A method for preparing and using a tetramethylammonium hydroxide etchant (180). The etchant is prepared by combining precisely known quantities of the etchant components obtained from liquid sources of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (110) and dissolved silicate (115). A precise quantity of an acidic (relative to tetramethylammonium hydroxide) oxidizer is added at intervals during a long etch as well as just before immersing a sample holder (135) and sample in the etchant (180). A precise quantity of tetramethylammonium hydroxide such as can obtained from a pipette (175) is also added during long etches to compensate for the reduction in etchant pH caused by the addition of the oxidizer.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the processing of standard silicon integrated-circuit (IC) chips or wafers containing precursors for micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) structures co-integrated with standard CMOS-IC control or signal processing electronics, specifically, to etching silicon chips or wafers to convert MEMS precursors into functional MEMS structures while preserving aluminum bonding pads located on the chips or wafers.
2. Description of Prior Art
CMOS-IC Foundry MEMS
Parameswaran et al., Micromachined Thermal Radiation Emitter from a Commercial CMOS Process, IEEE Electron Device Letters 12, 57-59 (1991), describe a method for co-integrating MEMS structures with CMOS IC's on chips fabricated in a standard CMOS process by a commercial foundry service. Both the circuits and MEMS precursors were designed with the same standard IC CAD software. A special layer called OPEN was used to define the MEMS precursors. Following completely standard fabrication at the commercial foundry, the chips were etched in a mixture of ethylenediamine, pyrocatechol, and water (EDP) to remove the silicon below the MEMS precursor. What remained was a functional MEMS structure.
The EDP etchant was heated to over 90° C. while being stirred in a retort-type etching vessel fitted with a reflux condenser. Once the etching temperature had been reached, the chips to be etched were inserted into the retort for a predetermined etching period, typically less than one hour, after which they were removed. No photolithographic or masking steps were required before the chips were put into the retort and the etch was self-limiting. Therefore, precise control of the duration of the etch was not required. When the time required to convert the MEMS precursors into functional MEMS structures was less than about one hour, then the aluminum bonding pads that were connected to the co-integrated IC's usually were not damaged too much to prevent wirebonding.
The method of Parameswaran et al. is, however, not without problems. First, EDP is a toxic material that is difficult to handle. Some of its constituents have a high vapor pressure. It also forms a mist whenever the retort is opened at temperature, and whenever EDP is poured from one container to another. Misting appears to pose the most acute inhalation hazard. Second, while EDP etches silicon much more rapidly than aluminum, it still etches aluminum at a rate great enough to completely remove the bonding pads after not much longer than one hour, and partial etching of the bonding pads during the shorter time period may reduce the reliability of the bonding pads during the life of the packaged chip. Third, EDP is very dirty. It leaves a residue on the chips that cannot be removed with a simple rinse. If a chip is rinsed a few times in deionized (DI) water and then set in a beaker of fresh DI water for a number of hours, the water will become very dark indicating removal of residue that remained after the initial rinses. If all of this residue is not adequately removed by flowing fresh DI water over the chip for many hours, the chip will deteriorate over a period of months. Finally, etching at a temperature over 90° C. is inconvenient due to its proximity to the boiling point of water.
TMAH Etchants of Schnakenberg et al.
Schnakenberg et al., TMAH etchants for silicon micromachining, Digest of Technical Papers, '91, IEEE Int. Conf. on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators, 815-818 (1991), reported on the etching properties of different concentrations of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) and dissolved silicon (silicate) in water. They reported that                they prepared their etchants by diluting commercial solutions of 25% TMAH (by weight in water) and carried out all etches at 80° C. with a reflux condenser without stirring,        the etchant pH, which was apparently measured during etching, decreased during etching and was the most important factor affecting the etching characteristics; the etch rate depended upon pH rather than the concentrations of TMAH and silicon dissolved in the etchant,        pyramidal hillocks bounded by (111) crystal planes formed on the etched surfaces when the etchant pH was less than 13, which corresponds to a TMAH concentration of about 20% in the absence of dissolved silicon; the density and size of the hillocks increased with decreasing pH,        the silicon (100) etch rate was about 39 μm per hour at a pH of about 11.8, which corresponds to an undoped TMAH concentration of about 2%, and the ratio of the silicon (111) to (100) etch rate was about 0.02 at this pH,        the silicon (100) etch rate was about 26 μm per hour at a pH of about 13, which corresponds to an undoped TMAH concentration of about 20%, and the ratio of the silicon (111) to (100) etch rate was about 0.04 at this pH,        the silicon (100) etch rate decreased monotonically as the pH was increased from 11.8 to 13.3,        the silicon (100) direction etch rate of TMAH is greater than that of EDP,        the etch rate for aluminum, which was mainly influenced by the concentration of dissolved silicon in the etchant and which was controlled by doping the etchant with silicon, could be reduced to a negligible value by dissolving silicon (as silicate) in a concentration that depended upon the TMAH concentration (over 90 grams per liter at 20% TMAH by weight,        the etch rate for the other standard layers used in CMOS integrated circuits was very low compared to the silicon (100) etch rate in the absence of dissolved silicon, and even lower in the presence of dissolved silicon,
While providing some important advantages over the use of EDP, the procedure of Schnakenberg et al. also has some disadvantages. First, pH monitoring at high pH and high temperature is expensive and requires considerable care and frequent recalibration to be reliable. Secondly, hillocks formation is a serious problem because the etching process becomes unreliable. In fact, etching often ceases in the presence of hillocks, so the procedure of Schnakenberg et al. is really useful only when the pH is maintained above 13. TMAH is an expensive reagent, and using it above pH 13 requires a high concentration, which increases the etching cost significantly. Also, the selectivity against etching in the (111) direction is less than desirable at pH 13. Finally, Schnakenberg et al. didn't describe how they doped the etchant with sufficient silicon.
TMAH Etchants of Tabata et al.
Tabata et al., Anisotropic etching of silicon in TMAH solutions, Sensors and Actuators A34, 51-57 (1992), carried out a similar study to that of Schnakenberg et al. at four different etching temperatures, including 80° C., and came to similar though not identical conclusions. Besides reporting that they used silicon wafers, which they dissolved in the TMAH etchant, as a source of dissolved silicate, the most noteworthy differences that they reported included                their solutions had TMAH concentrations ranging from 5% to 40% that were obtained by dilution or condensation of commercial solutions of 25% TMAH (by weight in water); unlike Schnakenberg et al., they apparently did not measure the solution pH,        in the presence of no dissolved silicon (as silicate), the silicon (100) etch rate was about 90 μm per hour at a TMAH concentration of 5%, which is considerably greater than that reported by Schnakenberg et al.,        in the presence of no dissolved silicon, the silicon (100) etch rate was about 60 μm per hour at a TMAH concentration of 22%, which is also considerably greater than that reported by Schnakenberg et al.,        when the etched surfaces were covered with hillocks, the etch rate became very low,        the etch rate at a TMAH concentration of 22% at 80° C. is less than that of EDP, which is the opposite of what Schnakenberg et al. reported,        the aluminum etch rate showed a threshold-like behavior as a function of dissolved silicon; at low concentrations of dissolved silicon, the aluminum etch rate was comparable to that of a (100) silicon plane, and decreased by only a factor of 3 with the addition of 50 grams per liter of dissolved silicon, but decreased by a factor of 10,000 with the addition of 30 more grams of dissolved silicon.        TMAH is non-toxic. (THIS IS DEFINITELY FALSE, but because TMAH does not mist, and because its original components are much less volatile than those in EDP, it is much easier to handle safely than EDP. Its thermal decomposition products at 130° C., trimethylamine and methanol, which may be generated to some extent during etching, are also less hazardous, relatively speaking.)        it appears that Tabata et al. recommend use of a 22% solution of TMAH with at least 67 grams per liter of dissolved silicon operated at 90° C. for use as a silicon (100) etchant that will preserve the other layers present in standard CMOS IC fabrication processes.
Actually, the procedure of Tabata et al. is so similar to that of Schnakenberg et al. that it has most of the same disadvantages, but it does appear to eliminate the disadvantage of pH monitoring. Another disadvantage of the procedure of Tabata et al. is that it requires dissolving a silicon wafer in the TMAH solution to prepare the etchant. (Schnakenberg et al. don't report how they obtain dissolved silicon.) Dissolving a wafer is inconvenient because it takes longer than to carry out a typical etch. It is also less convenient to handle silicon wafers than to handle reagents that are available from a liquid source such as the water solution of TMAH that these authors used. Yet another disadvantage of the procedure that is apparently recommended by Tabata et al. is that the etch must be carried out at 90° C., which is less convenient than a lower temperature because it is so close to the boiling point of water.
TMAH Etchants of Klassen et al., Tea et al., and Paranjape et al.
Klassen et al., Micromachined Thermally Isolated Circuits, Solid-State Sensor and Actuator Workshop, 127-131 (Hilton Head, S.C., 1996), reported successfully etching chips containing co-integrated MEMS precursors and CMOS circuits with a water solution of 5% TMAH by weight, 16 grams per liter dissolved silicon, and 5 grams per liter of ammonium peroxydisulfate (APODS) for 150 minutes at 80°. They also stated that that 40 grams per liter of dissolved silicic acid (SA) can be used instead of 16 grams per liter of dissolved silicon (obtained from dissolving a silicon wafer), that between 5 and 10 grams per liter of APODS was used, and that this concentration of APODS was sufficient to prevent hillock formation during the entire etching period.
The procedure of Klassen et al. improves upon that of Tabata et al. in that it uses considerably less expensive TMAH reagent. On the other hand, dissolving SA instead of dissolving silicon wafers introduces as many problems as it solves. SA is sold as a low density powder of very fine particles of SiO2.xH2O, where x is not precisely known. Therefore, SA is not really a reagent and cannot be used as source of a precisely known quantity of SIO2 in the TMAH etchant.
Furthermore, due to the small size of the SA particles, fluffy clouds of SA have a tendency to float into the air when it is poured or scooped. Besides being an inhalation hazard, this makes it very difficult to control the quantity of SA added to the etchant, which adds to the uncertainty in the quantity of silicate in the etchant.
Tea et al., Hybrid Postprocessing etching for CMOS-compatible MEMS, J. of MEMS, 6, 363-372 (1997), describe a modification of the procedure of Klassen et al. The major difference is that that Tea et al. used a higher pH solution, and added 16 g of 25% TMAH and 5 g of APODS about every 35 minutes during etches that lasted longer than 35 minutes after removing the sample holder. They did not replace the sample holder until all of the APODS was dissolved about 10 minutes after it was added to the etchant.
The additional APODS was needed because the lifetime of the APODS apparently decreases with increasing pH. The additional TMAH was used to compensate for the reduction in etchant pH caused by the ammonium ion contained in the APODS. According to Tea et al., their procedure is still far from ideal, suffering the same problems with SA as the procedure of Klassen et al.
Paranjape et al., Dual-doped TMAH silicon etchant for MEMS structures and systems applications, J. Vac. Sci. Technolo. A18, 738-742 (2000), describe comparisons of etching with high concentration of TMAH without silicate and APODS and etching with lower concentrations of TMAH, dissolved silicate, and APODS. Like Tea they add APODS at intervals during a long etch, but they do not describe their procedure.
Paranjape et al. recommend a 5% by weight solution of TMAH with 42.5 grams per liter of SA. Their procedure is very similar to that of Klassen et al. and Tea et al., and suffers from many of the same problems. Indeed, Paranjape et al. specifically state that the correct concentration of SA needed to preserve exposed aluminum layers varied from under 20 grams per liter to over 40 grams per liter depending upon the water content of the SA. In fact, they suggested that the proper amount of SA should be determined for each experimental case, which is very inconvenient.
Silicate Chemistry
G. Lagerstroem and N. Ingri, Equilibrium studies of polyions, IV. Silicate ions in NaCl medium, Acta Chem. Scand. 13, 758-775 (1959) and N. Ingri and G. Lagerstroem, Equilibrium studies of polyions, III. Silicate ions in NaClO4 medium, Acta Chem. Scand. 13, 722-736 (1959) point out that when silicon is dissolved in a strong base like TMAH, the resulting solutions consist of a number of different silicate species including Si(OH)4, SiO(OH)3−, SiO2(OH)22−, and Si4O6(OH)63−.
As long as the OH− concentration remains above about 2×10−3, all species present are in solution and the kinetics are fast. If the OH− concentration falls below this value, even momentarily, a precipitate of Si(OH)4 and silicate polymers will begin to form. The solution may remain clear for some time while the precipitate is forming, but will eventually become cloudy if the OH− concentration remains below about 2×10−3. If the OH− concentration is again raised above 2×10−3, the precipitate will redissolve, but only very slowly.
The chemical reactions among different silicate species are such that it takes more than one mole of a singly ionized base like TMAH to neutralize one mole of SA, and even more base is needed to bring the OH− concentration high enough to prevent precipitation of Si(OH)4 and silicate polymers. Thus, the pH of the solution is lowered from the pH before dissolution of the SA by an amount that depends upon the concentration of each silicate species.
The net effect is that there is a small window in which the solution pH is high enough to prevent precipitation of silicate and low enough to prevent attack on exposed aluminum. This means that the procedures of Klassen et al., Tea et al., and Paranjape et al., utilizing SA as they do, will suffer from reproducibility problems because the water content of the SA cannot be accurately determined prior to etching. Not only can such problems waste an expensive reagent, but they can also ruin fully fabricated wafers, which are very expensive.
To summarize, all of these authors report contradictory results and draw different conclusions, which suggests that the preparation and use of TMAH etchants is not simple, but requires great attention to detail. Schnakenberg et al. and Tabata et al. recommend using TMAH concentrations above 20%, whereas Klassen et al., Tea et al., and Paranjape et al. recommend TMAH concentrations below 10% with APODS to prevent hillock formation. All of the authors cited above recommend using dissolved silicate to preserve exposed aluminum, but Schnakenberg et al. do not describe their source of dissolved silicate. Tabata et al. report using silicon wafers. Not only are these much less convenient than a liquid reagent, they also take a very long time to dissolve. Klassen et al., Tea et al., and Paranjape et al. report using SA as a source of dissolved silicate. Not only is SA much less convenient than a liquid reagent, but it does not deliver a reproducible quantity of dissolved silicate to the etchant. Finally, neither Klassen et al., nor Tea et al., nor Paranjape et al. describe how they add APODS, which is sold as a powder, to the etchant. Klassen et al. add APODS only once, while Tea et al. and Paranjape et al. add APODS periodically during the etch, but only Tea et al. add TMAH when they add APODS to compensate for the pH reduction caused by the APODS.

Method for TMAH etching of CMOS integrated circuits


The invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing high density slurry and paste backfills for use in mining operations and to associated backfill paste production facilities which incorporate the aforesaid method and apparatus. The high density slurry or paste is produced from a mill tailings mixture in a silo which includes a percolation/decant device for pecolating water out of the mill tailings mixture and for decanting clarified water from atop the settled tailings. While settling occurs, air is introduced from the bottom of the silo to agitate the mixture to ensure substantially homogeneous settlement of the solids. Once settled, the resultant high density slurry or paste is fluidized by air in order to give the paste more readily flowable characteristics. The flowable paste can then be mixed with a setting agent and pumped or transported to the mine site to be used as a settable backfill.

There are many different reasons for using backfilling in mines and not only to the benefit of the environment. In some cases, creating an opening underground poses no problem other than with the disposal of waste materials. However, in most types of rock, when an opening is created, it causes stress realignment around the opening. This not only creates problems with spalling and rock falls during rockbursts but also limits the size of the opening that can be made.
Some of the reasons backfill is used in mines (not in any specific order):
(a) to keep highly stressed rock around an opening from spalling. Spalling not only dilutes the ore but it can cause hazards in stopes where people are working; PA1 (b) to keep negatively stressed rock (in tension) around an opening from coming loose for the same reasons in (a) above; PA1 (c) to absorb some of the excess stresses in order to minimize damage from rockbursting; PA1 (d) to act as pillars in some types of mining to permit removal of more ore; PA1 (e) as a working platform for personnel and equipment in undercut and fill operations; PA1 (f) to prevent surface subsidence in shallow mines or soft rock mines; PA1 (g) to alleviate environmental hazards associated with surface disposal of waste materials; and PA1 (h) to dispose of large quantities of mining wastes underground. PA1 (a) cemented rockfill (stiff fill); PA1 (b) uncemented esker sand; PA1 (c) gravel; PA1 (d) uncemented classified mill tailings (cycloned to separate the very fine particles or slimes) and unclassified (total tailings) in hydraulic form (40% to 55% solids content); PA1 (e) cemented classified and unclassified mill tailings in hydraulic form; and PA1 (f) a combination of esker sands and classified and unclassified tailings. With the growing environmental concern for tailings disposal on surface, there has been a growing interest in using the tailings for mine backfill whether or not backfill is necessary for ground control purposes. Mill tailings have traditionally been used for backfilling of mines but usually in a classified form. Once classified, the finer portion of the material (slimes) was then sent to the surface disposal site or tailings pond. However, in recent years, mine operators have seen the need to dispose of their total tailings in the form of backfill.
Various traditional materials have been used for backfill, the choice of which is usually dependent upon the reason for backfilling and on cost. Some of the materials include but are not limited to:
The use of hydraulic tailings fill entails considerable preparation before the filling of the opening can commence. First a bulkhead must be constructed which will hold back the hydraulic mass while allowing water to percolate out of the fill. In some larger mines, drainage pipes such as extruded plastic weeping tile are hung from the top of the stope and brought together under the bulkhead. If a large stope is being filled, a plug is often poured first with a higher cement content (up to 30%) to just above the bulkhead. When the plug is set, the remainder of the stope is filled with the weaker cemented fill (normally around 10% cement). Such extensive preparation is costly in terms of both time and capital.
Another major cost associated with the use of hydraulic backfill is the water that leaches out of the fill mass must be pumped back up to surface. If the mining method used calls for mining to progress against the backfill, sufficient time must be allowed for the fill to drain and cure which can typically be on the order of from 28 to 56 days.
As alternatives to hydraulic fill, high density slurry or paste backfills may be used. High density slurry is simply a thicker hydraulic fill. It has a solids content in the range of 60% to 70% rather than the 40% to 55% range of hydraulic fills. The lower water content requires less extensive bulkhead construction, exhibits faster percolation times, requires less water to be pumped back up to the surface, and requires less cement to achieve the same strength as hydraulic fill.
Paste backfill is an even higher density tailings material in the range of 76% to 84% solids content, depending on the size gradation of the material. By definition, a paste is a material that does not exude water after it has been placed. Such a material has many benefits when used as a backfill in that it does not require water to pumped back up to the surface, lighter or even no bulkhead construction, much less time to resume mining, and it only uses 1.5% to 3% cement. The main drawback in the use of pastefill is that due to its consistency, it is difficult to transport.
Prior Art High Density Slurry / Paste Fill Systems
Currently known systems used to thicken hydraulic tailings slurry to a higher density or paste employ commercially available drum filters, thickeners and/or blend the slurry with alluvial sand to produce paste. While the sand is used in the process to try to achieve a higher strength due to the particle size of the sand, excavation of alluvial sand raises environmental issues.
The thickener system starts out with the tailings in a storage silo. From the storage silo, the tailings are dumped into the thickener. Once the mixture has thickened sufficiently, it is dumped to a mixer where cement is added. After mixing, the resultant backfill material is either pumped or gravity fed to the underground stopes. This thickener system prepares paste in batches as it takes time to remove the water in the thickener. Therefore, if a continuous backfilling system is required, two tailings storage silos and two thickeners are required. The main drawbacks associated with this system are that the thickeners are very costly , i.e. up to $1,000,000 each; being mechanical devices, they require a high level of maintenance; due to the various factors which can affect the thickening process, the fill plant operator must be consistent in judging the release time of the fill from the thickener; thickeners are large and require considerable floor space; and the energy costs to operate such thickeners are relatively high.
The drum filter system begins thickening in the same way, with hydraulic tailings coming from a storage silo. The slurry is fed from the silo to one or more drum filters. These filters use a permeable membrane and air to remove most of the water from the slurry, leaving a cake of tailings (filter cake) on the drums. The actual paste production involves re-pulping the filter cake by adding a controlled amount of water and cement and mixing to obtain the proper consistency. The material is then poured or pumped from the mixer to the stopes.
While the initial cost of a drum filter system is much lower than that of a thickener, the drum filter system still suffers from some major disadvantages which include the large floor space required for the storage of the filter cakes; personnel required to handle the cake between filter, storage and the re-pulping process; the maintenance costs of the filters; and the fact that the operator has less control due to the handling required and the resulting extra personnel involved.

Backfill paste production facility and method and apparatus for producing high density slurry and paste backfills

Her Majesty The Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources


An exemplary method for fabricating a polysilicon layer includes the following steps. A substrate (10) is provided and an amorphous silicon layer (12) is formed over the substrate. An excimer laser generator (13) for generating a pulse excimer laser beams collectively having the shape of a generally rectangular shaft is provided to melt a first area (15) of the amorphous silicon layer with the pulse excimer laser beams. The excimer laser generator is moved a distance to melt a second area of the amorphous layer spaced a short distance away from the first area. At least a subsequent third melted area spaced a short distance away from the second melted area is formed, with each subsequent melted area is spaced as short distance away from the immediately preceding melted area.

At present, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are the most common type of displays used in products such as notebook computers, game centers, and the like.
The principal driving devices for an LCD are thin film transistors (TFTs). Because the amorphous silicon layer in amorphous silicon TFTs can be made at a relatively low temperature (between 200° C. and 300° C.), amorphous silicon TFTs are frequently used in LCDs. However, the electron mobility of amorphous silicon is lower than 1 cm2/V.S. (one square centimeter per volt second). Hence, amorphous silicon TFTs cannot provide the speeds required of an LCD in certain high-speed devices. On the other hand, the polycrystalline silicon (or polysilicon) TFT has electron mobility as high as 200 cm2/V.S. Therefore polysilicon TFTs are more suitable for high-speed operations. However, the process of transforming an amorphous silicon layer into a polysilicon layer often requires an annealing temperature in excess of 600° C. Under that temperature, the glass substrate supporting the TFTs is liable to be distorted. Thus, a number of methods of fabricating a polysilicon layer at a reduced temperature have been developed. Among such methods, the excimer laser annealing (ELA) method is the most prominent.
In a typical ELA process of fabricating a polysilicon layer, an excimer laser generator generates a cylindroid (cylinder-like) excimer laser beam. The laser beam irradiates an amorphous silicon layer, moving up and down to melt a first area of the amorphous silicon layer. Then the excimer laser generator is stepped a distance, and moves up and down to melt a second area of the amorphous silicon layer that partially overlaps the first area of the melted amorphous silicon layer. Because the temperature of the overlapping portion of the second area is higher than the temperature of the non-overlapping portion of the second area, a lateral temperature gradient exists along the direction from the higher temperature to the lower temperature. Hence, heterogeneous nucleation occurs at the interface of the overlapping portion and the non-overlapping portion to form a few seeds of crystallization. Thereafter, the melted silicon starts crystallizing from the seeds of crystallization to finally form a polysilicon layer. Because the temperature of the ELA process is under 500° C., the polysilicon thin film transistors fabricated using such low temperature process are often called low temperature polysilicon thin film transistors (LTPS-TFTs).
However, in order to melt each area of the amorphous silicon layer, the laser generator has to move up and down several times. This contributes to the duration of the production cycle. Moreover, the size of polysilicon grains of the amorphous silicon layer has a positive correlation to a value of the lateral temperature gradient when the energy of the amorphous silicon layer is under the super lateral growth (SLG) point. In the aforementioned ELA process, the lateral temperature gradient has a relatively low value. Therefore the sizes of the fabricated polysilicon grains are small, and the polysilicon layer has relatively low electron mobility. Furthermore, it is hard to control the energy provided to the amorphous silicon layer. If the energy exceeds the SLG point, a density distribution of the seeds of crystallization may drop to a very low value within a transient interval. The sudden loss of seeds of crystallization may lead to the production of numerous small and highly non-uniform grains. Overall, the typical ELA method of fabricating a polysilicon layer is liable to have low efficiency, and the polysilicon layer fabricated by such method may have relatively low electron mobility.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method for fabricating a polysilicon layer that can overcome the above-described deficiencies.

Method for fabricating a polysilicon layer having large and uniform grains


An image forming apparatus includes a carrier, a forming device forming a mark on the carrier, a sensor, a determiner, a changer, an evaluator and a controller. The sensor includes a light emitting device that emits light toward the carrier and the light receiving device that receives light reflected from the carrier or the mark and outputs a light reception signal corresponding to the received light quantity. The determiner determines a position of the mark based on the light reception signal. The changer changes sensor sensitivity by changing a quantity of light from the light emitting device or sensitivity of the light receiving device. The evaluator obtains the light reception signals multiple times and evaluates a degree of closeness between an average level of the light reception signals and a target level. The controller controls the changer to change the sensor sensitivity of the sensor according to an evaluation result.

A known image forming apparatus has a function to correct deviation etc. in an image forming position on, for example, a sheet. More specifically, the image forming apparatus forms a plurality of marks (that configure a pattern such as a registration pattern) on a belt and, while emitting light toward the belt, receives the reflection light using an optical sensor. Then, on a basis of a light reception signal outputted from the optical sensor, the image forming apparatus reads a difference between a reflectance (a quantity of reflected light) of a belt surface and a reflectance of a mark surface to determine the mark position on the belt. On a basis of a result of the determination, the apparatus corrects the deviation in the image forming position.
Note here that, the belt surface can get scratches and waste, and the scratches and waste can diffuse the reflection light. This causes decrease in the reflectance of the belt surface and can result in failure in determination of the mark position. Note that there is a known art addressed to reduce this failure. With the art, the apparatus evaluates a condition of the reflection of the belt surface and, according to a result of the evaluation, adjusts the sensitivity of the optical sensor.
Note that the degree of the scratches and waste varies by position on the belt surface and, accordingly, the reflectance of the belt surface varies by position; following this, the light reception signal also varies. However, the known art is configured to evaluate the condition of the reflection of the belt surface on the basis of the light reception signal at a single time point, i.e. without considering the reflectance variation. Therefore, even with the adjusted sensitivity of the optical sensor, accuracy in determining the mark position varies depending on the level of the light reception signal of the single time.
Note that the variation in the light reception signal can be caused not only by the variation in reflectance of the belt surface; the variation in the light reception signal can be caused also by other factors such as variation in quantity of light emitted from the optical sensor, in the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the optical sensor, etc.


Described herein are memory controllers for integrated circuits that implement network-on-chip (NoC) to provide access to memory to couple processing cores of the integrated circuit to a memory device. The NoC may be dedicated to service the memory controller and may include one or more routers to facilitate management of the access to the memory controller.

This disclosure relates to digital circuitry and, more specifically, to data routing circuitry in digital electronic devices.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Programmable logic devices are a class of integrated circuits that can be programmed to perform a wide variety of operations. A programmable logic device may include programmable logic elements that can be configured to perform custom operations or to implement one or more data processing circuits. The data processing circuits programmed in the programmable logic devices may exchange data with one another and with off-circuit devices via interfaces. To that end, the programmable logic devices may include routing resources (e.g., dedicated interconnects) to connect different data processing circuits to external interfaces (e.g., memory controllers, transceivers). As an example, certain devices may be configured in a System-in-Package (SiP) form, in which a programmable device, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) is coupled to a memory, such as a high bandwidth memory (HBM) using a high bandwidth interface. The FPGA may implement multiple data processing circuits that may access the HBM via the routing resources. As the amount of data, the speed of processing, and the number of functional blocks in a device increases, the routing resources may become insufficient to provide the requested access and, in some occasions, may become a bottleneck that may reduce the capacity of operation of the electronic device.

Scalable network-on-chip for high-bandwidth memory


An optical beam scanning apparatus wherein a resin polygonal scanner deflects a light beam radiated from a laser diode as the polygonal scanner is rotating. The polygonal scanner is pressed by a pressing member against a scanner rest which rotates together with a rotary shaft of a motor and thus fixed on the scanner rest. The pressing member has a plurality of tabs, and the polygonal scanner is pressed evenly when the tabs pierce the polygonal scanner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical beam scanning apparatus, and more particularly to an optical beam scanning apparatus wherein a rotating polygonal scanner deflects a light beam for scanning.
2. Description of Related Art
In an optical beam scanning apparatus which is to be installed in a printer or in an image reader, conventionally, a polygonal scanner has been provided. The polygonal scanner has a plurality of reflective facets on the periphery. The polygonal scanner is fastened to a rotary shaft of a motor and rotates at a constant speed with the rotation of the motor. Thereby, a light beam is reflected by the reflective facets of the polygonal scanner and deflected at a constant angular velocity.
Such polygonal scanners are generally made of metal like aluminum, or glass. However, in order for lightening, mass production and reduction of cost, U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,365 proposed that polygonal scanners be made of resin.
A polygonal scanner made of metal or glass is so hard that the polygonal scanner is hardly deformed when it is fastened to a rotary shaft of a motor. A polygonal scanner made of resin, on the other hand, is not very hard, and it may be deformed when it is fastened to a rotary shaft of a motor. The deformation of the reflective facets degrades the optical performance of the polygonal scanner.


The salt of a sulfonated succinic acid is cyclized, then converted to novel sulfonated hydroxamic acids by reaction with hydroxylamine (which is added or formed in situ), and the novel hydroxamic acid is then cyclized to the sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide salt. This synthetic procedure is simple, direct, and more rapid than present procedures for synthesis of the succinimide. Novel sulfo-hydroxamic acid intermediates are formed during this procedure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for the synthesis of sulfo-N-hydroxy succinimide salts, novel reduced-impurity or impurity-free salts, and novel intermediate hydroxamic acid sulfonate salts.
2. Background of the Art
Sulfo-N-hydroxy succinimides (often referred to as "Sulfo-NHS" or "S-NHS") including the acid and salt counterparts have a wide range of utility in a number of broad commercial areas, including but not limited to reagents for the manufacture of biotinylation reagents, oil well drilling agents, chemical and biological assay reagents, crosslinking agents for organic biological systems or polymer systems, side chain modifying agents, solubilizing agents, reactants, markers, and the like. The class may be generally represented by the formula below, representing the central nucleus: ##STR1##
Wherein X.sup.+ is a cation and R is H or an organic group, or especially any organic group formed from a compound R--OH wherein R--OH is an acid, and the symbolic extraction of OH (the hydroxyl) may leave the group R--, forming an ester with the remainder of the central nucleus. Examples of preferred R--OH compounds are acetic acid, LC-biotin suberic acid, biotin, suberic acid, 4-N-maleimidomethyl!cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid, and the like. The 2- and 3- positions on the central nucleus may also be substituted. The cation may be H.sup.+, monovalent cations (such as H.sup.+, Na.sup.+, Li.sup.+, K.sup.+, NH.sub.4.sup.+,Cs.sup.+, other inorganic cations, organic cations, etc.), or polyvalent cations (including divalent cations) in which the remaining charge is satisfied by other anions (e.g., halides, nitrates, sulfates, phosphates, etc.) or forms a bis- or tris- configuration with other sulfo-NHS anions. This class of compounds is relatively expensive, mainly because of the expensive synthetic procedures which must be taken to obtain the product. Existing synthetic procedures must not only use a large number of reagents and involve a large number of synthetic steps, but the procedures involve the use of large volumes of solvents and different solvents which must be stripped after various steps as well as at the end of the procedure. The process cost involved in recapturing and stripping of the solvents is quite significant, and with increasing environmental concerns, the requirements for avoiding release of solvents into the atmosphere have become more strict and therefore more costly.
A typical synthetic process for the synthesis of sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide salt is known to follow the following route:
Maleic anhydride: ##STR2## is reacted with furan: ##STR3## to form a Diels-Alder reaction product: ##STR4##
This intermediate product is extremely hazardous and special precautions are required in its handling. Workers must be protectively clothed and may even be required to wear full closure protective gear (e.g., full body suits), including self-contained helmets and at least filters if not self-contained air supplies. The crystals formed are hazardous to the eyes and are easily propelled and carried by air currents. Even removal of protective garments can be hazardous because of clinging crystalline product which can be put into the air by movement of the clothing. The Diels-Alder product is then reacted with hydroxylamine (e.g., hydroxylamine hydrochloride): ##STR5## This step is done with potassium hydroxide and methanol (precipitating potassium as potassium chloride) producing an N-hydroxy succinimide adduct: ##STR6##
This product is usually washed in toluene and hexane. The N-hydroxy succinimide adduct is then reacted at the hydroxyl group. This reaction is performed by combining the adduct with phenylchloroformate EQU C.sub.6 H.sub.5 O.sub.2 CCl
(which is a strong lachrymator) in various combinations of triethylamine, dichloromethane, toluene and hexane and sometimes dimethyl formamide to produce the next intermediate product: ##STR7##
This intermediate product is in turn dissolved in a hydrocarbon solvent, e.g., a non-polar hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., decane) and heated to elevated temperature to form the next intermediate by removal of the protecting group. ##STR8##
The temperature is elevated to about 170.degree. C., which is above the flashpoint for decane (46.degree. C.). The literature also shows the use of nitrobenzene as the solvent in this step. The reaction product tends to be a black, tarry product as result of using this commercially difficult step. t-Butyl catechol may be used as an antioxidant in this step.
This last intermediate is then reacted with sodium metabisulfite in ethanol to form the sodium salt of sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide, which is recrystallized from aqueous methanol, isopropanol, and washed with acetone: ##STR9## This product is produced in about 95-98% purity as an amorphous solid even after repeated purification, with clear evidence of the succinimide counterpart (the succinimide or hydrogen analog of the hydroxysuccinimide) being present in the final product: ##STR10## Overall yield of the process from the original maleic anhydride is about 25-28% theoretical, and the complete time of the process is about 50 days. Numerous solvent strips must occur, and a kilogram of product is usually produced in reaction vessels of fifty liters or more.
It therefore can be seen that the entire synthetic route is complex, has toxicity, environmental and hazard concerns throughout, is expensive, and is time consuming. Improved methods of synthesis are clearly desirable.

Preparation of sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide salts


Disclosed is a housing for a portable handheld electronic device such as a cellphone. The device has a housing, having a left side and right side. At least one of the left side and right side is provided with integral surface features or surface structures to enhance gripping the cellphone, preferably along the entire length of the phone or within about the top half or one third of the phone.

The capability of small form-factor, low-profile imaging devices continues to advance. For instance, certain point and shoot cameras, action cameras, as well as smartphones and other camera-equipped handheld electronic devices have begun to support still image and motion video capture at relatively high resolution levels and/or frame rates.
As just one example, the Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone, which is about 142 millimeters (mm) tall, about 70 mm wide, and only about 7 mm inches thick, has a rear camera with a 16 megapixel (MP) sensor, capable of shooting UHD 4K resolution video (3840×2160 pixels) at 30 frames per second (30 fps). Such high-end capabilities and feature sets were previously only associated with bulkier professional level digital cameras, including digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras and high-end (e.g., cinema grade) digital video cameras.
Despite these technological advances in some areas, todays more compact image devices are often not compatible with the types of high quality lenses typically used in conjunction with high-end DSLRs and digital video cameras.


A method and a safety device for the protection of a user's eye, or other radiation sensitive system, from a pulsed radiation emitted by a radiation source by means of an electro-optical shutter used in conjunction with the radiation source. The electro-optical sutter defines the field of view of the user or of the system and is capable of being switched by an electrical voltage signal from a transparent state to an opaque state within a response time .DELTA.t.sub.r. The method comprises applying to the electro-optical shutter the electrical voltage signal at an operational time interval .DELTA.t.sub.o, prior to the emission of each radiation pulse and keeping the electro-optical shutter in its opaque state until the radiation pulse is emitted. The operational time interval .DELTA.t.sub.o is at least slightly longer than the response time .DELTA.t.sub.r so that, by the time of emission of each radiation pulse, the electro-optical shutter is in its opaque state.

The increased use of tunable pulsed lasers in industrial, medical, and scientific applications requires safety measures to be taken to protect the eyes of users from the laser radiation.
There have been suggested safety glasses which provide a selective blocking of radiation of a specific wavelength. However, these glasses leave relatively broad regions of the spectrum open for vision and consequently are not suitable for the protection from tunable lasers over the entire visible range. Another important disadvantage of glasses of this kind is the chromatic distortion of their field of view.
To enable the eye protection in a broad range of wavelengths, it has been suggested to utilize, in safety glasses, lenses in the form of electro-optical shutters which are switched from their transparent state into their opaque state by an electrical voltage signal applied thereto.
Such safety glasses are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,239 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,795. In the glasses, an optical sensing device identifies a threatening radiation beam and activates power supply means to quickly switch the shutters into their opaque state.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,539 discloses safety glasses of the above kind in which the glasses transmittance varies in accordance with the intensity of radiation in their field of view. Thus, the glasses comprise two electro-optical shutters and an optical sensing device which measures the average intensity of radiation in the field of view of the shutters and activates control means to vary transmittance of the glasses by switching the shutters from their transparent to their opaque state at a relatively high frequency and for time intervals which are selectively controlled depending on the measured intensity of radiation. Thereby, the level of brightness of the view perceived by the observer is regulated. As indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,539, in order to be undetectable by the human eye, the frequency of switching the electro-optical shutters must be not less than a threshold value of 22 Hz.
In all the above disclosures, the electro-optical shutters are liquid-crystal shutters having a sufficiently short response time needed for their switching from a state of high transparency to a state of complete opaqueness and, consequently, capable of passing from one state to another at a relatively high rate. Certain liquid crystal shutters have the additional advantage that they can provide a substantially wide field of view (more than 130.degree.) and can ensure eye protection over practically the entire visible range with minimal chromatic distortion.
However, neither of the devices described above is suitable for the protection from a radiation of pulsed lasers (such as, for example, mode-locked or Q-switched lasers) in which a normal duration of pulses is extremely short, i.e. in the nano- or picosecond range, while the shortest response time which can presently be obtained with liquid crystals is about a few tens of microseconds (ferroelectric liquid crystals), not to mention the response time of conventional liquid crystal shutters which is in the order of milliseconds (supertwisted nematic (STN) or twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystals).
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a new method and device for the protection of human eyes, or other radiation sensitive systems, from a pulsed radiation in a relatively broad spectral region.

Method and device including electro-optical shutter for protection from pulsed radiation

The State of Israel, Atomic Energy Commission Soreq Nuclear Research Center


A system used in a vertical furnace is provided that includes a tube. The tube includes a tube flange at its lower end. The tube flange provides a first sealing surface at its lower end. Further, there is a structural member at the lower surface of the tube flange. This structural member extends vertically away from the lower surface of the tube flange at a position that is displaced inwardly from the first sealing surface. The system also includes a removable door plate that provides a second sealing surface at its upper surface. The second sealing surface of the removable door plate is sealed with the first sealing surface of the tube flange.

The present invention generally relates to the field of semiconductor manufacturing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system used in a vertical furnace.
In the vertical furnace, a substantially cylindrical, vertically oriented process tube, made of ceramic material, is supported on a door plate. The process tube defines an opening that is closed by the door plate. In some processes, material may condense on the wall of the process tube. This material may be polyimide by-products that are formed during the annealing of polyimide films on the semiconductor substrate. The material condensed on the wall of the process tube runs downwards on to the sealing surface of the process tube and the door plate. This material is sticky and prevents the easy removal of the door plate from the closable opening.
The material on the sealing surface of the process tube and the door plate causes friction. When the door plate is separated from the process tube, the surfaces rub against each other resulting in the generation of particles. This causes damage to the door plate and the process tube. Replacing the door plate and the process tube is expensive and preventive maintenance at frequent intervals results in a reduction in production.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system that can be used in vertical furnaces for the easy removal of the door plate from the opening. Moreover, the system should prevent the door plate from sticking, to avoid damage to the door plate and the process tube.


Certain embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a method of producing pancreatic cells or pancreatic cell precursors by exposing human embryonic stem cells to an effective amount of at least one compound listed in Table I to differentiate the human embryonic stem cells into the pancreatic cells or the pancreatic cell precursors. Kits and pancreatic cell lines produced using the methods are also described.

As of 2008, the American Diabetes Association estimates that about 7% of the population in the United States has diabetes, a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Type 1 diabetes results from the body's inability to produce insulin, and Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance and lowered levels of insulin. A typical treatment for diabetes involves blood sugar level monitoring and insulin administration. There remains a need for better ways of treating diabetes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compositions and methods for promoting the generation of PDX1+ pancreatic cells

President and Fellows of Harvard College


Compositions and methods useful for the diagnosis and treatment of IBD including Crohn's disease are disclosed.

Several publications and patent documents are cited throughout the specification in order to describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Each of these citations is incorporated by reference herein as though set forth in full.
The diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is often achieved only months or years after the onset of symptoms. Several serological indicators of IBD have been identified; in general, they are antibodies directed against antigens expressed by organisms of the intestinal microbiome (1-4). For example, the anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) interacts with mannose epitopes of this yeast species and is present in 48% to 80% of patients with CD (5,6). In general, these markers are specific for IBD, but experience low sensitivity.
CD biomarkers can also be of value after the diagnosis is established, as measures of disease activity and predictors of outcome. The available serological markers have not proven useful in these contexts (7-13). Other serum and stool markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin, are elevated in inflammatory and gastrointestinal diseases, but are not specific for IBD (14-19). The introduction of additional sensitive, specific, and noninvasive diagnostic markers may aid in the diagnosis of IBD, reduce patient risk and discomfort by reducing invasive testing, and accelerate the study of new treatments.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, noncoding RNAs that regulate target mRNAs via transcript degradation or translational repression. Cell- and tissue-specific miRNA expression profiles are altered in numerous disease states (20-30). The loss of all of the intestinal miRNA results in impaired barrier function and inflammation similar to IBD (31). With the exception of gastric and colorectal cancers (32,33), little is known regarding the function of miRNA in intestinal disease. Wu et al (34) profiled miRNA expression in colon biopsies in ulcerative colitis (UC), indeterminate colitis, infectious colitis, microscopic colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. Significant changes were confirmed in 11 miRNAs in UC tissues when compared with normal controls, of which 5 were altered at least 2-fold. The authors focused on microRNA-192 (miR-192; 1.9-fold lower in active UC), showing that it localizes to colonic epithelia and is able to repress expression of the chemokine CXCL2 (MIP-2a) in a colonic epithelial cell line. They suggest that in UC, decreased miR-192 levels result in intestinal inflammation via increased CXCL2 secretion by epithelial cells. The same group has also investigated ileal and colonic miRNA expression, resulting in the identification of several miRNAs whose levels are altered in CD (35).
The recent discovery of circulating miRNAs possessing remarkable stability has prompted a number of studies investigating their potential merit as noninvasive biomarkers (36,37). Specific circulating miRNA profiles have now been described for various conditions, particularly cancer (36-41). In some cases, these circulating miRNA profiles are known to correlate with miRNA expression changes in the diseased tissue (41,42). Additionally, changes in circulating miRNA profiles may precede those of standard blood biomarkers (39,41), and several disease-specific profiles are known to possess both diagnostic and prognostic value (43,44). Taken together, these properties implicate miRNAs to be attractive, blood-based, noninvasive biomarkers.

Compositions and methods useful for the treatment and diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease


A tread pattern of a pneumatic tire includes: first inclined grooves having positions located separated from a center line as starting ends and extending in a first direction of the tire circumferential direction; first lug grooves extending from respective ends on the outer side in the tire width direction of the first inclined grooves in the first direction of the tire circumferential direction, and having an angle formed with the tire width direction smaller than an angle formed with tire width direction of the first inclined grooves; second inclined grooves extending from the respective ends on the outer side in the tire width direction of the first inclined grooves in the first direction of the tire circumferential direction; and third inclined grooves extending from respective intermediate points on the first lug grooves in the first direction of the tire circumferential direction.

Conventionally in pneumatic tires for use in winter as represented by, for example, studded tires, a tread pattern that includes a plurality of grooves extending in the tire circumferential direction and the tire width direction is provided in the tread portion, in order to ensure traction (driving performance) on snow. It is required that these pneumatic tires have traction on snow, and also have no reduction in braking and driving performance on dry road surfaces with no snow.
It is known that by reducing the percentage of groove area in the tread portion, specifically reducing the area of the grooves as a percentage of the ground contact area in the ground contact patch, and increasing the ground contact area, the adhesion friction force is increased, and the performance of the pneumatic tire on ice is increased. On the other hand, it is known that by increasing the groove area, the drainage characteristics are improved by the tread pattern when the tire is rolling on a wet road surface with a water film.
There are pneumatic tires in which grooves are cyclically formed with a predetermined interval in the tire circumferential direction, and by offsetting their phases on a first side and a second side in the tire width direction with respect to the tire center line, the pattern noise is improved (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 4381787B).
Also, there are pneumatic tires in which a center rib is provided in the center of the tread portion by forming a plurality of grooves in the circumferential direction, and the occurrence of pattern noise is reduced while maintaining drainage characteristics (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H10-264612A).
Also, there are pneumatic radial tires in which a plurality of inclined grooves is provided at intervals in the circumferential direction inclined from the tire center line side towards the shoulder portion, and, with a structure in which the end portions of the inclined grooves on the center line side are connected to adjacent other inclined grooves, heel and toe wear is reduced (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H8-142613A).
However, if the ground contact area is increased and the adhesion friction force is raised in order to improve the performance on ice of a pneumatic tire, the drainage characteristics are reduced by the reduction in groove area, and the wet performance (turning performance and braking and driving performance on wet road surfaces) is reduced. Also, the shear force in the snow column (snow column shear force) created by compressing snow into the grooves is reduced, and the performance on snow (turning performance and braking performance on snow) is reduced.
On the other hand, when the groove area is increased in order to increase the drainage characteristics and the snow column shear force, the ground contact area is reduced and the adhesion friction force is reduced, so the performance on ice (turning performance and braking and driving performance on ice) is reduced.

Pneumatic tire with tread having first lug grooves and first, second and third inclined grooves


A surgical table including a central bottom portion is provided. The surgical table includes at least one first wheel adjacent a first end of the table, at least one second wheel adjacent a second end of the table, and a first stabilizing bar connected to the first wheel and the second wheel. The stabilizing bar is movably connected to the central bottom portion. The stabilizing bar is configured for coordinated movement of the wheels.

Positioning of a patient is an important consideration in surgery. Generally, surgeries and procedures performed to the posterior of a patient require the patient to be positioned in a prone position to provide access to a surgical site. Much of the positioning must be accomplished manually. This manual procedure can dislodge wires, tubes or other elements of the patient-monitoring equipment that is used during surgery, thereby risking disruption of the monitoring of the patient's condition.
Still another complication associated with manually positioning a patient onto an operating table for back surgery involves positioning the patient in proper alignment on the table. Some patients are placed on a "Wilson Frame" to properly align the back and thereby enhancing proper ventilation. The Wilson Frame allows the abdomen to hang pendulous and free. It is often difficult to manually manipulate the patient once placed onto the operating table to ensure proper alignment with the Wilson Frame underneath the patient.
Current devices, such as the Wilson Frame, used in operating rooms for supporting patients in a prone position with the abdomen free are passive devices designed only to provide support to the patient's trunk on the operating table during the surgery. It has been demonstrated that such passive frames can provide some changes in spinal configuration by virtue of the gravity effect. There is also danger in an abrupt movement of the patient's knees during the spinal procedure. Whereas studies have shown it is more preferable to raise the patient's legs very gradually; however, manually raising the legs in a gradual manner is difficult.
Other ancillary problems involve positioning of the head, chest, and legs with proper support and access for devices such as the endo-tracheal tube. Anthropometric considerations, such as patient size, including weight and width, cause the operating staff to ensure that proper padding and elevations are used to support the head, chest, and legs. It is not uncommon to find operating staff stuffing pillows or bedding underneath a patient to adjust for different anthropometric features of a patient.
There are dedicated-back-surgery systems on the market on which a patient can be positioned during a diverse set of orthopedic trauma, thoracic, and spinal surgery procedures. These devices, however, tend to be complicated and cumbersome to operate, and often subject the patient and operating staff to risk or death. For example, certain tables that allow tilting, or positioning, of the patient employ T-pins, which must be manually engaged and/or disengaged in order to position the device. There have been recent patient accidents following inadvertent and unexpected tilting of devices due to T-pin malfunction as a result of operator error. For instance, there are recent reports of injury-related incidents leading to product recalls of certain dedicated-back-surgery systems on the market today. A potential problem with these dedicated-back surgery systems is the potential for unexpected movement/tilting of the table, due to operator error of T-pin positioning. Also, patients and the equipment on which the patient is lying can drop several feet unto the floor due to staff error and the lack of redundant safety features, resulting in serious injury or death to the patient and/or operating staff. Such unanticipated movement of the patient during surgery can lead to paralysis or other catastrophic injuries to both the patient and operating staff.
Accordingly, there remains a need for equipment that may more safely and efficiently facilitate the positioning of a patient during spinal surgery.


An apparatus for aligning an inner collar associated with a bearing incorporates a base member with a first member extending substantially perpendicular from the base member and a second member also extending substantially perpendicular from the base member, substantially parallel with said first member with a defined distance between the first and second member. The first member and the second member form opposing sides defined by a semi-circular contour formed therein such that the first member and the second member are operable to engage an inner collar of a bearing in a snap-fit engagement on opposite sides of the bearing such that the inner collar is maintained in a substantially orthogonal orientation with respect to walls of a structure in which the bearing has been mounted.

1. Field
Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to the field of assembly tools for mating parts joined with spherical bearings and more particularly to a clip engaging cylindrical extensions of a spherical bearing and surfaces of a structural tang for orthogonal centering of the bearing in the tang to closely receive a clevis over the tang and bearing.
2. Background
Spherical bearings are employed in numerous structural joints for various mechanical systems including control surface attachments for aircraft. The spherical bearing provides multi-axis freedom of movement between joined parts to avoid binding during operation. Forces between the structural members are limited to tension and shear with elimination of bending or buckling forces. The issue with the spherical bearing design is that when the inner portion of the bearing gets cocked relative to the part in which it has been installed, the effective length increases. With close tolerances required for adequate "as installed" operation, this length increase prevents the parts from mating during assembly.
It is therefore desirable to provide a tool for orthogonal alignment of spherical bearings during assembly.


Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 independently are hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, halogen or lower alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbons; R.sub.5 and R.sub.5 ' independently are hydrogen or lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons; Y is oxygen or sulfur; Z is n-alkyl having 2 to 10 carbons, cyclo or branch-chained alkyl of 3 to 10 carbons, and straight chain alkenyl having 2 to 10 carbons, or cyclo or branched chained alkenyl of 3 to 10 carbons, and the Z-Y substituent is in a 1,2 (ortho) or 1,3 (meta) position on the phenyl ring relative to the ethene moiety; A is (CH.sub.2).sub.n where n is 0-5, lower branched chain alkyl having 3 to 6 carbons, cycloalkyl having 3 to 6 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 6 carbons and 1 or 2 double bonds, alkynyl having 2 to 6 carbons and 1 or 2 triple bonds; B is COOH or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, COOR.sub.8, CONR.sub.9 R.sub.10, --CH.sub.2 OH, CH.sub.2 OR.sub.11, CH.sub.2 OCOR.sub.11, CHO, CH(OR.sub.12).sub.2, CHOR.sub.13 O, --COR.sub.7, CR.sub.7 (OR.sub.12).sub.2, or CR.sub.7 OR.sub.13 O, where R.sub.7 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or alkenyl group containing 1 to 5 carbons, R.sub.8 is an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbons, or a cycloalkyl group of 5 to 10 carbons, or R.sub.8 is phenyl or lower alkylphenyl, R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 independently are hydrogen, an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbons, or a cycloalkyl group of 5 to 10 carbons, or phenyl or lower alkylphenyl, R.sub.11 is alkyl of 1 to 10 carbons, phenyl or lower alkylphenyl, R.sub.12 is lower alkyl, and R.sub.13 is divalent alkyl radical of 2-5 carbons, have retinoid like biological activity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to novel compounds which have retinoic acid-like biological activity. More specifically, the present invention relates to 1,2 diphenylalkene (stilbene) derivatives having a 1,3 (meta) or 1,2 (ortho) substituted phenyl ethenyl portion, and a second substituted phenyl portion. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and to methods of using the compounds and compositions.
2. Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,055 discloses ethene derivatives which have a substituted phenyl ring and a substituted indane or tetrahydronaphtalene group. The compounds are described as tumor inhibiting agents, and useful for treating dermatological conditions and rheumatic illnesses.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,028 discloses certain, (primarily alkyl substituted) 1,2-diphenylethene (stilbene) derivatives which have retinoic acid-like activity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,519 discloses certain aromatic heterocycle derivatives which have retinoic acid like activity.
Published European Patent Application 0 130795 discloses ethene derivatives, where the ethene moiety is substituted by a substituted phenyl group and by a substitituted chroman, thiochroman or quinoline group. The compounds are useful for inhibiting the degradation of cartilage in mammals.
European Patent Application 176034A (published Apr. 2, 1986) discloses tetrahydronaphtalene compounds having an ethynylbenzoic group. U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,098 discloses compounds wherein three olefinic units from the acid-containing moiety of retinoic acid are replaced by an ethynylphenyl functionality. These compound have retinoic acid-like biological activity.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,804 (issued on Mar. 7, 1989) based on an application of the same inventor and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, discloses such disubstituted acetylene compounds wherein one of the substituents of the acetylene (ethyne) group is a substituted phenyl group, and the second substituent is a substituted or unsubstituted 6-chromanyl, 6-thiochromanyl or 6-tetrahydroquinolinyl group. The compounds disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,804 have retinoic acid-like biological activity.
Several co-pending applications and recently issued patents of the present inventor, which are assigned to the assignee of the present application, are directed to further compounds having retinoic acid-like activity.
A published European patent application of the present applicant (Publication No. 0284288, published on Sep. 28, 1988) describes compounds having retinoic acid-like activity which are 4,4 disubstituted chroman-6-yl, 4,4 disubstituted thiochroman-6-yl acetylenes also substituted by a substituted heteroaryl group.
An article in the Journal of Organic Chemistry 1980 45, 4720-4725, discloses certain methoxy substituted diphenyl ethane (stilbene) derivatives as synthetic intermediates in the synthesis of certain phenanthrene derivatives.
Retinoic acid-like activity has been generally recognized in the art to be associated with useful biological activity. Specifically, compounds having retinoic acid-like activity are useful as regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation, and particularly as agents for treating dermatoses, such as acne, Darier's disease, psoriasis, icthyosis, eczema and atopic dermatitis, and for treating and preventing malignant hyperproliferative diseases such as epithelial cancer, breast cancer, prostatic cancer, head and neck cancer and myeloid leukemias, for reversing and preventing atherosclerosis and restenosis resulting from neointiural hyperproliferation, for treating and preventing other non-malignant hyperproliferative diseases such as endometrial hyperplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, proliferative vitreal retirropalhy and dysplasias, for treating autoimmune diseases and immunological disorders (e.g. lupus erythematosus, for treating chronic inflammatory diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, for treating and preventing diseases associated with lipid metabolism and transport such as dyslipidemias, for promoting wound healing, for treating dry eye syndrome and for reversing and preventing the effects of sun damage to skin.

Substituted phenylethenyl compounds having retinoid-like biological activity


A circuit to be used in a power amplifier element to achieve triggered bias control of one or several individual transistors in the amplifier element in relation to their individual tolerances. A control circuit is provided for each transistor, each control circuit being controlled by a common controller and including an integration circuit for suitable balancing of the different individual threshold voltages of each transistor.

It is known that the power output elements of an amplifier/transmitter can be built using a plurality of transistors, for example, with more than 100 transistors, which act connected in parallel. It is important that the load on the individual transistors of this circuit be as uniform as possible so that no single transistor be overloaded. Due to the unavoidable manufacturing tolerances of the available transistors (of the same type) and, in particular, due to their different gate threshold voltages, which may vary from 2 V to 4 V, it is essential that proper balancing be provided. Even differences as small as 20 mV in the gate bias between transistors result in differences of approximately 20% in the respective bias currents. Since it is not feasible to select, with sufficient accuracy, so many transistors having the same threshold voltages, one solution is to individually adjust the operating point of each transistor. In principle, either pre-adjusted control elements or electronic regulating circuits can be used for this purpose. Manual balancing of a number of potentiometers is, however, extremely costly. While electronic actuators with ROMs and digital-analog converters make automatic adjustment possible, ultimately they also require an extremely high expenditure for the individual DA converters and their drivers.
Another problem arising with a circuit consisting of a plurality of transistors is the temperature-dependence of the threshold voltage of the respective transistors. Since the temperature coefficient is mostly negative, i.e., the current increases with increasing temperature, catastrophic increase in the power loss may occur as a result of this positive feedback.
Therefore, when the transistors of a power amplifier element are connected in parallel, current may become concentrated in one or a few of the transistors even in the case of small parameter differences and/or temperature changes, and even if the total current of said element is limited by other measures. Aging effects of the transistors proper or of their bias sources may also result in considerable current variations, even if such aging effects cause only little change in the threshold voltage or the bias.
In operating an amplifier element, in particular, a power output element of an amplifier, in particular, a transmitter, the minimum object and requirement consists of a linear reproduction of the amplitudes of the high-frequency signals to be amplified. It is known that such an amplifier element may be operated in Class A or B operation. The selection of one of the aforementioned operating modes depends, in particular, on whether small-signal or large-signal modulation is performed and what bias current is required or tolerated for these amplifier elements.
In the case of small modulation amplitudes, Class A operation is preferably used for both half-waves of the high-frequency signal in a suitably selected, preferably linear range of the characteristic curves. The bias current set determines the initial steepness. If this is selected to be one-half of the average large-signal steepness of a transistor, approximately the same gain is obtained for small and large signals with a so-called A-B Class operation. The absolute value and constancy over time of the bias current are critical for low distortion and high stability of the output signal.
A special application of an amplifier with a power output element is in a pulse transmitter. Such pulse transmitters are used, for example, in magnetic resonance tomography for generating radio frequency magnetic fields. The output pulses of such a transmitter have a transmission time lasting for one or a few ms, for example, with pauses between the pulses, which are the periods for reception of the response signals. In order to prevent interfering output noise of the transmitter from appearing in the transmission pauses/reception periods, it is customary to shut off the bias current of the transmitting element, which is referred to as blanking. This also contributes to a highly desirable reduction in the average DC power consumption of the transmitter power output element. Switching between transmission and pause, referred to as gating, takes place via an external control signal. The goal is to achieve a switchover delay that is as short as possible, e.g., less than 10 .mu.s.

Power output element of an amplifier/transmitter


An improved trocar is provided which includes converters for adapting to different size surgical instruments while maintaining sealing. The invention also includes an improved trocar tube body seal design which accepts and accommodates surgical tool angulation while still maintaining sealing. Still further, the invention provides a trocar obturator with a snap-fit joint which permits the forward portion of the obturator to be detached from the trocar body and separately used with the trocar tube subassembly. With this option, a latch mechanism is configured opposite to a converter to retain the obturator fixed with the trocar tube subassembly.

Trocars are surgical instruments that have found wide application in many types of operations where puncture-type incisions are to be made. Early configurations were in the form of sharp pointed stylets or obturators closely surrounded by a hollow trocar tube. The sharp point of the stylet normally extends a short distance from the distal end of the trocar tube when the trocar is in its assembled condition. After thrusting through the body wall into a body cavity, the surgeon uses skill to avoid damaging body tissue and body organs. This type of simple trocar is still widely used.
More recently, improved trocars with means for protecting body organs from unintended incidental damage have been devised. Two such improved trocars are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,710 to Moll and U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,030 to Moll, et al. With these improved devices, the surrounding trocar tube is forced back against a biasing spring by the action of the obturator tip passing through body wall tissue, so as to expose the stylet point. After passing through the body wall, the protective trocar tube returns to its normal position covering the point, thereby protecting against patient organ damage.
While the prior art trocars are very useful, there are some features that are missing, creating problems. One is the lack of versatility in that the forward trocar tube body cannot be used with simple trocar obturators. Another is the lack of adaptability of the trocar tube main seal to various sizes of surgical instruments while maintaining the sealing effect. Still another is the lack of ability to fully accommodate angulation of the surgical instruments while maintaining the sealing effect.

Trocar with multiple converters and detachable obturator


A tire for a vehicle wheel, comprising two sidewalls joined at their radially outer portions by a crown zone, beads, a reinforcement structure extending substantially radially from each of the beads, towards the crown zone, at least one of said beads comprising: a bead seat of inverted type; an anchoring zone for the reinforcement structure in said bead, comprising an arrangement of circumferential cords comprising at least two stacks distributed on either side of the reinforcement structure, said reinforcement structure being arranged so as to obtain a circumferential distribution of the cords on either side of at least one of said stacks. In this manner, a supplementary adjustment means is obtained which makes it possible to produce arrangements in which the aim is as far as possible towards equilibrium or uniformity of the stresses. Numerous benefits obtained in terms of durability and reliability.

The present invention relates to a tire for a vehicle wheel in which at least one of the beads comprises a seat having a generatrix, the axially inner end of which lies on a circle of diameter greater than the diameter of the circle on which the axially outer end is located. This type of design is particularly suited to the new generations of tires which can be used, within certain limits, under low-pressure, or even zero- or virtually zero-pressure conditions, and which have a lesser risk of separation of the tire from the rim on which it is mounted. This concept is frequently designated by the expression "extended mobility".
For a long time, tire manufacturers have been trying to develop a tire which does not create any source of risk or potential danger in the event of an abnormal drop in, or even total loss of, pressure. One of the difficulties encountered relates to travelling with a flat tire or at very low pressure, because, when travelling at very low pressure, or even at zero pressure, with conventional tires, the beads are at great risk of separating from the periphery of the rim against which they were held by the pressure.
Numerous solutions have been tested in order to overcome these disadvantages. Frequently, these solutions cause additional difficulties in mounting and demounting the tire on/from the rim.
Furthermore, the clamping function of the tire on the rim is an essential function for ensuring the qualities of the tire in operation, because it directly or indirectly affects many aspects such as mounting (sometimes referred to as "clipping") or fastening of the tire, the air-tightness of the tire, non-rotation on rim, etc. These functions are all important and require specific characteristics and rigorous manufacture of the products, in particular if high quality standards are desired. Now, the rims and tires frequently, for a given dimension, have slightly different actual dimensions, mainly due to the manufacturing tolerances. These variations in dimensions complicate compliance with the different functions listed above.
To fulfill these functions, two broad types of solution are used industrially. First of all, for traditional tires, the bead wire simultaneously performs all these functions.
More recently, for several types of products manufactured by the Applicant, the conventional bead wire has been replaced by an anchoring zone comprising in particular arrangements of circumferential cords cooperating with the carcass-type reinforcement structure via an anchoring or bonding mix. In this case too, the anchoring zone performs all the functions set forth above.
However, in both these cases, it is difficult to optimise certain parameters because, very often, an improvement in one parameter causes another to deteriorate. There are thus certain limits to making such compromises between a gain on one hand and a loss on another, since it is often difficult to tolerate poorer performance for certain aspects.
EP 0 582 196 discloses a tire comprising a tread extended by two sidewalls and two beads and also a carcass anchored in the two beads to an annular reinforcement. The carcass is formed of cords in an adjacent arrangement which are aligned circumferentially and are in contact with at least one layer of bonding rubber of very high elasticity modulus in the hooking zone of the bead comprising the annular reinforcement. In this tire, the annular reinforcement of the hooking zone of the bead is formed of stacks of circumferential cords with interposition of a layer of bonding rubber of very high elasticity modulus between the reinforcement cords of the carcass and these stacks. This embodiment is intended for tires of conventional type, with the beads being held against the rim hook due to the inflation pressure of the tire. In this type of arrangement, there is a predominance of forces in the lateral or axial direction, which induces major compressive forces which act substantially axially from the walls towards the centre of said bead. These forces increase according to the inflation pressure. The increase in pressure tends to make the bead slide against the hook, radially towards the outside. The stresses induced radially towards the inside, against the seat of the rim, decrease with the increase in pressure, or with any increase in the tension of the carcass-type reinforcement structure.
It will furthermore be noted that the stacks of cords are aligned in a direction substantially parallel to the orientation of the profile of the rim hook against which the bead bears. The profile of the bead of this type of tire is relatively narrow and elongated; the anchoring is distributed over the major part of the height and width of the bead. The passage of the carcass into the bead is generally substantially central relative to the walls of said bead. Furthermore, when it is a relatively narrow bead subject to predominantly axial forces, neither the inflation pressure nor the tension induced in the carcass permits generation of large moments or torques, which tend to make the bead pivot or turn on itself.
With such a type of tire, if the pressure drops and the vehicle continues to travel, holding of the tire on the rim is no longer ensured, and in the majority of cases it rolls off the rim.
EP 0 673 324 describes a rolling assembly comprising at least one tire with a radial carcass reinforcement which is anchored within each bead and a rim of specific shaping. This rim comprises a first seat with a generatrix such that the axially outer end of said generatrix is distant from the axis of rotation by a length less than the distance between its axially inner end, and is defined axially to the outside by a protrusion or rim flange. The tire comprises bead seats suitable for mounting on this rim. The type of tire/rim interface proposed in this document has many advantages compared with the solutions already known, in particular with regard to the ease of mounting/demounting, while making it possible to travel a certain distance despite a drop in pressure.
EP 0 748 287 describes a solution which permits initial optimisation of the basic technology described in EP 0 673 324 referred to above. This is a tire, at least one bead of which has a structure which makes it possible to modify the clamping of said bead according to the tension of the carcass reinforcement and in particular reinforcement thereof when the inflation pressure increases to its rated value. The document thus proposes using a bead with anchoring of the end of the carcass by turning it up about the base of the bead wire, via the axially and radially inner sides relative to the bead wire. The bead also comprises, adjacent to the bead wire and axially to the outside thereof, a profiled element of rubber mix of relatively high hardness against which the bead wire can exert a compressive force when the tension of the carcass reinforcement increases. This compressive force creates self-clamping of the toe of the bead on the mounting rim. The tension of the carcass therefore involves displacement of the bead wire towards the outside, so that the latter generates said compressive force. In such a configuration, the presence of a bead wire of conventional type and the turning-up of the carcass beneath the latter are presented as being indispensable for generating the compressive force. This restricts the other types of arrangement which can be considered
Moreover, EP 0 922 592 describes two embodiments with the carcass anchored by turning it up axially towards the outside. The first embodiment proposes anchoring of the carcass in the bead by turning it up radially towards the outside of the end of the carcass. The upturn is surrounded on either side by two radially superposed layers of metal wires arranged axially side by side and covering substantially all the axial portion along the seat of the bead. The layers are arranged so as to be parallel to the seat. The types of wires and the corresponding dimensions are very precise. The second solution proposed in this document relates to bead seats with different diameters. The carcass is also secured differently from the first solution. First of all, the carcass is subdivided into two portions which are radially separated at the level of the bead. Each portion is adjoined by a layer of wires which is arranged radially, each layer being arranged radially to the outside against each of the carcass portions. The radially outer carcass portion and the layer of wires radially to the inside are separated by an insert of the elastomer of high hardness type provided in the bead. This insert axially lines the central portion of the bead and rises radially towards the outside and axially towards the inside, beyond the radial limit of the presence of the metal wires.
The two examples of solutions in EP 0 922 592 have several disadvantages. Thus, the securing of the carcass proposed in this document requires the presence of an upturn axially towards the outside of the end portion of the carcass. Furthermore, the superposed layers of wires are arranged radially close to the seat of the bead, for a good part at a radial position closer to the axis of rotation than the upper portion of the flange on which the bead bears. Unless highly extensible wires are used, it is difficult to mount/demount the tire, due to the unfavourable radial position of the wires. It will also be noted that the stacks are oriented substantially parallel to the profile of the seat against which the bead bears. According to the second solution, the carcass is subdivided into two portions and an insert of high hardness is necessary to separate on one hand the layers of wires and on the other hand the two carcass portions. However, the carcass is not anchored in the insert. The form of the insert described is limitative.
Document WO 01/39999 describes an extended-mobility tire, each of the beads of which comprises an inverted seat, an anchoring zone, a bearing zone and a transition zone. Each of the zones taken in isolation and also all the zones together to some extent form an internal bead capable of effecting relative movements, such as, for example, of the angular or rotational type, relative to another zone, or relative to a virtual centre of pressure CP, or relative to the seat of the rim, etc.
Preferably, said bearing zone is substantially elongated. It is extended, for example, substantially along the seat of the bead. The transfer of forces upon rotation of the bottom zone of the axially inner portion towards the axially outer portion is thus possible, while maintaining bearing pressure against at least one portion of the seat of the bead. The transfer of the forces creates self-clamping of the toe of the bead against the rim.
The present invention therefore proposes to overcome the various disadvantages inherent in the solutions set forth above. It proposes in particular a solution aimed at improving the dynamic stability of the anchoring zone.
To do this, it provides a tire for a vehicle wheel, comprising:    two sidewalls spaced apart axially from each other, joined at their radially outer portions by a crown zone provided on its radially outer portion with a circumferential tread;    beads, arranged radially to the inside of each of the sidewalls, each bead comprising a seat and an outer flange which are intended to come into contact with a suitable rim;    a reinforcement structure extending substantially radially from each of the beads, along the sidewalls, towards the crown zone;    at least one of said beads comprising:    a bead seat comprising a generatrix the axially inner end of which is located on a circle of diameter greater than the diameter of the circle on which the axially outer end is located;    an anchoring zone for the reinforcement structure in said bead, comprising an arrangement of circumferential cords arranged substantially adjacent to a portion of the reinforcement structure and comprising at least two stacks distributed on either side of the reinforcement structure, a bonding mix being arranged between the circumferential cords and the reinforcement structure, said anchoring zone being arranged in said bead in such a manner that, at normal pressure, the forces of the reinforcement structure are distributed substantially homogeneously on either side of said structure, in said anchoring zone, said reinforcement structure being arranged so as to obtain a circumferential distribution of the cords on either side of at least one of said stacks;    a bearing zone for said bead extending substantially along the seat of the latter;    said tire also comprising an external lateral zone arranged in the zone of the bead provided to be arranged between the rim hook and the anchoring zone, said zone being filled by a rubber mix of substantially high modulus.
Such a configuration makes it possible to achieve an optimum distribution of forces at the level of the anchoring zone, in particular in the arrangement of circumferential cords. Major differences in both the nature and the level of stresses to which the various cords in the arrangement are subjected are, for example, avoided, some cords for example being subjected to tensile loads, while others are subjected to compressive loads.
This more uniform distribution of the stresses is particularly advantageous for certain types of tires, in particular those having a very high sidewall, such as for vehicles of "SUV" type.
Furthermore, the specific arrangement of the cords of the carcass-type reinforcement structure so as to obtain more than one axial position of these cords in the anchoring zone contributes to distributing the forces at different locations. In the examples illustrated, there can be seen preferably two axially spaced positions in which the axially inner and axially outer portions of carcass-type reinforcement structure can be seen. In this manner, a supplementary adjustment means is obtained which makes it possible to produce arrangements in which the aim is as far as possible towards equilibrium or uniformity of the stresses. The benefits obtained in terms of durability and reliability may be considerable.
The cords of at least one stack of circumferential cords are consequently "surrounded", since some cords of the carcass-type reinforcement structure are axially to the outside relative to said stack, whereas others are axially to the inside relative to said stack, preferably alternating regularly along the circumference of the tire. This may be an alternation at each cord, at every two cords, three cords, or even more.
Advantageously, the external lateral zone is provided in the axially outer portion of the bead and extends between the portion adjacent to the rim hook and the anchoring zone. Advantageously, said zone cooperates with the anchoring zone, which permits a better mechanical action between said anchoring zone and the portion of the bead adjacent to the rim hook.
This zone makes it possible to increase the clamping pressure, in particular in the region of the rim hook. Thanks to the limited deformability of the zone, it makes it possible to limit the tendency of the bead to slip radially outwards beyond the rim hook. It furthermore contributes, on the one hand, to the inhibition of any tendency to generate a rotational moment and, on the other, to establish dynamic stability, such as for example when cornering or on exposure to major lateral stresses.

Extended-mobility tire with decoupled anchoring zone


The present invention uses laser diodes in conjunction with a holographic diffuser and lens assembly to generate and effectively disperse the radiation (infrared light) in a spectrum and pattern that is interpreted as heat by certain vision systems to effectively interfere with the electronic processing capability of the vision systems.

A thermal vision system (not shown) generally consists of a camera that senses heat from the environment and processes the signals electronically. The electronic signals are then transformed into a virtual image that is projected onto a display for viewing. These systems are designed to detect differential temperature to generate image resolution and therefore are limited in their ability to instantaneously process and respond to large increases or decreases in ambient light whether or not it is in the visible spectrum.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,700,078, 5,771,326, 5,791,757, 5,796,904, 5,857,770, 5,890,796, 5,971,578, 6,036,340, 6,422,713, and 6,429,429, which are all currently owned by Ford Global Technologies of Dearborn, Mich., teach laser illumination systems which are generally for automotive use. These patents are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

Method and system for the disruption of thermal vision devices