A pellicle for a lithographic device and a method for its manufacture. The pellicle comprises a carbon-based film having a thickness of between 0.1 nm and 10 nm and at least one layer of cross-linked aromatic molecules, heteroaromatic molecules, or polyyne-based or polyene-based amphiphilic molecules. The carbon-based film has a periphery and a center portion and the center portion is transparent to the radiation beam. A support structure is coupled at least to the periphery of the carbon-based film.

A lithographic device enables a desired pattern to be projected onto a substrate or a target portion of the substrate and is used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs) or solar cells. A patterning device, which is usually referred to as a mask or a reticle, is used to generate from the desired pattern a circuit pattern to be formed for an individual layer of the IC. Transfer of the circuit pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) that is provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned.
Lithography has been widely used as one of the steps in the manufacture of ICs and other devices and/or structures. However, as the dimensions of features made using lithography become smaller, physical limitations in the use of lithography have become a limiting factor for enabling miniature IC or other devices and/or structures to be manufactured.
In order to shorten the exposure wavelength and, thus, reduce the minimum printable size, an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation source has begun to replace other sources of radiation. EUV radiation is electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within the range of 5-20 nm.
It is known in the art to product EUV radiation produced using a plasma (see, for example European Patent No EP 2 465 012 B1). A radiation system for producing EUV radiation may include a laser for exciting a fuel to provide the plasma, and a source collector module for containing the plasma. The plasma may be created, for example, by directing a laser beam at a fuel, such as particles of a suitable material (e.g. tin (Sn)), or a stream of a suitable gas or vapour, such as Xe gas or Li vapour. The resulting plasma emits EUV radiation, which is collected using a radiation collector. The radiation collector may be a mirrored normal incidence radiation collector, which receives the radiation and focuses the radiation into a beam. The source collector module may include an enclosing structure or chamber arranged to provide a vacuum environment to support the plasma. Such a radiation system is typically termed a laser produced plasma (LPP) source.
In an alternative arrangement, a radiation system for producing EUV radiation may use an electrical discharge to generate the plasma. The electrical discharge passes into a gas or vapour such as Xe gas, Li vapour or Sn vapour, generating a very hot plasma, which emits EUV radiation. Such a radiation system is typically termed a discharge produced plasma (DPP) source.
The plasma creation within the EUV source may cause contamination particles to be created from the fuel. These contamination particles may move either at relatively fast speeds, in which case they tend to generally follow the path of the radiation beam; or at relatively slow speeds, in which case they are free to undergo Brownian motion. In some lithographic device, the relatively slow moving contamination particles may be conveyed by a flow of gas within the lithographic device.
Both the relatively fast moving and relatively slow moving contamination particles may move towards the patterning device of the lithographic device. If the contamination particles reach the patterning device (even in very small numbers) then they may contaminate the patterning device. The contamination of the patterning device may reduce the imaging performance of the lithographic device and may in more serious cases require the patterning device to be replaced. The replacement of the patterning device is expensive and a time-consuming process, during which the operation of the lithographic device needs to be stopped.
Various solutions to the protection of the patterning device are known in the art. For example, international patent application number WO 2010/015508 A2 discloses a lithographic device that includes an optical element, which comprises an oriented carbon nanotube sheet. The sheet may be used as optical element and may be designed to reduce debris and/or improve the ratio of EUV/non-desired radiation. The sheet, due to its strength, does not necessarily need a support.
In European patent EP 2 113 809 B1 a silicon crystal film is used as a pellicle film. The film has a crystal plane as its principal plane, the plane being inclined at 3 to 5° from any lattice plane belonging to {100} planes or {111} planes. The silicon single crystal having such a crystal plane as its principal plane has effective bond density and Young's modulus thereof which are about 40% to about 50% higher than those of a silicon single crystal with <100> orientation and therefore a cleavage and crack do not easily occur. U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,893 B1 also teaches a silicon pellicle for use in EUV lithography and a method of making the pellicle. One of the issues associated with a pellicle made from silicon is that radiation is absorbed and the pellicle is warmed, which may thermally damage the film.
US patent application number 2008/0123073 discloses an optical element that includes a supporting structure, a multilayer film that is supported on the substrate and reflecting extreme ultraviolet light. The optical element also includes an alloy layer provided between the multilayer film and the substrate.
The afore-mentioned European patent number EP 2 465 012 B2 teaches a lithographic device having a membrane that is part of a chamber located between a radiation source and a patterning device. A membrane, made for example of graphene or a derivative thereof, is incorporated into a wall of the chamber and allows passage of the EUV radiation beam, but prevents contamination of the patterning device due to contamination particles. The graphene derivatives are graphane, graphene fluoride, graphene bromide, graphene chloride and graphene iodide.
Japanese Patent Application JP 2014 002642 also teaches a pellicle film that is made from an amorphous carbon film, diamond-like carbon film, graphite film and/or a silicon carbide film. The description states that the pellicle made from carbon is less susceptible to thermal damage compared to silicon pellicles.
International Patent Application No. WO 2014/142125 A1 (Asahi Materials Corp.) teaches a pellicle film used in a pellicle for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography to protect a lithography mask from contamination. The pellicle film comprises a porous film with a carbon component, and has a thickness of 100 nm to 63 μm. The transmittance of the pellicle film during passage of an extreme-ultraviolet light with wavelength of 13.5 nm is 84% or more. The pellicle film of WO '125 has pore sizes of between 6.75 nm and 2430 nm.
The manufacturing methods disclosed in WO '125 teach the formation of the film by coating from a liquid and controlling the thickness and porosity of the coated layers. The coated layers are then sintered and carbonised.
A more recently published International Patent Application No. WO 2015/045414 A1 (Mitsui Chemicals Inc.) teaches a film, which is used in a pellicle. The film comprises a resin made from a polymer compound and has a thickness of between 10 nm and 100 nm. The polymer compound includes an aromatic polyimide and/or an aliphatic polyimide. The pellicle of this patent application is used in an exposure apparatus which has a light source for emitting light in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) range, an optical system, and an exposure plate. The light from the light source is transmitted to the exposure plate through the optical system. The exposure plate is arranged such that the exposure light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the pellicle film of the exposure plate. The pellicle film of this application has a transmission of greater than 50% to EUV light at a wavelength of, for example, 13.5 nm, and has high durability under EUV irradiation.
Carbon nanomembranes similar to those used in this disclosure have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,758 B1 and EP 1 222 498 B1.


A pole bracket for a dock assembly has with a c-shaped opening for receiving the pole, on which a dock section may be mounted. For the pole bracket for a dock, one side of the bracket allows for attachment to a dock section, while the other and opposing side of the bracket allows for one of the poles, which supports dock section to be received therein secure the dock section in a desired position. The pole bracket for a dock may be attached to a dock section or a dock bracket on the section.

Every boat owner, with a property having water frontage desires, to have a dock. With the dock, the boat owner has control of the time and place for putting the boat in the water. With such control, the boat owner can greatly increase the enjoyment that comes with owning a boat.
Construction of a dock is a major project. Much work in the water is required. The special tools and equipment required to support this work in the water add greatly to the cost of producing a dock. Any device, which reduces the cost or simplifies the construction of a dock, can provide many great advantages.
Typically poles are secured within the body water and adjacent to or on the short for a dock. The poles are positioned so sections of a dock may be attached thereto with pole brackets. Pole brackets tend to complicate dock construction.
Likewise, there is an advantage for the owner of a marina which services a number of boats to have at least one dock. As the number of docks increases, cost savings and efficiency of construction become more important.
In order to reduce the cost of building a dock, it is very desirable to simplify attaching of the dock sections the desired support poles mounted in the body of water and reduce the required time now required for dock construction.


An apparatus measures a junction temperature in an IC through a pin of the IC and concurrently provides a digital input signal to digital logic of the IC through the pin. The IC has an ESD diode structure connected to the pin. High and low side voltage sensors sense a voltage drop across the diode structure. An input multiplexer controlled by the digital input signal selectively connects high and low side current sources to the pin to concurrently provide the digital input signal to the digital logic and to drive a constant current through the diode structure. An output multiplexer controlled by the digital input signal selectively connects the high and low side voltage sensors to an output that provides a sense signal indicative of the IC junction temperature.

As integrated circuits become smaller and more powerful, heat is generated very quickly and very locally. Having observability and control over the temperature inside the active circuitry has become a major challenge. Temperature has a profound impact on performance of the devices within the integrated circuit. As such, it is important to have accurate visibility and control over the temperature of the devices. This temperature visibility and control may be particularly true when testing the integrated circuit, for example. In some sense, the value of the data obtained during testing of the integrated circuit is affected by the ability to control the temperature of the integrated circuit.
Historically, device temperature has been monitored and regulated through a remote thermocouple probe. The thermocouple is glued or pressed onto the body of the integrated circuit being tested. The thermal control system includes a remote temperature sensor input that receives the temperature of the probe. The user typically has an option to regulate to the remote sensor. This method has limitations. First, the temperature is only as accurate as the proximity of the probe. Second, it is difficult to move the physical probe from one device to the next.

Closed loop junction temperature regulation


A backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display having the same are provided. The backlight assembly includes a light source unit including a circuit board and a light emitting diode mounted on the circuit board, a chassis on which the light source is disposed, and a first fastening unit for fastening the light source to the chassis. The first fastening unit includes a first fastening hole formed in the circuit board, and a protrusion formed on the chassis. The protrusion is inserted into the first fastening hole to be fastened thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display having the same, and more particularly, to a backlight assembly, in which a light source and a receiving member are fastened to each other using a simplified fastening configuration, and a liquid crystal display having the backlight assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
A backlight assembly using a light emitting diode ("LED") as a light source for a liquid crystal display has been developed. The backlight assembly using an LED may have various features, such as low power consumption, lightweight, and a slim shape as compared with conventional backlight assemblies using a cold cathode fluorescent lamp ("CCFL"). Generally, such a light source has been fastened to a chassis using a plurality of screws. However, such a fastening scheme results in an increase in manufacturing process time and material cost.

Backlight assembly with light source fastened to receiving container and liquid crystal display having the same


An attenuated herpes virus which lacks a functional vhs gene or a functional equivalent thereof, but which has a functional UL43 gene or functional equivalent thereof, stimulates an immune response when dendritic cells are infected with the virus.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen presenting cells and are efficient at inducing responses even to antigens to which the immune system has become tolerant. Thus for tumour immunotherapy, in which an immune response is raised against a tumour, the use of DCs may be ideal if they were made to present tumour specific antigens. DCs might also be used to present antigens derived from infectious agents, such as bacteria, viruses or parasites, providing protective or therapeutic vaccines for such diseases. However effective transfer of antigens into DCs for any of these targets has proved the greatest problem with this approach.
To provide a realistic chance of generating a therapeutic immune response against a tumour antigen or other disease related antigen, several conditions have to be met. Firstly, it is necessary to identify molecules whose expression is tumour or disease specific (or at least selective), and which can therefore serve as the target for an immune response. This task has proved very difficult for the majority of common tumours, but is solved in for example the case of cervical cancer by the presence, in most cases, of the viral oncogenes E6 and E7, and for other tumours, good candidate antigens are beginning to be identified. For example the MUC-1 gene product is over expressed in a number of tumours, including 90% of ovarian cancers. Various other tumour associated antigens have also been identified, any of which might be used in an immunotherapy treatment of cancer. Further tumor associated antigens will no doubt continue to be discovered over time. Secondly, following the identification of the antigen/antigens, it is necessary to deliver the antigens in an immunogenic form to the immune system. To generate the cellular immune response critical for tumour rejection, this means the proteins must either be delivered inside the cytoplasm of a host cell (a difficult task for high molecular weight protein antigens) or synthesized by the host cells themselves after gene delivery or DNA immunisation. Viral vectors which have been considered for this purpose include vaccinia, adenoviruses, or retroviruses.
The cell-type which is now widely recognised as providing the optimal immune stimulus is the dendritic cell (DC; see for example Girolomoni and Ricciardi-Castagnoli, 1997). Indeed the DC appears to be the only cell-type capable of stimulating a primary immune response in vivo, and moreover has even been shown to be capable of breaking established tolerance in certain circumstances. A number of groups are exploring the use of DCs in autologous adoptive immunotherapy protocols to stimulate immune responses against tumours in the hope that they may show a therapeutic effect. Such protocols involve culture and/or enrichment of DCs from peripheral blood, in vitro loading of DCs with antigen and reintroduction of the DCs to the patient or direct in vivo loading of DCs with antigen. However this approach has been hampered by the absence of efficient means by which to load these cells with antigens. Recent work has however shown that presentation of antigens by peptide pulsed DCs has produced anti-tumour responses in vivo (Celluzzi et al., 1996; Zitvogel et al., 1996). As regard to viral vectors, retroviruses do not give high efficiency gene delivery to dendritic cells (Reeves et al., 1996; Aicher et al., 1997), and in our hands, unlike work reported by others (Arthur et al., 1997), adenoviruses only give low efficiency gene delivery.
We have previously tested and reported that herpes simplex viruses (HSV) can efficiently infect and deliver genes to dendritic cells (Coffin et al., 1998; WO 00/08191). HSV has a number of advantages over other vector systems for this purpose, in that it can efficiently infect a wide variety of cell-types (including some very hard to infect with other vector systems e.g. Dilloo et al., 1997; Coffin et al., 1998), is easy to manipulate, and can accept large DNA insertions allowing the expression of multiple genes (reviewed by Coffin and Latchman 1996). Delivery of multiple antigens to dendritic cells ex vivo followed by re-introduction into the body or direct administration of antigens to dendritic cells in vivo may be particularly promising approaches to the treatment of some cancers and infectious diseases.
WO 00/08191 teaches that wild type herpes simplex viruses prevent antigen processing occurring in infected dendritic cells and that herpes viruses that either lack both functional UL43 and vhs genes or contain mutations that minimise immediate early gene expression are capable of efficiently infecting dendritic cells without preventing antigen processing occurring in the infected cells.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for forming a metal layer in a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes a first process for depositing a metal at an optional temperature after forming the pattern of a contact hole on the semiconductor substrate on which the stepped portion is formed, and a second process for annealing the deposited metal in a sputtering reaction chamber to fill up the contact hole with said metal. According to the invention, it is possible to completely fill up a contact hole having a high aspect ratio.

As a result of the rapid progress of semiconductor fabrication technology and extension of the application field for memory devices, large capacity memory devices have been developed.
Such large capacity memory devices have been developed by memory cell researchers based on a fine-process technique which doubles memory capacity in each generation. In particular, the metallization process in producing semiconductor devices is one of the important processes in the fine-process technique of the memory device.
The metallization process can be applied to form the word line connecting the gate electrodes, and to form connections interconnecting the source or drain diffusing region and other elements of the memory device.
Conventionally, the metal layer between the devices has been formed mainly by physical deposition using a sputtering process as shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, a stepped-portion 1 having a predetermined pattern is formed on the semi-conductor substrate 10. A contact hole 2 opening for a metallization is then formed in the stepped-portion 1. After that, the metal layer 3 is deposited by a sputtering process on the stepped-portion 1, on the inner surface of the opening, and on the semi-conductor substrate 10 at the bottom of the opening. However, due to shadowing, cusping may form along the sides of the opening, causing a disconnection, and leaving the metal layer 3 with limitations in its use. Accordingly, degradation of the step coverage characteristic occurs in the inner wall of the contact hole.
In more detail, according to the tendency towards higher densities in semiconductor devices, it is difficult to reduce the vertical geometric size in the same ratio as that of the horizontal direction of the contact hole, resulting in an increase of the aspect ratio. As a result, because of shadowing effects by the step, it is difficult to achieve a sufficient step coverage characteristic for contact holes having a high aspect ratio. This results in the disconnection of the metal layer as shown in FIG. 1.
To solve the above problem, filling up the contact hole has been attempted in various manners. For instance, there is a selective tungsten filling up technique which fills up and levels the contact hole with tungsten before the metal layer is deposited, and there is a contact hole filling up technique using polycrystalline silicon which is excellent in the step coverage characteristic.
However, in the case of the above selective tungsten filling up technique, there are problems in that the leakage current is increased due to the interface reaction of the tungsten with the silicon substrate, and tungsten's adhesion is insufficient.
In the case of the filling up technique using polycrystalline silicon, it is difficult to maintain the contact resistance within the contact hole at a constant level because the polycrystalline silicon must be changed into the conductor by an ion implantation. Further, the control for the amount of the implanted ion is difficult.

Method for forming a metal wiring layer in a semiconductor device


Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for token-position handling comprising: processing a first sequence of tokens to produce a second sequence of tokens, wherein the second sequence of tokens has a smaller number of tokens than the first sequence of tokens; masking at least some tokens in the second sequence to produce masked tokens; moving the masked tokens to the beginning of the second sequence to produce a third sequence; encoding tokens in the third sequence into a set of numeric vectors in a first array; and processing the first array in a transformer neural network to determine correlations among the third sequence, the processing the first array producing a second array.

The present disclosure relates to a computing. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to techniques for accelerating sequence-based neural network training.
Natural-language understanding (NLU) is a subfield of natural-language processing (NLP) in artificial intelligence that addresses comprehension by computers of the structure and meaning of human language. NLU enables voice technology (e.g., Cortana), search engines (e.g., Bing®), and machine translation (e.g., Microsoft® Translator) to deduce what a user means, regardless of the way it is expressed.
A neural network is a machine learning model that underpins NLU applications. A neural network is trained for a particular purpose by running datasets through it, comparing results from the neural network to known results, and updating the network based on the differences.

Token-position handling for sequence based neural networks


A dual mode liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal material disposed between a first polarizer and a second reflective polarizer. A light source is disposed behind the second polarizer and an absorbing means is disposed behind the second polarizer in front of the light source. The reflective polarizer may be a wire grid polarizer and reflects one polarization back towards the front of the display to create a bright image. The other polarization is passed by the reflective polarizer and absorbed by the absorbing means. The absorbing means may be a third polarizer and a wave plate for rotating the polarization passed by the second polarizer before absorbing it so that the second and third polarizers pass the same polarization so that the light produced by the light source may also pass through to the front of the display. The absorbing means may also be a removable sheet of absorbing material. A controller selectively activates the liquid crystal to selectively alter the polarization of the light as it passes through. A switch may reverse the manner in which the controller activates the liquid crystal so that the same pattern of bright and dark images is maintained when the display switches between an ambient illumination mode and an internal illumination mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dual mode display apparatus operating in ambient and back-light modes, or reflective and transmissive modes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dual mode liquid crystal display apparatus utilizing a plurality of polarizers, including a wire grid polarizer, to selectively manipulate light.
2. Prior Art
A typical liquid crystal display device comprises a layer of liquid crystal material sandwiched between front and back transparent plates. Transparent electrodes are located on the inner surfaces of the transparent plates and used to apply electrical signals which alter the light transmission properties of the liquid crystal layer. The transparent electrodes are typically patterned to define the pixel structure of the display device. The surfaces of the transparent electrodes are also treated to ensure a preferred alignment direction for the liquid crystal molecules adjacent to each surface.
The preferred and most commonly used form of liquid crystal display utilizes the well-known "twisted nematic" liquid crystal effect. The twisted nematic effect is preferred because it offers excellent contrast ratio, low driving voltages and a sharp response threshold compatible with current drive circuit technology, wide viewing angle, and good gray-scale rendition.
In a typical twisted nematic liquid crystal display with a backlight, the display sandwich also includes linear polarizers affixed to the outer surfaces of the front and back transparent plates. The liquid crystal layer is aligned at the surfaces such that the polarization vector of light transmitted through the layer is rotated 90 degrees in the absence of an applied electric field, but is not rotated in the presence of an electric field.
The display sandwich also includes linear polarizers affixed to the outer surfaces of the front and back transparent plates. The transmission axis of the first polarizer is generally aligned in parallel to the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the front transparent plate. The transmission axis of the second polarizer is either parallel to, or orthogonal to, the transmission axis of the front polarizer.
In the case where the transmission axis of the two polarizers are orthogonal, the light transmitted through one polarizer is reoriented, in the absence of an electric field, to pass through the opposing polarizer such that the panel is transparent and appears bright to the observer. For this reason, a twisted nematic liquid crystal device with orthogonal polarizers is commonly referred to as operating in the "normally white", mode. In the presence of an electric field, the light transmitted by one polarizer is not rotated and is thus blocked by the second polarizer. Thus, the panel is opaque and appears dark to the viewer. In this manner, the transparent electrodes can be used to apply electric fields to selected areas of the panel to create a visible image in the form of light and dark pixels.
Twisted nematic liquid crystal displays constructed with parallel polarizers operate in what is commonly termed the "normally dark" mode of operation. In the absence of an electric field, the light transmitted through one polarizer is reoriented to be blocked or absorbed by the opposing polarizer such that the panel is opaque and appears dark to the observer. In the presence of an electric field, the light transmitted by one polarizer is not rotated and is transmitted by the second polarizer. Thus, the panel is now transparent and appears bright to the viewer.
In many applications, the liquid crystal display device is illuminated by a light source located behind the rear side of the sandwich and viewed from the opposing side. In this case, the visible image is created by light that passes through the panel a single time. In other applications, however, such as portable communications equipment, low power consumption is critical and the display is illuminated primarily by ambient light. In this case, a reflective element is located behind the liquid crystal sandwich such that the ambient light passes through the sandwich, reflects from the reflective element, and passes again through the sandwich in the opposing direction towards the viewer. Thus the image seen by the viewer is formed by light which has passed through the liquid crystal device twice.
The problems with current ambient-illuminated twisted nematic liquid crystal devices relate to the fact that the light passes through the device twice. The most significant problem, normally referred to as "parallax", occurs because the reflector is located behind the rear transparent plate and the rear linear polarizer at a considerable distance from the liquid crystal layer. The ambient light entering the display is spatially modulated by the liquid crystal layer to form a pattern of light and dark areas where the light impinges upon the rear reflector. After reflection, the light passes through the liquid crystal device in the reverse direction and is again spatially modulated. However, since the display is normally illuminated and viewed at oblique angles with respect to the display surface, the images formed by the two passes through the liquid crystal sandwich generally do not entirely overlap, and a double image, or shadow image, is seen by the viewer under most conditions. Although the shadow image is currently accepted for low resolution displays such as those used in portable phones and calculators, this phenomenon does limit the resolution, or minimum pixel size, of ambient illuminated twisted nematic liquid crystal displays, and prevents the application of such displays in high-information density applications, such as lap-top computers.
An additional problem with current ambient illuminated twisted nematic liquid crystal displays is the additional loss of brightness that occurs due to absorption in the linear polarizers. Note that this would not be a problem with theoretical polarizers that transmit 100% of one polarization while absorbing 100% of the orthogonal polarization. However, current linear polarizers only transmit 85% or less of the preferred polarization. The additional absorption during the second pass through the liquid crystal sandwich results in a loss of at least 30% of the possible display brightness.
A third problem with ambient illuminated liquid crystal display devices is that their performance must be compromised to allow illumination by an internal light when the ambient light is insufficient. The typical method to allow for internal illumination is to use a partially transmissive reflector, or transflector, behind the liquid crystal panel so that some light can be introduced to the display by a light source in back of the panel. Of course, the brightness in the reflective mode is reduced by the fraction of ambient light that is transmitted through this transflector, and the amount of illumination required to adequately light the display from the back must be increased to offset the light reflected back to the source by the transflector.
Alternate methods have been proposed to eliminate the parallax problem in ambient illuminated twisted nematic liquid crystal displays. One method, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,492,432 and 5,139,340, is to utilize an alternate liquid crystal electro-optical effect that only requires a polarizer on the front side of the display. Since the rear polarizer is not required, the rear reflector can be located on the inner surface of the rear transparent plate in immediate proximity to the liquid crystal layer. While this method eliminates the parallax problem, displays using this method do not provide the high contrast, wide viewing angle, fast response, and smooth gray scale rendition provided by twisted nematic liquid crystal display devices. In addition, these displays cannot be illuminated from the back when the ambient light is insufficient.
Still another method is the Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Display (PDLC) in which the liquid crystal layer itself functions as a diffuse reflector, eliminating the need for polarizers or a separate reflector. While this method offers the potential for high display brightness, the PDLC requires high drive voltages and complex drive waveforms that are not compatible with current drive circuit technology. There is still no alternative which provides the high image contrast, wide viewing angle, fast response, and smooth gray scale rendition provided by twisted nematic liquid crystal displays. Clearly, it would be desirable to develop a method for dealing with parallax in the display while preserving the advantages of the twisted nematic liquid crystal display.
One attempt in the art to overcome some of the foregoing disadvantages is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,897, to Grinberg, which attempts to improve ambient illuminated twisted nematic liquid crystal displays by incorporating a wire grid reflective polarizer within the twisted nematic liquid crystal device. The wire grid reflects light polarized along the long axis of the wires, and transmits light of the orthogonal polarization. The transmitted light must be absorbed within or behind the display device to provide a high contrast display. The wire grid functions as the rear polarizer, as a specular reflector, and as the rear electrical contact to the liquid crystal layer.
Despite any advantages obtained, the above device was primarily described for operation with ambient light. Although a backlight was provided, the above device does not offer a solution as to how to absorb the ambient light transmitted through the wire grid reflective polarizer while, at the same time, not absorbing or attenuating the light from the source behind the panel. Note that backlights for liquid crystal displays are typically complex optical systems designed to capture the light from one or more lamps and distribute the light uniformly over the surface of the display. These backlights commonly include components such as light guides, diffusers, and reflectors. Thus, unless the ambient light transmitted through the wire grid polarizer is substantially absorbed, some portion of this light will reflect from the backlight components and pass back through the display device, thus lowering the display contrast. Therefore, a display device as described by Grinberg would require a compromise between contrast ratio in the ambient-lit mode of operation and brightness in the back-lit mode.
Other reflective polarizer technologies have been developed, including cholesteric polarizers and multilayer birefringent polymer films. In the future, these types of reflective polarizers may be used within liquid crystal devices in a manner that eliminates the parallax problem, but there still exists a need for an improved ambient-illuminated display that overcomes the parallax problem while maintaining the performance advantages of the twisted nematic liquid crystal effect. In addition, there still exists a need for a dual mode ambient-illuminated and internally-illuminated display.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop a liquid crystal display apparatus with reduced parallax. It would also be advantageous to develop a liquid crystal display apparatus capable of high brightness operation with either ambient illumination or internal illumination, without compromising the display contrast in either mode of operation.

Dual mode reflective/transmissive liquid crystal display apparatus


A handbill is rolled to form a coil that is retained within a collapsible cup as it is ejected from an elongated tube and delivered to its destination. The collapsible cup has a cylindrical wall and a bottom member at one end that does not contribute to the structural strength of the cup. The bottom member has an exposed adhesive within the cup that is encountered when the handbill is inserted within the cup. The elongated tube is connected to a controllable source of pressurized fluid that is used to eject the handbill assembly from the tube. The handbill assembly and delivery system avoids the problems of prior assemblies and systems that projected cone-shaped paper flyers through the air.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an assembly having handbill and delivery container components, and more specifically to such an assembly that is adapted for delivery by pneumatic ejection from a tube.
2. Background
The desire of every person who has walked the streets delivering flyers or handbills door-to-door is to have some way to magically transport the flyers to each doorstep. One attempt to address this desire is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,345,977, issued Oct. 10, 1967 to L. F. Hall. The Hall patent discloses a device for projecting paper cones through the air.
An advertising circular, or leaflet, is rolled into a cone shape and secured in that shape by adhesive tape. The taped cone is then inserted into the breach of a tube and fitted over a nozzle that extends a substantial distance into the cone. Compressed gas is then selectively released through the nozzle to impinge on the inner conical end of the cone and propel it through the air to a desired destination.
The Hall system has several inherent disadvantages. First, in contradiction of the statements made in the Hall patent, the sharply pointed end of the paper cone presented a serious risk of injury when projected at high velocity from a tube. If the cone struck a child, or even an adult, in the head, eyes, throat, or other vulnerable area, within the first few feet after ejection from the tube, them was a significant risk of injury. Also, the Hall system was able to project only a single cone containing a single sheet of material. If more than one sheet was included in the cone, the sheets would have to be secured together to prevent unwinding during flight and accordingly the cone, and especially the tip of the cone, would have a much greater stiffness. This would undesirably increase the risk of injury if the cone were to strike a vulnerable object.
Another disadvantage of the Hall system is that the cones had to be precisely rolled so that the base of the cone would fit within the barrel of the tube and yet slide over the expanded conical base of the nozzle. Thus, a great deal of care was required in forming, rolling, and taping the cones.
A method for delivering newspapers and similar relatively heavy objects in residential areas is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,538, issued Apr. 4, 1972 to Robert L. Lamar. The Lamar system uses a compressed air-powered mechanical ram to launch the objects according to a preselected sequence program. Although rather complicated, the Lamar system appears to be useful for delivering relatively large, heavy articles, such as newspapers. However, the mechanical launcher arrangement would not be effective for projecting lightweight articles such as handbills, flyers, circulars and the like, through the air.
A predecessor to the current invention is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,599, issued Sep. 10, 1996, to the present inventor. Improvements to the predecessor system are described herein.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems set forth above, and to enhance the predecessor system provided by the current inventor in his previous patent. It is desirable to have a handbill assembly that is economical to produce and assemble, can be quickly and accurately delivered by ejection from a conventional tube connected to a source of compressed air, and poses no, or most very minimal, risk of injury to a person if struck by the assembly during delivery. It is also desirable to have such an assembly that is easily crushed if inadvertently stepped on after delivery. It is also desirable to have an enhanced capability to retain a handbill within the assembly.


A thread winder includes a thread winding shaft into which a bobbin shaft is inserted so that a bobbin is detachably attached to the thread winding shaft, a rotating mechanism rotating the thread winding shaft to wind a thread on the bobbin, a thread winding shaft switching mechanism switching the thread winding shaft between a preparatory position and a winding position, a guiding member guiding the thread from a thread spool to the bobbin, a guiding member position switching mechanism switching the guiding member between a guide position and a retreat position, and a link mechanism links both switching mechanisms so that the guiding member is located at the guide position when the thread winding shaft assumes the preparatory position and so that the guide member is located at the retreat position when the thread winding shaft assumes the winding position.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a thread winder which winds a thread supplied from a thread spool onto a bobbin attached to a thread winding shaft, and a sewing machine provided with the thread winder.
2. Related Art
A thread winder is generally provided in an arm of a sewing machine to wind a thread supplied from a thread spool, onto an emptied bobbin. A conventional thread winder 1 includes a base 2 mounted on an upper wall of an arm constituting a sewing machine and a thread winding shaft 3 protruding through the base 2 upward as partially shown in FIG. 12. A bobbin 5 is detachably attached to a bobbin holder 4 so as to be placed on the holder. The bobbin 5 includes a cylindrical bobbin shaft 5a with upper and lower ends and disc-like flanges 5b formed on the upper and lower ends of the bobbin shaft 5a respectively.
The thread winding shaft 3 is laterally movable between a preparation position and a winding position although not shown in detail. When the thread winding shaft 3 assumes the winding position, a rubber ring provided on the lower end of the thread winding shaft 3 is pressed against a side surface of a pulley driven by a sewing machine motor thereby to be brought into contact with the latter. As a result, a torque developed by the pulley is transmitted to the thread winding shaft 3 so that the thread winding shaft 3 is rotated, whereby a tread T drawn from the thread spool is wound on the bobbin shaft 5a of the bobbin 5.
In execution of a thread winding work, a user firstly attach an empty bobbin 5 to the thread winding shaft 3 assuming the preparation position. The thread T drawn from the thread spool is then passed through a predetermined threading passage, and a distal end of the thread T (a winding start portion) is wound by a small amount on the bobbin shaft 5a. Subsequently, the thread winding shaft 3 is moved to the winding position, whereupon a torque is obtainable from the pulley. When the user operates a start/stop switch in this state, a sewing machine motor is driven so that the thread winding shaft 3 is rotated via the pulley, whereby the thread T is wound on the bobbin 5.
When the user carries out the above-described thread winding preparatory work with the aforementioned thread winder, the thread T which should be wound on the bobbin shaft 5a sometimes detach downward from the lower flange 5b of the bobbin 5. In this case, the thread T detached downward gets into a gap between the flange 5 and the bobbin holder 4, twining around the thread winding shaft 3.
To overcome the above-described problem, a ring-shaped convex portion 6 is provided so as to surround the bobbin holder 4 so that the thread T is prevented from downwardly detaching from the flange 5b. In this construction, however, the level of an upper end of the convex portion 6 corresponds with the level of the lower end side flange 5b of the bobbin 5 so as not to detach from the flange 5b. The level of the upper end of the convex portion 6 cannot exceed the level of the lower end side flange 5b. As a result, when the user winds the distal end of the thread T on the bobbin 5 in the preparatory work for thread winding, there is still a possibility that the thread T may get into a space at the side of the underside of the flange 5b or the gap between the flange 5 and the bobbin holder 4. Accordingly, the effect of preventing the thread T from twining around the thread winding shaft 3 is insufficient.

Thread winder and sewing machine provided therewith


Thermoplastic elastomer compositions comprise a blend of polyester resin and a covalently-crosslinked acrylate rubber. Such compositions can be prepared by dynamic vulcanization of the rubber in admixture with the polyester and can exhibit high temperature dimensional stability and low oil swell.

Unless indicated otherwise all temperatures herein are in degrees Celsius. Thermoplastics are compositions which can be molded or otherwise shaped and reprocessed at temperatures above their melting or softening point. Thermoplastic elastomeric are materials which exhibit both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties, i.e. the materials can be processed as thermoplastics but have physical properties common to elastomers. Shaped articles may be formed from thermoplastic elastomers by extrusion, injection molding or compression molding without the time-consuming cure step required with conventional vulcanizates. Elimination of the time required to effect vulcanization provides significant manufacturing advantages. Further, thermoplastic elastomers can be reprocessed without the need for reclaiming and, in addition, many thermoplastic elastomers can be thermally welded.
Non-polar rubbers, e.g. polybutadiene, random, graft and block copolymers of styrene and butadiene, EPDM rubber, natural rubber, polyisoprene and the like, are readily mixable with non-polar thermoplastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene and polystyrene. Non-polar, highly unsaturated rubbers are generally not used at temperatures above about 125'; and non-polar thermoplastics have low melting points, e.g. about 120.degree. for crystalline polyethylene, about 170.degree. for crystalline polypropylene and about 105.degree. for polystyrene. Thermoplastic elastomers based on non-polar, unsaturated rubbers and thermoplastics generally comprise stabilizers to achieve desired properties in high temperature applications. For instance, known thermoplastic elastomers, e.g. as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,104,210; 4,130,535 and 4,311,628, based on blends of diene or EPDM rubber and polyolefins are generally used at temperatures below about 120.degree..
Non-polar rubbers are generally used in applications free from extended exposure to solvent-like fluids such as automobile transmission fluid, motor oil, antifreeze, etc. to avoid swelling and the possible resulting reduction in performance properties. Resistance to such swelling, especially for application temperatures below about 125.degree., can be achieved by use of polar rubbers, e.g. nitrile rubber, chlorinated polyethylene rubber, neoprene, and the like. Because polar rubbers are not generally miscible with non-polar thermoplastic polymers such as polypropylene, it is commonly necessary to provide compatibilization. See, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,546 which discloses blends of polyolefins, cured acrylic ester copolymer rubber and graft copolymer having polyolefin compatibilizing segments are rubber compatibilizing segments.
Alternatively, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,863 polar rubbers can be blended with polar thermoplastics, e.g. polyamides, polyesters, polyarylates, polycarbonates, etc. Many of the more desired polar thermoplastic polymers melt at high temperature, for instance nylon 6 melts at about 225.degree.. Since many preferred polar rubbers may tend to degrade when melt blended for extended periods with high melt temperature polar thermoplastics, resulting thermoplastic elastomer compositions may not have otpimal properties.
Fortunately, certain polar acrylate rubbers are exceptionally heat stable and can be useful in blends with thermoplastics. Such rubbers include acrylic ester copolymer rubbers, including ethylene/alkyl acrylate ester copolymer rubbers and functionalized, e.g. acidmodified, derivatives thereof. See, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,310,638; 4,327,199; and 4,473,683 which disclose blends of polar thermoplastic polymers, i.e. polyamides, polyesters and styrenic polymers, respectively, with acid-containing acrylic ester copolymer rubber that is neutralized, i.e. ionically crosslinked with magnesium or zinc oxide. While such blends exhibit enhanced thermal stability, they are susceptible to solvent swelling, especially at higher temperatures where the ionic crosslink bonding becomes labile.
Also known in the art are compositions which contain major proportions of crosslinkable poly(ethylene terephthalate) and minor proportions of impact-modifying rubbers, which rubbers are selected for their insolubility in poly(ethylene terephthalate) so as to form (in the uncured state) a discrete dispersed phase therein. As these compositions are shown in British Patent 1,208,585, they also include "polyfunctional compounds" which are capable of reacting with poly(ethylene terephthalate) so as to crosslink it. These compositions are toughened plastics, rather than elastomers.

High temperature stable, low solvent swelling thermoplastic elastomer compositions


The invention deals with a process for the preparation of uretdione group containing polyisocyanates comprising reacting monomeric aromatic diisocyanates in the presence of a catalyst whereby imidazoles or benzimidazoles having general structure formulas I or II are used as catalysts ##STR1## or their mixtures are used whereby R.sup.1 through R.sup.7 have the meaning cited in claim 1.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention deals with a process for the preparation of uretdione group containing polyisocyanates comprising reacting monomeric aromatic diisocyanates in the presence of a catalyst.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is basically known to prepare uretdiones by reacting isocyanates in the presence of certain catalysts.
DE-A-3 739 549 discloses a process for the preparation of cycloaliphatic uretdiones in which cycloaliphatic diisocyanates are used as a starting material and pyridine is used as a catalyst.
Richter and Ulrich in Synthesis, 1975, pg. 463 describe a process in which benzyl isocyanate is reacted in the presence of 1,2-dimethylimidazole used as a catalyst. However, in this process, a large amount, about 20 percent, of isocyanurate byproducts are obtained. The presence of isocyanurates is undesirable for a number of applications since these are trifunctional and have a tendency to crosslink. Noack and Schwetlick in Z. Chem., 26 (1), pg. 117, 1986 also report this disadvantage of the formation of isocyanurates. When reacting a mixture of 80 weight percent 2,4-toluene diisocyanate and 20 weight percent of 2,6-toluene diisocyanate with 1-methylimidazole, 1,2 -dimethylimidazole or 1-butyl imidazole as catalysts in a mixture of methylethyl ketone and cyclohexane only a maximum of 51% dimer yield is obtained.
Polish patent 100 148 describes reacting aromatic diisocyanates with 1-allyl-2-methylimidazole as a catalyst. However, here the dimer yield is only 50%.
The object of the present invention was to find a process for the preparation of uretdione group containing polyisocyanates which reduces the formation of isocyanurates as far as possible.
The object was met by reacting monomeric aromatic diisocyanates in the presence of a catalyst whereby imidazoles or benzimidazoles having general structural formulas I or II are used as said catalyst: ##STR2## or mixtures thereof are used as said catalysts, whereby R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 independently are hydrogen atoms; C.sub.1 - to C16- alkyl groups; alkenyl or alkynyl groups having 2 to 16 carbon atoms; aryl groups; alkylaryl or aralkyl groups, whereby the alkyl groups can have from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; amino groups; hydroxy groups or mercapto groups, aminoalkyl groups; alkylamino groups; alkoxy groups; oxyalkyl, alkylthio groups or thioalkyl groups having C.sub.1 - to C16-alkyl groups; or halogen atoms, and R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.6, R.sup.7 have the same meaning as R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 or are nitro groups; with the proviso that the following compounds are excluded:
1-allyl-2-methylimidazole, PA0 1,2-dimethylimidazole, PA0 1-methylimidazole, and PA0 1-butylimidazole.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention are found in the dependent claims.
It has also been shown that the content of isocyanurates lies below about 2% both when using a water containing solvent as well as an anhydrous solvent.
Typical monomeric aromatic diisocyanates are, for example, 1,5-naphthalene diisocyanate, 4,4'-diphenyl diisocyanate, 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate, as well as more preferably 2,6-toluene diisocyanate, polymethylenepolyphenylenepolyisocyanate, and most preferably 2,4-, and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate and 2,2'- 2,4'- and 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate.
The reaction can be done neat or in the presence of an inert organic solvent whereby the latter embodiment is preferred. Most preferred is carrying out the reaction in an inert organic solvent with a water content of from 50 to 500 ppm. Toluene, methylethylketone, and n-hexane are examples of suitable solvents. The degree of dryness of the solvent is of great importance. When using commercially available toluene having a water content of about 300 to 500 ppm or commercially available n-hexane having a water content of about 200 to 300 ppm, dimer yields of over 90% are obtained and the product is slightly contaminated by urea. If on the other hand an anhydrous solvent is used having a water content less than 100 ppm the yields of uretdiones are indeed somewhat smaller but the product is almost completely free of ureas. When using both a water-containing as well as anhydrous solvent one obtains a content of isocyanurates less than 2 percent.
The weight ratio of solvent to diisocyanate ranges from 0.1:1 to 10:1. Preferred is using a ratio of from 0.3:1 to 3:1.
The catalyst, likewise in solution, is added to the dissolved diisocyanate at temperatures of from -10.degree. C. to 80.degree. C. more preferably 20.degree. C. to 50.degree. C. while stirring.
Imidazoles I or benzimidazoles II used as catalysts according to the present invention can be used individually or in mixtures. Mixtures of I and II are also possible. Proven most suitable are 1,2,4,5-tetramethylimidazole,1-(n-butyl)-2,4,5-trimethylimidazole and 1-benzyl-2-methylimidazole. The catalysts are used in quantities of from 0.01 to 50 weight percent, more preferably 0.05 to 1 weight percent based on the diisocyanate. The weight ratio of solvent to imidazole and/or benzimidazole ranges from 1:1 to 100:1, more preferably 10:1 to 60:1.
The resulting reaction product is washed and dried.
The advantages achieved with the instant invention are that the content of undesirable isocyanurate lies below 2 percent and that the purity and yield of the uretdiones can be influenced with the reaction in solution via the degree of dryness of the solvent.
The uretdione group containing polyisocyanates prepared in this fashion can be used to prepare polyurethanes.

Process for the preparation of uretdione group containing polyisocyanates


The new blueberry plant variety ‘C12-069’ is provided. ‘C12-069’ is a commercial variety intended for the fresh market. The variety is produced from a cross of ‘Indigocrisp’ (seed parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,523) and ‘FL01-271’ (unpatented pollen parent).

The new variety 'C12-069' was selected from a population of seedlings derived from crossing the blueberry varieties known as 'FL98-325' (seed parent) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,523) and the variety known as 'FL01-271' (unpatented pollen parent). The cross was made in 2006 in Florida, USA and the seed was sown and grown in Corindi Beach, New South Wales, Australia. The new variety was selected in 2012 from among plants located on land at Corindi Beach and assigned the breeding code 'C12-069'. Plants of 'C12-069' were propagated by cuttings for further evaluation and resulted to be uniform and stable. The new variety showed distinctive traits such as evergreen, with fruit of good flavor, large fruit size, and firmness.


The catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine is monitored with regard to its conversion capacity. A sensor downstream of the catalytic converter measures the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas leaving the catalytic converter. A mean value is determined of the oxygen concentration measurement signal, and the area between the measurement signal and the mean value is calculated. The area is then compared with a predetermined comparison value, and a low conversion capacity of the catalytic converter is deduced from the comparison if the area is greater than the comparison value. A corresponding error signal may be stored in memory or immediately output as a warning for the driver of the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
Catalytic converters are used to clean the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines. The efficiency of the catalytic converter determines the quality of the exhaust gas. Aging and poisoning, however, lessens the conversion capacity of the catalytic converter.
To meet legal limit values, it is necessary to ascertain the efficiency of the catalytic converter on an ongoing basis and to output a signal if the efficiency and hence the conversion capacity of the catalytic converter drops below a predetermined threshold, the result of which is that the exhaust gas leaving the catalytic converter does not meet the legal requirements.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has become known heretofore from European patent disclosure EP 0 444 783 A1 a method for monitoring the conversion capacity of the catalytic converter , in which an oxy g e n sensor that measures the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas is provided at the outlet of the catalytic converter. In lambda control, the air/fuel ratio delivered to the engine is adjusted so that it oscillates around the lambda value of 1. In accordance with the lambda control, the oxygen sensor measures an oscillating oxygen concentration at the outlet of the catalytic converter. The difference between the maximum and minimum values of the oscillating oxygen concentration is used as a criterion for the conversion capacity of the catalytic converter, which is greater the less the distance between the maximum value and the minimum value.
That prior art method is relatively imprecise.

Method for monitoring catalytic converter efficiency


According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer including polymers and liquid crystal molecules, and a light-emitting element. The first substrate includes a transparent substrate, a scanning line, a signal line crossing the scanning line, a switching element electrically connected to the scanning line and the signal line, an organic insulating film overlapping the switching element, and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element. A thickness of the organic insulating film located between the transparent substrate and the pixel electrode is less than a thickness of the organic insulating film overlapping the switching element.

Recently, display devices using polymer dispersed liquid crystal capable of switching between a scattering state of scattering incident light and a transmitting state of transmitting incident light have been proposed. For example, a display device in which a reflective layer formed of aluminum, silver or the like covers a pixel switch circuit has been disclosed.

Display device including a liquid crystal layer including streaky polymers and liquid crystal molecules


A device for displaceably holding a glass pane (1) in a sliding rail has at least one fastening part (2) to which a hot-melt adhesive cushion (7) is fitted and which has at least one locking element (10, 11). Furthermore, there is an elongate holding rail (3) which can be brought into engagement with the or each locking element (10, 11). The or each locking element (10, 11) can be moved between a locking position, in which the or each fastening part (2) is connected fixedly to the holding rail (3), and a release position in which the engagement with the holding rail (3) is released and the glass pane (1) can be removed from the holding rail (3). As a result, repair due to wear of the holding rail (3) is less cost-intensive, since the glass pane (1) is connected releasably to the holding rail (3).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for displaceably holding a glass pane in a sliding rail.
2. Description of the Related Art
One known device for displaceably holding a glass pane in a sliding rail is disclosed by WO 00/06864 A. The previously known device for displaceably holding a glass pane in a sliding rail has at least one fastener to which is attached a hot melt adhesive cushion, and that has at least one locking element. There is also an elongated holding rail displaceably mounted in the sliding rail that can be brought into engagement with the locking element(s) in such a way that the glass pane is attached laterally to the holding rail. The locking element(s) can be switched between a locked position in which the fastener(s) is/are rigidly connected to the holding rail, and a release position in which the engagement with the holding rail is released and the glass pane can be taken out of the holding rail.
A device essentially corresponding to the aforementioned device is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,788 B1.
In devices known in practice for displaceably holding a glass pane, for example a displaceable side window or rear window in a vehicle, in a sliding rail, the glass pane is cemented to a holding rail that is mounted displaceably in the sliding rail. Even though this produces high stability, nevertheless the drawback exists here that when the holding rail wears out, the glass pane also has to be replaced.

Device for displaceably holding a glass pane in a sliding rail


A portable, tactical building door opener comprises a door opening mechanism comprising: a body; a door opening arm pivotally connected to the body at a first end and having a roller for engaging the surface of the door at a second end; and an actuator for rotating the door opening arm with respect to the body, from a ready position in which the roller is not forced against the surface of the door, to a door-opened position in which the roller is forced against the surface of the door to open the door. The actuator is remotely and manually operable. The device further includes a support for temporarily and removably bracing the door opening mechanism with respect to the door.

There are many situations in which it may be desirable to open a closed door, but doing so may present a hazard to a person opening the door. For example:
police may wish to enter a building in which a gunman is hiding,
firemen may wish to enter a burning building, not knowing the intensity or pressure of the flames behind the door,
peace keepers may be searching for guerillas, not knowing whether doors are set to trigger explosives when opened, or
a first responder may be investigating a report of a gas leak in a building.
In each of these cases, it would be highly desirable to open the door from a safe distance away, from around a corner, or from behind a shield of some sort. There is currently no effective method or system for doing this.
There are simple tools that can be used to unlatch a door from a distance, ranging from specialized clamps to duct tape and rope. Once a door is unlatched there are also simple methods used to push the door open including using a long poll or a rope. However, none of these methods offer a safe and comprehensive solution that can be operated reliably and effectively from a significant distance away, or from around a corner.
Robots can also be used to unlatch and open doors at a safe distance, but they are expensive and generally slow to deploy. If a region has access to a robot at all, it may be stored a significant distance away from where it is required and it takes time to locate the qualified operator, deliver it to the site and set it up. In many tactical situations, there simply is not enough time for all of this to be done. Also, given the dedicated design of most robots, they simply may not be effective in all situations.
"Hook and line" systems are available for tactical purposes, but these systems are intended more for guiding explosive devices around corners and other structural obstacles, so that they can be drawn out of buildings from a safe distance. None of these "hook and line" systems include effective methods or systems for opening doors from a remote or safe location.
Thus, there is a need for a method of and system for tactical door opening which allows the user or first responder to be a safe distance away, around a corner, or behind a shield. It is desirable that this method and system be reliable, effective and relatively inexpensive in comparison to robots and the like. As the method and system is intended for tactical situations, it is also desirable that it be self-contained, portable and easily set up while wearing bulky protective gear.


A system and method for synchronizing billing information and maintaining original calling party information when providing an enhanced communication service. A communication is received from a first network element and directed to a feature access code. In connection with the communication, a string of data is received containing call information for correction of parameters of a call structure. In response to receiving the communication directed to the feature access code, the string of data is manipulated within the parameters of the call structure based on instructions provided by a database, whereby original calling party information located in the call structure is retained and billing information is ultimately synchronized with an associated subscriber. Advantageously, the tasks of synchronizing billing information and maintaining call origination are accomplished by providing a standard format for processing long strings of data representing information on how a call is to be configured and by reformatting the data fields based on this information so that the final call structure resembles that of the original call structure.

A wide variety of enhanced communications services are available to a user of a modern public switched telephone network (PSTN). These services include voice mail, audio name screening, flexible call forwarding (FCF), and deluxe calling name delivery. These services are considered valuable services by many users because they enhance conventional telephone service. For example, when FCF is activated by a subscriber/called party, FCF automatically forwards an incoming call from a calling party to terminating equipment associated with a directory number that the called party has chosen. In another example, audio name screening allows a subscriber/called party to hear the name of the calling party before answering the call. Unfortunately, providing these types of services creates billing problems, as well as call origination problems, that are time-consuming and cumbersome to reconcile on the part of a telecommunication service provider. Providing enhanced communications services would be considered much simpler and more efficient to the telecommunication service provider if billing could be automatically reconciled while also maintaining original calling information.
Today, special handling of a call or communication is typically necessary for an enhanced communications service that requires call supervision or an announcement to a subscriber's telephone line. Specifically, special handling of the call includes routing the call to a separate system or network element, such as a service node. The service node then handles the remainder of the call by interrupting the normal call flow from the calling party to the called party, implementing the subscriber's service, and reoriginating the call on the service node for completion of the call to the called party or other designated location.
One problem encountered by the service provider is that the reorigination of the call from the service node creates a separate billing to the service node instead of the subscriber of the service. The call effectively terminates at the service node due to the nature of the network element and instructions provided by another network element. In essence, a second call originates from the service node to complete the call process. Data fields in a call structure change to accommodate the new call, thereby changing a calling party parameter from the original calling party to that of the service node and a called party parameter to that of the redirect party number. Consequently, billing information is no longer matched with the subscriber. Hence, the service provider must maintain records of the calls originating from the service node, as well as the subscriber information, to reconcile the billing of services and calls with the appropriate subscribers.
To do so, can be very time-consuming and difficult for the service provider. Such a task is likely to require multiple databases and complex programming to perform the synchronization of data. In addition, a mechanism must remain in place to monitor and track the use of services by the subscribers. Further, due to the complexity of synchronizing billing information and the need for additional equipment to address this problem, the service provider is likely to unavoidably incur additional costs and expenses, which are likely to be passed on to the subscriber.
Another problem that occurs due to reorigination of the call on the service node is the call appears as if it originated at the service node as opposed to a calling line of the calling party. As previously mentioned, the data fields in the call structure change the calling party parameter to that of the service node. Hence, original calling party information is ruined. For example, if a called party subscribed to deluxe caller identification, the caller ID display unit would not provide proper identification of the originating caller. The prior art system has no procedure for rectifying this problem.
Furthermore, the current system is limited to sending and processing approximately twenty digits of data in a string. To correct the above-mentioned problems, data strings would have to be longer and the system would have to be capable of processing the long strings of data. Consequently, this limitation prohibits providing instructions for reformatting data fields so that call origination can be preserved, as well as providing a means for billing information synchronization without interrupting and reoriginating the call.
Therefore, there is a need for a system and method that provides automatic synchronization of billing information so that a subscriber can be directly billed for use of an enhanced communication service.
In addition, there is a need for a system and method that provides a means for reducing the number of databases and equipment necessary to reconcile billing information while improving efficiency and creating simplicity.
There is also a need for a system and method that provides a means for resolving call origination problems.
There is a further need for a system and method that provides a standard format for processing long strings of data representing information on how a call is to be configured for the synchronization of billing information and for maintaining call origination.
Finally, there is a need for a system and method that reduces the costs incurred by the service provider for synchronization of billing information.

System and method for manipulating data fields in a call structure for synchronizing billing information and retaining original calling party information

BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation


The present invention addresses an illumination system and an illumination method which make a space including a display item illuminated with VIVID lighting where Duv is greatly deviated negatively from zero not perceived as pale pinkish, and the issue is solved by an illumination system for illuminating a space where a display item is displayed, wherein the illumination system comprises a first light-emitting device mainly illuminating the display item and satisfying the predetermined conditions, and a second light-emitting device mainly illuminating a space other than the display item and satisfying the predetermined conditions.

An illumination method and a light-emitting device that can implement a truly favorable color appearance of an object that is judged by statistically a large number of subjects to be more favorable compared to a case where illuminating is performed by reference light defined by the CIE, a case where illuminating is performed by a light-emitting device emitting light which produces a color appearance close to reference light and which has a high Ra and a high Ri, or the like even at an approximately similar correlated color temperature (CCT) and an approximately similar illuminance are being developed. Illuminating by such an illumination method or illuminating using such a light-emitting device may be referred to as VIVID lighting or the like. Such VIVID lighting is reported to be very widely used in applications, for example, as illuminating for display items such as clothing, food, cars, bags, shoes, accessories, or furniture (Patent Documents 1 and 2).
On the other hand, as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is thought that white appears greenish when Duv which is the distance from a black-body radiation locus as defined by ANSI C78.377 is biased toward positive, white appears reddish (pinkish) when Duv takes a negative value, and overall color appearance becomes unnatural when Duv deviates from the vicinity of 0.

Lighting system for lighting space where display item is displayed, and lighting method


A refresh timer suitable for use in a semiconductor memory device which has a refresh mode of operation which is enabled by a refresh enable clock signal, and which utilizes an operating voltage having a plurality of different operating levels, Vi, where i=1-n, and n is an integer equal to or greater than two. The refresh timer includes a first circuit responsive to the operating voltage for generating a plurality of output voltage signals corresponding to the plurality of different operating voltage levels, respectively. The first circuit includes a plurality of individual voltage detection circuits corresponding to the plurality of different operating voltage levels, respectively, with each ith one of the voltage detection circuits being adapted to detect whether the operating voltage is at the corresponding ith level, and to drive the corresponding ith one of the output voltage signals high when it is detected that the operating voltage is at the corresponding ith level. The refresh timer also includes additional circuitry responsive to the refresh enable clock signal and the ith one of the output voltage signals which was last driven high by the first circuit, for generating a refresh cycle time control signal having a constant period, regardless of the level of the operating voltage.

The present invention relates generally to semiconductor memory devices, and more particularly, to a novel refresh timer for controlling the data retention mode thereof, in response to a number of different operating voltages.
In semiconductor memory devices such as dynamic random access memories (DRAMS) and pseudo DRAMS, a data retention mode of operation is required in order to prevent the loss of data stored in the storage capacitor of each memory cell due to leakage of the storage capacitor and due to leakage current of the substrate over relatively short time intervals. The data retention mode consists of a back bias voltage generating operation for preventing the loss of data due to leakage current of the substrate, and a refresh operation for preventing the loss of data due to leakage of the storage capacitor of each memory cell. The back bias voltage generating operation is performed by applying a back bias voltage to the substrate. The refresh operation is performed by periodically refreshing the data stored in each memory cell. The time period between successive refresh operations is preferably constant, and is commonly referred to as the refresh cycle time.
In general, it is desired to make the refresh cycle time as long as possible in order to reduce current consumption, while simultaneously minimizing the loss of data due to capacitor leakage. It has become increasingly possible to extend the refresh cycle time due to the advent of high integration density DRAMs which use relatively low level external supply voltages. Further, it is desired to make the refresh cycle time as precisely uniform as possible, in order to ensure the accuracy, stability, and reliability of the refresh operation. However, when DRAMs are employed in notebook computers and the like which utilize a battery as a primary or secondary voltage source, it has been deemed advantageous to use at least two separate operating voltages, in order to extend the useful life of the battery and to minimize the likelihood that a system malfunction will occur. In this connection, notebook computers typically employ a battery to supply an initial external supply voltage of 5 V, and then, when a low voltage level condition is detected (e.g., when the battery supply voltage drops below 5 V for a given period of time) due to discharge of the battery during use, the operating voltage is switched to 3.3 V. The transition from a higher operating voltage to a lower operating voltage causes a problem in that the refresh timer currently used in such devices generates a refresh timing signal having a frequency which varies depending upon the level of the operating voltage. Thus, when the operating voltage is switched from the 5 V level to the 3.3 V level, the refresh cycle time is increased, thereby rendering the refresh cycle time non-uniform (i.e., non-constant) between the two operating voltage modes. In this connection, a functional block diagram of a conventional refresh timer is depicted in FIG. 1, and is described below.
More particularly, with reference to FIG. 1, the conventional refresh timer includes a ring oscillator 1 and a counter stage 2, which are operated by a refresh timer enable clock signal .phi./RFH. The signal .phi./RFH goes high in response to a column address strobe signal /CAS (not shown) going high before a row address strobe signal /RAS (not shown) goes high, which condition signifies that a refresh cycle is to be performed. In response to the .phi./RFH signal going high, the ring oscillator 1 generates a pulse .phi.OSC having a period of a few microseconds (.mu.s). Because the period of the pulse .phi.OSC is less than the desired refresh cycle time, it is fed to a counter stage 2 which functions to extend the length of the pulse. In this connection, the output Qi of the counter stage 2 is a pulse having a period equal to the desired refresh cycle time.
With reference now to FIG. 2, there can be seen a chart illustrating the period of the output signal .phi.OSC of the ring oscillator 1 as a function of the operating voltage level. As can be readily appreciated, the output signal .phi.OSC of the ring oscillator 1 has a period which differs dependent upon the level of the operating voltage. For example, when the operating voltage is 3.0 V, the period of .phi.OSC is approximately 2.2 .mu.s, and when the operating voltage is 4.0 V, the period of .phi.OSC is approximately 1.1 .mu.s. Consequently, the refresh cycle time undesirably varies in response to fluctuations and variations of the operating voltage, thereby degrading the reliability, stability, and accuracy of the refresh operation.
Thus, as is evident from the foregoing, there presently exists a need for a refresh timer which eliminates the above-described drawbacks and shortcomings of presently available refresh timers. The present invention fulfills this need.

Refresh timer for providing a constant refresh timer regardless of variations in the operating voltage


The present invention relates to a novel device and method for the detection of lithium ions in a biological fluid. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a novel compound and a optical sensor which incorporates said compound for the detection of lithium ions. Additionally, the present invention provides a method of detecting lithium ions which comprises placing the novel optical sensor into communication with a biological fluid. Once the novel compound of the present invention encounters a lithium ion(s), a fluorescence is generated, the intensity of which is measured and allows for the determination of lithium ion concentration. The present invention provides a medical professional with the ability to selectively determine lithium ion concentration in a biological fluid thereby facilitating the treatment of various diseases, such as manic-depressive illness.

Manic depressive illness, known in medical communities as bipolar illness, is the most distinct and dramatic of the depressive or affective disorders. Unlike major depression, which occurs at any age, manic-depressive illness generally strikes before the age of 30. Almost 2 million Americans suffer from bipolar illness.
The distinction between bipolar illness and other depressive disorders is that patients swing from depression to mania, generally with periods of normal moods in between the two extremes. Some patients, however, cycle from mania to depression and back within a few days and without a period of normal mood. People with this condition are called rapid cyclers.
Though manic-depressive disorder can become disabling, it also is among the most treatable of the mental illnesses. The combination of psychotherapy and medications returns the vast majority of manic-depressive patients to functioning lives.
The most common medication, lithium carbonate, successfully reduces the number and intensity of manic episodes for a majority of those who take the medication. Twenty percent become completely free of symptoms. Those who respond to lithium best are patients who have a family history of depressive illness and who have periods of relatively normal mood between their manic depressive phases.
Very effective in treating the manic phase, lithium also appears to prevent repeated episodes of depression. One theory for this is that in controlling the mania, lithium helps prevent the swing into depression.
Lithium works by bringing various neurotransmitters in the brain into balance. Scientists think the medication may affect the way or the speed at which the brain cells break down the neurotransmitters that are thought to control moods.
However, like all medications, lithium can have side effects and must be very closely monitored by a psychiatrist. The doctor should measure the level of lithium in the patient's blood as well as how well the patient's kidneys and thyroid gland are working. Among the side effects are weight gain, excessive thirst and urination, stomach and intestinal irritation, hand tremors, and muscular weakness. More serious side effects are hypothyroidism, kidney damage, confusion, delirium, serious seizures, coma and, in patients who are not closely monitored by a physician, even death.
The amount of lithium needed to treat or prevent manic and depressive symptoms effectively differs greatly from one patient to another. The doctor determines how much lithium a patient needs by taking a sample of blood from time to time. The blood is analyzed to determine how much lithium is present. Testing for the lithium blood level is a vital part of treatment with lithium. It aids the doctor in selecting and maintaining the most effective dose. Just as important, lithium blood levels assure the doctor that a patient is not taking a toxic dose-that is, a poisonous dose. Lithium is an unusual drug because the amount needed to be effective is only slightly less than the amount that is toxic. For that reason, patients must be very careful not to take more lithium than prescribed. Lithium levels in the blood can change even when the patient takes the same dose every day: The concentration of lithium can increase when a person becomes ill with another medical condition, especially influenza or other illnesses that result in fever or changes in diet and loss of body fluids. Surgery, strenuous exercise, and crash diets are other circumstances that can lead to dangerously increased lithium levels in the blood. The doctor should be informed of illness or changes in eating habits, and a regular blood testing schedule should be set up and followed rigorously. If a patient stops taking lithium for only one day, the blood level of the drug falls to half that needed for effective therapy. A forgotten dose should not, however, be taken with the regular dose the next day, because it could raise the lithium level too much. Furthermore, the lower lithium level that results from missing one dose is unlikely to jeopardize therapeutic response. Because the blood level of lithium rises rapidly for a few hours after swallowing a lithium pill and then slowly levels off, having a blood test right after taking the drug can mislead the doctor into thinking that the dose is too high. To gauge the average blood level accurately, it is important to have blood drawn about 12 hours after the last dose of lithium. Otherwise, the results will be misleading and possibly dangerous. Most patients take their nighttime dose of lithium and then come to the doctor's office the next morning to have a blood test before taking their first dose for the day. Some patients are able to take their full daily dose at bedtime and do not have to worry about the morning dose when getting a blood level.
Lithium is excreted from the body almost entirely by the kidneys. If, for some reason, the kidneys are unable to get rid of the proper amount of lithium, the drug may accumulate to dangerous levels in the body. The excretion of lithium in the kidneys is closely linked to that of sodium. The less sodium, or salt, in the body, the less lithium is excreted, and the greater chance of lithium buildup to toxic levels. Diuretics cause the kidneys to excrete sodium; as a result, lithium levels rise. The reason that many illnesses can increase lithium levels is that increased sweating, fever, a low salt diet, vomiting, and diarrhea all result in less sodium present in the body, thus producing higher levels. Lithium should not be taken by patients with severely impaired kidney function. Patients with heart disease and others who have a significant change in sodium in their diet or periodic episodes of heavy sweating should be especially careful to have their lithium blood levels monitored regularly.
As explained above, lithium concentration in the blood needs to be carefully monitored. A novel, accurate and efficient optical sensor allowing a medical professional to monitor and regulate such lithium levels by accurately distinguishing between potassium, sodium and lithium ions would be an excellent tool for the treatment of diseases such as manic depressive illness.
As such, there is a need in the art for an efficient and reliable device and method capable of measuring lithium ion concentration of a biological fluid.

Device and method for the determination of lithium ion concentration in a biological fluid


A solar cell production method, whereby: a plurality of solar cell strings connecting a prescribed number of solar cells in series are formed; a plurality of solar cell strings are lined up along a second direction intersecting a first direction in which the solar cell strings extend, and the same are arranged such that the interval at one end of the first direction between adjacent solar cell strings is smaller than the interval at the other end; the arranged plurality of solar cell strings are connected to each other and a solar cell connection body is formed; a first filling material sheet, the solar cell connection body, a second filling material sheet, and a second protective member are laminated upon a first protective member having a curved surface; pressure is applied from above the second protective member; and a solar cell module having a curved surface shape is formed.

As a solar cell module to be installed on a piece of land or a building, such a module having a planar outer shape is used. However, when a solar cell module is to be installed on a vehicle or the like, it is desired that the module have a curved surface conforming to the three-dimensional shape of the body of the vehicle.
For example, Patent Document 1 describes that a solar cell module to be mounted on an automobile or the like is configured to have a curved surface structure corresponding to the shape of the vehicle roof.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Improved concentrated photographic developing slurries having new and desirable characteristics prepared with conventional photographic processing agents eliminate solidification of sedimentation crystals during shipping, storage or extreme temperatures and provide readily solubilized concentrates which upon dilution form working strength photographic developing solutions. The concentrated developing slurries prepared according to these methods are characterized by two phases including an opaque precipitation phase having with a sedimentation comprising inorganic antioxidant agents and a clear phase comprising developing agents dissolved therein.

A wide range of photographic developers are available in both ready-to-use solutions and compounded forms. The compounded forms are liquid concentrates, which have only to be diluted with water to obtain a working strength solution, and powder types which have to be dissolved in solution. Both the ready-to-use and compounded forms present some individual problems ranging from difficulty of uniform mixing of components in the compounded forms to the high cost of shipping the extra weight of water volume in a ready-to-use solution.
The ready-to-use photographic developing solutions are very convenient, but their large size makes shipping more expensive, and the containers take up valuable storage space. To overcome these disadvantages, there has been a trend to reduce the size of the packaging, and thus saving on the shipping cost. One way to achieve this goal is to make either an all-powder developer or a liquid concentrate developer.
Typically, powder mixes are dissolved and brought to working strength with the addition of water. However, powdered photographic developers can be difficult to dissolve, especially if caking of the powder components occurs. In certain circumstances the solution may need to be heated to increase solubility of the components and to form a completely homogeneous solution. Furthermore, in some types of powder mixes it is necessary to package the components separately because of possible interactions between alkali constituents and the developing agents.
Liquid concentrates are an alternative to the powder mixes, but because of the higher water volume they are more expensive to ship than the powder mixes. While, a higher degree of concentration will reduce some of the volume of water it also presents several additional problems. Because of the high dilution required to obtain working strength solutions, the concentrates usually contain maximum levels of photographic processing ingredients. In fact, in a highly concentrated liquid developer solidification of the components can be encountered during shipping, storage, or temperature extremes. The solidification forms a rock hard layer which is practically impossible to remove from the packaging material and makes it difficult to effect re-solution of the concentrate.
Typically, in the preparation of a liquid concentrate the mixing order of the components is not considered critical. The developing agent is not usually added until late in the mixing process to protect the developing agent. But, this can present a problem with homogeneity in the concentrate because the developing agent will not always dissolve in a solution which may be saturated with previously added photographic processing components. Instead, the developing agent will form large undissolved chunks that float on the surface of the concentrate and make subsequent diluting of the liquid concentrate quite difficult.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved concentrated liquid developers which can be shipped economically and require minimal storage space, without undergoing solidification of the active components and which can be easily reconstituted by the user.

Concentrated photographic developing slurriers


A dual-polarization receiver for receiving polarized wave signals whose directions are different from each other has receiving demodulation units of a working system and a backup system for one of the polarized wave signals, and receiving demodulation units of a working system and a backup system for the other of the polarized wave signals. RF local oscillation circuits of frequency converting circuits of the working system are connected with a common REF oscillation circuit and RF local oscillation circuits of frequency converting circuits of the backup system are connected with a common REF oscillation circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dual-polarization receiver, and more specifically to a dual-polarization receiver for receiving polarized wave signals whose directions are different from each other.
2. Related Art
In a communication system in the cross-polarization hot standby scheme according to Japanese Patent No. 3044633, either a horizontal polarized wave (H polarized wave) or a vertical polarized wave (V polarized wave) is used as a working system (active system) and the other is used as a backup system (standby system).
Therefore, in the communication system according to Japanese Patent No. 3044633, capacity which can be transmitted by using a single frequency is limited to capacity which can be transmitted by a single wireless communication device. As interference between cross polarized waves occurs even in a stationary state (both V and H dual polarized waves are in stationary states), an antenna with a high degree of identifying polarized waves or a polarized wave identification circuit need to be used. As C/N (Carrier to Noise) characteristics need to be large enough as the modulating scheme becomes multi-valued modulating scheme (for example, 128 QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) or the like), the configuration of the communication system according to Japanese Patent No. 3044633, in which interference between cross polarized waves looks like noise, has a problem in that it provides insufficient system gain, i.e., it does not assure usual link quality.
In order to reduce interference between cross polarized waves, a cross polarization interference canceller according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-172975 and 2002-158630, for example, may be used. The Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-172975 and 2002-158630, however, describes no remedy for malfunctions of a device.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-232787 describes a remedy with 2+N configuration, in which two links are prepared as backup links. With 2+N configuration, however, frequency utilization efficiency is very low particularly when N is small.