The cold plate is a multiple layer structure with an inlet manifold for pressurized coolant liquid. The manifold is covered by a nozzle plate which directs liquid coolant jets against the mounting plate. The mounting plate carries the device to be cooled. The high velocity liquid jets impinge directly on the mounting plate to minimize the boundary layer to enhance heat transfer from the mounting plate to the liquid coolant.

The power capacity of semiconductor electronic devices is limited by temperature. Semiconductor electronic devices are destroyed when their internal temperature reaches a particular limit. The limit depends upon the nature of the electronic device. In order to increase the electrical capacity of such devices, they have to be cooled. The manner of cooling depends on the amount of power available for the cooling process. Different cooling fluids are used, depending on the application and depending on the density of the electronic devices. In some cases, finned cold plates carry the electronic devices and convection cooling by ambient air is sufficient to prevent overheating of the electronic devices. In other cases, liquids are used. In some cases, they are boiling liquids such as fluorinated hydrocarbon refrigerants, which are delivered to the cold plate in liquid form and are boiled therein to remove heat. Such systems perhaps have the highest heat removal rate for a limited cold plate area, but require a considerable amount of power to operate. In other systems, a cold liquid is circulated through the cold plate and the cold liquid may be refrigerator cooled, evaporatively cooled, or convectively cooled to the atmosphere. At relatively low pumping rates, with consequent low pumping power, a significant boundary layer builds on the various surfaces within the cold plate to reduce heat transfer rates. In an attempt to increase heat transfer, the mounting plate often carried fins thereon in order to increase interface area. However, as stated above, the velocity of the flow and, therefore, the forced convection heat transfer coefficient is controlled by the flow channel configuration. High liquid coolant velocities are achieved with small channels, but the fin and channel sizes are limited by manufacturing capabilities. Furthermore, high efficiency localized cooling was not possible in these structures because the coolant liquid must travel along the full length of the fins and the mounting plate. With the boundary layer built up over the large area, heat transfer was inhibited.

Liquid jet cold plate for impingement cooling


A method of making a brand change, on an automatic production system for processing tobacco articles and which produces a first product from first materials; the method has the steps of: stopping the automatic production system once production of the first product is completed; feeding second materials onto the automatic production system; restarting the automatic production system to commence production of a second product from the second materials; checking all the second products in a first lot to ensure each second product in the first lot conforms with production specifications; externally marking each second product in the first lot conforming with production specifications; and generating a pass signal when a given number of consecutive second products conforming with production specifications is produced.

In the past, a cigarette packing machine was assigned packets of cigarettes of one given brand, which was produced, unchanged, for a long period of time. In recent times, however, attempts have been made to introduce a so-called "just in time" production policy, whereby the brand of the packets of cigarettes produced on a given cigarette packing machine is changed frequently to adapt in real time to market demand and so prevent storage.
On a cigarette packing machine, a brand change involves clearing the packing line of the packing machine completely of the packets of cigarettes currently being produced; shutting down the packing machine; and removing any leftover packing materials from the packing machine. At this point, the necessary settings on the packing machine are made (and, possibly, any assemblies incompatible with the new brand are changed); the new packing materials are fed onto the machine; and the packing machine is started up again to commence production of the new brand of packets of cigarettes.
Experience has shown that, when commencing production of a new brand of packets of cigarettes, manual checking is required of a given number of first items (e.g. the first two hundred packets of cigarettes produced) to detect any errors in feeding on the new packing material and/or in removing the old packing materials. And only then can production of the new brand of packets of cigarettes continue at full speed for supply to the marketing network. Manual checking of this sort, however, involves considerable cost, by requiring the assistance of one or more operators, and shutdown in production of the new brand throughout.
US2002095912A1 discloses a process for producing cigarette packs. The procedure for carrying out a product changeover is such that the entire production and packaging installation is largely emptied; in the region of a film packer and of a following multipacker, subassemblies for producing web connections are controlled such that a last cigarette pack of the old configuration is assigned to a last cigarette multipack and this is then separated out.
US6308492B1 discloses a process and an apparatus for producing packs, in particular cigarette packs; a change in the type of pack makes it necessary for the operators carefully to provide the correct packaging material assigned to the new type of pack. In practice, this change of material often takes place incorrectly; the invention avoid errors when the type of pack is changed in that markings, which are assigned to packaging material of different designs and are provided on the packaging material and/or the carrier thereof, in particular on a core of the reel, and/or the pack, are used to identify the packaging material and to check it for correct assignment in relation to the type of pack which is to be produced.

Method of making a brand change on an automatic production system for processing tobacco articles


An edge emitter display device is provided comprising an anode (1) and a cathode (2). Cathode (2) is situated at a level above and laterally displaced from anode (1), providing an opening for a window above anode (1). Cathode (2) has an emitting edge (4) which is operable to emit field electrons when a positive voltage is applied to anode (1) with respect to cathode (2). A phosphor layer is disposed above anode (1) and below the level of cathode (2) and is operable to luminesce when struck with the electrons emitted from the emitting edge (4).

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates in general to electronics and more specifically to an edge emitter display device, having particular reference to data display devices for use as a screen or display, as well as use in vacuum-tube microelectronics as super-high speed heat-and-radiation resistant devices.
2. Description of Prior Art
Known in the present state of the art is a cathode-luminescent display (cf. L'Onde Electrique, Novembre-Decembre 1991, Vol. 71, No. 6, pp. 36-42), comprising an array source of electrons and a screen situated above the surface of the source of electrons and electrically insulated from it.
The source of electrons is in fact a substrate, on which ribbon-type cathodes (arranged in columns) and gates (arranged in rows) are provided. The columns and rows are separated from one another by a dielectric layer and intersect one another. Holes are provided at the places of intersection of the ribbon-type gates (or rows) and the dielectric layer, and the holes are adapted to accept needle-type emitters whose bases are situated either directly on the ribbon-type cathode (or column) or on the layer of a load resistor applied to the ribbon-type cathodes. The tips of the needle emitters are at the level of the edges of the holes in the ribbon-type gates (or rows).
Since a display (monitor) can be either monochrome or color. A monochrome display is essentially a transparent plate on which a transparent electrically conducting coating is deposited; i.e., the first coating appearing as parallel electrodes performing the function of cathode buses (columns), and the second coating appearing as parallel electrodes performing the function of grid buses (rows), and a phosphor layer. A color display on a transparent electrically conducting layer has green, red, and blue-emitting areas of the phosphor layer, which are brought in coincidence with the areas established by the places of crossover of the ribbon-type cathodes and gates. Both the display and the source of electrons are enclosed in common air-evacuated casing.
A 400 volt constant positive voltage is applied to the display with respect to the ribbon-type cathodes, while a 50 to 80 volt constant positive voltage is applied to the ribbon-type gates with respect to the ribbon-type cathodes. In a single element or pixel cell of such an arrangement, the operation proceeds in the following manner.
Due to a short spacing between the edge of a hole in the ribbon-type gate and the tip of a needle-type emitter (i.e., of the order of 0.4-0.5 .mu.m), a high-intensity (in excess of 10.sup.7 volts per centimeter or V/cm) electric field is established at the emitter tip, and field emission of electrons from the emitter tip begins. The emitted electrons come under the effect of the accelerating electric field of the display and, while flying towards the display, the electrons bombard the phosphor, thus causing it to luminesce.
Each element (pixel) located at the crossover of the ribbon-type gate and the ribbon-type cathode provides for glow of a dot on the display. Thus, a monochrome or color picture can be established on the display by consecutively activating the respective ribbon-type gates with respect to the respective ribbon-type cathodes with a definite switch-over time.
This type of cathodoluminescent display is characterized by high voltages (that is, 400-500V) applied to the display, which results in higher power consumption which affects the operating stability and dependability of the display. During operation under the bombarding effect of the ions of the residual gases, emitter tips change geometry and undergo an increased radius of curvature which results in the lower operating stability. Ionization activity of any residual gas may occur due to a high voltage (400-500V) applied to the display and an adequately large spacing (200 .mu.m) between the tips of the emitters and the display surface. Such an increase in the radius of curvature of the emitter tips decreases the intensity of the electric field at the tips, and the field emission current is reduced, causing a resultant lower phosphor surface brightness. Such displays have but a short service life, usually not exceeding 9000 hours. Due to an increased risk of electrical breakdown between the display and the source of electrons at high anode voltages, these types of displays have had lower dependability.
Moreover, production techniques for such displays are complicated and expensive due to a sophisticated process of forming submicron-size emitting cells. These displays thus are expensive, which discourages production of cathodoluminescent displays measuring 200.times.200 mm and over.
Known in the art is another device, comprising a wedge-shaped array of field emitters and an anode positioned above the array surface (cf Wedge-shaped field emitter array for flat display, Kaneko A., Kanno T., Tomi K., Kitagawa M., and Hiraqi T. T. T. IEEE Trans Electron Devices, 1991, V. 38, No. 10, 2395-2397).
The field-emitter array in such a device is in fact a dielectric substrate, provided with parallel rows of ribbon-type aluminum cathodes and parallel rows of ribbon-type chromium gates. The rows of cathodes and of anodes intersect one another and are separated by a dielectric layer. Chromium-film emitters are provided at the places of intersection of the rows, being applied to an aluminum layer so as to form a bilateral saw-tooth pattern.
A gate is provided on the dielectric layer, having openings following the outline of the pattern of the emitters along the entire perimeter thereof with a gap of 1 .mu.m. The plane of the gate is located about 250 nm over the plane of the film emitters. The emitting surface is in effect the edge of the end face of a film emitter throughout the perimeter of the saw-tooth pattern.
The anode is essentially a glass transparent plate, having a transparent electrically conducting coating and a phosphor coating applied to its surface. The anode is spaced a few millimeters apart from the surface of the field-emitter array, and the device is hermetically sealed and air is evacuated therefrom.
At a typical one of the intersections of the rows of ribbon-type cathodes and ribbon-type gates, the operation is as follows. A 300 V constant positive voltage is applied to the anode with respect to the ribbon-type cathode, and a 50 to 80 V constant positive voltage is applied to the ribbon-type gate with respect to the ribbon-type cathode. Due to a short spacing between the edge of emitter end face and the edge of the gate hole (that is, about 1 .mu.m), a high-intensity electric field is established at the edge of the emitter end face. Field emission of electrons from the edge of the emitter is thus established. The emitted electrons come under the effect of the accelerating electric field of the anode flying towards the anode and bombarding the phosphor to cause it to luminesce. A picture can be created on the display by consecutively turning on the respective ribbon-type gates with the respective ribbon-type cathodes with a definite switch-over time.
This device features high anode voltage (+300V) and a low working pressure of residual gases. An adequately high anode voltage must be applied in order that the majority of the emitted electrons are in the anode circuit rather than in the gate circuit, and also to cause an effective phosphor luminescence, since it is seen against a light background, that is, from an anode surface devoid of phosphor.
A low pressure of the residual gases is necessary to reduce the danger of ionization of the residual gas in the space confined between the anode and the field-emitter array. Gas ionization is very much likely due to the spacing (a few millimeters) between the anode and the array. However, a low residual gas pressure is difficult to maintain in the devices during prolonged operation, due to gas entry from the surrounding atmosphere and gas coming from the structural components inside the hermetically sealed casing of the device.
Due to increased pressure in the interior of the device as time passes, high anode voltage, and large spacing between the anode and the array of the field-emission cathodes, the molecules of residual gas are ionized in the anode-to-array space. The ions so produced bombard the emitting edge of the emitter end face, thus increasing the radius of curvature of the edge. As a result, the intensity of the electric field at the edge is decreased and the magnitude of field-emission current is reduced. Furthermore, the phosphor luminance at any set voltage level is reduced, and the device thus features a low working stability over time in use. In addition, the device in question fails to provide a high-resolution (15-20 lines/mm) picture, due to a defocusing of electron beams, and also produces a harmful radiation effect due to a relatively high anode voltage.
Known in the art presently is a vacuum diode (U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,471) which comprises a substrate carrying an electrically conducting layer, and a dielectric layer carried by the electrically conducting layer and provided with a window with a cone-shaped cathode located in the window. The cathode has its base electrically contacting the conducting layer, while the tip of the emitter is at the level of another conducting layer located on the dielectric layer. The second conducting layer has a window as well, which is in register with the window of the dielectric layer. An anode is located on the conducting layer so as to hermetically seal the evacuated space established by the windows in the dielectric layer and the second conducting layer. A positive voltage is applied to the anode with respect to the cathode, and due to a short spacing between the anode and the cathode tip produces, a high-intensity electric field at the cathode tip. As a result, a field emission of electrons starts from the cathode towards the anode, and an electric current results in its circuit. Such a device can find application as a heat-and-radiation-resistant diode. The device is, however, disadvantageous in having a low time-dependent working stability, which is accounted for by the bombarding effect produced by the ions of residual gases, with the resultant increased radius of curvature of the cathode. The electric field intensity at the cathode tip thus diminishes and hence the field-emission current in the anode circuit decreases.
The above processes proceed most efficiently at a small radius of curvature of the cathode tip, while the construction of the device prevents an efficient degassing of the evaluated space by heating because the space is confined. Moreover, the materials of the vacuum diode differ in their coefficients of linear expansion, and the choice of such materials is limited by production techniques, which are very complicated and are in turn responsible for a high cost of the device.
Known in the art also is a field-emission diode (cf. Fabrication of Lateral Triode with Comb-Shaped Field-Emitter Arrays, by Junji Itoh, Kazunari Vishiki, and Kazuhiki Tsuburaya, Proceedings of the International Conference on Vacuum Microelectronics, 1993, Newport USA, pp. 99-100).
The device comprises a dielectric substrate, a film cathode (emitter), a gate, and a film anode. The gate (that is, a layer of an electrically conducting material) is located in a recess provided in the substrate between the anode and the cathode. A positive voltage (with respect to the cathode) is applied to the anode, and a positive voltage (with respect to the cathode) is applied to the gate, creating a high-intensity electric field at the edge of the cathode to establish field emission of electrons towards the end face of the anode, whereby an electric current arises in the anode circuit.
One of the disadvantages inherent in this device resides in a low operating dependability and stability due to a necessity for application of a rather high anode voltage (i.e., about 150V). This in turn adds to the danger of ionization of the residual gas molecules, while the resultant ions bombard the cathode edge, thereby changing the edge geometry and hence increasing the spacing between the anode and the edge of the cathode. As a result, the electric field intensity at the cathode edge decreases, as well as the field emission current. The risk of ionization of the residual gas molecules is also rather high in this device, due to a large distance between the emitter edge and the anode end face. Bringing the anode end face nearer to the cathode edge is a very difficult task, because the gate is interposed between the anode and cathode. Hence, an adequately high vacuum is needed for operation of the device. Because electrons are bombarding only the anode end face the device is of low dependability and it might become considerably heated and destroyed, due to high densities of the electron flow. In addition, since the electron flow does not spread over the entire surface, the device features limited functional capabilities; that is, its field of application is much restricted. Since the device requires rather high gate voltages (up to 110V) and anode voltages (up to 150V), the device consumes much power, and is disadvantageous in this respect. Also, the high voltages applied cause an increased danger of electric breakdown between the electrodes, e.g., between the cathode edge and the gate. This type of device is of low operating dependability and stability, especially under conditions of industrial vacuum, is uneconomic as to power consumption, and has but a restricted field of application.


An audio signal player includes a turntable unit, a conductive touch-control plate on top of the turntable unit, a round disk, a round disk central shaft made of electricity-conductive materials and joined to the touch-control plate, a reflective-type photoelectric interrupter secured in the touch-control plate for finding out rotational speed and direction of the round disk, and a photoelectric interrupter in a lower end of the turntable unit for finding out rotational speed and direction of the turntable unit; when the round disk is manually rotated, the audio signal player will produce scratch sound effects according to the rotational speed and direction of the round disk; the user is allowed to touch the touch-control plate so as to produce a touch signal, thus making the audio signal player produce a particular scratch sound effect according to the touch signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for making a multi-color melamine container, more particularly one, which is convenient to use, and has smaller size and more functions.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
In order to help increase hot and exciting atmosphere in a concert or a party such as is held in a PUB or a dancing hall, the DJ usually makes the music played with scratch sound effects by means of manually moving the analogue vinyl record positioned on the turntable at changing speeds and in alternate directions. As soon as the DJ stops moving the record with his hands, the record player will start playing the record in the normal way again. However, a single analogue vinyl record has very limited capacity to store music in, and a DJ has to prepare a lot of vinyl records in every event, and the records are likely to cause the DJ inconvenience due to the large size and heavy weight. Moreover, conventional vinyl records are prone to be damaged when they are manually moved relative to the turntable. CD/MP3 records have larger capacity, and are smaller in size and more convenient to use than conventional vinyl records.
Therefore, various types of audio signal players are developed for DJ to play CD/MP3 records and produce scratch sound effects.
Referring to FIG. 15, a currently available digital audio signal player 3 includes an actuating device 31, a turntable 32, a grating 33, and an optical sensor 34. The actuating device 31 has an output shaft 311. The turntable 32 is secured around an upper end of the output shaft 311 while the grating 33 is secured around a lower end of the output shaft 311; thus, the turntable 32 and the grating 33 will rotate at the same speed and in the same direction when the output shaft 311 rotates. The optical sensor 34 is used for detecting movement of the grating 33. When the user is manually rotating a round disk 321 positioned on the turntable 32 to produce various scratch sound effects, he would possibly change the speed of rotation of the turntable 32. Because of the optical sensor 34 and the grating 33, the speed and direction of rotation of the turntable 32 will be found out when the user is manually rotating the round disk 321.
Referring to FIG. 16, another currently available digital audio signal player 4 includes an actuating device 41, a turntable 42, a magnet seat 43, an induced magnet 431, and a magnetic sensing plate 432. The actuating device 41 has an output shaft 411. The turntable 42 is secured around an upper end of the output shaft 411, and the magnet seat 43 and the turntable 42 will rotate at the same speed and in the same direction when the output shaft 411 rotates. The induced magnet 431 is secured on a bottom side of the magnet seat 43. The magnetic sensing plate 432 is used for detecting movement of the induced magnet 431. When the user is manually rotating a round disk 421 positioned on the turntable 42 to produce various scratch sound effects, he would possibly change the speed of rotation of the turntable 42. Because of the magnetic sensing plate 432 and the induced magnet 431, the speed of rotation of the turntable 42 will be found out.
From the above description, it can be seen that when the above-mentioned digital audio signal players are used, the users are allowed to manually rotate the round disks on the turntables so as to produce certain scratch sound effects. However, such method of producing scratch sound effects has its limitation; the users can only produce some certain kinds of scratch sound effects, and he isn't allowed to use other methods to add other scratch sound effects to the current ones while manually rotating the round disks on the turntables. Furthermore, each of the digital audio signal players has to be equipped with a pick-up for reading signals of the round disk, causing increase to the size of the audio signal players. Consequently, the audio signal players are relatively big.
Referring to FIG. 17, yet another currently available digital audio signal player 5 includes a hollow housing part 51, a playing device 52, a turntable mechanism 53, an actuating mechanism 54, and a signal reading mechanism 55. The playing device 52 is used for playing a CD. The turntable mechanism 55 includes first and second turntables 531, 532 on an upper side of the hollow housing part 51, and a coupling plate 533 sandwiched between the first and the second turntables 531, 532. The actuating mechanism 54 includes a rotary shaft 541, and an electromagnetic rotating seat 542; the rotary shaft 541 projects from the upper side of the hollow housing part 51, and is connected to the turntable mechanism 53 such that the turntable mechanism 53 and the rotary shaft 541 can rotate at the same speed and in the same direction; the electromagnetic rotating seat 542 is used for making the turntable mechanism 53 rotate. The signal reading mechanism 55 includes first and second light blocking plates 551, 553, first and second photoelectric interrupters 552, and 554; the first light blocking plate 551 will rotate at the same speed and in the same direction as the first turntable 531 while the second light blocking plate 553 will rotate at the same speed and in the same direction as the rotary shaft 541; the first photoelectric interrupter 552 will read signals of the first light blocking plate 551 while the second photoelectric interrupter 554 will read signals of the second light blocking plate 553. Therefore, the playing device 52 will produce normal audio effects when the turntables 531, 532 rotate in the same direction and at the same speed. And, the playing device 52 will produce scratch sound effects when the first and the second turntables 531, 532 rotate in different directions or at different speeds.
The above audio signal player doesn't have to be further equipped with a pick-up because it has the first and the second photoelectric interrupters and light blocking plates for finding out the rotational speed and direction of the rotary shaft and the first turntable. However, the user still isn't allowed to produce scratch sound effects with another method except manually rotating the turntables. Furthermore, the first and the second light blocking plates will cause increase to the thickness of the audio signal player. Consequently, the audio signal player occupies much space, and is inconvenient to use.


The present invention is directed to provide at least one of a novel thermosetting resin composition using an epoxy compound, a method for producing the composition, a method for producing a novel cured resin using an epoxy compound, and a novel method for causing self-polymerization of an epoxy compound. The thermosetting resin composition includes an epoxy compound, a gallium compound, and a silanol source compound. The method for producing the thermosetting resin composition includes a step of mixing the epoxy compound with the gallium compound and the silanol source compound. The method for producing a cured resin includes a step of heating an epoxy compound in the presence of a gallium compound and silanol. The method for causing self-polymerization of an epoxy compound is characterized by using a gallium compound and silanol as catalysts.

Epoxy resins and silicone resins (also referred to as polysiloxane resins) are used as encapsulants for semiconductor devices such as light emitting diodes (LED) or as a matrix having a phosphor distributed therein in white LED. Hybrid resins that include a silicone resin in combination with an epoxy resin also have been developed (Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3). Furthermore, depending on the application, mixing an additive such as silica into the above resins has been also contemplated.
Typical and well known curing agents for epoxy resins include polyamine-based curing agents, carboxylic acid anhydride-based curing agents, and phenol resin-based curing agent. These curing agents are a compound that has a functional group that reacts with an epoxy group. Other curing agents include the types of agents that catalyze the self-polymerization reaction (cationic polymerization reaction involving ring-opening) of an epoxy group. Such types of curing agents include combinations of silanol and a metal complex (a complex that contains Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, or Zr) (Patent Documents 4 and 5).
As curing catalysts for condensation-cured silicone resins, gallium compounds are known (Patent Document 6).

Thermosetting resin composition, method for producing same, method for producing cured resin product, and method for causing self-polymerization of epoxy compound


This is a device to pack cigarettes into a standard cigarette pack. It is designed to be portable and is comprised of a series of wheels, which are located in the interior of the casing. A handle on the outside of the device rotates a wheel, which in turn rotates another wheel and allows the device to operate.

A. Field of the Invention
This relates to packing cigarettes in a pack. This is not a sorter of cigarettes but is merely a packer of cigarettes in a standard package.
B. Prior Art
Other cigarette packing devices exist in the prior art. Some examples of these include Arthur U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,151, Fishburne, U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,125 and Barkalow U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,140. While the prior art does achieve the same result as the present device the structure of the devices that are found in the prior art are completely different than the present device.


A method for producing a mirror plate for a Fabry-Perot interferometer includes providing a base slab, which includes a substrate coated with a reflective multilayer coating, forming one or more intermediate layers on the base slab such that the lowermost intermediate layer substantially consists of silica, and such that the multilayer coating is at least partially covered by the lowermost intermediate layer, forming one or more capacitive sensor electrodes by depositing conductive material on top of the intermediate layers, and removing material of the lowermost intermediate layer by etching in order to form an exposed aperture portion of the multilayer coating.

A Fabry-Perot interferometer comprises a first semi-transparent mirror and a second semi-transparent mirror, which are arranged to form an optical cavity. The Fabry-Perot interferometer may provide one or more transmission peaks. The spectral position of the transmission peaks may be changed by changing the distance between the mirrors. The distance between the mirrors may be called as the mirror gap or as the mirror spacing.
The interferometer may comprise e.g. a piezoelectric actuator for adjusting the mirror spacing. The piezoelectric actuator may be driven by applying a driving voltage to the actuator, wherein each voltage value of the driving voltage may be associated with different mirror spacing. The value of the mirror spacing may be determined from the corresponding value of the driving voltage e.g. by using a regression function. The regression function may be determined by varying the mirror spacing, and by monitoring transmission of a laser beam through the interferometer. When the transmitted intensity reaches a maximum, the value of the mirror spacing may be calculated from the wavelength of the laser beam by using the Fabry-Perot transmission function.

Method for producing a mirror plate for Fabry-Perot interferometer, and a mirror plate produced by the method


The scope of the present invention is the antenna arrangement of a radio communication device (87) intended for establishing a two-way connection, with which arrangement it is striven for to reduce the effects of the body on the properties of an antenna and on the other hand to reduce the radiation of the antenna towards the body. The antenna element (81) is planar and it consists of a ground plane and of a radiator (86) essentially parallel to it. The antenna element has been arranged in a position in which the ground plane ends up between the body of the user of the radio communication device and the radiator, and the amplification maximum of the radiation pattern of the antenna is directed away from the user of the radio communication device in an operating position typical of the radio communication device.

In prior known antenna constructions intended for personal radio communication devices it has been striven for a radiation pattern as symmetric as possible in order to that the position of the telecommunication device would not have an effect on the quality of a radio connection. The symmetry of the radiation pattern is however only realized in a free space. Various obstacles in the vicinity of a radio communication device have an effect on the radiation pattern of an antenna. Personal radio communication devices are at present so small that for example in radio telephones in which the microphone is integrated in the radio telephone, the antenna is, when in the operating position of the telephone, so close to the body that the body has an effect on the radiation pattern of the antenna. Radiation pattern is not symmetric in the typical operating positions of a radio telephone if the radio telephone is small-size and the antenna comes very close to the head and hand of the user of the telecommunication device.
It has been striven for to reduce the effect of the body on the radiation pattern and on the other hand to reduce the radiation towards the body using solutions, in which the radiation is attenuated or the form of the radiation pattern is changed using different shields placed between the antenna and the body. Also such solutions are prior known, in which it is striven for to move the radiating antenna element as far as possible from the user of the telephone. These solutions however are rather difficult to realize if a radio telephone is of very small size.
It has to be noticed that international standardizing organizations are defining measuring methods and limits for the radiation of the transmitters of mobile telephones directed towards the body of the users of mobile telephones, and accordingly it has to be accounted for in antenna designing. The radiation is measured in operating positions typical of a telephone using so called SAR--measuring (Specific Absorbtion Rate). The subject has to be paid attention to especially in the handphones of a cellular network, which operate at a rather high transmitting output power compared with the size of the telephone, such as AMPS, GSM, DCS and in the future UMTS. The radius of a cell, i.e. the maximum distance from the telephone to the nearest base station, is in these systems normally several kilometers, even up to tens of kilometers, and the transmitter output power of the handphone is up to 2 W.
The size of personal mobile stations is being continuously reduced, due to which the using of prior known antenna solutions is becoming more difficult. The problems of prior known solutions become evident with a particular emphasis, if a radio telephone is fastened rigidly to the body, e.g. with a strap on a user's wrist. In such a case both the effect of the hand on the antenna, and in the operating position the effect of the head on the antenna should be minimized.
In prior known technique it has been presented antenna solutions for pagers intended for fastening on the hand. A pager, however, does not comprise a transmitter, but only a receiver, and accordingly the radiation of the antenna towards the body does not cause a problem with pagers. Additionally, the operating position of a pager is different. In the operating position a pager is not brought close to the head, as is the case with a wristband telephone. In some antennas of wristband pagers it has though been striven for to reduce the effect of the hand on the antenna, but not that of the head. In addition to above in pagers it has been striven for an antenna direction pattern with as good a coverage to every direction as possible.
Also the requirements of a mobile telephone network on an antenna used in a telephone have to taken into account. A connection between a mobile telephone and a base station is a two-way connection, and thus the base station of the mobile telephone network has to be capable of receiving the signal transmitted by the mobile telephone. When a mobile telephone is placed in a wristband, or it is for some other reason desired to make a mobile telephone as small as possible, a transmitter cannot be designed to be very powerful in order to secure a connection. Using a transmitter with a higher output power would result in the need of a bigger power supply (battery), in which case a telephone would become large and heavy, and very difficult to place on the wrist. Thus the requirements on the antenna of a radio telephone are much stricter than on the antennas of such devices which only comprise a receiver. In radio broadcast receiver and pager systems transmitters are fixed, and accordingly they can be large, and in addition to it the power supplies are connected to mains voltage and thus the transmitters can be overdimensioned and correspondingly compromises can be made on the quality of the reception antennas.

Antenna arrangement for small-sized radio communication devices


Described are bifunctional NOTA-based derivatives capable of conjugating with alginate and with metal ions, as well as NOTA-alginate conjugates which can be labeled with stable or radioactive metal ions. Also described are conjugation methods of the bifunctional NOTA-based linker with alginate, and methods of using radiometal-labeled NOTA-alginate conjugates or other radio-labeled alginate conjugates as imaging reagents.

Cross-linked polymer hydrogel materials are widely utilized in the biomedical industry. They are used in contact lenses, blood contact materials, controlled release formulations, wound dressings, bioadhesives, membranes, superabsorbents, cell encapsulation and immunoisolation materials, and tissue engineering scaffolds. Among the different polymers, the naturally occurring polysaccharide alginic acid has found biomedical applications because of its biocompatibility, relative biological inertness, and the ability to engineer its mechanical properties by introducing various types of chemical and physical crosslinks. Alginic acid distinguishes itself from other biologically occurring polysaccharides in its ability to form stiff hydrogels when exposed to cross-linking calcium ions at slightly supraphysiological concentrations. This property has been utilized to devise a treatment for damaged heart tissue of patients at risk for adverse remodeling of the left ventricle of the heart following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). An aqueous soluble formulation of sodium alginate and calcium-D-gluconate, the concentration of each component carefully chosen to achieve partial crosslinking of the alginate molecules, yet providing for a stable free flowing liquid, is injected into the coronary artery of AMI patients after revascularization. The formulation undergoes a transition from liquid to gel when in contact with the infarcted cardiac tissue as a result of the elevated extracellular calcium concentration in the re-perfused cardiac tissue. The hydrogel then deposits in the interstitial tissue and exerts a beneficial therapeutic effect by reducing adverse remodeling and heart failure, potentially because of its mechanical support of the weakened heart wall.
The deposition of this alginate hydrogel in the injured reperfused myocardium of AMI patients is unknown as comprehensive invasive heart tissue sampling in human patients cannot be conducted. Also, the utility of invasive tissue sampling techniques in a preclinical setting is limited because the surgical intervention often constitutes a terminal procedure that prevents longitudinal assessment in the same research subject. Non-invasive imaging techniques can offer a solution by providing this information without surgical intervention or terminal procedures. Imaging modalities such as echocardiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear imaging such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) use specialized imaging reagents and/or instrumentation to assess heart structure, function, perfusion and remodeling in patients with AMI or heart failure as well as in animal models of these diseases.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Labeled alginate conjugates for molecular imaging applications


This invention relates to certain 5-acyl-2-oxo-indole-3-carboxamides useful as inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase, methods of treating glycogen phosphorylase dependent diseases or conditions with such compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising those 5-acyl-2-oxo-indole-3-carboxamides in combination with antidiabetes agents and methods of treating glycogen phosphorylase dependent diseases or conditions with such compositions.

This invention relates to glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors, pharmaceutical compositions containing such inhibitors and the use of such inhibitors to treat diabetes, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia and other tissue ischemias in animals, particularly mammals. In particular, this invention relates to certain 5-acyl-2-oxo-indole-3-carboxamides having such glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor activity.
In spite of the early discovery of insulin and its subsequent widespread use in the treatment of diabetes, and the later discovery of and use of sulfonylureas (e.g., Chlorpropamide.TM. Pfizer), Tolbutamide.TM. (Upjohn), Acetohexamide.TM. (E. I. Lilly), Tolazamide.TM. (Upjohn)) and biguanides (e.g., Phenformin.TM. (Ciba Geigy), Metformin.TM. (G. D. Searle)), alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (e.g., glucophage) and insulin sensitizing agents (e.g., troglitazone) as oral hypoglycemic agents, there is still a need for improved diabetes therapies. The use of insulin, necessary in about 10% of diabetic subjects in which synthetic hypoglycemic agents are not effective (Type I diabetes, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus), requires multiple daily doses, usually by self injection. Determination of the proper dosage of insulin requires frequent estimations of the sugar in urine or blood. The administration of an excess dose of insulin causes hypoglycemia, with effects ranging from mild abnormalities in blood glucose to coma, or even death. Treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (Type 2 diabetes, NIDDM) usually consists of a combination of diet, exercise, oral agents, e.g. sulfonylureas, and in more severe cases, insulin. However, the clinically available hypoglycemics can have other side effects which limit their use. In any event, where one of these agents may fail in an individual case, another may succeed. A continuing need for hypoglycemic agents, which may have fewer side effects or succeed where others fail, is clearly evident.
Atherosclerosis, a disease of the arteries, is recognized to be the leading cause of death in the United States and Western Europe. The pathological sequence leading to atherosclerosis and occlusive heart disease is well known. The earliest stage in this sequence is the formation of "fatty streaks" in the carotid, coronary and cerebral arteries and in the aorta. These lesions are yellow in color due to the presence of lipid deposits found principally within smooth-muscle cells and in macrophages of the intima layer of the arteries and aorta. Further, it is postulated that most of the cholesterol found within the fatty streaks, in turn, give rise to development of the "fibrous plaque", which consists of accumulated intimal smooth muscle cells laden with lipid and surrounded by extracellular lipid, collagen, elastin and proteoglycans. The cells plus matrix form a fibrous cap that covers a deeper deposit of cell debris and more extracellular lipid. The lipid is primarily free and esterified cholesterol. The fibrous plaque forms slowly, and is likely in time to become calcified and necrotic, advancing to the "complicated lesion" which accounts for the arterial occlusion and tendency toward mural thrombosis and arterial muscle spasm that characterize advanced atherosclerosis.
Epidemiological evidence has firmly established hyperlipidemia as a primary risk factor in causing cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to atherosclerosis. In recent years, leaders of the medical profession have placed renewed emphasis on lowering plasma cholesterol levels, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in particular, as an essential step in prevention of CVD. The upper limits of "normal" are now known to be significantly lower than heretofore appreciated. As a result, large segments of Western populations are now realized to be at particular high risk. Other independent risk factors include glucose intolerance, left ventricular hypertrophy, hypertension, and being of the male sex. Cardiovascular disease is especially prevalent among diabetic subjects, at least in part because of the existence of multiple independent risk factors in this population. Successful treatment of hyperlipidemia in the general population, and in diabetic subjects in particular, is therefore of exceptional medical importance.
Hypertension (or high blood pressure) is a condition which occurs in the human population as a secondary symptom to various other disorders such as renal artery stenosis, pheochromocytoma or endocrine disorders. However, hypertension is also evidenced in many subjects in whom the causative agent or disorder is unknown. While such "essential" hypertension is often associated with disorders such as obesity, diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia, the relationship between these disorders has not been elucidated. Additionally, many subjects display the symptoms of high blood pressure in the complete absence of any other signs of disease or disorder.
It is known that hypertension can directly lead to heart failure, renal failure and stroke (brain hemorrhaging). These conditions are capable of causing rapid death in a subject. Hypertension can also contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and coronary disease. These conditions gradually weaken a subject, leading to eventual death due to cardiovascular failure.
The exact cause of essential hypertension is unknown, though a number of factors are believed to contribute to the onset of the disease. Among such factors are stress, uncontrolled emotions, unregulated hormone release (the renin, angiotensin, aldosterone system), excessive salt and water due to kidney malfunction, wall thickening and hypertrophy of the vasculature resulting in constricted blood vessels and genetic factors.
The treatment of essential hypertension has been undertaken bearing the foregoing factors in mind. Thus, a broad range of beta-blockers, vasoconstrictors, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and the like have been developed and marketed as antihypertensives. The treatment of hypertension utilizing these compounds has proven beneficial in the prevention of deaths resulting from little or no periods of illness such as heart failure, renal failure and brain hemorrhaging. However, the development of atherosclerosis or heart disease due to hypertension over a long period of time remains a problem. This implies that although high blood pressure is being reduced, the underlying cause of essential hypertension is not responding to this treatment.
Hypertension has been associated with elevated blood insulin levels, a condition known as hyperinsulinemia. Insulin, a peptide hormone whose primary actions are to promote glucose utilization, protein synthesis and the formation and storage of neutral lipids, also acts to promote vascular cell growth and increase renal sodium retention, among other things. These latter functions can be accomplished without affecting glucose levels and are known causes of hypertension. Peripheral vasculature growth, for example, can cause constriction of peripheral capillaries; while sodium retention increases blood volume. Thus, the lowering of insulin levels in hyperinsulinemics can prevent abnormal vascular growth and renal sodium retention caused by high insulin levels and thereby alleviate hypertension.
Cardiac hypertrophy is a significant risk factor in the development of sudden death, myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure. These cardiac events are due, at least in part, to increased susceptibility to myocardial injury after ischemia and reperfusion which can occur in out-subject as well as perioperative settings. There is an unmet medical need to prevent or minimize adverse myocardial perioperative outcomes, particularly perioperative myocardial infarction. Both non-cardiac and cardiac surgery are associated with substantial risks for myocardial infarction or death. Some 7 million subjects undergoing non-cardiac surgery are considered to be at risk, with incidences of perioperative death and serious cardiac complications as high as 20-25% in some series. In addition, of the 400,000 subjects undergoing coronary by-pass surgery annually, perioperative myocardial infarction is estimated to occur in 5% and death in 1-2%. There is currently a need for improved drug therapy which reduces damage to cardiac tissue from perioperative myocardial ischemia or enhances cardiac resistance to ischemic episodes. If such a therapy were found, it would be expected to reduce hospitalizations, enhance quality and length of life and reduce overall health care costs of high risk subjects.
Hepatic glucose production is an important target for Type 2 therapy. The liver is the major regulator of plasma glucose levels in the post absorptive (fasted) state, and the rate of hepatic glucose production in Type 2 diabetic subjects is significantly elevated relative to normal individuals. Likewise, in the postprandial or fed state, where the liver has a proportionately smaller role in the total plasma glucose supply, hepatic glucose production is abnormally high in Type 2 diabetic subjects.
Glycogenolysis is an important target for interruption of hepatic glucose production. The liver produces glucose by glycogenolysis (breakdown of the glucose polymer glycogen) and gluconeogenesis (synthesis of glucose from 2- and 3-carbon precursors). Several lines of evidence indicate that glycogenolysis may make an important contribution to hepatic glucose output in Type 2 diabetes. First, in normal post absorptive humans, up to 75% of hepatic glucose production is estimated to result from glycogenolysis. Second, subjects having liver glycogen storage diseases, including Hers' disease (glycogen phosphorylase deficiency), display episodic hypoglycemia. These observations suggest that glycogenolysis may be a significant process for hepatic glucose production.
Glycogenolysis is catalyzed in liver, muscle, and brain by tissue-specific isoforms of the enzyme glycogen phosphorylase. This enzyme cleaves the glycogen macromolecule to release glucose-1-phosphate and a new shortened glycogen macromolecule. Two types of glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors have been reported to date: glucose and glucose analogs [Martin, J. L. et al. Biochemistry, 1991, 30, 10101] and caffeine and other purine analogs [Kasvinsky, P. J. et al. J. Biol. Chem., 1978, 253, 3343-3351 and 9102-9106]. These compounds, and glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors in general, have been postulated to be of potential use for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes by decreasing hepatic glucose production and lowering glycemia. [Blundell, T. B. et al. Diabetologia, 1992, 35, Suppl. 2, 569-576 and Martin et al. Biochemistry 1991, 30, 10101].
WO96/39385 discloses certain substituted N-(indole-2-carbonyl)-B-alanimamides and derivatives as antidiabetic agents. WO96/39384 discloses certain substituted N-(indole-2-carbonyl)-glycinamides and derivatives as antidiabetic agents.
The mechanism(s) responsible for the myocardial or other tissue injury observed after ischemia and reperfusion is not fully understood. It has been reported (M. F. Allard, et al. Am. J. Physiol. 267, H66-H74, 1994) that "pre ischemic glycogen reduction . . . is associated with improved post ischemic left ventricular functional recovery in hypertrophied rat hearts".
Thus, although there are a variety of hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis and myocardial ischemia therapies, there is a continuing need and a continuing search in this field of art for alternative therapies.


To provide a computer system capable of fast failover so that a service is stopped only for a brief period of time from a failure in a first site. The computer system includes a primary site for regular operation and a secondary site that operating when the primary site fails. A primary storage and a secondary storage have a synchronization unit to make contents stored in the primary storage and contents stored in the secondary storage identical to each other. A client has a cache for recording address information (e.g. DNS) that gives the client an access to the server from which the service is provided and information that defines a time to live of the address information. A first server has a primary request log processing unit, which instructs the client to shorten the recorded time to live of the address information when communication with the secondary site is detected to be impossible.

The present invention relates to a computer system run on a primary site and a secondary site switching technique for when a failure takes place.
There are many systems running in an information-driven society that provide services via the Internet, for example, a ticket reservation system and a network banking system. Many of such systems has two sites (a primary site and a secondary site) and keeps the secondary site on hot standby, so that switching is made quickly to the secondary site in case the primary site suffers a failure making the failure to stop the system only for a brief period of time (see JP 2002-312189 A, for example).
The Internet has a DNS server for name resolution processing, which gives an IP address of a server accessed by a client. A cache of DNS information that gives the IP address is set on Internet, to thereby lighten the load of the DNS server and shorten the name resolution processing time (for example, see Request for Comments: 1034, "Domain Names—Concepts and Facilities", http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1034.txt).

Computer system capable of fast failover upon failure


A layered construction is provided comprising an InP substrate and alternating layers of II-VI and III-V materials. The alternating layers of II-VI and III-V materials are typically lattice-matched or pseudomorphic to the InP substrate. Typically the II-VI material is selected from the group consisting of ZnSe, CdSe, BeSe, MgSe, ZnTe, CdTe, BeTe, MgTe, ZnS, CdS, BeS, MgS and alloys thereof, more typically selected from the group consisting of CdZnSe, CdMgZnSe, BeZnTe, and BeMgZnTe alloys, and is most typically CdxZn1-xSe where x is between 0.44 and 0.54. Typically the III-V material is selected from the group consisting of InAs, AlAs, GaAs, InP, AlP, GaP, InSb, AlSb, GaSb, and alloys thereof, more typically selected from the group consisting of InP, InAlAs, GaInAs, AlInGaAs and GaInAsP alloys, and is most typically InP or InyAl1-yAs where y is between 0.44 and 0.52. In one embodiment, the layered construction forms one or more distributed Bragg reflectors (DBR's). In another aspect, the present invention provides a layered construction comprising: an InP substrate and a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) having a reflectivity of 95% or greater which comprises no more than 15 layer pairs of epitaxial semiconductor materials. In another aspect, the present invention provides a laser comprising a layered construction according to the present invention. In another aspect, the present invention provides a photodetector comprising a layered construction according to the present invention.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application (Kokai) 2003-124508 purports to claim light-emitting diodes having AlGaInP-type light-emitting layers. (Claims 1–8). The reference emphasizes the "grid-matching" of layers with a GaAs substrate at paragraphs 2, 15 and 21 and at claim 1. The reference purports to claim light-emitting diodes with AlGaInP-type light-emitting layers that contain DBR layers having a structure comprising laminated pairs of Group II-VI material layers and AlGaAs-type or AlGaInP-type material layers. (Claims 2–4). The reference purportedly discloses light-emitting diodes with AlGaInP-type light-emitting layers that contain GaAlAs/ZnSe DBR layers (FIGS. 1–3, reference number 2, and accompanying description) on a GaAs substrate, and optionally a second DBR layer which is a GaAlAs/AlAs DBR layer (FIG. 3, reference number 10, and accompanying description).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,871 purportedly discloses a VCSEL comprising mirrors comprising alternating layers of GaP or ZnS and layers of borosilicate glass, CaF2, MgF2 or NaF.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,103 purportedly discloses a VCSEL comprising an InP substrate and lattice-matched mirror stacks comprising alternating layers of II-VI materials, in particular ZnCdSe/MgZnCdSe.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,362 purportedly discloses a VCSEL.
International Patent Publication No. WO 02/089268 A2 purportedly discloses high contrast reflective mirrors for use in VCSEL's which comprise oxide materials.

II-VI/III-V layered construction on InP substrate


The present disclosure is directed at methods of preparing rare earth-based permanent magnets having improved coercivity and remanence, the method comprising one or more steps comprising: (a) homogenizing a first population of particles of a first GBM alloy with a second population of particles of a second core alloy to form a composite alloy preform, the first GBM alloy being substantially represented by the formula: ACbRxCoyCudMz, the second core alloy being substantially represented by the formula G2Fe14B, where AC, R, M, G, b, x, y, and z are defined; (b) heating the composite alloy preform particles to form a population of mixed alloy particles; (c) compressing the mixed alloy particles, under a magnetic field of a suitable strength to align the magnetic particles with a common direction of magnetization and inert atmosphere, to form a green body; (d) sintering the green body; and (e) annealing the sintered body. Particular embodiments include magnets comprising neodymium-iron-boron core alloys, including Nd2Fe14B.

Neodymium, Iron, Boron (NdFeB) magnets were first developed in the early 1980s and are now among the most important permanent magnetic materials currently in production. These magnets are used in a wide range of applications, such as MRI machines, hard disk drives, loudspeakers, linear motors, A/C motors, wind turbines, hybrid electric vehicles, elevator motors, and mobile phones and other consumer electronics. But the supply of rare earth elements, in particular dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb) which are required for increased magnetic performance, is scarce. World demand for these elements often exceeds the supply, particularly as many mines are located in China where export quotas impede the free trade of these elements and drive up their prices. This limited supply of rare earth elements is a concern for the industries of many developed economies. Approximately 40% of sintered magnets are currently supplied for use in the automotive industry where they are incorporated into hybrid electric motors as magnetic segments, each of which weighs ˜100-200 grams or more. It is thus desirable to manufacture NdFeB magnets, and other rare earth-containing magnets, with a minimal concentration of heavy rare earths (e.g., Dy and Tb), yet which are suitable for use in electric motors.
Conventional production of NdFeB materials requires a high concentration of Dy or Tb elements to form the highly coercive sintered NdFeB magnet bodies that are able to operate at high temperatures. This conventional method of modifying properties has associated high material and processing costs.
Processes are known whereby two alloys are combined to produce a magnetic body using powder blending techniques. But such processes typically have high associated production cost for manufacturing two similar alloys which both contain Dy. Quality control is also difficult because of inconsistent mixing of multiple individual powders. Other attempts to increase the loading of Dy in the NdFeB magnets use various methods to paste, sputter or coat the surface of the magnet body with a material containing high concentrations of Dy, Tb or other heavy elements to a pre-sintered rare earth magnet. During the subsequent heating steps these heavy elements diffuse into the magnet body from one side/edge of the body through the grain boundaries and alter the properties of the magnet; increasing coercivity without affecting remanence. This process is said to reduce the amount of Dy or Tb required to create a high coercivity magnet suitable for motor applications. However, such grain boundary diffusion is limited to magnets with a body not exceeding 6 mm in thickness and requires additional post processing steps and complex and expensive machinery to execute successfully. In addition, such diffusion processes limit the extent to which coercivity can be increased; typically only a 30-40% increase in coercivity is achieved using this process.
The present disclosure is directed to solving at least some of these problems.

Grain boundary engineering of sintered magnetic alloys and the compositions derived therefrom


A new and distinct variety of cherry tree is described and which bears fruit having a red overcolor covering about 80% to 100% of the surface area and a yellow-orange under color, and a mid-season date of ripening which is about 4 days earlier than the ‘Rainier’ and ‘Early Robin’ cherry trees when grown under the conditions prevailing in Central Washington.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of cherry tree 'Prunus avium L', and which has been denominated varietally as MG 200, and more specifically to a cherry tree which matures for harvesting and shipment during the mid-season under the environmental conditions prevailing in Central Washington state.


Exemplary embodiments are directed to systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media for calibrating a charging current. A device may include a charger for conveying an output voltage to a chargeable device. The device may also include a monitoring system including an analog-to-digital converter for measuring a current received by the chargeable device. Further, the device may include a control device configured to receive a charging current value from the monitoring system and convey a signal to the charger in response to a comparison of the charging current value to a target current value.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to current calibration. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media for calibrating battery charging current.
2. Background
Modern mobile communication devices, such as cell phones, PDAs, etc., typically use a rechargeable battery. During constant-current (CC) charging of a rechargeable battery (e.g., a Lithium battery), precise control of charging current is essential for both battery safety and user experience. If a charging current for a battery exceeds a threshold level, lifecycle of the battery may be reduced and the battery may be damaged. If the charging current is too low, battery charging time may be increased.
Conventionally, battery charging methods rely on analog battery charging current control. In conventional methods and devices, battery charging current is sensed via a current sensing element, such as a resistor or a field-effect transistor (FET). A current sensing signal may then be fed to an analog control loop to regulate battery current (IBAT) during CC charging. As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art, battery current control accuracy is affected by imperfections in analog circuits, such as the amplifier offset, etc. These analog imperfections are process, voltage and temperature (PVT) dependent. Although process variation may be limited, accuracy may be reduced across battery voltage, battery current and charger temperature. Further, achieving reasonable battery current accuracy is extremely challenging with low battery current, since the sensed signal becomes comparable to noise and/or an offset of the circuit. This often results in expensive analog circuit implementation.
A need exists for systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media for calibrating a charging current. More specifically, a need exists for systems, devices, methods, and computer-readable media for calibrating a charging current with a coulomb counting analog-to-digital converter.


Embodiments of the invention show a bias circuit for providing a biasing signal at a bias connection. The bias circuit includes a bias transistor and a feedback node, wherein the feedback node is coupled to a control terminal of the bias transistor via a first impedance element. The feedback node is furthermore coupled to the bias connection via a second impedance element. The control terminal of the bias transistor is coupled to the bias connection via a bypass-coupling path, which bypasses the first impedance element and the second impedance element, such that there is a feedback path via the bypass-coupling path and via the bias transistor from the bias connection to the feedback node.

A bias circuit can be used for adjusting the operating point of an amplifier. Such a bias circuit can be formed as a current mirror circuit, for example, which biases the control terminal of an amplifier transistor. For a low noise amplifier, for example, it is desirable to reduce the noise from a bias circuit in order to ensure a high-quality performance of the low noise amplifier (LNA) with respect to important parameters or device parameters, e.g., the linearity of the amplifier, the compression point (P1dB) or the intermodulation point (IP3). The linearity of an amplifier, the compression point and the intermodulation point are determined among others by the bias current of an amplifier transistor and the way how the bias circuit, which delivers the bias current, is implemented. Such low noise amplifiers can, for example, be used in global positioning systems (GPS), wireless or mobile phone applications and in automotive applications of the bias circuit.
Conventionally, the noise of the bias circuit, for example, the noise of a current mirror transistor of the bias circuit, is blocked by a high-ohmic impedance.

Bias circuit with a feedback path and a method for providing a biasing signal


Semiconductor die packages are disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor die package includes a premolded substrate. The premolded substrate can have a semiconductor die attached to it, and an encapsulating material may be disposed over the semiconductor die.

Various semiconductor die packages are known.
While such packages are useful, they could be improved. For example, many of the above-described packages are difficult and/or expensive to make.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide for improved semiconductor die packages, methods for making semiconductor die packages, components of such die packages, and electrical assemblies using such semiconductor die packages. Such improved semiconductor die packages would desirably be less costly to manufacture and/or would have better functionality.

Semiconductor die package and method for making the same


A first winding of a choke coil is closely wound in a single layer on the outer periphery of a substantially cylindrical body portion of a first bobbin. A second winding is closely wound in a single layer over the first winding. A third winding is closely wound in a single layer on the outer periphery of a substantially cylindrical body portion of a second bobbin. A fourth winding is closely wound in a single layer over the third winding. The first, second, third and fourth windings are wound so as to mutually strengthen magnetic fluxes when an in-phase noise current flows. The first and second windings are connected to a pair of signal lines via which differential transmission communication is performed and on which a power supply current is sent out. The third and fourth windings are connected to a pair of signal lines via which differential transmission communication is performed and on which the power supply current returns. Thus, a circuit including a compact choke coil having large inductance and better high-frequency characteristics, and the choke coil is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit including a choke coil, and more particularly, to a circuit having a choke coil inserted into a signal line having communication and power-provision functions, and also relates to a choke coil.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the related art, differential transmission circuits are used for communication. In differential transmission, a twisted pair line carries signals having opposite phases, and the high/low level is determined based on which signal line has higher potential. For example, the current most common LAN standard for personal computers is Ethernet (registered trademark), and a pulse transformer is provided as an interface thereof. If high noise radiation is produced from a cable, common-mode choke coils are used before and after the pulse transformer.
One advantage of using a common-mode choke coil is that a restriction effect acts on common-mode noise without affecting the signals carried with opposite phases on the twisted pair line. In differential transmission, therefore, currents having the same magnitude flow with opposite phases in the twisted pair line, and the magnetic fluxes generated by the differential signal current are cancelled out in a magnetic core. On the other hand, the magnetic fluxes generated by a noise current flowing in-phase are mutually strengthened in a magnetic core.
In differential transmission communication, signals having a frequency of 100 MHz or higher may be used, and the signal frequency and the noise frequency band often overlap each other. A low-pass filter, such as a normal-mode choke coil, controls noise and signals at the same time, and is therefore difficult to use.
One known common-mode choke coil of the related art for preventing noise from entering a telephone line is described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 4-4712). As shown in FIG. 9, a common-mode choke coil 1 includes a magnetic core having two U-shaped core members 10 and 11, two bobbins 2 and 3, and four windings 4, 5, 6, and 7.
The bobbins 2 and 3 have cylindrical body portions 2a and 3a arranged in parallel to each other. Leg portions 10b and 11b of the core members 10 and 11 are inserted through holes 2b and 3b in the cylindrical body portions 2a and 3a, respectively. The core members 10 and 11 form one closed magnetic path in which the leading ends of the leg portions 10b and 11b abut against each other in the holes 2b and 3b.
The windings 4 and 5 are bifilar-wound in one layer on the cylindrical body portion 2a of the bobbin 2. The windings 6 and 7 are also bifilar-wound in one layer on the cylindrical body portion 3a of the bobbin 3. The windings 4 to 7 are wound so as to mutually strengthen magnetic fluxes in the magnetic core when an in-phase current flows.
In the common-mode choke coil 1 having this structure, the number of winding portions in which the windings 4 and 5 or the windings 6 and 7 are adjacent is only two in the horizontal direction shown in FIG. 9, and the stray capacitances caused at the adjacent wound portions are connected in series a number of times corresponding to the number of turns. Thus, the stray capacitance can be reduced, and the ability to prevent noise from entering the high band can increase.
However, the common-mode choke coil 1 described in Patent Document 1 has a so-called bifilar-wound structure in which the windings 4 and 5 or the windings 6 and 7 are alternately wound in one layer on the cylindrical body portion 2a or 3a of the bobbin 2 or 3. Thus, there is a problem in that the number of turns of the windings 4 to 7 per unit length is small, resulting in small inductance obtained compared to the size of the bobbins 2 and 3. A high-precision winding machine is required to produce such a bifilar-wound structure. However, product failure still occurs due to disordered winding. Disordered winding greatly affects the high-frequency characteristics of the product.
Recently, a standard called IEEE 802.3af has been proposed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. This standard defines a circuit having a power-provision circuit in a traditional differential transmission circuit, and also defines power provision via a signal line, such as a LAN cable for transmitting and receiving signals. This standard is applied to devices, such as IP phones connected to LAN cables and wireless LAN access points. When a common-mode choke coil is used for noise prevention on a signal line to be defined by this standard, the magnetic fluxes generated by a power supply current are generated in the direction in which they are strengthened in a magnetic core of the common-mode choke coil. Due to the magnetic fluxes generated by the power supply current, the magnetic flux density of the magnetic core becomes close to a saturated magnetic flux density, and the common-mode choke coil inductance is reduced. The noise prevention effect is therefore reduced. One approach for preventing an increase in the magnetic flux density is to increase the cross-sectional area of the magnetic core. However, as the size of the magnetic core increases, the product size also increases. Moreover, the cost of the magnetic core occupies the majority of the product material cost. Thus, an increase in the size of the magnetic core greatly affects the product price. If the number of turns of windings is small, small magnetic fluxes are generated in the magnetic core, and the core is less saturated. However, the inductance becomes small, and the noise prevention effect is therefore reduced.


A single step process for nucleation and subsequent epitaxial growth on a lattice mismatched substrate is achieved by pre-treating the substrate surface with at least one group III reactant or at least one group II reactant prior to the introduction of a group V reactant or a group VI reactant. The group III reactant or the group II reactant is introduced into a growth chamber at an elevated growth temperature to wet a substrate surface prior to any actual crystal growth. Once the pre-treatment of the surface is complete, a group V reactant or a group VI reactant is introduced to the growth chamber to commence the deposition of a nucleation layer. A buffer layer is then grown on the nucleation layer providing a surface upon which the epitaxial layer is grown preferably without changing the temperature within the chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a single step process for the nucleation and subsequent epitaxial growth on a lattice mismatched substrate.
2. Description of Related Art
Heteroepitaxial growth of GaN and related alloys on severely mismatched substrates such as sapphire, SiC and silicon requires thin nucleation layers to provide nucleation sites to initiate crystal growth. When optimized, these nucleation layers accommodate the strain between the substrate and epitaxial layers caused by lattice and thermal mismatches, while still maintaining crystallographic registration of the epitaxial films to the substrate lattice structure. The most commonly accepted practice for nucleation of these substrates with GaN-based material utilizes a two-temperature process involving either one or two flow paths. In addition, different growth pressures are used on certain steps in the nucleation process. In this fashion, high structural and electrical quality epitaxial films can be realized in severely mismatched material systems.

Single step, high temperature nucleation process for a lattice mismatched substrate


Method and circuit for deciding whether or not a pulse in a data stream is or is not a valid pulse of the data stream, wherein a free-running local clock at N-times the data rate is generated and clock pulses thereof are counted once the data stream signal reaches and remains above a slicing threshold. Once a predetermined minimum number of counted clock pulses is attained a valid data pulse signal is issued.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital data circuits in general, and in particular to methods and circuits for the recovery and generation of data pulses of an incoming digital data stream. More particularly still, it relates to a method and circuit for deciding that an incoming pulse is a valid data pulse or that it is not; and if it is valid, a valid pulse signal (VPS) is produced. More particularly yet, the recovered system clock is combined with the VPS to provide regenerated data pulses. Where required for bipolar data pulses, a polarity sensor is provided prior to data regeneration.
2. Prior Art of the Invention
Conventionally an edge of the recovered system clock (RCLK) was used to clock the output of a comparator (or comparators in the case of bipolar P&NDATA) into a flip-flop (F-F). This required that the recovered clock edge be centered precisely on the data pulses for optimum data recovery when the data stream is degraded by noise, interference and/or jitter.

Method and circuit for data regeneration of a data stream


A heat sink spring clip having a linearly displaceable deflection member that operatively engages a biasing member for thermally and mechanically connecting a heat sink to an electronic component. The deflection member is moveable in a generally linear manner on and relative to the biasing member between a first position of nonengagement in which the biasing member is substantially undeflected and a second position in which the biasing member is deflected and the deflection member is contactingly and operatively engaged with the heat sink for thermally and mechanically connecting the heat sink to an electronic component. As the deflection member is moved from the disengaged position to the engaged position, complementary elements on the biasing member and deflection member engage one another and cause portions of the deflection and biasing members to move relatively apart. As the biasing member deflects in one direction generally away from the heat sink, the biasing member simultaneously imparts a generally oppositely directed compression force onto the heat sink and electrical components adjacently stacked therebeneath through the deflection member. The deflection member is operatively moveable in a generally horizontal direction longitudinally on and along the biasing member or, in an alternate embodiment, in a direction substantially transverse to the elongation of the biasing member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to spring clips and, more particularly, to a low insertion force spring clip for thermally and mechanically mounting a heat sink to an electronic component.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic components on circuit boards such as, for example, power transistors and microprocessors, can generate significant amounts of heat which must be dissipated for the components to operate reliably. Some of the heat generated by the electronic components can be dissipated by the circuit board via the component's leads. Much of the excess heat, however, must be channeled to the ambient air by a separate heat sink thermally connected to the electronic component.
Traditionally, heat sinks were mounted to electronic components by passing bolts through holes in both the heat sink and component and securing the bolts with separate nuts. In other configurations, heat sinks have included tapped holes or pressed-in threaded fasteners to accommodate mounting by separate bolts. However, these configurations disadvantageously require that the electronic component have a mounting hole to accommodate the fastener.
A heat sink may also be mounted to an electronic component by a releasable leaf-spring type spring clip. Clips of this type attach to bosses projecting from opposite sides of the component or of a socket within which the electronic component is secured. A portion of the clip crossing over the heat sink bears down onto the top of the heat sink, applying a compressive force to the heat sink. However, the substantial forces required to install or remove such clips often results in damage to the circuit boards on which the components are mounted during installation and removal of the clip. For example, the high downward forces applied to the clips during installation and removal may cause the ends of the clips to contact and damage circuit paths or traces on the circuit boards. Furthermore, spring clips of this type typically require tools for installation and/or removal and the tools may either flex or strike the circuit board and cause damage, especially if the tool is misused or if an improper substitute tool is used. In addition, the need for a tool for installation or removal of a clip is undesirable, notwithstanding the risk of board damage.

Spring clip for mounting a heat sink to an electronic component


A method to prevent chain jump in a drivetrain of a four-wheel drive vehicle including receiving sensed vehicle parameters from sensors in the four-wheel drive vehicle, generating transfer case chain-jump parameters based on the sensed vehicle parameters and sending a command signal to initiate disengagement of a clutch pack in a transfer case of the drivetrain responsive to the generated transfer case chain-jump parameters.

Conventional part-time four-wheel drive vehicles are typically equipped with a drivetrain to transmit rotary power from the power train to a front pair of drive wheels and a rear pair of drive wheels. The front axle assembly is connected to a front driveshaft and the rear axle assembly is connected to a rear driveshaft. In four-wheel drive mode, the front driveshaft and the rear driveshaft are locked together in order to rotate at the same rate. The locking mechanism is in the transfer case and includes a chain connecting the front driveshaft to the rear driveshaft via a drive sprocket and a driven sprocket.
In many four-wheel drive vehicles, the front brake system is larger than the rear brake system. In this case, when the brakes are applied, the front wheels stop rotating before the rear wheels. When brakes are applied to a vehicle being driven in four-wheel drive mode, the chain in the transfer case sometimes jumps over a tooth on one or both of the drive sprocket and driven sprocket.
In order to prevent chain jump, the chain is modified in various ways, which increase cost and weight with a resultant reduction in fuel efficiency. The chain modifications used to prevent chain jump include increasing the chain width, pitch and strength.

Method to prevent chain jump in a drivetrain


A method and apparatus for monitoring and control of a system is disclosed. The method and apparatus include providing a plurality of sensors, a table, and a network processor. The sensors monitor attributes of the system. The table includes a plurality of entries. Each of the entries indicates at least one action to be taken in response to a portion attributes having particular values. The network processor is coupled with the sensors and with the table. The network processor receives from the sensors a plurality of statuses for the attributes. The network processor further determines at least one entry of the entries to access based upon the statuses and accesses the at least one entry to determine a corresponding action.

Complex systems that require monitoring and control exist in a variety of technologies. For example, automobiles, aircraft, ships, factories, and power plants are examples of complex systems that include a large number elements. These numerous elements are desired to be monitored and controlled to ensure that the complex system operates as desired. For example, in a nuclear power plant, attributes of the components such as the generation of power, temperature of various components, steam pressure, water pressure, reactor temperature, rod temperature, and reactor output should be monitored to determine whether the power plant is functioning as desired or whether corrective action should be taken.
Various conventional systems might be used to monitor and control complex systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,054 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,645 describe systems that monitor attributes of complex systems at various point of the complex system. Data relating to the complex system is forwarded to a central computer system. For example, in the conventional system of U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,054, data relating to processing in a wafer fabrication system is forwarded to a conventional central computer system for analysis. Statistics might be collected on the wafer fabrication system and performance of the wafer fabrication system improved. Similarly, the conventional system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,645 fault cues are provided to a conventional central processing station. The fault cues indicate the origin and nature of the fault. The central processing station can thus aid in diagnosing and correcting faults.
Although conventional methods and systems for diagnosing and correcting faults exist, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the demands of a complex system are difficult to meet. In particular, the number of components of a complex system may be extremely large. Furthermore, the attributes of many of these components might be desired to be monitored often. For example, some attributes might be sampled multiple times per second. As a result, an exceedingly large amount of data may be provided to the conventional control systems. Thus, it may be difficult or impossible for conventional systems to analyze the data and diagnose impending failures in a timely manner. Moreover, managers of the complex system might desire to have more information relating to a fault. For example, raw data relating to various attributes around the time of occurrence and location the fault may be desired for analysis.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for more efficiently controlling complex systems. The present invention addresses such a need.

Method and system for monitoring and control of complex systems based on a programmable network processor

International Business Machines Corporation