A method for the detection of an early biomarker for assessing a change in renal status in a mammalian subject following a renal event. The method typically includes the steps of (a) providing a body fluid sample obtained from a mammalian subject; (b) analyzing the molecular weight of the proteins in the sample using proteome analysis; and (c) identifying the presence of a protein in the sample selected from the group consisting of a 6.4 kDa protein, a 28.5 kDa protein, a 33 kDa protein, a 44 kDa protein, a 67 kDa protein, and combinations thereof. The presence of one of these proteins can serve as an early biomarker for assessing a change in renal status. The levels of these proteins can be compared to predetermined levels, and thus provide a determination of the subject's renal status. The invention also includes a method of assessing the administration of aprotinin during cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery and provides for methods where the level of the 6.4 kDa biomarker in the subject's urine directs a caregiver's therapeutic decision regarding the intra-operative administration of aprotinin.

Early detection of disease states in mammals has been the focus of much recent research. For disease detection, the public-health community has historically relied on laboratory tests that can sometimes take days or even weeks to return a result. The increased availability of better and faster diagnostic tests, however, promises the possibility of more automated and earlier disease detection and subsequent intervention. It is believed that introduction of therapy early in the disease process will reduce the mortality rate associated with the disease and shorten the time for treatment.
Acute renal failure (ARF) secondary to renal injury, including but not limited to ischemic injury and nephrotoxic injury, remains a common and potentially devastating problem in clinical nephrology. Five percent (5%) of hospital admissions and 30% of Intensive Care Unit admissions have acute renal failure, and 2-5% of hospitalized patients will develop it. Acute renal dysfunction occurs in up to 40% of adults following cardiac surgery. Pathophysiologic mechanisms include diminished renal blood flow, loss of pulsatile flow, hypothermia, atheroembolism, and a generalized inflammatory response. ARF requiring dialysis also complicates up to 10% of cardiac surgeries in infants and children with congenital heart disease.
ARF persistently continues to result in a high rate of mortality despite significant advances in supportive care. Pioneering studies over several decades have illuminated the roles of persistent vasoconstriction, tubular obstruction, cellular structural and metabolic alterations, and the inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of ARF. While these studies have paved the way for successful therapeutic approaches in animal models, translational research efforts in humans have yielded disappointing results, for reasons such as the multifaceted response of the kidney to ischemic injury and a paucity of early markers for ARF with a resultant delay in initiating therapy.
Animal studies have shown that, while ARF due to ischemia can be prevented and/or treated by several maneuvers, treatment for ARF must be instituted very early after the ischemic insult. A major reason for the inability to provide preventive and therapeutic measures for ARF in humans is the lack of early biomarkers for ARF. Thus, the identification of a reliable, early biomarker for impaired renal status would be useful to facilitate early therapeutic intervention, and help guide pharmaceutical development by providing an early indicator of nephrotoxicity.
The traditional laboratory approach for detection of renal disease involves determining the serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine clearance, urinary electrolytes, microscopic examination of the urine sediment, and radiological studies. These indicators are not only insensitive and nonspecific, but also do not allow for early detection of the disease. In current clinical practice, ARF is typically diagnosed by measuring a rise in serum creatinine over time, which is an unreliable indicator for measuring acute changes in kidney function. Indeed, while a rise in serum creatinine is widely considered as the "gold standard" for the detection of ARF, it is a late indicator of renal injury since as much as 50% of the kidney function may already be lost by the time the serum creatinine changes. Currently there are no tools available for the early diagnosis of impaired renal status.
The lack of early biomarkers for acute renal injury thus has severely slowed progress in finding effective therapies within the narrow window of opportunity. The identification of urinary protein biomarkers suitable for the early detection and diagnosis of acute renal injury holds great promise to improve the clinical outcome of patients. It is especially important for patients presenting with vague or no symptoms or with acute renal injury following surgery such as cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery. Despite considerable effort directed at early detection of ARF, no cost-effective screening tests have been developed to date.
Although efforts to evaluate disease processes and drug effects have traditionally focused on genomics, more attention has been paid recently to proteomics due to its offering a more direct, complete and promising understanding of the biological functions of a cell. The term "proteomics" was coined to make an analogy with genomics, and while it is often viewed as a continuation of genomics, proteomics is much more complicated than genomics. Most importantly, whilst the genome is a rather constant entity, the proteome differs from cell to cell and is constantly changing through its biochemical interactions with the genome and the environment. One organism will have radically different protein expression in different parts of its body, in different stages of its life cycle and in different environmental conditions.
The protein map of a biological system, including a cell, sub-cellular fraction or expression media, can be referred to as a proteome. Proteomics, or analysis of the proteome of a biological system, offers a relatively new approach to protein expression profiling and cellular or tissue protein identification from samples that are obtained under various specified conditions. Proteomics has an enormous breadth of application ranging from investigation and identification of biomarkers, molecules that are indicative of a particular pathological state, which in turn can be used for diagnostic purposes and targets for therapeutic intervention. Proteome analysis allows the investigator to obtain information on protein identity, protein-protein interaction, the level of protein expression and protein expression profiling, protein trafficking and turnover, protein variants, and protein post-translational modifications.
Traditionally, proteomics combines two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), a high-resolution protein separation technique, with mass spectrometry (MS). Proteomics research is targeted towards characterization of the proteins encoded by a particular genome and its changes under the influence of biological stimulation. Proteomics also involves the study of non-genome encoded events such as the post-translation modification of proteins, interactions between proteins, and the location of proteins within the cell. The study of gene expression at the protein level is important because many of the most important cellular activities are directly regulated by proteins in the cell rather than by gene activity. Also, the protein content of a cell is highly relevant to drug discovery and drug development efforts since most drugs are designed to target proteins. Therefore, the information gained from proteomics is expected to greatly boost the number of drug targets.
Attempts at unraveling the molecular basis of early renal responses have been facilitated by recent advances in functional genomics that have yielded new tools for genome-wide analysis of complex biologic processes. To date, the most popular method for proteomics investigation is the use of high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and sensitive mass spectrophotometry techniques. Although two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is one of the most powerful methods in the current study of proteomics, this method is labor-intensive, time consuming, and limited in sensitivity. The two-dimensional gel electrophoresis method also suffers from poor reproducibility. To avoid the aforementioned disadvantages of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, microchip-based separation devices (microarrays) have been developed for rapid analysis of large numbers of samples. Compared to conventional separation columns or devices, microarrays have higher sample throughput, reduced sample and reagent consumption, and reduced chemical waste. Such devices are capable of fast analyses and provide improved precision and reliability compared to the conventional analytical instruments. The cDNA microarray methodologies provide parallel and quantitative expression profiles of thousands of genes, which when combined with bioinformatics tools, can identify genes in a biologic pathway, characterize the function of novel genes, and detect disease subclasses. However, until now, no early stage molecular markers have been identified for ARF.
Mass spectrometry is a technique that measures m/z (mass-to-charge) intensity pairs of an ionizable substance. The m/z-intensity pair or pairs of an analyte provides a signature distinguishing the analyte from other substances having a different m/z-intensity pair or pairs. The intensity of an analyte's m/z-intensity pair changes with the analyte's abundance within the response range of the instrument. Techniques and equipment for generating mass spectrometry data are well known in the art. Examples of ionization techniques that can be employed include electronspray ionization, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI), electron impact ionization, chemical ionization, and photoionization.
Recently, a chip-based proteomics approach has been introduced using biomolecular interaction analysis-mass spectrometry (BIA-MS) in rapidly detecting and characterizing proteins present in complex biological samples at very low levels. One of the most powerful techniques is Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) technology, which has been commercially embodied in Ciphergen's ProteinChip® Biomarker System. The system uses chemically (cationic, anionic, hydrophobic, metal, etc.) or biochemically (antibody, DNA, enzyme, receptor, etc.) treated surfaces for specific interaction with proteins of interest, followed by selected washes for SELDI-TOF-MS detection. Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption/Ionization (SELDI) was invented in the late 1980's. When coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF), SELDI provides a means to rapidly analyze molecules retained on a chip. The power of the system incorporates straightforward sample preparation with on-chip capture (binding) and detection for protein discovery, protein purification, and protein identification from small samples, allowing rapid analysis and assay development on a single platform.
Several tubular proteins have been measured in the urine, with conflicting and unsatisfactory results. For example, one cDNA microarray expression profile identifies kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), a novel kidney-specific adhesion molecule involved in renal regeneration which is upregulated 24-48 hours after initial insult. KIM-1 is a reliable but somewhat late stage marker of tubular cell damage, and has been detected in the kidney biopsy and in the urine of patients with established ischemic acute tubular necrosis. However, this detection was documented in patients with established ischemic renal damage, late in the course of the illness. The utility of urinary KIM-1 measurement for the detection of early ARF or subclinical renal injury has thus far not been validated. Also, sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform 3 (NHE-3) has been shown in the urine from subjects with established ARF. The sensitivity and specificity of these biomarkers for the detection or prediction of impaired renal status have not been reported. Of the inflammatory cytokines involved in ARF, elevated levels of urinary IL-6, IL-8 and IL-18 have been demonstrated in patients with delayed graft function following cadaveric kidney transplants. None of these biomarkers have been examined prospectively for their appearance in the urine during the evolution of ischemic ARF.
There is currently a lack of a reliable biomarker for the early determination of renal injury and disease caused by ischemia and/or nephrotoxicity. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide testing of a subject's urine, blood serum, or other body fluid samples for early biomarkers of acute renal injury within minutes of a suspected injury, since early biomarkers for acute renal failure may begin to appear at low levels and continue to rise thereafter. It would likewise be advantageous if early biomarkers for acute renal injury could be detected in bodily fluid samples such as blood serum and urine shortly after the onset of a renal event that could lead to renal tubular cell injury. It would also be advantageous to use the ability of the SELDI-TOF-MS technology to rapidly identify protein biomarkers in a method of rapid identification of early biomarkers of various diseases, including ischemic and nephrotoxic renal injuries. There is also a need to provide a reliable and accurate method of early determination of the existence of acute renal injury in patients, the results of which can then be used to manage the treatment of affected patients.

Method for the early detection of renal disease using proteomics


An optical multiplexing device demultiplexes collimated light from a fiber-optic source into separate individual wavelength sub-ranges or channels, and/or multiplexes separate channels to a common fiber-optic waveguide or other destination. An optical block defines an optical gap between two parallel surfaces having an optical port on a first such parallel surface for passing the multi-channel collimated light into the optical gap. A channel port and at least one other reflective element, e.g., multiple channel ports arrayed in spaced relation to each other, are secured to the optical block at the parallel surfaces, providing an unobstructed, epoxy-free multi-point light path within the optical gap. At each channel port an interference filter secured to the optical block spans the optical gap. Each filter transmits a wavelength sub-range of the multi-channel collimated light passed by the optical port, and reflects other wavelengths. Thus, a wavelength sub-range of the multi-channel light passed through the optical gap to a first channel port, which is in-band of that first channel port, is transmitted through that first channel port. Light not transmitted through that first channel port is reflected back through the optical gap, e.g., to strike a second channel port, at which a second, different wavelength sub-range is transmitted. The reflected optical signal thus cascades in a "multiple-bounce" sequence through the optical gap of the multiplexing device, sequentially adding and/or removing channels.

While fiber-optic cable is finding widespread use for data transmission and other telecommunication applications, the relatively high cost of new installed fiber-optic cable presents a barrier to increased carrying capacity. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) allows multiple different wavelengths to be carried over a common fiber-optic waveguide. Presently preferred wavelength bands for fiber-optic transmission media include those centered at 1.3 micrometer and 1.55 micrometer (micrometer is written ".mu.m" below). The latter, with a useful bandwidth of approximately 10 to 40 nm depending on the application, is especially preferred because of its minimal absorption and the commercial availability of erbium doped fiber amplifiers. Wavelength division multiplexing can separate this bandwidth into multiple channels. Dividing bandwidth into multiple discreet channels, such as 4, 8, 16 or even as many as 32 channels, through a technique referred to as dense channel wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), is a relatively lower cost method of substantially increasing telecommunication capacity, using existing fiber-optic transmission lines. Thus, wavelength division multiplexing may be used in a fiber-optical telecommunication system supplying voice and data transmission, as well as video-on-demand and other existing or planned multimedia, interactive services. Techniques and devices are required, however, for multiplexing the different discreet carrier wavelengths. That is, the individual optical signals must be combined onto a common fiber-optic line or other optical waveguide and then later separated again into the individual signals or channels at the opposite end or other point along the fiber-optic cable. Thus, the ability to effectively combine and then separate individual wavelengths (or wavelength sub-ranges) from a broad spectral source is of growing importance to the fiber-optic telecommunications field and other fields employing optical instruments.
Optical multiplexers are known for use in spectroscopic analysis equipment and for the combination or separation of optical signals in wavelength division multiplexed fiber-optic telecommunications systems. Known devices for this purpose have employed, for example, diffraction gratings, prisms and various types of fixed or tunable filters. Gratings and prisms typically require complicated and bulky alignment systems and have been found to provide poor efficiency and poor stability under changing ambient conditions. Fixed wavelength filters, such as interference coatings, can be made substantially more stable. In this regard, highly improved interference coatings of metal oxide materials, such as niobia and silica, can be produced by commercially known plasma deposition techniques, such as ion assisted electron beam evaporation, ion beam sputtering, reactive magnetron sputtering, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,095 to Scobey et al and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,741 to Scobey. Such coating methods can produce interference cavity filters formed of stacked dielectric optical coatings which are advantageously dense and stable, with low film scatter and low absorption, as well as low sensitivity to temperature changes and ambient humidity. The theoretical spectral performance of a stable, three-cavity tilted filter (tilted, for example, at about 8.degree. from normal) produced using such advanced deposition methods is shown in FIG. 1 of the appended drawings. The spectral profile of FIG. 1 shows transmission through a tilted filter element resulting in polarization splitting of the signal. Polarization splitting can results in polarization dependent loss (PDL), that is, differential signal loss for the P-polarization and the S-polarization components or states of the signal. It will be understood that a higher tilt angle results in greater polarization splitting and, therefore, can result in correspondingly higher PDL. However, high performance, multi-cavity filters (for example, 3 to 5 cavity Fabry-Perot type interference filters wherein the film stack is formed of deposited films of near unity density) yield a flat in-band transmission zone, as shown in FIG. 1. This reduces polarization dependent loss, because the two polarization states overlap in-band. A high performance filter here means one providing such a flat in-band transmission zone and correspondingly low (for example, less than 1 dB, preferably less than 1/2 dB) insertion loss. In optical multiplexing devices intended for the teleconmmunications industry, preferably there is as little polarization dependent loss as possible in the optical signal path. The filter performance shown in FIG. 1 is seen to be suitable to meet stringent telecommunication system specifications.
Alternative approaches for selectively removing or tapping a channel, i.e., selective wavelengths, from a main trunk line carrying multiple channels, i.e., carrying optical signals on a plurality of wavelengths or wavelength sub-ranges, is suggested, for example, in U.S. pat. No. 4,768,849 to Hicks, Jr. In that patent filter taps are shown, as well as the use of gangs of individual filter taps, each employing high performance, multi-cavity dielectric pass-band filters and lenses for sequentially removing a series of wavelength sub-ranges or channels from a main trunk line. The filter tap of Hicks returns a multi-channel signal to the main trunk line as it passes the desired channel to a branch line. Optical multiplexing devices are shown also in U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,045 to Nosu et al, for multiplexing or demultiplexing a multi-channel optical signal. A row of individual optical filters are glued side-by-side onto the surface of an optical substrate, and a second row is glued similarly to the opposite surface of the substrate. Each individual filter transmits a different channel, that is, a preselected wavelength(s), and reflects other wavelengths. A multi-channel optical beam from a trunk line enters the optical substrate at an angle and passes thru the substrate from filter to filter in a zig-zag fashion. Each filter transmits its preselected wavelength(s) and reflects the remainder of the beam on to the next filter. Each filter element is sandwiched between glass plates, and a prism element is positioned between each filter sandwich and a corresponding collimator positioned behind the filter sandwich to receive the transmitted wavelength(s). Nosu et al teaches the use of refractive index matching. The lenses, filters, optical substrate, etc. all have the same refractive index and are in surface-to-surface contact with one another, such that the light beam does not pass through air. This approach by Nosu et al involves the use of prisms as an optical bridge between the filter element and the collimater at each channel outlet. This elaborate design approach adds considerable cost and assembly complexity to multiplexing devices of the type shown in Nosu et al. The quite wide (20 nm half width) and undesirably "peaky" pass-band of FIG. 5 of Nosu et al ("peaky" here meaning not having a flatter top for the pass-band, such as in FIG. 1 of the drawings appended hereto) are characteristic for the mono-cavity filters taught by Nosu et al and shown there in FIG. 4. Devices with such pass-band characteristics as in Nosu et al have higher polarization dependent losses (PDL) as discussed above. In that regard, FIG. 5 of Nosu et al must be understood to represent an average of the actual S-polarization and P-polarization pass-bands which would be shown more accurately as being slightly offset from each other. With such a peaky pass-band, any slight change in the signal wavelength (e.g., due to normal system instability or variability) will result in undesirably high PDL by unequally effecting the S-polarization component of the signal and its P-polarization component.
Devices such as those of Nosu et al employ adhesive in the light path, e.g., to adhere the prisms to the collumations and filter sandwiches. This is undesirable for several reasons. There is uncertainty as to the long term (e.g., 10 years) durability or stability of adhesives in such devices. The transparency of epoxy or other adhesive may change after exposure to thermal cycling, etc. Also, such "glue in the path" limits the power handling capability of the device, since higher power laser signals passing through the adhesive are known in at least certain applications to degrade the adhesive and change its optical properties. Therefore, it would be desirable to avoid or reduce the use of an adhesive in the light path, such as epoxy between optical elements, e.g., epoxy between a filter element and the surface of an optical substrate. In optical multiplexing devices intended for the telecommunications industry, preferably there is as little as possible adhesive in the optical signal path.
It is an object of the present invention to provide improved optical multiplexing devices which reduce or wholly overcome some or all of the aforesaid difficulties inherent in prior known devices. Particular objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable and experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following disclosure of the invention and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments.

Multiplexing device with precision optical block


A method of operating multiple home appliances within a smart home set up, including monitoring physical interactions with at least one appliance and measuring an amount of time since the interaction. The smart home network can activate a vacation mode including altering one or more operating modes of the appliance or alert a user via a mobile device to initiate a vacation mode.

Home appliances are utilized generally for a variety of tasks by a variety of users. For example, a household may include such appliances as laundry appliances, e.g., a washer and/or dryer, kitchen appliances, e.g., a refrigerator, a microwave, a dishwasher, and/or a coffee maker, along with room air conditioners and other various appliances. Some home appliances can also include features for connecting to and communicating over a secure wireless network. Such communication may provide connected features on the home appliances, e.g., where the home appliance communicates with a personal device, smart home systems, and/or a remote database such as a cloud server.
Many home appliance (e.g., refrigerators, washer/dryers, thermostats, water heaters, HVAC units, etc.) have myriad settings to provide convenience and performance to users. For instance, automatic operation may be programmed into certain appliances. Additionally or alternatively, settings such as eco-friendly settings may be incorporated during periods of low or no use, providing potential energy savings and reducing fatigue due to unnecessary use. However, with conventional home appliances, a user must perform a manual adjustment to incorporate these settings. Users may forget to change settings or modes of home appliances before extended periods of low or no usage, resulting in these appliances operating as normal, expending excess energy, and incurring undue cost of operation.
Accordingly, a system and method for operating one or more home appliances that obviates one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks would be beneficial. Particularly, a method of operating a home appliance that more efficiently adjusts operating modes of the home appliance would be advantageous.

Method of operating a smart home appliance


A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a first substrate and a second substrate, an organic light emitting element formed by interposing a first insulating layer on an outer surface of the first substrate, a second insulating layer and a protective layer formed in order over an entire surface of the organic light emitting element, a thin film transistor formed on the first substrate, a passivation layer formed over an entire surface of the first substrate including the thin film transistor, a pixel electrode formed on the passivation layer to be connected to the thin film transistor, a common electrode formed on the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A method for fabricating the LCD includes the steps of forming a first insulating layer on an outer surface of a first substrate, forming an organic light emitting element on the first insulating layer, forming a second insulating layer over an entire surface of the organic light emitting element, forming a protective layer on the second insulating layer, forming a thin film transistor on the first substrate, forming a passivation layer over an entire surface of the first substrate including the thin film transistor, forming a pixel electrode on the passivation layer, and forming a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and a second substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device, and in particular, to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An LCD is not a self-emissive light element but instead is a light receiving element necessitating an independent light source, and has a technical limitation in terms of brightness, contrast, angle of visual field, magnification of the view, etc. Therefore, efforts have been actively made to develop a novel flat display device. An example is research into an organic electroluminescent (EL) device that has merits such as operability with low voltage, self-emission of light, a compact and slim appearance, wide angle of visual field and a quick response.
The EL of an organic material was first discovered in single crystal Anthracene. Nevertheless, the first discovery failed to develop the EL device for more than the next 20 years due to its size limit and difficulty in growing the single crystal, as well as to an extremely high voltage (˜1000V) required for its operation. Recently, however, a device has been developed having a film thickness of only 1000 Å and operable with a low voltage of about 10V.
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) comprises a cathode layer, an organic film layer, and an anode layer. The organic film layer comprises an electron transport layer, a hole transport layer, and an organic emitting layer. If necessary, an electron injection layer and a hole injection layer may be additionally comprised of the organic film layer.
An inorganic EL device is similar to a compound in its concept that a fluorescent material is emitted by electric energy. However, a slight difference lies in terms of the excitation, which is a core of the emitting mechanism. In the inorganic EL device, light emission is caused by energy generated by an acceleration and collision of electrons due to high voltage. In the organic EL device, however, light emission is caused by rebinding of the holes injected from an anode and a cathode with electrons.
The following is a detailed description of a conventional LCD made with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional LCD illustrating a structure thereof.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional LCD comprises two insulating substrates 101, 101a facing each other and having liquid crystal sealed therebetween, color filter layers 102 of red, green and blue formed on the upper substrate 101 for expressing colors, and black matrices 103 for shielding penetration of light into the parts other than the pixel electrodes formed on the lower substrate 101a.
A common electrode 105 is formed to cover the color filter layers 102 and the black matrices. It is possible to form an overcoat 104 before forming the common electrode 105.
Thin film transistors consisting of a gate electrode 106 elongated from a gate line, a source electrode 107 and a drain electrode 108 elongated from a data line, which is arrayed to cross the gate line, are formed on the lower substrate 101a at regular intervals. A pixel electrode is connected to the drain electrode 108 through a contact hole. A backlight 112 is provided on an outer surface of the lower substrate 101a.
Spacers 109 are dispersed between the color filter layers and thin film transistors to maintain a cell gap.
However, the conventional LCD and its fabrication method pose the following problems.
An LCD is not a self-emissive light element but a light receiving element necessitating an independent light source, thereby requiring a backlight. The electric power consumed by the backlight occupies a dominant part of the electric power supplied to the LCD. Further, the backlight becomes a bar to reducing weight, thickness, length and size of the LCD.

Liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same


A tire comprises shoulder blocks and middle blocks having ground contacting surfaces respectively provided with narrow grooves and each including a circumferential groove portion. The tire further comprises bead apex rubbers each extending from respective one of bead cores and each of the bead apex rubbers includes an extended portion extending to a position on an inner side in a tire axial direction of a first reference line passing through the circumferential groove portion of each of the shoulder blocks.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-136876 has proposed a tire for a motorcycle for rough terrain which is excellent in shock absorbing performance and cornering performance.
The proposed tire comprises a plurality of blocks (including a shoulder block) protruding from an outer surface of a tread main body and a bead apex extending radially outwardly from a bead core. A radially outer end of the bead apex terminates between a boundary end and an intersection point. The boundary end is defined as an outer end in a tire axial direction at a boundary surface between the outer surface of the tread main body and the shoulder block. The intersection point is defined as a point where a straight line extending perpendicularly to a ground contacting surface of the shoulder block passing through an outer end in the tire axial direction of the ground contacting surface intersects with the outer surface of the tread main body.
In this tire, the bead apex extends from the bead core to a root portion of the shoulder block, therefore, substantially the entire region of a sidewall is reinforced while suppressing an increase in rigidity of the tread, thereby, it is possible that side rigidity is increased. Therefore, it is possible that the cornering performance is improved while securing excellent shock absorbing performance.
However, even in the proposed tire, when used for off-road motorcycle competitions (such as trial competitions) under severe running conditions, the shoulder block has insufficient rigidity at the time of jumping or cornering, therefore, satisfactory cornering performance cannot be obtained.
On the other hand, in order to increase lateral grip force, it is preferred that a narrow groove including a groove portion extending in a tire circumferential direction in the shoulder block. However, when this narrow groove is applied to the proposed tire, the rigidity of the shoulder block is decreased by the narrow groove, therefore, it becomes disadvantageous for the cornering performance.


A wind turbine includes a closed loop hydrostatic transmission. The rotor is directly coupled to a low-speed high torque hydraulic motor, which is pressure-reversible to act as a pump. A variable displacement, pressure compensated hydrostatic transmission receives the hydraulic fluid output and drives a generator. The hydrostatic transmission and the generator may be compactly located in the nacelle of wind turbine tower.

Wind turbines use wind energy to generate electricity. A conventional wind turbine includes a rotor mounted on a tower. The rotor may turn up to about 60 rpm in a steady wind of about 20 mph and connect to an alternator/generator through a speed increasing transmission. Typical generators include synchronous or asynchronous generators and require a constant input shaft speed of about 1200 or 1800 rpm, depending on the type of generator, to produce quality power. Although variable speed generators are available, the power output of a variable speed generator must be conditioned before it can be fed into a power grid.
It is a continuing problem with wind-driven turbines to provide a cost-effective method of smoothing the torque generated by the rotor so as to reduce torque fluctuations in the drivetrain to the generator. It is known to use complex transmissions to attempt to provide constant speed input to a generator. It is also known to use variable pitch rotors and braking mechanisms in an effort to operate at a constant rotor speed. However, such transmissions, variable pitch rotors and braking mechanisms are expensive, prone to mechanical breakdown and introduce a significant source of mechanical inefficiency to the wind turbine operation.
Wind turbines using an open loop hydraulic system in place of mechanical transmissions are also known. However, conventional hydraulic pumps require input speed of a minimum of about 300 to 500 rpm to produce usable hydraulic pressure. As a result, a mechanical speed increaser is still required between the rotor and the hydraulic pump. All known hydraulic systems for wind turbines utilize an open loop system. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,673, a positive displacement hydraulic pump connected to a variable displacement hydraulic motor is disclosed. In this system, similar to other open loop systems, the hydraulic pump is elevated on the tower but the hydraulic motor, hydraulic fluid reservoir and generator are on the ground. Although it is generally advantageous to reduce the tower load, this arrangement necessitates long hydraulic fluid hoses to and from the hydraulic pump, which is disadvantageous.
A closed-loop hydraulic system would permit all of the components, including the generator to be tower mounted in the nacelle. However, a closed-loop system has not been attempted because of the difficulty in dealing with overspeed situations. In a closed loop system, hydraulic resistance to the increased torque would result in intolerable heat buildup in the system, if fluid pressure is not controlled.
In an open-loop hydraulic system, when the rotor is driven at high speed, excess hydraulic pressure may be diverted by "dumping" pressure to maintain a constant generator speed. This energy dissipation generates tremendous amounts of heat and active cooling or heat exchanging is necessary. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,092, a hydraulic system for water and wind driven turbines is disclosed which includes a shunt-connected energy dissipator. In response to high pressure caused by high wind and rotor speeds, the displacement of the hydraulic motor decreases, further increasing system pressure. As a result, the hydraulic fluid is diverted into the energy dissipator. The dissipator converts hydraulic energy into heat which is removed by a heat exchanger.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,673, referred to above, complex hydraulic controls are used to feather the rotor propeller blades in order to deal with excess pressure in the hydraulic circuit.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a wind turbine system utilizing a closed loop hydrostatic transmission which mitigates the difficulties of the prior art.

Wind turbine with hydraulic transmission


In a microcomputer including a central processing unit (CPU), a user mode interrupt control circuit for generating a user mode interrupt request signal and transmitting the user mode interrupt request signal to the CPU, and a supervisor mode interrupt control circuit for generating a supervisor interrupt request signal, a selector circuit is connected to the CPU, the user mode interrupt control circuit and the supervisor mode interrupt control circuit. When the selector circuit is in a first state, the supervisor mode interrupt request signal is transmitted from the supervisor mode interrupt control circuit directly to the CPU. When the selector is in a second state, the supervisor mode interrupt request signal is transmitted from the supervisor mode interrupt control circuit via the user mode interrupt control circuit to the CPU.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microcomputer having a user mode interrupt function and a supervisor (SV) mode interrupt function.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a microcomputer, in order to debug an applied system, an in-circuit emulator, i.e., a supervisor mode interrupt control circuit is provided in addition to a user mode interrupt control circuit. This will be explained later in detail.
In a prior art microcomputer, an SV mode interrupt has the highest priority, that is, the SV mode interrupt has the highest priority over any of user mode interrupts. Therefore, when an SV mode interrupt occurs, any user mode interrupt. In addition, during a time period where an SV mode interrupt is carried out, any user mode interrupt is prohibited, which may destroy the system.
Further, in the prior art microcomputer, the content of a program counter and a processor status word are stored in a stack (memory) both during a user mode interrupt and an SV mode interrupt, which may restrict the region of the stack for the user mode interrupt processing.

Microcomputer having user mode interrupt function and supervisor mode interrupt function


A busbar unit is arranged on an axial end portion of a stator and electrically connected with a plurality of coil wire terminals arranged to project in an axial direction above the axial end portion of the stator. The busbar unit includes a plurality of busbars each including a body portion defined by an electrically conductive wire having an annular or “C” shape, the body portion being arranged around an axis of the stator; a holder member arranged on the axial end portion of the stator to hold the busbars; and a plurality of terminal members each including a busbar connection portion connected with the body portion of one of the busbars, and a coil connection portion connected with one of the coil wire terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a busbar unit, and more specifically, to an inner-rotor motor including a busbar unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 4 and 5 of JP-A 2000-333400 show a busbar which is connected with coil terminals from a stator and arranged to supply currents to coils. A plurality of such busbars (lead frames) are placed one upon another, and each of the busbars (lead frames) is defined by a plate material having a substantially annular shape in plan view. Each busbar (lead frame) and a plurality of terminals are defined integrally with each other. The terminals are arranged to project in a radial direction from an outer circumference or an inner circumference of each busbar. In short, each busbar (lead frame) is defined by a substantially annular plate material having a plurality of terminals projecting therefrom in the radial direction. Therefore, the material yield of the busbars is not very high.
JP-A 2004-56873 discloses a motor in which a busbar and terminals are provided separately from each other. In this motor, the busbar is defined by a wire (cable), and the terminals, which are arranged to connect the busbar to coil terminals, are provided separately from the busbar. This arrangement achieves an improvement in the material yield of the busbars.
The motor described in JP-A 2004-56873 achieves an improvement in the material yield of the busbars. However, the motor described in JP-A 2004-56873 has a disadvantage in that the orientation of the coil terminals needs to be adjusted when the terminals are connected to the coil terminals. Therefore, according to the motor described in JP-A 2004-56873, an operation of connecting the terminals to the coil terminals cannot be performed efficiently.


A high-speed multiplexer that includes a reduced number of components in the pull-up and/or the pull-down circuits operates faster than conventional multiplexers and can process higher frequency input signals. The pull-up circuit may be a singe p-type MOSFET transistor and the pull-down circuit may be a single n-type MOSFET transistor. The switching circuits may include transistor-based NOR gates. The multiplexer may have numerous channels, for example 2 to 256 or more channels.

Computer disk drives and other applications commonly use multiplexers. A multiplexer is a device that allows two or more signals to be transmitted simultaneously on a single communication channel. Other multiplexer switch the output channel between the input channels. Generally, multiplexers with more channels requires more time to switch between channels. Because the speed of a multiplexer determines the rate of transmission of the multiplexed data, it is desirable to have a faster multiplexer.
Hard disk drives typically include one or more rotating magnetic platters encased within a environmentally controlled housing which further includes all of the electronics and mechanics to read and write data and interface with other devices. Read/write heads are positioned above each of the platters, and typically on each face, to record and read data. The electronics of a hard disk drive are coupled with the read/write heads and include numerous components to control the position of the heads and generate or sense the electromagnetic fields representing data. The components receive data from a host device, such as a personal computer, and translate that data into magnetic encodings that are written onto the disk platters by the heads. Further, when a host device requests data from the drive, the electronics locates the desired data, senses the magnetic encodings which represent that data and translates those encodings back into the binary digital information which the host device can understand. Further, error detection and correction algorithms are applied to ensure accurate storage and retrieval of data.
One area in which significant advancements have been made has been in the area of read/write head technology and the methods of interpreting the magnetic fluctuations sensed by these heads. The read/write head, of which a typical hard disk has several, is the interface between magnetic platters and the disk drive electronics. The read/write head actually reads and writes the magnetically encoded data as areas of magnetic flux on the platters. Data, consisting of binary 1""s and 0""s, are encoded by sequences of the presence or absence of flux reversals recorded or detected by the read/write head. A flux reversal is a change in the magnetic flux in two contiguous areas of the disk platter. Traditional hard drives read data off the platters by detecting the voltage peak imparted in the read/write head when a flux reversal passes underneath the read/write head as the platter rotate. This is known as xe2x80x9cpeak detection.xe2x80x9d However, increasing storage densities require reduced peak amplitudes and better signal discrimination and higher platter rotational speeds are pushing the peaks closer together making peak detection more difficult to accomplish.
Magneto-resistive (xe2x80x9cMRxe2x80x9d) read/write heads have been developed with increased sensitivity to sense smaller amplitude magnetic signals and with increased signal discrimination to address some of the problems with increasing storage densities. In addition, another technology, known as Partial Response Maximum Likelihood (xe2x80x9cPRMLxe2x80x9d), has been developed to further address the problems with peak detection as densities and rotational speeds increase. PRML is an algorithm implemented in the disk drive electronics to interpret the magnetic signals sensed by the read/write heads. PRML based disk drives read the analog waveforms generated by the magnetic flux reversals stored on the disk. However, instead of looking for peak values to indicate flux reversals, PRML based drives digitally sample this analog waveform (the xe2x80x9cPartial Responsexe2x80x9d) and use advanced signal processing technologies to determine the bit pattern represented by that wave form (the xe2x80x9cMaximum Likelihoodxe2x80x9d). PRML technology, in conjunction magneto-resistive (xe2x80x9cMRxe2x80x9d) heads, have permitted manufacturers to further increase data storage densities. PRML technology further tolerates more noise in the sensed magnetic signals permitting the use of lower quality platters and read/write heads which increases manufacturing yields and lowers costs.
The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims. By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments described below relate to
A high-speed multiplexer that includes a reduced number of components in the pull-up and/or the pull-down circuits operates faster than conventional multiplexers and can process higher frequency input signals. The pull-up circuit may be a singe p-type MOSFET transistor and the pull-down circuit may be a single n-type MOSFET transistor. The switching circuits may include transistor-based NOR gates. The multiplexer may have numerous channels, for example 2 to 256 or more channels.
Further aspects and advantages of the invention are discussed below in conjunction with the preferred embodiments.


A method and device for decoding bin values using a pipeline architecture in a CABAC decoder are provided. The method includes reading a first context model required to decode a first bin value, from a memory; determining whether a second context model required to decode a second bin value is the same as the first context model, while decoding the first bin value using the first context model; determining whether a third context model required to decode a third bin value is the same as the second context model, while decoding the second bin value using the second context model, if it is determined that the second context model is the same as the first context model; and reading the second context model from the memory, if it is determined that the second context model is not the same as the first context model.

1. Field of the Invention
Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to CABAC decoding, and more particularly, to decoding a plurality of bin values using a pipeline architecture in a CABAC decoder, and a decoding device therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Context-based adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) is an entropy coding method used in a main profile of H.264/AVC. In CABAC, each symbol is dynamically coded using statistical features to update its relative probability, thereby improving compression efficiency.
CABAC decoding is the process of sequentially decoding a plurality of binary values (0 or 1), or "bins", from a syntax element (SE) which is encoded by a CABAC encoder. To decode each bin, several unit operations are required, including a context selection operation, a context model loading operation, a binary arithmetic decoding operation, a binarization matching operation, and a context model update operation. The unit operations may each require one cycle.
If each bin is decoded after its previous bin is decoded, then since five cycles are required to decode each bin, 5 n cycles are required to decode n bins. For this reason, real time decoding is impossible in practice when a display device has a standard definition (SD) or larger screen size. Therefore, parallel processing is necessary in this case, in which a plurality of bins are processed at once using a pipeline architecture.

Method of decoding bin values using pipeline architecture and decoding device therefor


A tool organizer is disclosed for supporting and organizing a variety of tools. The tool caddy includes a circular base that rests upon a lazy susan bearing, allowing 360 degree rotation of the tool caddy. The tool caddy includes shaped openings in the circular base for storing tools such as sockets, a central raised platform for resting larger tools, and a drawer beneath the central raised platform for storing smaller parts and tools. There are screwdriver holders at the end of the drawer and a bridge above the central raised platform for storing additional tools.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tool storage devices and more particularly pertains to a tool carrier for supporting, carrying and organizing tools.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of tool carrying and storage devices is known in the prior art. For example, a tool rack is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,768 to Ivan J. Brown. Tool racks such as these are designed for primarily stationary use. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,945,442 to Donald E. Godshaw, et al., describes a soft sided tool carrier, suitable for carrying tools organized in compartments. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not disclose a tool rack that provides for tool storage in a stationary position such as on a work bench, while allowing the tool rack to be carried for remote use.
What is needed is a tool organizer for storing tools that rotates on a workbench for easy access of all sides.


There is provided an image displaying device including a first display area on which thumbnail images respectively corresponding to a plurality of pieces of image data are displayed, the thumbnail images being selectable on the first display area; a second display area on which an image corresponding to one of the thumbnail images selected through the first display area is displayed; a setting unit to set an enlargement condition of the image being displayed on the second display area, the enlargement condition including an enlarging factor; a storing unit to store the enlargement condition; and a display control unit configured such that in response to selection of one of the thumbnail images, the display control unit displays the image corresponding to a selected thumbnail image in accordance with the stored enlargement condition.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of the present invention relate to an image displaying device having a function of displaying an image corresponding to image data.
2. Related Art
Image displaying devices configured such that an external memory medium, such as a memory card, can be detachably attachable thereto and that an image corresponding to image data stored in the external memory medium can be displayed on a display unit thereof have been widely used.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2006-60387 (hereafter, referred to as JP 2006-60387A) discloses an example of such an image displaying device. On the image displaying device disclosed in JP 2006-60387A, a user is allowed to set an enlarging factor for enlarging an image corresponding image data. When the user makes a user operation for changing onscreen representation to a next image through an operation unit, the image displaying device enlarges and displays a next image in accordance with the enlarging factor defined for the previously display image. That is, the enlarging factor previously used is maintained to enlarge and display subsequent images.

Image displaying device, and method and computer readable medium for the same


A toner that contains resin, colorant, wax and an aromatic hydrocarbon compatibilizer.

Disclosed generally are toner and developer compositions, and more specifically, toner compositions, including magnetic, single component, two component and colored toner compositions containing a compatibilizer which can also function as an embrittling agent and a least one wax component, and wherein the embrittling agent can increase the toner components pulverizing rate up to about 84 percent higher than a number of current production toner rates to thereby reduce manufacturing costs. A compatibilizer, for example, allows the wax phase to be substantially fully dispersed in the resin phase; when the wax is not well dispersed in the toner it is removed during processing and contained in the final product and is not available to fully serve its release function in the fusing subsystem. In embodiments, the toner compositions can contain a polymer, a colorant, a wax, a wax compatibilizer/embrittling agent, toner additives, such as charge enhancing additives, surface additives, and the like, and also the toner can contain two polymers, and in embodiments from about 2 to about 10 polymers comprised, for example, of a first resin, a second crosslinked resin, a wax component, and a compatibilizer component. In embodiments, the toner compositions are comprised of resin particles, including first resin and second crosslinked resin particles, colorant, such as pigment particles, a wax component, such as polyolefins like polypropylene wax, polyethylene wax, and mixtures thereof, and a compatibilizer, such as a copolymer, homopolymer, aromatic copolymers, and more specifically, polymers available from Mitsui Chemicals as FTR Series, like FTR-1625F, and the FMR series, like FMR-0150, and which polymers are, for example, methyl styrene homopolymers, methyl styrene copolymers, polymers containing an aromatic monomer and a methyl styrene copolymer, polymers containing an aromatic pure monomer and a methyl styrene aliphatic copolymer, aromatic pure polymers, aromatic pure monomer/aromatic monomer copolymers, and the like, all available from Mitsui Chemicals as the grade zero series, the 2,000 series, the 6,000 series, the 7,000 series, the 8,000 series, FMR series and the FTR series. More specifically, the compatibilizers that can be selected for the toners of the present invention are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,547, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference.
There are also provided in accordance with the present disclosure positively or negatively charged toner compositions comprised of resin particles, colorant particles, a wax component, such as a low molecular weight polyethylene wax, a polypropylene wax, or mixtures thereof, a compatibilizer/embrittling agent as illustrated herein, charge enhancing additives and surface additives like colloidal silicas, metal oxides, and the like. In addition, there are illustrated herein developer compositions comprised of the aforementioned toners, and carrier particles. Furthermore, in embodiments of the present invention there are provided single component toner compositions comprised of resin particles, magnetic components, such as magnetites, a wax component, such as polypropylene wax, the compatibilizer component as illustrated herein, and optional known toner additives.
The disclosed toner and developer compositions are useful in a number of known electrostatographic imaging and printing systems, especially those systems wherein a wax is present in the toner, and wherein in embodiments the toners possess a wide fusing latitude, for example about 100° C., which is the temperature range between the minimum fixing temperature of, for example, from about 100° C. to about 170° C., usually selected for fixing toner particles on paper and the hot, for example, from about 180° C. to about 250° C. offset temperature. The developer compositions disclosed can provide toner images with low surface energy and a low frictional coefficient, which properties enable the effective release of paper from the fuser roll and provide for a reduction in image smudging. Further, the developer compositions possess stable electrical properties for extended time periods, and with these compositions, for example, there is no substantial change in the toner triboelectrical charging values.


An apparatus for ascertaining and/or monitoring fill level of a medium in a container. The apparatus includes an antenna, which transmits and receives high frequency signals in a predetermined oscillatory mode in a bounded space in a predetermined radiation direction, wherein, in front of the antenna in the radiation direction, an antenna protection element of a material transmissive for the high frequency signals is provided, and wherein a control/evaluation unit is provided, which evaluates the received high frequency signals and ascertains the fill level.

One of a number of measuring methods for ascertaining fill level in a container is the travel time, measuring method. In the travel time, measuring method, for example, microwaves, or radar waves, are transmitted via an antenna apparatus, and echo waves reflected on the surface of the medium are received back after the distance dependent, travel time of the measuring signal. From half the travel time, the fill level of the medium in a container can be calculated. The echo curve represents, in such case, the received signal amplitude as a function of time, wherein each measured value of the echo curve corresponds to the amplitude of an echo signal reflected on a surface at a certain distance. The travel time, measuring method is essentially divided into two methods of ascertainment. Time difference measurement is a first method of ascertainment, in which the time required for a broadband, wave, signal pulse to move over a traveled path is ascertained. A further, widely employed method of ascertainment is that wherein the sweep frequency difference between a transmitted, frequency modulated, high frequency signal and the reflected, received, frequency modulated, high frequency signal is ascertained (FMCW—Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave). In the following, there is no limitation to a particular method of ascertainment.
Long used in process measurements technology are group radiator antennas, such as planar antennas or antenna arrays, horn antennas and parabolic antennas. Planar antennas are characterized by compact construction and cost effective manufacture, as compared with other antennas. Conventionally, planar antennas are designed as free field antennas, which usually radiate and receive linearly, or also circularly, polarized waves. Some embodiments of such planar antennas are described, for example, in DE 101 18 009 A1. As printed antenna structures, they differ, in turn, on the basis of their primary HF radiating element in terms of resonant structures, such as e.g. patch, slit, monopole and dipole antennas, and non resonant slit antennas, such as e.g. tapered slit antennas and Vivaldi antennas, as well as combinations of these resonant and non resonant structures. The feeding, or exciting, of the radiating elements occurs, normally, via strip lines (microstrip lines). Other line structures for the feeding of the elements, such as coplanar, and slit, lines, are likewise possible. Through simple photolithographic manufacture as printed circuits, such planar antennas are very suitable for mass production.
Another group of printed antennas, or exciting structures, are those, which produce a certain EM field distribution. As known from EP 1083413 B1, TE01 mode is produced with planar, slit radiators. This mode has for fill level measurements in bypasses and sounding tubes, as hollow conductors, the advantage, that the TE01 mode of the high frequency, measuring signal has, on the basis of its field distribution, very low attenuation and propagates almost uninfluenced by container wall disturbances, such as welded seams and holes. An option is also to work with the fundamental mode TE11 in a round, hollow conductor. A special property of the TE11 mode is that its travel velocity propagates best in the hollow conductor, in comparison with the other, higher modes.
Especially presenting problems in process measurements technology is condensation and accretion of process media on the antenna, as a result of the temperature gradient in the process tank. Thus, condensate causes major attenuation of the high frequency, measuring signal, and, moreover, the radiation characteristic, or measuring properties, of the antenna is/are altered. In the case of fill level measurements in the sounding tube, or hollow conductor, higher modes of the high frequency, measuring signal are excited, which propagate with different group travel velocities in the hollow conductor. Due to the interference of the higher modes of the high frequency, measuring signal with the wanted signal, accuracy of measurement of the system is degraded.
Fundamentally, planar antennas are disadvantaged by the disturbance sensitivity of the measuring on the basis of condensate, in comparison to horn, and parabolic, antennas, since the radiation direction of the wave is usually perpendicular to the plane, in which the antenna is oriented. For this reason, the surface of the planar antenna is orthogonal to the gravitational field of the earth, or parallel to the surface of the fill substance of the medium. The volatile components of the fill substance to be measured condense on the cold surface of the planar antenna, whereby drops form, which then only drop off after reaching a certain size, when the surface tension is no longer sufficient to hold the drops. Since the condensation of the evaporating fill substance, or medium, on the planar radiating surface of the planar antenna cannot be prevented, it is attempted to improve, via a structural measure, the dropping off, and shedding, behavior of the condensate on the planar antenna. Such an embodiment of an adapted planar antenna is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,697 B1, wherein the planar antenna is inclined at an angle to horizontal H. Through the inclined position, the force of gravity has also a force component parallel to the surface of the planar antenna, whereby the condensate, driven by this additional force component (normal force), runs together to form larger drops and, at a given position, drops off. The changing of the wavefront, or the radiation direction of the radiation lobe, by the inclined orientation of the planar antenna, is compensated by a different phase control of the rows of the antenna element. Furthermore, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,458 B1, an embodiment of a planar antenna is disclosed, in which a filled, hollow cone is placed in front of the planar antenna as antenna protection element, or a radome with a fill material of a dielectric, thermally insulating material is emplaced, which has the same effect, such as earlier described, that the condensate can drop off of the surface of the antenna. Such antenna protection elements in the form of membranes, lenses or cones, are also applied in the case of horn antennas and parabolic antennas for protecting the reflection surfaces of the antennas from condensate formation or deposits of medium.
Disadvantageous in the case of such antenna protection elements of the state of the art is that the antenna protection element, for preventing attenuation of the high frequency, measuring signal, can only be embodied with smallest height and slope possible. Due to the small slopes of the structures, the antenna protection element sheds the condensate only poorly. Furthermore, the antenna protection elements of the state of the art excite higher disturbance modes, whereby the measuring performance of the measuring device is lessened.

Apparatus for determining and/or monitoring the level of a medium


The present invention relates to a sensor for detecting chemical, biological, biochemical or other environmental stimuli, and includes a plurality of colloidal particles having chemical receptors bound to each particle's surface, wherein when a target stimulus is directed to the bound chemical receptor, the gelled matrix contracts or expands, which changes the lattice constant, thereby changing the pattern of diffracted light in a measurable manner so that the target stimulus' presence can be detected by a spectrometer. The plurality of colloidal particles are composed of a material having a first dielectric constant, and the gel and surrounding medium have a second dielectric constant. The colloidal particles can be assembled using holographic optical tweezers and polymerized to create an integrated sensor array, which diffracts light in a detectable characteristic manner.

Chemical sensors may be based on crystalline domains of colloidal particles embedded in a gelled matrix. Appropriately prepared gels, such as hydrogels, can swell and contract in response to changes in their physical or chemical environment. The embedded colloidal crystal's lattice constant changes as the gel swells, and its optical diffraction properties vary accordingly, in a manner that may be detected. This response can be optimized for a particular stimulus by introducing functional groups, into the gel capable of interacting with the stimulus and inducing the desired structural changes to the gel.
Implementations of this technique have incorporated the necessary functional groups directly into the polymer from which the gel is constituted (see Asher, U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,800, and Asher et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,187,599, 5,854,078, and 5,898,004—hereafter the "Asher patents"). Once a gel is functionalized in this way, it swells preferentially in response to the specific stimulus, and the embedded colloidal particles are used as passive tracers of the mechanical state or degree of swelling of the functionalized hydrogels. As described in the Asher patents, the gels' swelling is monitored by measuring the optical properties of a colloidal crystal embedded within the gel. Variations in lattice constant change the diffraction pattern of the colloidal crystal in a way which can be measured.
In particular, as described in the Asher patents, uniformly sized colloidal spheres were allowed to organize themselves into a self-assembled crystal, and then the hydrogel, incorporating a concentration of selected functional groups, was polymerized around the as-formed crystal. Once formed, the functionalized gelled crystal can be used as quantitative sensors for the stimulus to which the functional groups respond by monitoring their diffraction using an optical spectrometer. Incorporating different functional groups into different gels results in a variety of sensor materials sensitive to various specific environmental stimuli, each gel sensitive to a specific stimulus.
However, the above approach by the Asher patents are only effective for detecting one stimulus at a time, and they cannot be scaled up easily to monitor a spectrum of potential stimuli. Further, combining several sensor crystals into a single system capable of detecting and distinguishing different stimuli poses significant practical difficulties, would require post-synthesis assembly, which is a difficult process. Further, no method exists for synthesizing distinctly functionalized regions of gel in close proximity.
Still further, allowing colloidal spheres to self-assemble into a colloidal crystal and then creating a gel around the resulting lattice as described in the Asher patents, introduces undesirable variability into the optical properties of the resulting sensor, both because a self-assembled colloidal crystal suffers from structural defects, and also because very little control is possible over the crystal lattice constant, and still less over its symmetry.
Finally, if the individual self-assembled crystal had indistinguishable or unpredictable optical properties, then detecting the different responses to different stimuli in a sensor array would require position-sensitive detection, which is costly. Having sensor domains with distinctive optical signatures would be less costly and difficult, but achieving such control during colloidal crystallization is extremely difficult, and may be impossible.
Thus, a broad spectrum sensor that can detect and monitor large numbers of disparate environmental stimuli simultaneously, and that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, is needed.

Broad spectrum optically addressed sensor


A roll-forming machine includes in line a device (11) for unwinding metal strip (10) from a strip reel (12), a strip cutter (18), and a roll-forming section (30; 90). The roll-forming section includes a row of forming stations that include forming rolls that are carried by shafts which are supported on a respective one side of the sheet section. Each row of forming stations includes an edge cutter (58, 59; 102, 103) and a first forming station mounted on a common movable carrier (31, 32; 100, 101), for collective movement. The angle of the carrier relative to the longitudinal axis of the forming section can be adjusted and the carrier can be moved in a parallel manner transversely to said longitudinal axis so as to enable said movement and said angular adjustment of these forming stations to be achieved simultaneously.

One method of covering roofs with thin metal roofing sheet includes the use of standing seams, i.e. seams that are of a height such as to always extend above any water that may be present on the roof. Seams are known which are snapped together without being squeezed, for instance the seams according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,974 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,567 wherein after having been placed together, the sheets are interlocked either with or without a sealing strip in respective seams, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,899, for instance. The sheets are fastened to the roof in said seams, therewith avoiding through-penetrating nails or screws. Known machines for roll-forming the seam-forming edges can normally only shape the edges on sheeting of uniform width. Transverse seams are undesirable, and it is possible to produce long sheets in this way. Long roofing sheets are sometimes produced with a machine that is lifted onto the roof. This enables direct production of roofing sheets that are able to cover a very wide roof, said sheets being taken from a strip-carrying reel. Because production is carried out on the roof, it is possible to handle sheets that are several tens of meters in length.
JP 905 21 25 illustrates a machine that can roll-shape the edges of sheets that taper towards one end thereof. Such sheets are used, for instance, to cover the roofs of circular buildings. However, this machine can only handle piece-wise sheets that have been cut and edged in other equipment.


An optical system for integrated circuit fabrication comprises optical members made of synthetic quartz glass and fluorite, wherein: an optical member disposed in a position through which laser light is transmitted at a high light energy density, is made of single crystal fluorite; and an optical member in a position through which laser light is transmitted at a low light energy density, is made of synthetic quartz glass containing approximately such a hydrogen molecule concentration as can be doped under atmospheric pressure.

The present invention relates to an optical system for fabrication of an integrated circuit of a capacity of 64 M bits to 254 M bits. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optical system for fabrication of an integrated circuit in which an integrated circuit pattern image is projected on a wafer using ultraviolet laser light of a short wavelength having a narrowed spectral band width with the help of an optical system made of quartz glass material.
Heretofore, an optical photolithographic technique, in which a pattern formed on a mask is transferred onto a wafer by illumination, has widely been used as an optical system for fabrication of an integrated circuit, owing to its advantage in cost compared with other techniques, such as those using an electron beam, an X-ray or the like.
While a projection aligner has been developed in a conventional photolithographic technique, said projection aligner using an i-line light of a wavelength of 365 nm emitted from a high pressure mercury lamp for depicting a patterned image with a line width of 0.5 to 0.4 xcexcm, such a projection aligner corresponds to an integrated circuit (IC) of a capacity of 16 M bits to or less.
An IC of 64 M bits to 256 M bits of the first generation requires a resolution of 0.25 to 0.35 xcexcm and an IC of 1 G bits requires a resolution of 0.13 to 0.20 xcexcm. A resolution of 0.35 xcexcm is not achieved by a wavelength of an i-line light and therefore, KrF light is used as a light source. In a region of a resolution better than 0.2 xcexcm, ArF light is used instead of KrF light, especially an ArF excimer laser.
There are various problems in an photolithographic technique using an ArF excimer laser and one of them is a problem associated with an optical material constituting lenses, mirrors and prisms, which is used to construct an optical system for projection.
While an optical material which shows a good transmittance in a wavelength of 193 nm emitted from an ArF laser is substantially limited to quartz glass, especially high purity synthetic quartz glass, ArF light adversely affects quartz glass, damaging it ten times or more than KrF light does.
An improved resistance to excimer laser irradiation of quartz glass is dependent on a hydrogen concentration contained therein, as described in EP-A 401 845. In the publication, it is disclosed that quartz glass may be used to construct an optical system of a projection aligner using a KrF excimer laser as a light source which was able to secure enough resistance to the laser light with a hydrogen concentration of 5xc3x971016 molecules/cm3 or more contained therein.
However, since influence exerted on quartz glass by ArF laser light is extremely greater, compared with KrF laser light, as has been described above. It was found from an investigation into the degree of the damage, such as changes in transmittance and refractive index thereof produced in the bulk of synthetic quartz glass required hydrogen concentration for preventing occurrence of the damage of 100 to 1000 times or more as large as the hydrogen molecule concentration required in the case of a KrF excimer laser light, specifically 5xc3x971018 molecules/cm3 or more.
There are two methods to make synthetic quartz glass incorporating hydrogen molecules. In one of the methods, wherein hydrogen molecules are incorporated into the synthetic quartz glass in atmospheric pressure, adjusting the environment in production, the maximum concentration of hydrogen molecule to be incorporated, is on the order of 5xc3x971018 molecules/cm3. In the other method, wherein hydrogen molecules are incorporated into the quartz glass by a heat treatment in a pressured hydrogen atmosphere, the upper limit of an incorporated hydrogen molecule concentration is the same 5xc3x971018 moleculeslcm3 under a pressure of 10 atm as well, when the pressure is its maximum under Japanese Law of High Pressure Gas Control.
In such circumstances, if a hydrogen molecule concentration of 5xc3x971018 molecules/cm3 or more is desired, it is required that quartz glass is subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature of 1000xc2x0 C. or higher and in a high-pressure hydrogen atmosphere of 100 atm or higher as described in EP-A 483 752.
However, since a heat treatment at 1000xc2x0 C. or higher under a pressure of 100 atm or higher provokes new defects in the bulk of quartz glass, a temperature of the heat treatment preferably is in the range of 200 to 800xc2x0 C. (see Publication of Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 6-166528). In the case where a great number of hydrogen molecules, which is 5xc3x971018 molecules/cm3, are incorporated into quartz glass by a heat treatment at a temperature in this range in a hydrogen atmosphere, there arises a fault that it takes very long to incorporate hydrogen molecules in the quartz glass to such a concentration, since a diffusion coefficient of a hydrogen molecule is not so large and in addition, to conduct a heat treatment in a high pressure atmosphere results in not only decrease of homogeneity in refractive index in the bulk of the quartz glass but also generation of strains in the bulk.
Therefore, if quartz glass is subjected to a high-pressure, high-temperature treatment, as a result another heat treatment becomes necessary for readjustment. These treatments make the process to produce quartz glass which is suitable for constituting an optical system of a projection aligner industrially very complex and time-consuming, which in turn makes the quartz glass having a hydrogen concentration of 5xc3x971018 molecules/cm3 or more, a homogeneity in refractive index, a low level of strains and the like, highly expensive.
However even if the quartz glass having hydrogen concentration of 5xc3x971018 molecules/cm3 or more, optical properties, such as a homogeneity in refractive index, a low level of strains and the like, is obtained, a volume constriction causing a change in refractive index of the quartz glass may arise during irradiation by ArF light.
A technique to combine synthetic quartz and fluorite in an optical system used for integrated circuit fabrication has been disclosed in Publication of Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 8-78319 (hereinafter referred to as first prior art technique), but the technical concept is essentially different from that of the present invention.
The first prior art technique is to constitute the optical system for exposure with a diffraction optical element having a positive power, a quartz lens having a negative power and a fluorite lens having a positive power, which constitution is to correct a chromatic aberration. In the first prior technique, the chromatic aberration is corrected by a combination of a diffraction optical element and a refracting lens respectively having positive and negative powers, and a fluorite having a positive power, wherein a combination of optical elements, different from one another in optical dispersion corrects chromatic aberration. Such a combination specially realizes an optical system having an image formation property that a secondary spectrum of chromatic aberration is minor and thereby not only can a larger curvature radius of a lens, a larger NA, a larger field of view be realized to give room to improvement on a specification of the optical system but a tolerance of eccentricity in fabrication is also larger to promote easy fabrication.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical system for use with ultraviolet light of a short wavelength with a narrowed spectral band width, especially ArF laser light, as illumination in the projection aligner without degrading properties such as durability, optical transmittance and the like with a low cost and ease as a whole.
In the present invention the optical system is constructed of a combination of synthetic quartz glass and fluorite.
Therefore, since the first prior art technique is one in which a quartz glass lens having a negative power and a fluorite lens having a positive power are combined from the view point of solving problems in design and fabrication, it is different from the present invention in that the present invention has the object to prevent degradation in resistance to laser light caused by high output irradiation. Therefore, the prior art is also confirmed to be different in constitution on the basis of the different objects, as mentioned above.
In order to improve resistance to laser light, according to a first aspect of the present invention, an optical system comprises a combination of optical members made of synthetic quartz glass and fluorite, wherein: a crystalline optical member, which is located in a position through which laser light is transmitted at a relatively high light energy density xcex5 (mJ/cm2) (hereinafter referred to as wafer side optical member), is made of fluorite to avoid being broken under irradiation of ArF laser light; and an amorphous optical member, which is located in a position through which laser light is transmitted at a relatively low light energy density xcex5 (mJ/cm2) (hereinafter referred to as light source side optical ember), is made of synthetic quartz glass having a hydrogen molecule concentration in the range of 1xc3x971017 molecules/cm3 to 5xc3x971018 molecules/cm3.
The relatively low hydrogen content of the quartz glass of the amorphous optical member can be simply achieved by doping the quartz glass in atmospheric pressure. As a result it is more easy to establish a high quality of the optical properties of the quartz glass, especially to attach importance to homogeneity of refractive index. The entire optical system achieves high transmittance.
More preferably, the optical system comprises optical members made of a plurality of qualities of synthetic quartz glass and an optical member made of a kind of fluorite, wherein the fluorite has a homogeneity of refractive index xcex94n of 3xc3x9710xe2x88x926/cm or less and a birefringence of 2 nm/cm or less; a first quality of synthetic quartz glass has a hydrogen molecule concentration in the range of 5xc3x971017 molecules/cm3 to 5xc3x971018 molecules/cm3, a homogeneity of refractive index xcex94n of 2xc3x9710xe2x88x926/cm or less and a birefringence of 1 nm/cm or less; and a second quality of synthetic quartz glass has a hydrogen molecule concentration in the range of 1xc3x971017 molecules/cm3 to 5xc3x971018 molecules/cm3, a homogeneity of refractive index xcex94n of 2xc3x9710xe2x88x926/cm or less and a birefringence of 1 nm/cm or less.
That is, while according to the present invention, in a high energy level region of laser light, fluorite having resistance to a change in transmittance of laser light, especially single crystal fluorite due to absolutely no volume constriction over time is observed instead of quartz glass, it is extremely difficult to achieve such optical properties as homogeneity in refractive index, low birefringence and the like for a large diameter optical member used in photolithography when fluorite is used as the material.
If synthetic quartz glass capable of being doped under atmospheric pressure and having high homogeneity is used in a low energy level region of laser light, resistance to a change in transmittance and high homogeneity can be maintained in the entire optical system.
As a relation between fluorite and synthetic quartz glass in terms of a measure of homogeneity such as a refractive index An or a birefringence nm/cm, it is preferred that the homogeneity is set better in the synthetic quartz glass used as an amorphous optical member than in the fluorite used as an crystalline optical member, in other words, a measure of homogeneity is set better in a light source side-optical member than a wafer side-optical member. In a more definite manner, it is preferred that a wafer side-optical member is of single crystal and has a homogeneity of refractive index xcex94n of 3xc3x9710xe2x88x926/cm or less and a birefringence of 2 nm/cm or less, and a light source side-optical member is of synthetic quartz glass and has a homogeneity of refractive index xcex94n of 2xc3x9710xe2x88x926/cm or less and a birefringence of 1 nm/cm or less.
Generally, excimer laser light has a spread in oscillating wavelength and accordingly, unless the spread in oscillating wavelength is restricted to a narrow band width in a monochromatic lens system, a material of whose constituent lenses is only quartz, chromatic aberration arises. Therefore the present invention employs an ArF excimer laser light which is ultraviolet light of a short wavelength having an oscillating wavelength width of 1.5 pm or less (FWHM or full width at half maximum).
The fluorite used as an optical member can secure an internal transmittance per cm of about 98%/cm after irradiation of the pulsed laser light having a wavelength of 193 nm at an energy density per pulse of 50 mJ/cm2 for a pulse count of 1xc3x97106.
In order to improve resistance to laser light, according to a further aspect of the present invention, an optical system for circuit pattern exposure of ArF excimer laser light having a wavelength of 193 nm is provided, wherein the average transmittance of the optical system as a whole is about 98.0%/cm or more, the transmittance of the at least one amorphous optical member is 99.5%/cm or more and the transmittance for the crystalline optical member is 99.8%/cm or more, whereby at least one amorphous optical member belonging to the second quality is disposed in a region through which the laser light is transmitted at an energy density of xcex5xe2x89xa60.1 mJ/cm2, and at least one amorphous optical member belonging to the first quality is disposed in a region, through which the laser light is transmitted at an energy density of 0.1 less than xcex5 less than 0.4 mJ/cm2, and the at least one crystalline optical member is disposed in a region, through which the laser light is transmitted at an energy density of xcex5xe2x89xa70.4 mJ/cm2.
Besides, in order to achieve homogeneity in refractive index in the entire optical system and more particularly, maintain a change in the average refractive index at a low value, the optical members are preferably so arranged in combinations that the optical system comprises an overall optical path length composed of total optical path lengths of the at least one crystalline optical member and of the at least one amorphous optical member, wherein the total optical path length of the at least one crystalline optical member is set at 25% or less of the overall optical path length and the total optical path length of the at least one amorphous optical member belonging to the second quality is set at 50% or more of the total optical path length. Preferably the average variation of refractive index An of the optical system is set at a value of xcex94nxe2x89xa62.0xc3x9710xe2x88x926/cm.

Optical system for integrated circuit fabrication


A method and apparatus for the heat treatment of hard metals, cermets and ceramics in a microwave sintering furnace, the material to be treated being moved together with the resonator relative to one or a plurality of microwave sources. The material to be treated is disposed in individual cassettes which, with the exception of an opening necessary for the microwave radiation, consist of material which is impermeable to microwaves and dimensioned to simultaneously form microwave resonant cavities at a microwave frequency when charged with the material.

DE 43 24 635 A1 describes microwave chamber ovens which are equipped for the batch sintering of ceramic bodies at temperatures up to approximately 1650.degree. C. Tunnel furnaces with conventional heating for continuous sintering are known, but they have proven to be energy consuming and time consuming. In order to alleviate this situation, a sintering installation has been proposed which comprises at least one stationary sintering table whereupon the bodies to be sintered can be placed, and at least one microwave source in a tunnel-shaped traveling hood, which can be moved by a drive over the sintering table. The hood is made in a self-supporting manner of metal, for instance aluminum. In a concrete example in or on the hood several microwave sources are provided, which are connected with a measuring, control and adjustment unit for the purpose of a temperature-controlled adjustment of the microwave output and/or of the hood speed. The ceramic bodies to be sintered can be arranged in a microwave-transparent and heat-insulated cassette, which for instance is made of aluminum oxide fiber.
DE 36 43 649 A1 also describes a device for the continuous heating of polar, especially temperature-sensitive goods or highly viscous products under simultaneous application of microwave energy and conditioned atmosphere, whereby the goods to be treated traverse a sufficiently dimensioned resonator chamber more than once in alternating directions. The transport of the goods through the device can be done optionally with the assistance of conveyor belts, troughs, spirals or pipes, with or without additional vibration, optionally with underpressure, normal pressure or overpressure. By increasing the resonance chamber, such a device should provide a more uniform field distribution, however any solid coupling of a test sample of hard metal, cermet or ceramic subjected to the heat of the microwave, modified the field distribution uncontrollably, especially then, when according to DE 36 43 649 A1, the pieces assume more or less randomly arranged positions when they fall from one conveyor belt unto the next.
DE 41 36 416 A1 proposes a device for the microwave treatment of materials, particularly starting materials for ceramic materials, alloys, etc. with a conveyor segment, which is defined at least sectionally by trough or pipe arrangements, whose walls have a certain microwave-absorption capability. This device has a resonator surrounding the wall at least sectionally, as well as at least one generator for producing microwave radiation, whereby the walls of the through or pipe arrangement have a microwave-absorption capability which varies over their length. For the purpose of directly heating the materials with microwaves, it is possible to precede the conveyor segment with an additional device, by means of which additives with high microwave-absorption capability are added to the materials. However this device is limited to the treatment of such materials which can be processed by an extruder or can be fed via a screw transporter.
DE 39 26 471 A1 describes a method for the heat treatment of organic substance mixtures, whereby the exposure to microwaves takes place within a resonance chamber which basically is reflectively limited on all sides, wherein a mode and frequency splitting of the microwave takes place and whose main dimensions do not fall below approximately eight times the free space wavelength of the microwave field in relation to the nominal frequency. Besides the fact that in this reference the treatment of hard metals, cermets and/or ceramics is not even mentioned, the expensive manufacturing techniques and required apparatus for the sintering treatment would be uneconomical in view of the low throughput.

Method, device for the heat treatment of materials in a microwave oven and use of this method and device


A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) airflow distribution module with an outlet closing mechanism for a vehicle including a driver face airflow outlet defined by an HVAC module. A passenger face airflow outlet defined by the HVAC module having a center portion and a side portion. An adaptor including a door driving mechanism to control a telescoping door sub-assembly, which is mounted at the passenger face airflow outlet and is movable between a retracted position at which the telescoping door sub-assembly does not obstruct the airflow through the passenger face airflow outlet by being packaged away from outlets, and any one of a plurality of extended positions at which the telescoping door sub-assembly obstructs the side portion or both the side and center portions of the passenger face airflow outlet at different blocking levels when no passenger is present to save energy, improve fuel economy, and/or increase battery life.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure, which is not necessarily prior art.
Vehicles typically include a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to regulate the temperature of the main cabin. The HVAC system typically includes an HVAC airflow distribution module, which typically houses a heater core and an evaporator. The HVAC airflow distribution module further includes a driver face airflow outlet, which is divided into a driver center face outlet and a driver side face outlet; and a passenger face airflow outlet, which is divided to a passenger center face outlet and a passenger side face outlet. Airflow from the driver face airflow outlet is directed to driver face ducts. Airflow from the passenger face airflow outlet is directed to passenger face ducts. While existing HVAC airflow distribution modules are suitable for their intended use, they are subject to improvement. For example, when the vehicle does not have a front passenger, airflow flowing from the entire passenger face airflow outlet of the HVAC airflow distribution module is "wasted" because it cools an area of the cabin where no person is seated. An HVAC airflow distribution module able to direct airflow only to occupied areas of the vehicle cabin would therefore be desirable. The present disclosure advantageously provides for an improved HVAC airflow distribution module that addresses these issues in the art.

Closing mechanism for an airflow outlet of an HVAC airflow distribution module


There is disclosed a security enclosure including a folded, flexible, electrically insulating sheet extending over the whole of the area of the enclosure and carrying lines of electrically responsive material on each side, the lines defining a conductor extending over both sides of the sheet, electrical connections between lines on one side of the sheet and respective lines on the other side of the sheet being provided by line connections extending through the sheet and at selected edges of the sheet the line connections being spaced inwardly of the edge and separated from the edges by a respective line-carrying portion of sheet. The enclosure includes a circuit for detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of the conductor caused by an attempt to penetrate the sheet.

It is known to provided security enclosures with walls or sheets incorporating coils, meshes or grids of electrically responsive material and to monitor certain electrical characteristics of the material to provide an indication when the sheet containing the material has been pierced or an attempt has been made to open the enclosure through other means. Detection of such an attempt may activate an alarm, destroy the material or object within the enclosure, or erase information if the object within the enclosure, for example, contains sensitive magnetically recorded information. Examples of such enclosures are disclosed in PCT International Application Publication No. W087/06749 to Wolf, U.K. Patent No. 1,375,926 to GAO Gesellschaft Fur Automation und Organisation mbH, U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,743 to Dalphin and European Patent Publication No. 277,679 to Seculock BV. However, the present invention is more closely related to security enclosures of the form disclosed in U.K. Patent Application GB 2220513A, to W. L. Gore and Associates Inc. The disclosed security enclosures are formed from layers of flexible material including a matrix of diagonally extending semi-conductive lines printed on to a rectangular, thin insulating film. The matrix of lines forms a continuous conductor which is broken if attempts are made to penetrate the film. The circuit is monitored by opening the conductor at one point and measuring the change of resistance between the two ends of the circuit.
The Gore application discloses enclosures in the form of shallow, rectangular envelopes formed simply by folding a rectangular laminate, including the various layers of flexible material and the matrix of diagonally extending semi-conductive lines, about a single axis and then securing the edges of the laminate to one another to form the envelope.
Although the disclosed laminate is flexible, it is nevertheless considered preferable to minimize the number of folds required in the formation of the enclosure, as the semi-conductive lines which define the matrix can be damaged through folding. Thus, enclosures formed in this way are not well suited for containing objects that are not relatively thin and flat.