terminal lies in the coverage area.
In addition, mobile terminals 2, 3 and 4 also form omni-divisional beams 12, 13 and 14 by means of antennas, so as to allow communication to be established regardless of the direction of the base station from each of the terminals.
With this construction, it is possible to realize a mobile communication system, which enable communication in any places. However, considering that information to be communicated will be large-capacity, high-capacity in the near future, it is desired to realize a radio communication link suitable for the high-speed, large-capacity information.
In order to obtain a high-gain transmitting-receiving antenna suitable for such a communication system, it is required to sharpen an antenna beam pattern. In this case, the base station and the terminals must have the constructions for forming shaper beams as shown in FIG. 2.
In FIG. 2, the base station 1 forms narrow beams 15, 16 and 17 which are capable of transmitting and receiving signals toward the terminals 2, 3 and 4. On the other hand, the terminals 2, 3 and 4 forms narrow beams 6, 7 and 8 which are capable of transmitting and receiving signals toward the base station 1.
For example, in a case where different frequency bands are allotted to the respective beams 15, 16 and 17 formed by the base station 1, the beams 15, 16 and 17 may be formed at the same time.
Alternatively, in a case where communication is established in a time-division system, the beams 15, 16 and 17 formed by the base station 1 may be switched every a predetermined period of time. In this way, it has been able to be technically practiced that the direction of a narrow beam is scanned by using a conventional phased array antenna.
FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a high-gain beam scanning antenna in a conventional radio communication system. In this figure, antenna elements 21, 22, 23 and 24 are connected to diplwxers or transmission-reception (TR) switches 25, 26, 27 and 28, respectively, so that the transmitting and receiving of a radio signal are separated.
The signals received by the respective antenna elements are supplied to corresponding phase shifters 32 via amplitude-variable amplifiers 30, and the amplitude and phase of the signals are weighted so that radio waves in a predetermined direction are received. The signals outputted from the respective phase shifters 32 are supplied to a receiver 37 via a synthesizer circuit 34.
With respect to transmission, the signals supplied from a transmitter 35 are distributed by means of a distributing circuit 33, and then the amplitude and phase of the signals are weighted by means of amplitude-variable amplifiers 29. Then, the signals are transmitted to the respective antenna elements via the TR switches 25, 26, 27 and 28, so that the synthesized directivity of the respective antenna elements forms a beam in a predetermined direction.
The phase shifters 31 and 32 and the amplifiers 29 and 31 are controlled by a controller 36, so that radio waves in a predetermined direction are transmitted and received by comparing received signal levels and so forth.
It is possible to perform the gain enhancement and the beam scanning according to the method as set forth above. However, considering that it is applied to an actual system, the construction, control and so forth of a radio transmitter-receiver are extremely complicated as described below.
Since the base station 1 communicates with terminals serving as the other parties in communication, it is required to discriminate the directions of the respective terminals to turn beams to the optimum directions for the respective terminals.
In addition, it must be assumed that the respective terminals move in mobile communication, so that it is required to cause the base station to independently follow the directions of all the terminals.
For the reasons as set forth above, in a case where a phase array antenna is used, independent feed circuits are required for each of beams, so that the construction of the base station is complicated. For example, in a case where communications between the base station and a plurality of terminals are established, a plurality of feed circuits for setting the individual amplitude and phase weight are required.
In addition, in a case where the direction of the beam (terminal) is switched by time base, a phase shifter and an amplifier must be switched at a high speed. In either cases, since a control system must be independently operated, the software therefor is complicated, and a great deal of labor is required in a processing system.
As mentioned above, although it is required to enhance the gains of antennas of a base station and terminals in accordance with the increase of the speed and capacity of communication which will be required in future, there is a problem in that the construction and control of an antenna feed circuit are extremely complicated.

Radio communication system using portable mobile terminal


Each base station in a cellular telephone system includes a signal strength measurement device operable to tune to and make signal strength measurements on not only the voice channels assigned to other cells, but also on its own voice channels. The measurements on the own voice channels provide an indication of injected interference useful in making quality driven voice channel assignments during either call set-up or hand-off. In a conventional analog cellular system, the signal strength measurement device comprises the base station signal strength receiver measuring on own idle base station analog voice frequencies. In a time division multiple access (TDMA) cellular system, the signal strength measurement device comprises the base station location verification module measuring during idle time slots on digital voice frequencies.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cellular telephone systems and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for effectuating quality driven voice channel selection during call set-up and hand-off in response to signal strength measurements made on idle voice channels.
2. Description of Related Art
Cellular telephone systems divide a large service area into a number of smaller discrete geographical areas called "cells" each typically ranging in size from about one-half to about twenty kilometers in diameter. Each cell is contiguous with multiple adjacent cells to provide continuous coverage throughout the service area. A base station including a plurality of transceivers capable of operating independently on different radio frequency channels is provided for each of the cells. Via the transceivers, the base stations engage in simultaneous communications with plural mobile stations operating within the area of the associated cell. The base stations further communicate via data links (and voice trunks) with a central control station, commonly referred to as a mobile switching center, which functions to selectively connect telephone calls to the mobile stations through the base stations and, in general, control operation of the system.
Each cell is assigned to use a predetermined set of voice frequencies. The availability of multiple voice frequencies per cell permits base stations to simultaneously handle many telephone conversations with many mobile stations. The voice frequencies assigned to a cell are preferably spaced apart across the frequency spectrum of the cellular band. This serves to minimize the instances of adjacent channel interference.
Because only a limited number of voice frequencies are available in the cellular band, the same voice frequencies are repeated (i.e., reused) in other cells in a distant part of large service areas with many cells. No adjacent cells, however, are assigned the same voice frequency. Furthermore, the power levels of the signal transmissions on any given voice frequency are limited in strength. The foregoing precautions serve to minimize the likelihood of co-channel interference caused by reuse of that same voice frequency in a distant cell.
In spite of the precautions taken by service providers, it is known that instances of adjacent channel and co-channel interference do occur. This interference often adversely affects system operation by, for example, degrading voice quality on the voice channels or interfering with the transmission and reception of control signals on the control channels.
The mobile switching center functions to dynamically allocate analog voice channels (comprising the assigned voice frequencies) and digital voice channels (comprising time slots in assigned digital time division multiple access (TDMA) voice frequencies) available in any one cell among the plurality of mobile stations located within the cell area that desire communications. Commands that allocate for mobile station use a certain analog or digital voice channel assigned to a given cell are transmitted from the mobile switching center to the base station for that cell. The commands are then relayed by the base station to the certain mobile station over a control channel to direct mobile station selection of the allocated voice channel for handling the call.
Allocation by the mobile switching center of a particular analog or digital voice channel in a cell to a particular mobile station for a cellular communication (i.e., a call) primarily occurs in two instances. The first instance is at call set-up when the subscriber activates the mobile station to initiate a call and the system selects the voice channel to carry that new call. The second instance is at call hand-off when the subscriber, while engaged in a call, moves from one cell in the service area to another cell, and the system selects the voice channel in the new cell that will handle the on-going call. In either case, it is important that the voice channel selected at call set-up or hand-off be of the highest quality possible.
Conventionally, the selection by the system of a voice channel in a cellular telephone system to carry a call is performed by randomly choosing a channel from the available (idle) analog or digital voice channels in a cell. Alternatively, the system maintains a record of voice channel use for each cell (normally in the form of a FIFO queue), and the voice channel selected to carry the call is the channel in the cell that has not been allocated for calling use in the longest period of time. While each of these selection methods is successful in allocating a voice channel in a cell to a mobile station for carrying the call, the selection fails to take into consideration whether the selected voice channel is the best quality (i.e., least interfered) channel available to carry the call. Thus, in many instances there may be significant interference (often comprising adjacent channel or perhaps more frequently co-channel interference) on the randomly or queue selected voice channel, and another one of the available idle voice channels in the cell would have been a more appropriate selection for use in carrying the call.
There is accordingly a need for a method and apparatus for evaluating available idle voice channel quality in a cellular telephone system prior to selecting one of those voice channels to carry a call in response to either a call set-up or hand-off situation. Such a method and apparatus should preferably be implemented without requiring alterations to existing cellular telephone system hardware, and should operate in both the conventional analog and TDMA digital environments to evaluate the quality of analog and digital voice channels, respectively.

Quality driven voice channel selection in a cellular telephone system using idle voice channel signal strength measurements


A measuring device including a sensor that generates data representing a detected body parameter, such as body fat, body water and weight of an individual. A portable device removably connected to the measuring device for receiving, displaying and storing the data representing the detected body parameter. The portable device may correlate the stored data with an individual user. The portable device is responsive to a personal computer for uploading the stored information thereto.

Various devices, such as body weight scales, are commonly used to measure physical characteristics that may be determinative of an individual's overall fitness level. However, weight alone does not provide an accurate assessment of an individual's fitness or progress in attaining fitness. For fitness conscious individuals, body fat measurements and activity level, in addition to body weight, may improve assessment of their progress toward reaching and/or maintaining fitness goals.
Consistently monitoring and recording measured information pertaining to these parameters may be difficult and time consuming for users, especially when the user is implementing a manual means to record relevant data. Accordingly, it may be advantageous to provide a fitness and health system which allows a user, or a plurality of users, to easily and accurately track their fitness level according to a number of parameters.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


This invention relates to a method and device for reliably and positively connecting electric wires in receiving insulation-displacing slots. The pivoting connection pusher is closed by a locking catch borne by an elastic tongue and cooperating with a fixed closure stop. Locking is produced after passage of a hard point and provokes a clearly audible click which indicates to the installer that the insulation-displacing connection of the wire is then positively effected.

Rapid connections by contacts with insulation-displacing slots are now widely used in industry, in particular in the telephone- and computer-related connector technology industry.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,430 describes a female socket of the modular jack type with connections integrated therein. The modular jack contacts of the front opening of this socket are taken up at the rear on two series of insulation-displacing contacts. The connection of a wrapped telephone wire at the rear of the socket is then effected, without a special tool, by closure of two respective rotating covers which serve, to drive the wires in their respective receiving insulation-displacing slots, as rotating connection pushers.
This type of rotating pusher is very practical, but, in fact, it does not guarantee total operational reliability, as the installer is never absolutely certain that the connection is made. Out of a very large number of connections that he must effect every day, it may very well be that, for some of them, the rotating pusher has in fact not undergone a sufficient rotation and that, consequently, the corresponding wires are not correctly connected.
It is an object of the invention to overcome this drawback.

Device for detecting connection of wires in a socket


When the rear side of a heat resistant substrate having heating elements formed on the front side and a cooling board are adhered with an adhesive, the heat is accumulated in the substrate. To prevent this, the portions corresponding to the heating elements on the rear side are not adhered, but are protected with cooling compound, or adhesives are applied to both sides of the cooling compound, as it is known in prior parts, but they may cause uneven heat release from the substrate to the cooling board, or sacrifice the tacky action due to wetting of the adhesive with the cooling compound. In this invention, cooling compound or cooling adhesive is spread on the rear surface corresponding to the heating elements on the substrate, and an adhesive is applied to the parts separate from that area with grooves, thereby affixing the substrate and cooling member. As a result, the layer thickness of the cooling compound or cooling adhesive may be kept constant, and excessive heating compound flows into the grooves to avoid loss of the tacky action. Thus, excellent heat release is realized, and the printing quality is enhanced.. Warps and waves of the heat resistant substrate are eliminated as being pressed and fixed to the cooling board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermal head.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a partial section of a thermal head 1 of a typical prior art, and this thermal head 1 comprises a heat resistant substrate 2 made of ceramics or the like, and plural heating resistance elements 3 are linearly disposed on one of its principal planes. The heating resistance elements 3 are selectively heated and driven by an electric constitution which is not shown in the drawing to print on a thermal paper (not shown), for example, in contact therewith. On the other hand, on the opposite side of the heating resistance elements 3 of the heat resistant substrate 2, there is a cooling board 4 made of a material excellent in thermal conductivity such as metal material, and it is adhered to the heat resistant substrate 2 with an adhesive or tacky agent (hereinafter called adhesive) 5 which possesses elasticity at least after curing.
The reason of using such adhesive 5 is as follows. When the thermal head 1 is used at room temperature of, for example, 25.degree. C., the surface of the heat resistant substrate 2 is heated nearly to 80.degree. C., for example, due to heat generation of the heating resistance elements 3. The heat resistant substrate 2 and cooling board 4 differ significantly in the coefficient of thermal expansion. At this time, when both are mutually fixed, the heat resistant substrate 2 and the cooling board 4 are warped in the same principle as a bimetal because of this difference. As a result, although release of heat is smooth at the mutually directly contacting position, but is poor is other positions, and uneven contrast occurs in printing. By using the adhesive 5, besides affixing the heat resistant substrate 2 on the cooling board 4, the difference in thermal expansion between the two is absorbed by the adhesive 5, thereby preventing warping of the heat resistant substrate 2.
In such thermal head 1, in the adhesive 5 satisfying such condition, the thermal conductivity is small, for example, less than 0.5.times.10.sup.-3 cal/cm.sec..degree. C., and the heat from the heating resistance elements 3 is mostly reserved in the heat resistant substrate 2, and when the heating resistance elements 3 are driven at high speed, the printing contrast cannot be controlled due to the residual heat.
In such thermal head 1, it is known to use a cooling compound on the principal plane of the heat resistant substrate 2 instead of the adhesive 5. On the other hand, it is known that waves and warps of height difference of tens to hundreds of microns are formed in the manufacturing process of the heat resistant substrate 2. Accordingly, the layer thickness of the cooling compound 5 between the heat resistant substrate 2 and cooling board 4 differs locally, thereby causing uneven cooling effect. Therefore, when printing thermally, uneven contrast occurs.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a partial section of a thermal head 1a of a second prior art. Relating to this thermal head 1a, the similar and corresponding parts of the foregoing prior art are identified with the same reference numbers. This prior art comprises a heat resistant substrate 2, heating resistance elements 3, and a cooling board 4, which are mutually fixed by bonding in a structure not shown in the drawing. In this example, in the portion of the cooling board 4 confronting the heating resistance elements 3, a cooling compound 6 is placed in a range of width W4 over the entire length in the arrangement direction of the heating resistance elements 3. A pair of long grooves 7 are formed in the cooling board 4 at positions across the cooling compound 6.
The cooling compound 6 is a mixture of fine particles of aluminum oxide or zinc oxide in a size of 1 .mu.m or less and, for example, silicone oil, and it is a greasy matter having viscosity, and its thermal conductivity is generally 1.5 to 3.0.times.10.sup.-3 cal/cm.sec..degree. C., and as compared with the adhesive 5 of the foregoing prior art, this mixture possesses a thermal conductivity of 3 to 6 times higher. After applying the cooling compound 6 between the long grooves 7 on the cooling board 4, when the heat resistant substrate 2 is pressed, the cooling compound 6 is compressed and spread widely on the cooling board 4, and the long grooves 7 are provided to keep this cooling compound 6.
In this prior art, by using the cooling compound 6, the heat generated from the heating resistance elements 3 is easily led out from the heat resistant substrate 2 into the cooling board 4 to be released.
In the thermal head 1a of such prior art, same as in the prior art explained in FIG. 1, warping occurs along the direction vertical to the sheet of paper in FIG. 2 due to the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the heat resistant substrate 2 and cooling board 4. The cooling compound 6 is amorphous, and therefore the heat resistant substrate 2 and cooling board 4 fluctuate in the mutual distance due to such warping along the longitudinal direction of the thermal head 1a. Due to this fluctuation, heat transfer from the heat resistant substrate 2 to the cooling board 4 changes in location, and uneven contrast occurs when thermally printing on a thermal paper.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a partial section of a thermal head 1b in a third prior art, and this example is similar to the foregoing prior arts, and corresponding parts are identified with same reference numbers, and specifically a circuit substrate 8 is mounted on the cooling board 4 aside from the heat resistant substrate 2, and they are connected by bonding wire 9. Between the cooling board 4 and heat resistant substrate 2, there is a cooling compound 6 in a range corresponding to the locations of the heating resistance elements 3, while an adhesive 5 is placed in the remaining region. A step difference 10 is formed in the boundary of the region of the adhesive 5 and the region of cooling compound 6.
In this prior art, using the cooling compound 6, the heat generated by the heating resistance elements 3 is promptly led to the cooling board 4, and by the adhesive 5 formed on the step difference part 10, the heat resistant substrate 2 is affixed to the cooling board 4, and the cooling compound 6 invades into the gap GP by capillary phenomenon, thereby preventing the state of faulty contact at the electric contact part of the circuit substrate 8. Besides, by preliminarily selecting the depth of the step difference 10, the layer thickness of the cooling compound 6 is set.
In the above prior art, the cooling compound 6 and adhesive 5 contact with each other, and in such state, however, the adhesive and the heat resistant substrate 2 and cooling board 4 contacting with the adhesive 5 are wetted with the cooling compound 6, and the adhesive action may not be realized, or be lost suddenly. Besides, the layer thickness of the cooling compound 6 is in a range of scores to hundreds of micrometers, and it is extremely difficult to form the step difference part 10 in the cooling board 4 by cutting at such high precision.
Besides, in this thermal head 1b, in the cooling board 4, the step difference part 10 intervals are formed as protrusions S, and the distance between the protrusions S and the heat resistant substrate 2 is set shorter than the distance from the heat resistant substrate 2 at the step difference part 10, thereby enhancing the heat releasing effect. In such prior art, however, concerning the machining precision of the cooling board 4 for forming the step difference part 10 and protrusions S, dimensional errors of, for example, about .+-.50 micron occur, and the dimensional fluctuations are relatively great, and therefore uneven printing contrast occurs due to reserve of heat on the heat resistant substrate 2.


A method of generating complementary masks for use in a multiple-exposure lithographic imaging process. The method includes the steps of: identifying a target pattern having a plurality of features comprising horizontal and vertical edges; generating a horizontal mask based on the target pattern; generating a vertical mask based on the target pattern; performing a shielding step in which at least one of the vertical edges of the plurality of features in the target pattern is replaced by a shield in the horizontal mask, and in which at least one of the horizontal edges of the plurality of features in the target pattern is replaced by a shield in the vertical mask, where the shields have a width which is greater that the width of the corresponding feature in the target pattern; performing an assist feature placement step in which sub-resolution assist features are disposed parallel to at least one of the horizontal edges of the plurality of features in the horizontal mask, and are disposed parallel to at least one of the vertical edges of the plurality of features in the vertical mask, and performing a feature biasing step in which at least one of the horizontal edges of the plurality of features in the horizontal mask are adjusted such that the resulting feature accurately reproduces the target pattern, and at least one of the vertical edges of the plurality of features in the vertical mask are adjusted such that the resulting feature accurately reproduces the target pattern.

Lithographic projection apparatus (tools) can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In such a case, the mask contains a circuit pattern corresponding to an individual layer of the IC, and this pattern can be imaged onto a target portion (e.g. comprising one or more dies) on a substrate (silicon wafer) that has been coated with a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist). In general, a single wafer will contain a whole network of adjacent target portions that are successively irradiated via the projection system, one at a time. In one type of lithographic projection apparatus, each target portion is irradiated by exposing the entire mask pattern onto the target portion in one go; such an apparatus is commonly referred to as a wafer stepper. In an alternative apparatus—commonly referred to as a step-and-scan apparatus—each target portion is irradiated by progressively scanning the mask pattern under the projection beam in a given reference direction (the "scanning" direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate table parallel or anti-parallel to this direction; since, in general, the projection system will have a magnification factor M (generally<1), the speed V at which the substrate table is scanned will be a factor M times that at which the mask table is scanned. More information with regard to lithographic apparatus as here described can be gleaned, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,792, incorporated herein by reference.
In a manufacturing process using a lithographic projection apparatus, a mask pattern is imaged onto a substrate that is at least partially covered by a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist). Prior to this imaging step, the substrate may undergo various procedures, such as priming, resist coating and a soft bake. After exposure, the substrate may be subjected to other procedures, such as a post-exposure bake (PEB), development, a hard bake and measurement/inspection of the imaged features. This array of procedures is used as a basis to pattern an individual layer of a device, e.g. an IC. Such a patterned layer may then undergo various processes such as etching, ion-implantation (doping), metallization, oxidation, chemo-mechanical polishing, etc., all intended to finish off an individual layer. If several layers are required, then the whole procedure, or a variant thereof, will have to be repeated for each new layer. Eventually, an array of devices will be present on the substrate (wafer). These devices are then separated from one another by a technique such as dicing or sawing. Thereafter, the individual devices can be mounted on a carrier, connected to pins, etc. Further information regarding such processes can be obtained, for example, from the book "Microchip Fabrication: A Practical Guide to Semiconductor Processing", Third Edition, by Peter van Zant, McGraw Hill Publishing Co., 1997, ISBN 0-07-067250-4, incorporated herein by reference.
The lithographic tool may be of a type having two or more substrate tables (and/or two or more mask tables). In such "multiple stage" devices the additional tables may be used in parallel, or preparatory steps may be carried out on one or more tables while one or more other tables are being used for exposures. Twin stage lithographic tools are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,441 and WO 98/40791, incorporated herein by reference.
The photolithography masks referred to above comprise geometric patterns corresponding to the circuit components to be integrated onto a silicon wafer. The patterns used to create such masks are generated utilizing CAD (computer-aided design) programs, this process often being referred to as EDA (electronic design automation). Most CAD programs follow a set of predetermined design rules in order to create functional masks. These rules are set by processing and design limitations. For example, design rules define the space tolerance between circuit devices (such as gates, capacitors, etc.) or interconnect lines, so as to ensure that the circuit devices or lines do not interact with one another in an undesirable way.
Of course, one of the goals in integrated circuit fabrication is to faithfully reproduce the original circuit design on the wafer (via the mask). Another goal is to use as much of the semiconductor wafer real estate as possible. As the size of an integrated circuit is reduced and its density increases, however, the CD (critical dimension) of its corresponding mask pattern approaches the resolution limit of the optical exposure tool. The resolution for an exposure tool is defined as the minimum feature that the exposure tool can repeatedly expose on the wafer. The resolution value of present exposure equipment often constrains the CD for many advanced IC circuit designs.
Furthermore, as the demand continues for even higher performance of semiconductor devices, the design rule shrink rate is outpacing the progress of both of the exposure wavelength reduction and the advancement of high Numerical Aperture (NA) lenses. This factor has presented a challenge to lithographers to push optical lithography beyond the limit that was thought possible a few years ago. As is known, Resolution Enhancement Techniques (RETs) have become indispensable in low k1 optical lithography. Strong Off-Axis Illumination (OAI), which uses 2-beam imaging with symmetrical 0th and 1st orders in the lens pupil, can greatly enhance resolution and contrast. Dipole illumination is the most extreme case of OAI, and is capable of providing better imaging contrast with improved process latitude for very low k1 imaging.
However, one of the limitations associated with dipole illumination is that a single illumination only enhances resolution for features that are orthogonal to the illumination pole axis. As a result, in order to take full advantage of dipole illumination during wafer printing, the mask pattern must be converted into horizontal and vertical orientations. Once the mask pattern is converted in this manner, a Y-pole exposure is utilized to image the horizontally oriented features, and a X-pole exposure is utilized to image the vertically oriented features. One important aspect of dipole illumination is that when imaging the horizontally oriented features, the vertically oriented features must be protected (i.e., shielded) so the vertically oriented features are not degraded. The opposite is true when vertically oriented features are imaged (i.e., the horizontally oriented features must be protected).
FIG. 1 illustrates the basic concepts of double dipole imaging. As stated, typically there are at least two exposures when utilizing dipole illumination. In the first exposure, the X dipole aperture 10 provides a maximum aerial image intensity (i.e., maximum modulation) for the vertical portion of the lines 12 to be printed. The resulting image profile is illustrated by line 24 in FIG. 1. In the second exposure, which utilizes the Y-dipole aperture 16, there is no image modulation for lines 12. It is noted, however, that during the second exposure using the Y-dipole aperture, the vertical portions of the lines 12 need to be shielded so that the vertical features formed during the first exposure are not degraded during the second exposure. FIG. 1 illustrates shielding the lines 12 with shields 15, each of which is formed by enlarging the target line 12 in the horizontal direction 20 nm per side. It is noted that the amount of shielding corresponds to the amount that the vertical edges of the feature are extended. For example, assuming an initial line width of 70 nm, each vertical edge would be extended an additional 20 nm, which would result in a total width of shield 15 of 110 nm. As a result of the shielding, when exposing the horizontal lines using the Y dipole aperture, there is substantially no imaging (i.e., modulation) of the vertical features 12. The aerial image is a DC component as shown by line 17 in FIG. 1, which corresponds to the 20 nm shielding. The final aerial image intensity, which is represented by line 14 in FIG. 1, corresponds to the sum of the first exposure using the X dipole aperture and the second exposure using the Y dipole aperture.
It is further noted that, assuming the exposure energy is constant, increasing the width of the shielding of each edge from a 20 nm shield 15 to a 40 nm shield 20 for the vertical lines 12 causes the minimal intensity level of the resulting image to shift to a lower level. This is represented by line 22 in FIG. 1, which represents the aerial image associated with the vertical portions of the features. As shown, the aerial image 22 is just a DC component. However, it is lower than the DC component 17 associated with the 20 nm shield. As a result, the composite image 19 formed utilizing the 40 nm shielding provides better imaging results than the composite image 14 formed utilizing the 20 nm shielding.
When utilizing dipole illumination techniques, as a result of the need to separate the horizontally and vertically oriented features, one of the challenges for the lithographer is determining how to convert the original IC design data into its horizontal or vertical pattern components and generate two masks for the dual exposure process that can take full advantage of the dipole imaging performance.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart which depicts an exemplary rule-based decomposition process for generating the horizontal and vertical masks based on a target design. Referring to FIG. 2, the first step (Step 200) is to decompose or separate the original layout 19 (i.e., target design) into primarily horizontal features and vertical features. The next step (Step 220) is to apply shielding to both masks, using rule-based edge treatment. Typically, the shielding rules are empirical determined (e.g., the rules are defined using experimental results at a given number of pitch intervals). The third step (Step 240) is to apply scattering bars (i.e., OPC technique) to both dipole masks (horizontal and vertical). Specifically, after the shielding has been applied in the first step, scattering bar OPC is then applied to each of the orientations. The scattering bars (SB) are applied only along the orientations perpendicular to the pole (i.e., vertical SBs on the vertical mask and horizontal SBs on the horizontal mask). The fourth step (Step 260) is to provide negative serif treatment (also known as widen/deepen) to concave corners. The purpose is to provide cuts-outs in the shielding, near concave corners, which allow enough light to define the edges along the high modulation orientation, causing better line-definition in the concave corners. The final step (Step 280) in this approach is to apply fine biasing along the critical high modulation orientations for each mask. The horizontal mask will have fine biasing treatment along the horizontal edges and the vertical mask will have the fine biasing along the vertical edges.
Currently known techniques for generating the horizontal and vertical masks do not always produce optimal results when attempting to generate such masks for complex structures. For example, utilizing known techniques such as the one disclosed in the flowchart of FIG. 2, it is sometimes difficult, for example, to provide proper shielding for complex structures, such as, "jogs" (i.e., short changes in either the vertical or horizontal direction, for example, a short vertical step, between two long horizontal lines), short "S" turns and/or U-shaped patterns in the design. Moreover, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether or not a given structure of the target design should be treated as a horizontal structure or a vertical structure when initially generating the horizontal and vertical masks. As a result, it was often necessary to have an experienced mask designer involved with the generation of the horizontal and vertical masks for addressing and rectifying the foregoing issues in order to generate acceptable mask designs.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a method which allows for the generation of both horizontal and vertical masks utilized in conjunction with double dipole imaging, which eliminates the issues and disadvantages associated with prior art techniques for generating horizontal and vertical masks.

Method and apparatus for performing model-based layout conversion for use with dipole illumination


The present invention teaches a variety of transconductance circuits formed having two or more class AB transconductor amplifiers coupled in parallel. The class AB transconductor amplifiers have non-linear voltage to current transfer functions and are each designed with an offset chosen such that the combination of the individual nonlinear transfer functions achieve a more linear transconductance circuit.

The present invention is related to operational amplifier design. More specifically, the present invention teaches a variety of linear and multi-sin h transconductance circuits each well suited for use as a low-distortion input stage in an operational amplifier.
In the design of operational amplifiers, it is important to provide a highly linear (i.e., low distortion), low noise amplifier capable of wide bandwidth operation. Bandwidth limitations, noise, and distortion can arise at any stage within the operational amplifier, but for present purposes the focus is upon the input stage. The typical input stage is a transconductor or transconductance circuit operable to convert an input voltage signal into an internal current signal more suitable for amplification by the output stage. Hence, the defining feature of the transconductance circuit is its voltage to current transfer function.
Prior Art FIG. 1 illustrates the prototypical input stage transconductor 10, i.e., a differential transistor pair. The transconductor 10 includes a pair of transistors Q1 and Q2 whose emitters are coupled to a bias current source IDC that provides xe2x80x9ctailxe2x80x9d current for the transconductor 10. The differential voltage input pair VIN+ and VINxe2x88x92 drive the bases of the transistors Q1 and Q2, essentially steering the resulting differential current pair IOUT+ and IOUTxe2x88x92 to a common ground reference 20. As will be appreciated, the voltage to current transfer function of the differential pair transconductor 10 is ideally a hyperbolic tangent (tan h) function.
While widely applicable and well suited for certain applications, the transconductor 10 suffers many shortcomings. When used within an amplifier having a capacitive feedback loop, as is often the case, the transconductor 10 is extremely limiting on the slew rate. (An amplifier""s slew rate defines the maximum rate of change in voltage across the input and output terminals of the amplifier.) Specifically, the total current available to charge the feedback loop compensation capacitor CC is limited by the so-call xe2x80x9ctail currentxe2x80x9d of the differential pair, i.e., the bias current IDC.
For the present analysis, it is fair to assume that the slew rate is equal to IDC/CC. Hence to improve the slew rate, one must decrease CC and/or increase IDC, both of which are undesirable for a variety of well known reasons. Additionally, the tan h transfer function of the differential pair transconductor 10 means that transconductor 10 is a non-linear, distortive circuit.
One common approach for addressing the slew rate limitations of the differential pair transconductor 10 of FIG. 1 is to use a class AB transconductance amplifier. Prior Art FIG. 2 illustrates one typical class AB amplifier 100 formed from a pair of differentially coupled diamond followers whose output emitters are coupled through a common load resistance RDGEN. Each diamond follower includes a pair of bias current sources IDC, and four transistors (one follower is made of transistors Q1-Q4, the other follower is made of transistors Q5-Q8).
The voltage to current transfer function of the class AB amplifier 100 without a common load resistance RDGEN (i.e., RDGEN=0) is ideally a hyperbolic sine (sin h) function. Prior Art FIG. 4 illustrates such an ideal transconductance of the class AB amplifier 100 (i.e., dIout/dVout) as a function of input voltage. As seen in FIG. 4, the ideal transconductance of the class AB amplifier 100 is non-linear at voltages close to zero, but fairly linear elsewhere. The transfer function of the class AB amplifier will vary for different values of RDGEN, but the non-linear characteristics are similar and related to the sin h function represented in FIG. 4.
In practice, the transconductance gain of the class AB amplifier 100 is set by the available bias current, the common load resistor RDGEN, and the nonlinear transconductance characteristics of the individual transistors. However, when RDGEN is large it dominates the nonlinear effects of the individual transistors, thereby improving the distortion characteristics of the class AB amplifier 100. Unfortunately, increasing RDGEN increases noise in the class AB amplifier 100 due to thermal noise of the resistor.
As mentioned above with reference to the differential pair transconductor 10 of FIG. 1, much of the non-linearity of transconductor 10 is due to the tan h nature of its transfer function. One well-known technique for linearizing differential pair transconductors is the so-called xe2x80x9cmulti-tan h technique.xe2x80x9d As will be appreciated, the key to the multi-tan h technique is the placement of multiple nonlinear tan h transconductors (i.e., differential pairs) along the input-voltage axis to achieve in combination a more linear transfer function.
Prior Art FIG. 3 illustrates a multi-tan h doublet 200 formed from two differential pairs Q1-Q2 and Q3-Q4 and two bias current sources IDC. Positive and negative offsets are introduced by forming each differential transistor pair with a gain imbalance. Specifically, a positive offset is introduced into the differential pair Q1-Q2 by forming transistor Q1 with a gain A that is greater than unity, and transistor Q2 with a gain of substantially unity. Likewise, a negative offset is introduced into the differential pair Q3-Q4 by forming transistor Q4 with a gain A that is greater than unity and transistor Q3 with a gain of substantially unity. Prior Art FIG. 5 illustrates the combined transconductance gain.
The multi-tan h transconductors do improve the distortion characteristics of an input stage, however the multi-tan h technique does not address the slew rate and other problems of the differential pair transconductor. Likewise, the class AB amplifier provides an improved slew rate, yet suffers from the nonlinearity about zero due to its sin h transfer function. What are needed are a variety of transconductance circuits that are highly linear with low noise, and having bandwidth characteristics not limited by slew rate.
The present invention teaches a variety of transconductance circuits such as transconductance circuits formed having a plurality of class AB transconductor amplifiers coupled in parallel. The class AB transconductor amplifiers have non-linear voltage to current transfer functions. Each class AB transconductor amplifier is designed with an offset chosen such that the individual nonlinear transfer functions are arranged along the input voltage axis to achieve a more linear transfer function for the combined transconductance circuit.
For example, a first embodiment of the present invention discloses a transconductance circuit characterized by a voltage to current transfer function, the transconductance circuit including a pair of class AB transconductance amplifiers coupled in parallel across differential input and output pairs. The first class AB transconductance amplifier has a positive offset. The second class AB transconductance amplifier has a negative offset. These negative and positive offsets are selected to improve linearity of the voltage to current transfer function of the transconductance circuit. It is contemplated that offsets may be of equal or differing magnitudes.
In certain embodiments, the class AB transconductance amplifiers are formed from a pair of differentially coupled diamond followers and a common load resistance RDGEN. Each diamond follower has four transistors and two bias current sources. The transconductance of each class AB amplifier is thus a function of transistor gain, the available bias current and the common load resistance RDGEN.
The present invention further teaches an operational amplifier having an input stage and a second stage (e.g., gain stage or output stage) coupled in series. The input stage, characterized by a voltage to current transfer function, includes a plurality of class AB transconductance amplifiers coupled in parallel. Each of the class AB transconductance amplifiers has an offset selected such that the combination tends to improve the linearity of the transfer function of the input stage.
Many embodiments of the present invention will involve coupling directly the outputs of parallel class AB transconductance amplifiers. However, such a step is not necessary to accomplish the improvements in linearity contemplated by the present invention. For example, the parallel class AB transconductance amplifiers often represent one stage in a circuit having multiple stages serial and/or parallel coupled. So, the output of a first class AB transconductance amplifier may drive one subsequent stage, while the output of a second class AB transconductance amplifier may drive another subsequent stage. These two subsequent stages are later combined (either directly or indirectly) thereby providing increased linearity at a subsequent stage (such as the output) of the multiple stage circuit.
As implied in the preceding paragraph, other circuitry may be coupled in parallel with the class AB transconductance amplifiers. This results in a transconductance stage providing the improved linearity of parallel coupled, properly offset class AB transconductance amplifiers, together with the electrical characteristics introduced by the additional parallel circuitry.

Linear and multi-sin h transconductance circuits


A moving speed regulator for a hydraulically driven work implement capable of automatically controlling the lifting speed of a boom, and regulating the maximum lifting speed thereof in particular during earth and sand scooping operation, and also having for its object to enable the lifting speed of the boom when the boom is lifted to a position near its highest position. This regulator comprises a pilot circuit (10) having a pilot pump (P); a hydraulic circuit for driving a work implement, which includes a work implement operating valve (g) adapted to be actuated by a pilot fluid pressure from a hydraulic pilot valve (i.sub.1) installed in the pilot circuit; a pressure regulating valve (12) installed in said pilot circuit; and a change-over valve (11) for changing over the pressure regulating valve either to its operative condition or to its inoperative condition, and wherein the maximum discharge flow rate of the fluid through the work implement operating valve can be controlled by regulating the pressure of the fluid under pressure through the cooperative effect of the change-over valve and the pressure regulating valve.

As is heretofore publicly known, industrial vehicles and construction vehicles such as shovel loaders or the like are arranged so as to scoop earth and sand with a work implement such as a bucket mounted swingably through a boom on the front part of the vehicle body, actuate a tilting cylinder connected to the bucket so as to tilt the bucket towards the vehicle body, actuate a lifting cylinder connected between the boom and the vehicle body so as to lift up the bucket mounted on the leading end of the boom, and then transfer the earth and sand scooped by or taken in the bucket.
An example of prior art hydraulic circuit for use in operating a work implement and its function are shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. In FIG. 1A showing prior art hydraulic circuit for operating a work implement, the fluid under pressure supplied by a hydraulic pump e is allowed through the action of a tilting control valve f to flow into a tilting cylinder d so as to drive the piston therein, and when the tilting control valve f assumes its neutral position, the fluid under pressure is allowed through the action of a lifting control valve g to flow into lifting cylinders b. (This is referred to hereinbelow as a tilting preferential circuit).
In this drawing, reference character f.sub.1 denotes a tilted position for the tilting cylinder d, f.sub.2 a neutral position therefor, and f.sub.3 a dumping position therefor. Whilst, reference character g.sub.1 denotes a raised position for the lifting cylinder b, g.sub.2 a neutral position therefor, and g.sub.3 a lowered position therefor. Reference character h denotes a boom kicking-out electrical detent for electrically actuating a boom kicking out device (not shown) adapted to automatically stop the upward movement of a bucket c (reference FIG. 1C) when the bucket is lifted up to a predetermined position.
The lifting control valve g and the tilting control valve f are adapted to be actuated by output pressures delivered by pilot valves i.sub.2, i.sub.3, i.sub.3 and i.sub.4, respectively. (i.sub.2, i.sub.3 and i.sub.4 are not shown) The pilot valves i.sub.1 and i.sub.2 are connected through pilot circuits j.sub.1 and j.sub.2, respectively, to both ends of the lifting control valve g, whilst the pilot valves i.sub.3 and i.sub.4 are connected through pilot circuits j.sub.3 and j.sub.4, respectively, to both ends of the tilting control valve f. Reference character O denotes a pressure control valve for the pilot valve i.sub.1, and P a pilot pump for the latter.
FIG. 1B shows an embodiment of the relationship between the manipulation of a work implement operating lever and the bucket load when earth and sand scooping operation is made by a vehicle having a tilting preferential type hydraulic circuit for operating the work implement. In this drawing, "lifting" in the periods of time of I and III means lifting of a lifting arm a (Refer to FIG. 1C), "tilting" in the periods of time of II, IV and VI means tilting of a bucket C (Refer to FIG. 1C) to the side of the vehicle body, and "dumping" in the period of time of V implies the turning of the bucket reverse to the "tilting".
As can be seen from the drawing, "lifting" and "tilting" of the bucket are repeatedly made to scoop earth and sand thereby in such a manner that the bucket loading does not exceed the maximum fluid pressure, and in case the bucket is not fully filled with earth and sand in the course of scooping, the bucket is turned back to a dumping direction so as to allow the object scooped thereby to get into the bucket. In the period V dumping operation, there has been a problem that a reduction in the vertical load Fv on the bucket causes a slip of front wheel tires ("t" in FIG. 1C).
Further, FIG. 1C is an explanatory view of a locus defined by the edge of the bucket in case the scooping operation described above with reference to FIG. 1B is made. In FIG. 1C, the curve indicated with reference character W shows the surface of earth and sand to be scooped by the bucket, the curve indicated with reference character A shows an ideal locus defined by the edge of the bucket, and the curve indicated with reference character B shows a locus defined by the edge of the bucket when the scooping operation described above with reference to FIG. 1B (using the prior art hydraulic circuit described hereinbefore with reference to FIG. 1A) is made.
To carry out this scooping operation, the operator manipulates alternately a lifting operation lever and a tilting operation lever (both of them not shown), or alternatively, in vehicles provided with a boom kicking out device (not shown) serving as a lifting position holding device, the operator used to perform the scooping operation by operating only the tilting operation lever while the bucket is held at its lifted position.
Out of the above-mentioned two methods of operation, the former operation method is merely troublesome repetition of the lifting and tilting operations, whilst the latter operation method has posed a significant problem that the holding position in the lifting control valve g is the maximum lifting position, and in the prior art hydraulic circuit for operating the work implement, the lifting speed of the boom when the tilting operation lever is released (in the period of time of IV in FIG. 1C) is so high that the moving speed of the bucket in the forward and upward directions cannot be controlled and sufficient amount of earth and sand cannot be scooped by the bucket, thus necessitating a useless operation such as the dumping operation to be made in the period of time of V in FIG. 1C.

Moving speed regulator for hydraulically driven work implement


A process for servicing a live pipeline does not require the preexistence of isolation valves or access components or the use of special enclosures. No special components remain in the serviced pipeline. The invention is particularly useful for servicing hospital medical gas distribution pipelines or other pipelines having restrictions on components, connections, and contamination. The process comprises steps of isolating a pipeline section, severing the pipeline in the isolated section, plugging the pipeline upstream of the severed open end using a fluid-tight seal, removing a pipeline section downstream of the fluid-tight seal, connecting a first replacement section having a first valve to the pipeline proximate to the fluid-tight seal, moving the fluid-tight seal into the replacement section and downstream of the first valve, closing the first valve, repeating the procedure on the downstream side so as to connect a second replacement section and close a second valve located therein, interconnecting the first and second replacement sections, and then opening the first and second valves to permit fluid flow through the first and second replacement sections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for servicing a live pipeline. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method which is suitable for servicing a live pipeline which minimizes or eliminates service interruption and contamination.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A pipeline is live when it is carrying a fluid such as gas, liquid, slurry, or vacuum. Servicing live pipelines to make repairs or to install new components or branch sections or other extension sections presents difficulties due to the presence of the fluid being carried by the pipeline. Not only does the escape of the fluid itself cause many problems, but the fluid also interferes with the installation of the replacement sections or components and can affect the integrity of the connections made during the servicing activity.
The difficulties are particularly acute when such a live pipeline being serviced is part of a system which is sensitive to contamination, e.g., a medical gas distribution system in a hospital. Such pipelines are subject to rigorous codes to insure the cleanliness and the integrity of the distribution system and of the delivered fluid. For example, under the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Code 99-1996, which is applicable to hospitals, pipelines carrying such medical gases as oxygen, air, nitrogen, and nitrous oxide, as well as vacuum, may only be made of copper and, with few exceptions, all connections must be made by soldering or brazing or by memory-metal couplings having temperature and pressure ratings not less than that of a brazed joint.
A variety of schemes and special devices have been devised in the past for servicing live pipelines, but there has not yet been developed a quick and simple method having general applicability which results in a pipeline meeting the high integrity and cleanliness required for medical gas distribution piping. Some existing methods, such as those described in Yano et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,586, issued Jul. 9, 1985 or Saha et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,528, issued Nov. 26, 1996 require the temporary installation of work enclosures sealed around the pipeline. Others, such as those described in Gardner, U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,964, issued Feb. 25, 1975 or Minotti, U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,349, issued Sep. 28, 1982 or Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,656, issued Oct. 26, 1982 or Jiles, U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,431, issued Oct. 1, 1991 require affixing special fittings which remain attached to the pipeline after the servicing operation has been completed. Others, such as those described in Ray, U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,067, issued Nov. 20, 1973 or Rockower et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,281, issued Sep. 26, 1989 require the preexistence in the pipeline of a plugged T-connection or other component through which the interior of the pipeline can be accessed. Others, such as that described in Struder et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,130, issued Apr. 2, 1985 require the preexistence in the pipeline of a shutoff valve upstream of the location that is to be serviced. Some, such as that described in the above mentioned Minotti result in the pipeline having components and connections which would not meet the above mentioned NFPA code.


A pillow structure includes a main pillow adjustably mounted to a chair and two side pillows respectively mounted two sides of the main pillow and extending in a direction transverse to the main pillow. Each side pillow includes an extension telescopically received therein and slidable along the extending direction of an associated side pillow.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pillow structure for chairs that may protect and provide comfort support for the user.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some of chairs for vehicles have a pillow mounted to an upper part thereof to support the user's head. Yet, the user's neck still can be injured if a sudden turn, emergency stop, or even a crash occurs. Although expensive air bags have been proposed, the user still might be injured if the neck is moved and twisted suddenly. The present invention is intended to provide an improved pillow structure to solve these problems.


A clip is easily usable even by a visually handicapped person and a presbyope. The clip has bend sections, rectilinear sections, and a connection section. The bend sections can be located at positions close to each other with a spacing equal to or less than the diameter of the wire material of the clip held between them. The rectilinear sections are bent upward and some are in contact with each other.

Conventionally, this type of clip is called a GEM clip, and the shape thereof is described in, for example, Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H-4-67082 (Patent Document 1).
FIG. 2, FIG. 4 FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 are plan views (A) and front elevational views (B) of a prior art profile of a clip.
As shown in these drawings, by bending a single wire or a single wire material, prior art clip 200, 400, 600 or 800 inwardly has first bend section 210, 410, 610 or 810 formed as a relatively smaller loop-shaped annular section at one side in the longitudinal direction thereof and has second bend section 220, 420, 620, or 820 formed as a relatively larger loop-shaped annular section, while outwardly having a loop-shaped connection sections 270, 470, 670 or 870 at the other side in the longitudinal direction thereof. The prior art clip 200, 400, 600 or 800 has a flat shape as the entirety, and as shown in the respective drawings (B), the respective bend sections and connection sections are molded so as to be positioned almost at the same plane.
With a prior art clip having such a shape, the clip is used to fix a plurality of sheets in such a manner that a relatively large second bend section 220, 420, 620 or 820 is pressed to the surface of documents while a relatively small first bend section 210, 410, 610 or 810 is pressed and widened by fingertips, and after sheets are placed between the first bend section 210, 410, 610 or 810 and the second bend section 220, 420, 620 or 820 and the clip is moved along the surface of the sheets, the connection section 270, 470, 670 or 870 is fastened with the side of a plurality of sheets.