The present invention relates to the use of a pharmacologically active blood serum product producible by a method comprising electrostimulation of a non-human animal, withdrawal of blood from said animal, isolation of serum from said blood, and gamma irradiation of said serum in the treatment of stroke, preferably ischemic stroke.

Stroke is a debilitating disease which affects more than 400,000 persons per year in the United States alone. At current trends, this number is projected to jump to one million per year by the year 2050. When the direct costs (care and treatment) and the indirect costs (lost productivity) of strokes are considered together, strokes put a burden of $43.3 billion per year on the society of the United States alone. In 1990 cerebrovascular diseases were the second leading cause of death worldwide, killing over 4.3 million people world wide. Stroke is characterized by the sudden loss of circulation to an area of the brain, resulting in a corresponding loss of neurologic function. Also called cerebrovascular accident or stroke syndrome, stroke is a nonspecific term encompassing a heterogeneous group of pathophysiologic causes, including thrombosis, embolism, and hemorrhage. Strokes currently are classified as either hemorrhagic or ischemic. Acute ischemic stroke refers to strokes caused by thrombosis or embolism and account for 80% of all strokes.
Ischemic strokes result from blockage of the arteries that supply the brain, most commonly in the branches of the internal carotid arteries. The blockage usually results when a piece of a blood clot (thrombus) or of a fatty deposit (atheroma) due to atherosclerosis breaks off (becoming an embolus), travels through the bloodstream, and lodges in an artery that supplies the brain. Blood clots may form when a fatty deposit in the wall of an artery ruptures. The rupture of such a fatty deposit may also form when a large fatty deposit slows blood flow, reducing it to a trickle. Blood that flows slowly is more likely to clot. Thus, the risk of a clot forming in and blocking a narrowed artery is high. Blood clots may also form in other areas, such as in the heart or on a heart valve. Strokes due to such blood clots are most common among people who have recently had heart surgery and people who have a heart valve disorder or an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), especially atrial fibrillation. Also, in certain disorders such as an excess of red blood cells (polycythemia), the risk of blood clots is increased because the blood is thickened.
An ischemic stroke can also result, if the blood flow to the brain is reduced, as may occur when a person loses a lot of blood or has very low blood pressure. Occasionally, an ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is normal but the blood does not contain enough oxygen. Disorders that reduce the oxygen content of blood include severe anemia (a deficiency of red blood cells), suffocation, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Usually, brain damage in such cases is widespread (diffuse), and coma results. An ischemic stroke can occur, if inflammation or infection narrows blood vessels that supply the brain. Similarly, drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines can cause spasm of the arteries, which can lead to a narrowing of the arteries supplying the brain to such an extent that a stroke is caused.
Most ischemic strokes begin suddenly, develop rapidly, and cause death of brain tissue within minutes to hours. Then most strokes become stable, causing little or no further damage. (Strokes that remain stable for 2 to 3 days are called completed strokes.) Such strokes are more likely to be due to sudden blockage by an embolus. Less commonly, strokes may continue to worsen for several hours to a day or two, as a steadily enlarging area of brain tissue dies. (Such strokes are called evolving strokes.) The progression is usually interrupted by somewhat stable periods, during which the area temporarily stops enlarging or some improvement occurs. Such strokes are more likely to be due to formation of clots in a narrowed artery.
Many different symptoms can occur, depending on which part of the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen. When the arteries that branch from the internal carotid artery are affected, blindness in one eye or abnormal sensations and weakness in one arm or leg or on one side of the body are most common. When the arteries that branch from the vertebral arteries in the back of the brain are affected, dizziness and vertigo, double vision, and generalized weakness of both sides of the body are more common. Many other symptoms, such as difficulty speaking (for example, slurred speech) and loss of coordination, can occur. Large strokes may lead to stupor or coma. In addition, strokes, even small ones, can cause depression or an inability to control emotions (causing inappropriate crying or laughing). Strokes can cause swelling in the brain due to accumulation of fluid (edema). Swelling in the brain is particularly dangerous because the skull does not expand. The resulting increase in pressure can cause the brain to shift and damage brain tissue further, making neurologic dysfunction worse, even if the area affected by the stroke itself does not enlarge. If the pressure becomes very high, the brain may even be forced downward in the skull, resulting in herniation of the brain.
In the past, almost nothing could be done to help patients with acute stroke. Recently advances have been made in stroke prevention, supportive care, and rehabilitation. For an evolving stroke, anticoagulants such as heparin may be given, but their effectiveness has not been proved. After the stroke is completed, anticoagulants are given to prevent subsequent strokes in people who have atrial fibrillation or a heart valve disorder. However, because these drugs increase the risk of bleeding into the brain, doctors usually wait at least 24 hours after thrombolytic therapy is ended before anticoagulants are started. Anticoagulants are not given to people who have uncontrolled high blood pressure or who have had a hemorrhagic stroke. Accordingly, there is still a large need in the art to develop novel therapeutic compounds capable of preventing, treating or ameliorating the severe health consequences of stroke including death.

Use of a biologically active blood serum for the treatment of stroke


A method of calibration includes obtaining an estimation of the ground speed of an aircraft by an inertial unit V.sub.inertial and by a radar V.sub.radar in at least two different flight orientations and in using these estimations to determine the drift in speed B and a rotation matrix R corresponding to positioning errors of the radar with respect to inertial unit on the basis of the matrix relationship: EQU V.sub.inertial =RV.sub.radar +B. applied for each of the flight orientations. The ground speed and ground speed drift vectors are expressed by their x, y and z components in a referential system related to the aircraft, and the matrix of rotation R being defined on the basis of the angles of positioning error in terms of yaw .phi., attitude .theta. and roll .psi. by the relationship: ##EQU1##

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the estimation of the positioning errors of a nose cone radar and the drift in ground speed of an inertial unit with which an aircraft is equipped.
The matching of the referential system of an inertial unit to that of a radar (hereinafter called referential matching) is a matter of critical importance. For, in addition to the errors of the radar itself in its reference system, there are the errors pertaining to the conversion of these measurements into the reference system of the inertial unit. This is very critically important for the angular measurements of the radar.
To minimize the errors of positioning between the radar and the inertial unit of an aircraft, it is the common practice to use a method of calibration on the ground known as harmonization which is done by means of test patterns and an optical sighting system. This method of harmonization consists in matching the referential systems of the inertial unit and the radar as precisely as possible with respect to a reference trihedron linked to the aircraft.
This procedure of harmonization is lengthy and difficult to implement. Furthermore, it does not take account of the deformations of the structure of the aircraft in flight.
The correction of the drift in ground speed of the inertial unit is done by a periodic rematching by comparison between the position estimated by the inertial unit and the true position deduced from the passage of the aircraft through reference points having precisely known coordinates or by any other system of location such as a satellite navigation system.

Method for the calibration of the positioning errors of a radar and the drift in ground speed of an inertial unit on board an aircraft


A ballistically deployed restraining net system including a cartridge receivable within a barrel, the cartridge having a base and an opposing open end. There is a restraining net packaged in the cartridge and a set of weights attached to the restraining net and packaged within the cartridge between the base of the cartridge and the restraining net. A deployment charge ejects the restraining net and the set of weights out of the barrel and out of the cartridge and a spreader charge deploys the weights after the net and the set of weight exit the cartridge so that the weights overtake the net in flight.

There are a number of less than lethal weapons currently used by law enforcement and military personnel including tear and pepper gas sprays and bombs. These types of weapons, however, are not always effective especially when perpetrator or enemy personnel are armed. These types of weapons also sometimes fail to adequately restrain the target. Some prior restraining net systems have been developed (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,869), but they require either specialized launching guns, have very short ranges, and/or are susceptible to entanglement on obstructions in the path between the launching gun and the target.
Law enforcement and military personnel are not usually receptive to restraining net systems which require specialized launching guns. Such systems are also cost prohibitive since the design and production costs of the launching gun are excessive. Also, restraining net systems wherein the net is deployed in its open state do not have much of a range because of the drag of the net in flight. Moreover, it is difficult to aim these types of weapons. Such systems are also easy to elude. Worse, the net in its open unfurled state can become entangled on obstructions (e.g. tree branches) in the path between the net launcher and the perpetrator. Finally, prior restraining net systems are ineffective at restraining hostile and/or armed individuals.


A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate containing a front-end device that includes a first gate in a first-type transistor region and a second gate in a second-type transistor region, forming an interlayer dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, and planarizing the interlayer dielectric layer to expose the surface of the first and second gates. The method also includes forming a hard mask layer on the second gate, removing the first gate using the hard mask layer as a mask to form a trench, forming sequentially a work function metal layer and a metal gate layer in the trench, and removing a portion of the first work function metal layer and a portion of the metal gate layer that are higher than the interlayer dielectric layer to form a metal gate.

The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to techniques for the fabrication of semiconductor devices in 32 nm technology nodes and beyond.
The use of metal materials as gate conductors with high-k dielectrics has become prevalent in high-k metal gate (HKMG) process technology nodes at 32 nm and below (e.g., 28 nm). The use of aluminum or aluminum alloy for metal gate electrodes has cost and performance advantages so that aluminum gates have been widely used. The chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process of aluminum gates is a very important process for manufacturing high-k metal gate transistors.
In order to increase the gap filling space, an aluminum gate CMP process is typically implemented in two steps: a CMP process for N-type aluminum gate transistors and a CMP process for P-type aluminum gate transistors.
In the process of performing CMP on the aluminum gate of a P-type transistor, a polishing pad can have simultaneously contact with the aluminum gate of the P-type transistor, the polysilicon gate of the polysilicon gate transistor, the dummy gate (typically polysilicon) of the NMOS transistor, and the interlayer dielectric layer. Since a conventional CMP process utilizes a polishing slurry that has a polysilicon removal rate greater than the aluminum removal rate, the polysilicon gate tends to be over-polished. Furthermore, an over-polishing of polysilicon gate may occur during the CMP process of the aluminum gate of the N-type transistors.
Thus, prior art techniques of removing the metal gate using a CMP process face the problems of over-polishing since the slurry of the CMP polishing has a polysilicon removal rate greater than the removal rate of a metal material (e.g., aluminum), leading to excessive over-polishing of the dummy gate and the polysilicon gate and a decrease in performance of a semiconductor device.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a novel method and apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device that can overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.

Preventing over-polishing of poly gate in metal-gate CMP

Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation


A method for obtaining salts of bicyclic imidazole compounds (V) having general structural formulae in which A represents a monovalent cation, X represents independently a carbon atom, an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom or a nitrogen atom. Also, the associated production method and to the use thereof, in particular as an electrolyte component for batteries.

A lithium-ion or sodium-ion battery comprises at least one negative electrode, one positive electrode, one separator and one electrolyte. The electrolyte is composed of a lithium or sodium salt dissolved in a solvent, which is generally a mixture of organic carbonates, in order to have a good compromise between the viscosity and the dielectric constant.
The most widely used salts include lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), which has many of the numerous qualities required but exhibits the disadvantage of decomposing in the form of hydrogen fluoride gas. This presents safety problems, in particular in the context of the impending use of lithium-ion batteries in specific vehicles.
The prerequisite for having an electrolyte salt is good chemical dissociation between the cation and the anion, which implies a negative charge on the anion which is delocalized or reduced by withdrawing effects.
Salts based on the withdrawing effect have thus been developed, such as LiTFSI (lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide) and LiFSI (lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide).
Other salts, this time based on the delocalization of the charge, have also been developed, such as LiTDI (lithium 4,5-dicyano-2-(trifluoromethyl)imidazolide), as is taught in the document WO 2010/023413. However, the latter exhibit ionic conductivities which are lower than those mentioned above.
The applicant company has discovered that the presence of a second aromatic ring makes it possible to increase the delocalization of the negative charge and to thus increase this ionic conductivity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Salt of bicyclic aromatic anions for Li-ion batteries


A switch includes a contact mechanism having at least one contact and defining a longitudinal axis. Actuation of a handle moves the contact mechanism transversely to the longitudinal axis between an open position and a closed position in relation to at least one fixed contact, whereby a contact spring loads the contact mechanism to seek the closed position. A support part is operatively connected to the handle and forms an abutment for support of the contact spring. The support part is moveable relative to the contact mechanism. Operated by the handle is a locking mechanism which is constructed to hold the contact mechanism in an intermediate position between the open and closed positions to maintain the contact of the contact mechanism at an electrically insulated distance from the fixed contact. A release mechanism interacts with the locking device for releasing the contact mechanism to move to the closed position.

The present invention relates, in general, to the field of electric switches.
Nothing in the following discussion of the state of the art is to be construed as an admission of prior art.
European Patent Publication No. EP 1 054 421 discloses a switch which has a toggle joint system for connecting a handle with a contact bridge, whereby the joint of the toggle joint system is guided in a slot and is acted upon by a spring. The slot has a substantially triangular configuration for passage of the joint and is thus relative complicated in structure in order to attain a closing speed of the contact bridge in substantial independent relationship to the speed of operation of the handle. The closing speed of the contact bridge is hereby relatively small and the buildup of a sufficient contact pressure during closing of the contacts is relatively slow. This slow buildup of contact pressure poses a problem, when greater currents and higher inductive loads are involved, because switches of this type have then a tendency to fuse the contacts, resulting eventually in a destruction of the switch.
It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved switch which obviates prior art shortcomings and which is suitable for use in switching of greater currents, without experiencing a risk of contact fusing, in particular during switching of highly inductive loads, such as, e.g., motors, while being simple in structure.


The systems and methods dislcosed facilitate real estate transactions. The systems and methods preferably allow a participant in a real estate transaction process to create, access, and modify the content of property files associated with parcels of lands. The systems and methods preferably allow a user to administer access rights to access and modify the content of portions of the property files. The systems and methods preferably allow various participants in the real estate transaction process to integrate content into one or more portions of a property file.

Traditionally, the origination, negotiation, and conclusion of real estate transactions involved many industry participants, including but not limited to a developer, an owner, a tenant, a broker, and sector experts (or "service providers") that assist, give expert advice, give expert opinion, or the like. Examples of service providers include but are not limited to insurance companies, financial institutions (e.g., lenders or the like), escrow companies, title companies, construction companies, advertising companies, architects, property inspectors, appraisers, attorneys, property managers, aerial photographers, property photographers, governmental entities (e.g., federal, state, county, local, city, town, or the like), governmental agencies, or the like.
Typically, each of these many participants would track transaction-related information in ways making the information accessible only through time-consuming coordination. Much of the information was accessible only with physical possession of a participant's records. For example, a real estate broker might keep a tangible file folder for a listed parcel of property, and an aerial photographer might keep an informal record of properties in labeled boxes of photographs. Accordingly, to use the information that another participant possessed, a requesting participant had to contact the other participant and make arrangements to obtain physical possession of the records for reading or photocopying. Additionally, other participants tracked information using internal computer systems solely useful for tracking information relevant to the participant. Accordingly, to use the information that another participant possessed, a requesting participant had to contact the other participant and make arrangements to obtain a printout of the records. Yet, the printouts were customized for the needs of the computer system owner and not for the needs of the requesting participant.
After obtaining a computer system printout or photocopies from a file, the requesting participant would spend further effort synthesizing the information into a useful format. For example, the photocopies and computer printouts often included data irrelevant to the requesting participant's purposes. Further, because the requesting participant often had its own particular forms and/or file system, the requesting participant would have to manually enter the relevant information from the computer system printout or the photocopies from a file. This manual entry was slow and costly. Further, as real estate transactions traditionally involved many participants, the participants would each manually enter much of the same information. This inefficient process added time and labor costs to real estate transactions.
Because gathering and synthesizing transaction-related information was so slow, participants were relectant to relinquish control of their valuable work product. Accordingly, transaction-related information was typically kept in tangible file folders, giving the participant having physical possession of the file folders control of the information. Alternatively, the participant would track transaction-related information using internal computer systems. However, although protecting the information to a certain extent, the file folder systems and the internal computer systems still required time-consuming coordination, as described above. Also, because the person possessing the file folders controlled the information, persons could disrupt a participant's business by leaving a participant's company and taking file folders with them. For example, when leaving a broker, agents might take file folders.
With each participant being a fragmented component of the real estate transaction process, it was virtually impossible to determine what information each participant needed, what information each participant lacked, and what tasks needed to be done. Accordingly, much time was lost in ensuring that the transaction was actively progressing.
Embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome some or all of these and other problems.

Interactive processing of real estate transactions


A lead system has an elongate body, an active fixation assembly movable relative to the elongate lead body, and a low variation friction member frictionally engaged with the active fixation assembly. In an option, the active fixation assembly undergoes greater torsional resistance as the active fixation assembly is moved in a direction to retract the lead.

Pacemaker leads represent the electrical link between the pulse generator and the heart tissue, which is to be excited and/or sensed. These pacemaker leads include single or multiconductors that are connected to an electrode in an electrode assembly at an intermediate portion or distal end of a pacing lead. A connector is included at the proximal end to form the electrical connection with the pacemaker.
To implant the lead within the patient, the lead is often fed intravenously toward the heart. The lead may be implanted within or travel through complex or tortuous vasculature. Once positioned at a desirable location, the lead is fixated to the patient at a location, for example, by actively fixating the lead to the heart. To actively fixate a lead, an element, such as a helical tip at the distal end of the lead, is rotated out of the lead and in to the patient. As the patient walks or moves about, and as the heart beats, the lead undergoes a series of forces. However, it is important that the lead does not become dislodged from the patient once the lead is fixated in place.
Accordingly, there is a need for a lead that resists dislodgement after the lead has been fixated to the patient.

Lead system having friction mechanism and method therefor


A non-volatile memory device and system are provided. The non-volatile memory device including; a memory cell array of memory blocks, and a bit line bias block connected to the bit lines and configured to precharge the bit lines, a page buffer precharging the plurality of bit lines and sensing data stored in the memory block via the bit lines, and a controller controlling the bit line bias block to simultaneously precharge the bit lines with the page buffer, thereby reducing the bit line bias time.

The present inventive concept relates generally to semiconductor memory devices, and more particularly, to non-volatile memory devices having reduced bit line bias time.
Semiconductor memory devices include volatile semiconductor memory devices and non-volatile semiconductor memory devices. Volatile semiconductor memory devices are characterized by fast read/write speeds, but lose stored data in the absence of applied power. In contrast, non-volatile semiconductor memory devices have relatively slower read/write speeds, but are able to retain stored data in the absence of applied power. Thus, contemporary non-volatile semiconductor memory devices are commonly used in a variety of applications (e.g., portable electronic devices) benefiting from the secure retention of stored data even when power is interrupted, or only intermittently applied.
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices include phase-change random access memory (PRAM), mask read-only memory (MROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), and electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The MROM, PROM, and EPROM among other types of nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices are difficult to program and erase using methods commonly accessible to the end user. On the other hand, EEPROM uses electrical program and erase operations readily controllable by the end user. As a result of this programming ease of use, the EEPROM has become a common data storage medium for both system programming data, as well as payload (or user) data. EEPROM finds application as a system memory or as an auxiliary memory.
Flash memory is one particularly useful form of EEPROM. Because of its high degree of integration, flash memory is very advantageous when used as a large-capacity auxiliary memory device. Accordingly, the flash memory is widely used in small electronic devices, such as the digital camera, digital camcorder, digital music player, etc., where data storage must be accomplished by circuitry having a compact size and competent reprogramming capabilities. Flash memory includes NAND-type flash memory and NOR-type flash memory.
Data is typically accessed in flash memory using a program operation, an erase operation, and a read operation. Before the read operation is executed, a precharge operation is performed. As part of the overall precharge operation, a bit line precharge operation is performed, wherein a bit line is biased by the application of electrical charge until the bit line reaches a predetermined precharge voltage.
Time required to precharge the bit line (hereafter referred to as the "bit line precharge time") is proportional to the resistance and the capacitance of the bit line. As the length of the bit line increases, its resistance and capacitance also increase. Accordingly, longer bit lines generally require a longer bit line precharge time. However, any increase in the bit line precharge time causes read operation performance (as measured e.g., in Megabytes (MB) per second) to deteriorate. Program operation performance is also adversely affected. Therefore, reducing the bit line bias time required by a nonvolatile memory device increases overall performance.

Non-volatile memory device and system having reduced bit line bias time


A multipurpose hunter's apparatus convertible between a wheeled cart, a sled, a tree stand, and a free standing deer stand. The apparatus comprises a pair of L-shaped frame members separated by a plurality of rungs to provide a ladder when in the elevated position, or as brace members when used as a transporting device. A unique arrangement of three braces can be used in various configurations to rigidly stabilize the respective arrangement and to provide a load retaining member when transporting game or hunter's equipment. A handle is adaptable to the wheeled carts and the sled arrangements which is adapted to a snowmobile or an all terrain vehicle. Various members are multipurpose in function such that various devices can be arranged, with a minimal amount of material. The apparatus can be transportable in a boat across open water, and can be arranged to carry the boat between portages. From start to finish of a hunting trip, the apparatus can be figured into the variety of useful orientations as appropriate. Finally, the free standing deer stand can include a tarp disposed thereon to provide a shelter for the hunter which is camouflaged. A hunter can reside in the shelter in either an elevated hunting position or a ground level tent position depending on the need.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to game hunting apparatuses, and more particularly to carts for transporting game and equipment which are readily convertible to an elevated stand and camouflaged shelter.
II. Discussion of the Prior Art
Tree stands are often utilized by hunters when hunting large game such as deer to obtain an elevated hunting platform. Tree stands provide hunters with unobstructed views of a broad area of the woods. Stands also provide hunters with the ability to camouflage themselves above ground level, and further, are less likely to be scented by an animal since the hunter would be elevated above ground level.
Hunters often hunt in remote locations which are not easily accessible by motor vehicles, and thus, transporting hunted game back to cars is a laborious task. Further, hunting equipment can be heavy and inconvenient to transport to a hunting location. Finally, snow covered ground is often encountered during various hunting months. Thus, carts are a desirable item to accommodate transporting hunting equipment and returning the hunted game back to the truck.
Hunters are well known for their heartiness to hunt in all types of weather. Hunters are known for their heartiness. During the fall months, cold and rainy weather is often endured. While hunters are often tolerant of foul weather, and often carry along rain gear, a sheltered stand is highly desirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,020 to Eagleson teaches a device for hunting large and small game. This device teaches a hunting device that is selectively convertible between a tree stand, a ground level camouflage position, and a hand operated cart. This device is collapsible about hinge to portions, and has selectively attachable wheels for transporting game. However, it is not well suited for transporting larger equipment such as canoes or duck boats. Further, the shelter taught is formed only at ground level for hunting small game.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,282,375 to Ray teaches a mobile stand for hunters which is convertible to a wheeled hand cart. This device is not well suited for transporting larger equipment such as canoes or duck boats. Further, the device is not configurable to an elevated free standing shelter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,040 to Fails teaches a deer stand and game carrier. This device comprises telescoping members wherein the frame can be converted to a stand. However, this device is not suited to transport equipment, such as heavy game or hunting equipment, but rather teaches a device adapted to a backpack of the hunter to be dragged behind a hunter.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,336,999 to McSwayne teaches a hunting stand. The hunting stand is foldable into a compact arrangement. The device can also be converted to a litter carrying device, however, the device is typically transported as a suitcase. This device fails to teach a free standing structure arrangement.
While various features are contemplated by other patents individually, each having corresponding advantages, they each also have limitations such that each is designed only for particular applications.
Thus, a multipurpose cart or sled which can carry larger equipment such as canoes, small fishing boats, and duck boats, and further, which can be converted to a free standing platform and also as an elevated shelter is highly desirable.


An integrated circuit bridge comprises a substrate of non-electrically conductive material and a semiconductor layer on the substrate. First and second metal lands form contacts of the semiconductor bridge. An explosive charge bridges a gap between the metal lands. The lands, gap, semiconductor bridge, and charge are dimensioned and arranged so that in response to a current equal to or in excess of a predetermined level having a duration equal to or in excess of a predetermined value being applied across the gap, a plasma having sufficient energy to energize the explosive is formed in the gap. The predetermined current has a predetermined minimum firing voltage associated with it. The bridge is one of a lot having a firing voltage standard deviation of about 0.05 volts. Premature energization of the explosive by electrostatic discharge and voltages greater than the firing voltage and by AC induced voltages is prevented by connecting a zener diode across the first and second lands. The zener diode is chosen to conduct in the backward direction in response to a positive voltage of about 1.1 times the predetermined minimum firing voltage being applied across it. The bridge comprises a tungsten layer that extends across the gap on the semiconductor layer. The lands have a resistivity much smaller than that of the tungsten layer.

The vast majority of currently used explosive initiators, i.e., detonators, employ an electric heating wire in contact with an explosive charge. In response to a voltage being applied to the wire, frequently referred to as a bridge wire, current heats the wire to sufficient temperature to cause the explosive charge to be detonated. Representative devices of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,801,585 and 2,878,752.
It has long been recognized that prior art devices of a type disclosed in the '585 and '752 patents are subject to accidental firing due to electrostatic discharge (ESD) or electromagnetic interference (EMI) induced current. The danger of accidental, i.e., premature, firing is particularly acute in situations where electro-explosive initiators are subjected to lightning discharges or electrostatic discharges accumulated by moving machines, e.g. motors and generators, or people, as well as to intense electromagnetic fields as subsist, for example, on naval ships, spacecraft, and aircraft.
In consequence, it has been the general practice to provide protection devices to prevent ESD and EMI induced current initiation of electro-explosive initiators. It is necessary for these protection devices to have no effect on the sensitivity of the electro-explosive initiator to normal firing signals, usually in the form of DC current. Ideally, the protection device does not result in a substantial increase in the cost of the electro-explosive initiator and is not particularly complex.
Many different approaches have been disclosed and used in the prior art to prevent premature activation of electro-explosive initiators. In one technique, a discharge is initiated at a location displaced from the explosive material, such as at the discharge teeth, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 2,408,125, or at the spark gap, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,180,263 and 4,261,263. In another approach, a low pass filter including inductive, capacitive, and resistive components, is arranged in various configurations, to prevent radio frequency energy from being coupled to the electro-explosive initiator. Such prior art devices are disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,821,139 and 4,592,280. Voltage detection devices, including zener diodes, have also been used to activate switches to decouple explosive initiators from ESD and EMI induced currents. Prior art devices including zener diodes for these purposes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,967,665 and 4,819,560.
The prior art protection devices are relatively expensive and complex, compared to the cost and complexity of the bridge wire, the explosive charge, and the housing for them. A main reason for the high cost and complexity of the prior art devices to protect explosive initiators using heating wires is that the characteristics of the wires, even in the same lot, vary substantially from explosive initiator to explosive initiator. For example, a wire explosive initiator designed to activate an explosive charge in response to a current of 0.6 ampere being applied to it for 1 millisecond may, in fact, activate the charge in response to a current as small as 0.2 amperes being applied to it. The standard deviation, i.e., square root of the variance, of prior art explosive initiators is thus relatively high. Because of this factor, the prior art ESD and EMI induced current protection devices must be designed to tolerate very wide variations in applied current and voltage to prevent premature activation of electro-explosive initiators.
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved protection device for electro-explosive initiators, which protection device is extremely simple and inexpensive.
To achieve this object, the present invention relies on the discovery that the standard deviation of the voltage necessary to activate a recently introduced class of integrated circuit electro-explosive initiator is extremely low, e.g., 0.05 volts. Because of the low standard deviation of the voltage necessary to initiate an explosive discharge of these devices, it is possible to provide adequate protection for both ESD and EMI induced currents by using a very simple voltage detection device that shunts the electro-explosive initiator when the DC voltage applied to the initiator exceeds a predetermined value which is derived from an energizing circuit for the initiator.
One type of the recently-introduced device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,060, as well as in a report printed January 1987 entitled "Semiconductor Bridge (SCB) Development Technology Transfer Symposium," Sandia Report, SAND86-2211 (bullet) UC-13, R. W. Bickes, Jr., editor, prepared by Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N. Mex. 87185 and Livermore, Calif. 94550 for the United States Department of Energy under contract D-AC04-76DP00789. The device includes a non-metallic substrate that carries a highly doped semiconductor (silicon) layer. First and second electrically conductive lands, usually fabricated of aluminum or tungsten, are deposited on the semiconductor layer, such that a gap subsists between them. The substrate may be silicon on which an oxide layer is formed, and the doped Si layer is deposited on the oxide layer. Alternatively, the substrate is sapphire on which is deposited the doped Si layer.
Another type of the recently introduced integrated circuit devices is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,200, wherein the plasma is formed in a relatively high resistivity metal layer, particularly tungsten, that bridges a gap between a pair of low resistivity lands. The structure is carried by a non-electrically conducting surface, preferably an oxide layer deposited on an undoped silicon substrate. The metal layer and lands are deposited on a semiconductor layer, preferably undoped silicon.
In both of these types of devices an explosive charge contacts the lands and bridges the gap. In response to a voltage exceeding a predetermined level being applied by the lands across the gap for a predetermined duration, a plasma is established in the gap. The plasma initiates the explosive charge, thereby causing initiation or detonation.
The various layers and electrodes of these prior art devices are fabricated using integrated circuit techniques. A non-metallic wafer having, e.g. a diameter of 4-6 inches, is prepared. Masking and deposition techniques are used to form several hundred separate devices on the wafer. After the various layers and lands are deposited, the wafer is diced into several hundred chips, each including an integrated circuit bridge which is mounted on a header and charge holder combination. The resulting structure is then loaded with an explosive charge.
It has been found that electro-explosive initiators manufactured in accordance with these techniques, utilizing the structures of both the '060 and '200 patents, have a very low standard deviation of the voltage necessary to initiate explosive action. Generally, for a particular lot, the standard deviation is about 0.05 volts. This means, for example, that if a particular integrated circuit bridge explosive initiator is designed, i.e. rated, to explode in response to a voltage of 5.0 volts being applied to it for 10 microseconds, the likelihood of a DC voltage as low as 4.60 volts initiating an explosive discharge is about one in 100 million! Likewise, a voltage of 5.40 volts will initiate an explosion with a probability of failure of only 1 in 100 million.
It is, accordingly, another object of the present invention to provide an extremely simple and low cost device for preventing both ESD and EMI induced currents from prematurely activating an integrated circuit bridge, explosive initiator.

Zener diode for protection of integrated circuit explosive bridge


A compound semiconductor crystal growing method includes the steps of (a) setting a substrate having a substrate surface in a reaction chamber, and (b) supplying a material gas of a compound semiconductor which is to be grown in the form of a crystal on the substrate surface within the reaction chamber and a control gas to the reaction chamber under a predetermined condition, and controlling the supply of the control gas to control an adsorption rate of the material gas on the substrate surface. The control gas makes competitive adsorption with the material gas on the substrate surface but makes no chemical reaction such that no continual accumulation on the substrate surface occurs under the predetermined condition. The competitive adsorption is defined as a phenomenon in which the material gas and the control gas compete and become adsorped on the substrate surface.

The present invention generally relates to compound semiconductor crystal growing methods, and more particularly to a compound semiconductor growing method which controls adsorption of a very small amount of material gas on a substrate surface.
Recently, active research and development are made in respect of various kinds of semiconductor devices, and there are many kinds of semiconductor crystals used in such semiconductor devices. Compound semiconductor crystals and their mixed crystals are essential to the semiconductor devices having various kinds of functions. Accordingly, the growth speed, the crystal composition, the impurity concentration and the like are very important control factors when growing the compound semiconductor crystals.
Conventionally, when growing a crystal layer of a compound semiconductor using a chemical vapor deposition(CVD), the growth speed, the crystal composition and the impurity concentration are controlled by controlling the mole fraction of the material gas which is supplied to a reaction chamber. More particularly, the flow rate of the material gas is controlled by use of a mass flow controller.
However, the accuracy of the mass flow controller is extremely poor if the flow rate is only on the order of several sccm. As a result, there was a problem in that an accurate impurity concentration cannot be obtained if the doping is made with a very small amount of impurity.
In addition, because of the poor accuracy of the mass flow controller, there were problems in that the reproducibility of the process is poor and that it is impossible to arbitrarily control the growth speed, the crystal composition and the impurity concentration.
Accordingly, it is conceivable to use a diluted gas in order to suppress the undesirable effects caused by the poor accuracy of the mass flow controller. For example, when supplying 1 sccm of material gas, a mixed gas made up of 10 sccm of the material gas and 490 sccm of diluting gas such as hydrogen is first obtained, and 1/10 of this mixed gas is then supplied to the reaction chamber so as to substantially supply 1 sccm of the material gas to the reaction chamber. In this case, the mass flow controller can measure 10 sccm of the material gas with a relatively high accuracy. For this reason, even if the doping is to be made with a very small amount of impurity, it is possible to obtain a relatively accurate impurity concentration when compared to the conventional method.
But this conceivable method which uses the diluted gas must first generate the mixed gas and then supply a part of the mixed gas to the reaction chamber. Consequently, there are problems in that the control of the apparatus becomes complicated, the apparatus becomes large and the apparatus becomes expensive.
On the other hand, according to the conventional method and the conceivable method which uses the diluted gas, the impurity concentration is controlled by controlling the supply of the doping (material) gas. Thus, when forming a multi-layered structure having different impurity concentrations, it is necessary to once interrupt the growing process at the layer boundary and reset the amount of doping gas to be supplied. However, the doping gas in general has a strong toxic character, and the doping gas must be handled with extreme care. For this reason, as a safety measure, it is desirable to minimize the operations involving the doping gas, such as interrupting the supply of the doping gas and resetting the supply quantity of the doping gas.
Furthermore, if the doping is made by the conventional method to an extremely high impurity concentration, the composition of the doped layer slightly changes. But conventionally, there was no method of preventing such a change in composition caused by the doping to the high impurity concentration.

Compound semiconductor crystal growing method


A fingerprint recognition system, includes a touch surface configured so as to provide location information for at least one contact point (PCO) of a finger having a fingerprint in contact with the touch surface, wherein the system comprises: a TFT panel, arranged underneath the touch surface, comprising a detection array comprising M rows at least some of which comprise detection cells for detecting an image representative of the fingerprint, a row-addressing system being integrated into the array, and configured so as to activate, row after row, the detection cells of a corresponding row in a scanning direction of the rows, a calculation device, configured so as to receive the location information and so as to command the addressing system to address the array starting from an address range (ZA) grouping together a subset of rows from among the M rows of the array, and determined on the basis of the location information.

Detection arrays used in what are known as TFT panels are, as is known, formed of detection cells P(i,j), also called pixels, that are arranged in rows and in columns. FIG. 1 illustrates such an arrangement. By convention, it is noted that the detection cell P(i,j) is situated on the row L(i) and on the column Col(j). Each detection cell P(i,j) consists of a light sensor D(i,j), generally a photodiode, that generates charge in proportion to the received light energy and stores said charge in its capacitor, and a thin-film transistor T(i,j) whose source is connected to the charge detector D(i,j).
Sequentially addressing the rows L(i) requires providing two separate voltages: one voltage Voff for keeping all of the transistors T(i,j) of a row in the off state and one voltage Von for putting all of the transistors T(i,j) of a row into the on state. The transistors T(i,j) are addressed by a selection token. The selection token is a high-level signal (voltage Von) for a predetermined time, in comparison with a low level (voltage Voff lower than Von), that propagates from row to row, in a given direction, for example from the row L(i) to the row L(i+1).
At the time when the selection token propagates in a row L(i), the high level of the token commands the on state of all of the transistors of the row. The high level of the selection token is configured so as to have a value greater than the threshold voltage of the transistors. The electrons stored in each of the charge detectors D(i,j) of the row are transmitted to a charge integrator via a column Col(j) associated with the charge detector D(i,j), which converts this value into a voltage. The column Col(j) is connected to the drain of the transistor T(i,j). The integration of the charge in each column may be managed by an integrated circuit common to all of the columns, also called readout integrated circuit or ROIC. This converts the measured value into digital so that the image of the fingerprint is able to be generated, row by row.
The propagation of the selection token from row to row is managed by a row-addressing device or row scanner, commonly called "row driver" or "gate driver". The row control circuit is a shift register. Patent EP0586398B1 describes an example of a shift register used in liquid-crystal displays. Although the present application is applied to detection arrays and not to display arrays, the principle is identical. With reference to FIG. 2, each stage ET comprises an input terminal Bini (i=0 . . . 3) and an output terminal Bouti (i=0 . . . 3) that is itself connected to a respective row of the array. A signal generator GSI, which may be integrated into the readout integrated circuit, generates two clock signals CK1, CK2 in phase opposition to one another. Each stage ETi (i=0 . . . 3) comprises a first clock terminal Bck1-i (i=0 . . . 3) able to receive the first clock signal CK1 and a second clock terminal Bck2-i (i=0 . . . 3) able to receive the second clock signal CK2. A pulse STVext (called "token") is received by the input terminal Bin0 of the first stage ET0, and, at the first clock pulse, for example of the first clock signal CK1, the token is transmitted to the row L(0) by the output terminal Bout0, so as to read the information stored in the detection cells of the corresponding row, as indicated above.
The input terminal Bin1 of the second stage ET1 is connected to the output terminal Bout0 of the first stage ET0. A second clock signal CK2 is received by the second stage ET1 at the second clock terminal Bck2-1. The token is thus transmitted to the second row L(1). The first clock signal CK1 and the second clock signal CK2 are phase-offset from one another such that there is no dead time in the reading of the array.
The token thus propagates from stage to stage until all of the rows of the array have been read.
Other clock systems, different from two clock signals in phase opposition, may be contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, shift registers using more than two clock signals may be contemplated, or even shift registers using a single clock signal.
Row-addressing devices were initially arranged outside of the array, connected to the array for example by flexible layers. Row-addressing devices implemented directly in the array, using single N-type or P-type TFT transistors, have appeared more recently. The array may be formed by depositing layers on a substrate, for example of amorphous silicon (a-Si), TFT, polycrystalline silicon, organic semiconductor or amorphous gallium indium zinc oxide (Ga2O3-In2O3-ZnO) type.
These addressing devices integrated into the array, commonly called GOA (gate driver on array), make it possible to save on manufacturing costs and footprint, and make it possible to limit connection errors in comparison with external addressing devices. One example of a GOA is described in patent application FR2975213.
However, GOAs used at present have a greatly limited speed in terms of moving from one stage to another, which is linked to TFT technologies. Specifically, moving from one stage to another in the shift register requires between ten and twenty microseconds, whereas this delay is only one hundred nanoseconds using CMOS technology, which is the technology generally used for external addressing devices.
For a fingerprint recognition application on a touchscreen of a smartphone or any other equivalent device, the number of rows of the array is approximately equal to two thousand, this number obviously being able to vary from one device to another. Thus, if the finger is placed at the bottom of the screen, it would take approximately forty milliseconds for the selection token to propagate in all of the stages of the shift register. The execution time for the fingerprint recognition method may also be multiplied by as many reread operations that are necessary to consolidate the data, generally between three and six. The time necessary to compare the fingerprint with the one that is authorized further adds to these delays.
The fingerprint recognition method thus has to be executed quickly, in particular in less than two hundred milliseconds, a delay beyond which it has been established empirically that the user detects a latency time, and therefore a feeling of waiting.

System for acquiring digital fingerprints equipped with an improved device for addressing lines


In an automatic sewing machine for sewing bands onto fabric parts, a metering device (3) which meters the band is electronically coupled to the sewing machine via a position sensor (6) in the form of a pulse generator, a signal processing circuit (8) and a motor, for example a stepping motor (SM). The amount of band per unit time delivered by the metering device depends on the speed. On the other hand, the stitch length of the sewing machine is, however, not independent of the speed but becomes greater with increasing speed. The resulting, undesired tensions between the fabric part on the one hand and the band on the other hand are avoided by a correction means (10) between the pulse generator (6) and the sewing machine (2) and the driver circuit (12) of the stepping motor (SM) of the metering device (3). The correction device ensures that control signals reaching the driver circuit (12) result in corrected, excessive metering of the band at higher sewing machine speeds. This correction is possible not only in the case of bands but generally for elements which, depending on the speed of the machine drive, are transported relative to the pressure foot.

The invention relates to an automatic sewing machine having a transport apparatus for transporting a band element to the foot of a sewing machine.
Such an automatic sewing machine is used, for example, to sew rubber bands onto leg sections and onto the waistband of tricot fabrics. There are also known automatic sewing machines in which the fabric itself is transported with the aid of a band driven synchronously with the sewing drive. The invention is also used for this type of "bands".
Here, the term "automatic sewing machine" designates a system which essentially consists of a conventional sewing machine and additional means which are designed for special applications of the automatic sewing machine. Such additional means may be, for example, a special fabric feed means for feeding the fabric to the sewing point, and other possible additional means are a cutting apparatus (thread and band cutter) or an apparatus for inserting and sewing on labels.
The motor and its control circuit may be of the conventional type, for example a controllable direct current motor. A particularly interesting additional means here is a means which is generally referred to by the term "metering device" and which is specially designed in the form of so-called metering rollers, for synchronously feeding an element to be transported, namely a band.
In an automatic sewing machine of the type stated at the outset, such a metering device ensures metering of bands, for example rubber bands. These bands are transported to the sewing point under the pressure foot, so that they come to rest at the edge of the fabric and are sewn to the fabric edge. In the simplest case, fabric transport and the feed rate of the band are identical, so that there is no tension at all between fabric and band.
However, especially when sewing on rubber bands, frequently a difference is expressly required between the rate of advance of the fabric on the one hand and the feed rate of the rubber band on the other hand, in order to achieve a certain gathering or crimping of the fabric in the region of the rubber band. Previously, automatic sewing machines had a mechanical coupling between the sewing machine drive and the metering device. In modern automatic sewing machines, such a mechanical coupling is replaced by an electronic coupling: in general, a pulse generator on the sewing machine opto-electrically scans the speed of the sewing machine drive and sends a speed-dependent pulse signal to a signal processing means, which in turn controls the driver circuit of the stepping motor of the metering device. In principle, however, other (for example analogue) position or speed signals are also possible, as are different motors, which are synchronous or direct current motors.
The electronic coupling between the sewing machine and the band metering device has a number of advantages. The gathering or crimping of the fabric which can be achieved by different speeds of the fabric on the one hand and the band on the other hand depends on the position at which the band is sewn onto the fabric.
For different fabric regions, it is frequently necessary to provide different rates of advance of the band in order to achieve different tensions at the relevant sewing points. In the case of the electronic coupling between the sewing machine and the metering device, the desired band tension relative to the fabric can be easily preset with the aid of a simple switch arrangement, with matrix plugs, potentiometers or key pads.
The ratio of fabric advance to tape metering is constant if it is assumed that the stitch length of the sewing machine is independent of the speed of the sewing machine drive.
However, it has now been found that the stitch length L is not independent of the speed of the sewing machine drive but increases with increasing speed. FIG. 1 shows the dependence of the stitch length L, measured in millimeters, on the speed of the sewing machine drive, measured in rpm, by way of example in a graphical representation. In the ideal case, there would be a constant stitch length L of, for example, 2 mm, independent of the speed. The stitch length L multiplied by the number of stitches per unit time gives the advance of the fabric. With a constant stitch length L, a fabric advance proportional to the speed was thus also obtained. The pulse generator coupled to the sewing machine drive sends a correspondingly large number of pulses per unit time at high speeds. Accordingly, the metering device delivers larger amounts of band at higher speeds.
If the stitch length is considered in relation to the fabric on the one hand and in relation to the band on the other hand, the conditions shown in FIG. 1 are obtained:
In the ideal case, regardless of the speed, the stitch length L at the fabric on the sewing machine is constant and, for example, has a value of 2.0 mm. Hence, in the ideal case, the stitch length L has a constant value of, for example, 2.0 in relation to the rubber band, once again regardless of the speed.
In practice, however, the stitch length is not constant but changes with increasing speed of the sewing machine drive, the change generally being an increase. This is indicated in FIG. 1 by a -- ' -- line Nr, which deviates from the ideal line N.sub.i.
In the older sewing systems of the type under discussion here, having mechanical coupling between the sewing machine and the metering device (MD), there was, so to speak, an automatic correction by virtue of the fact that the metering device also delivered correspondingly more band at higher speeds, i.e. a disproportionately large amount of band relative to the speed. There were therefore virtually no defects in the sewn article since the desired tension between the fabric and the band was achieved in each case.
If the speed is now picked up at the sewing machine drive by means of a pulse generator and this speed is converted into control signals for an electric stepping motor, the metering device delivers twice as much band per unit time at twice the speed. Thus, the stitch length L remains constant in relation to the metered band while the stitch length L of the sewing machine (in relation to the transported fabric) changes at higher speed, whereby the resulting error curve can be very different, but will rise in many cases.
Due to the above-mentioned circumstances, the sewn product exhibits defects in so far as the desired tension, which is set differently depending on the sewn material, between the fabric and the band is irregular, i.e. too high at some points and too low at other points.
In FIG. 1, the metering with the aid of a mechanically coupled metering device is designated by MD mech. The dash-dot line parallel to the abscissa indicates the ideal relationship of sewing machine speed and stitch length L of the sewing machine, as well as the relationship between stitch length L, relative to the band, and the speed of the sewing machine.

Automatic sewing maching for sewing bands onto fabric parts


In a mobile communication network equipped with a wireless communication interface with a mobile communication terminal, when a need arises for disabling calling and card functions of a mobile communication terminal with a plurality of card information stored, there is provided a credit transaction system for permitting the process of disabling the calling and card functions of the mobile communication terminal, comprising a mobile station 100, a mobile telephone network 20, a mobile packet communication network 30, a CAT terminal 40a, 40b, . . . , the CAFIS network 50, a credit company's server 60A, 60B, and the Internet 70. Credit disablement flags are set in a control station 33, and the mobile station 100 receives a disabling signal from the control station 33 through a base station 31. The mobile station 100 subsequently deletes credit contract information stored in itself.

Various types of cards have been used such as credit cards and bank cards. Recently, there have been many cases where one person holds a plurality of cards.
When these cards are lost or get stolen, card holders and card issuing institutions must disable these cards so as to prevent a third person who has gained the cards from illegally using them.
In order to do this, when card holders lose cards, they first call card issuing institutions to report the loss of the cards. Subsequently, the card issuing institutions which have received the report register the disabling information of the subject card in their database.
On the other hand, merchants where cards are used make an inquiry for approval or denial of card transactions, and card issuing institutions determine approval or denial of the subject card transaction referring to presence or absence of card disabling information stored in their own database.
Since card holders usually put a plurality of cards together in a purse in many cases, the plurality of cards could get lost or stolen at one time in the case of being lost or stolen.
On the other hand, these cards are issued and managed in their respective card issuing institutions; in the case of losing a plurality of cards at one time, it is troublesome to report to all the card issuing institutions separately for every card.
Further, there are cases where it is hard for cardholders themselves to know immediately which cards are stolen, thereby inhibiting the cardholders from reporting the loss at once.

Method for inhibiting use of mobile communication terminal having memory where card information is stored, mobile communication network, and mobile communication terminal


The present application is directed to siRNA-based silencing of the type II receptor of TGFβ. siRNAs that target this receptor abrogate the receptor protein and transcript, TGFβ-mediated processes such as fibronectin assembly and cell migration also are inhibited and the molecules of the invention are efficacious in reducing the inflammatory response and matrix deposition. These findings show that siRNAs can be successfully delivered both in vitro and in vivo to regulate the TGFβ type II receptor level and modulate wound response. Methods and compositions exploiting the findings of the present invention have a wide-ranging application, extending from treatment of disorders of the eye to other organs and tissues throughout the body.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF□) comprises a family of structurally related multifunctional cytokines. They have a wide variety of biological actions, including cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, fibrogenesis and angiogenesis. (Massague et al., Cancer Surv. 12, 81-103, (1992), Piek et al., FASEB J. 13, 2105-2124, (1999), Border & Noble N. Engl. J. Med. 331, 1286-1292 (1994); Govinda and Bhoola, Pharmacol. Ther. 98:257-265 (2003); Cusiefen et al., Cornea 19:526-533; Sakimoto et al., Gene Therapy 7:1915-1924 (2000)) TGFβ is typically secreted in a biologically latent form. It is activated through a complex process of proteolytic activation and dissociation of latency protein subunits. (Massague, Annu. Rev. Biochem. 67, 753-791 (1998)).
The mechanism of action of TGFβ is mediated by its binding to receptors known as TGFβ receptors, types I, II and III. Receptors I and II are transmembrane glycoproteins of 55 and 70 kDa shown to be important in signal transduction. The TGFβ ligand binding site for these receptors is extracellular. The mechanism by which the signaling is thought to be achieved is via activation of phosphorylation of transcription factors known as Smads. (Massague & Wotton, EMBO J. 19, 1745-1754 (1999)).
TGFβ has emerged as a key component of the fibrogenic response to wounding and is upregulated during many different types of wound healing in tissues such as the eye, liver, and skin. (Border & Noble, N. Engl. J. Med. 331, 1286-1292 (1994), Connor et al., J. Clin. Invest. 83, 1661-1666 (1989), McCormick et al., J. Immunol. 163, 5693-5699 (1999), Shah et al., J. Cell Sci. 108, 985-1002 (1995)). In the eye, of the three human isoforms (TGFβ1, TGFβ2, and TGFβ3), TGFβ2 is the predominant one. (Lutty et al., Invest. Opthalmol. Vis. Sci. 34, 477-487 (1993), Pasquale et al., Invest. Opthalmol. Vis. Sci. 34, 23-30 (1993)). TGFβs have been implicated in several scarring processes including proliferative vitreoretinopathy, (Kon et al., Invest. Opthalmol. Vis. Sci. 40, 705-712 (1999)), cataract formation, (Hales et al., Invest. Opthalmol. Vis. Sci. 36, 1709-1713 (1989)), corneal opacities, (Chen et al., Invest. Opthalmol. Vis. Sci. 41, 4108-4116 (2000)), and conjunctival wound healing, (Cordeiro, Clin. Sci. 104, 181-187 (2003)) especially that occurring after filtration surgery for a major blinding disease, glaucoma. In addition, TGFβ in conjunction with connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) has an important role in angiogenesis (Abreu et al., Nature Cell Biol. 4:599-604 (2002)). Furthermore, recent studies have shown that TGF may actually be involved in the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma (Inatani et al., Graefes Arch. Clin. Exp. Opthalmol. 239(2):109-13, 2001; Ochiai et al., Jap. J. Opthalmol. 46(3):249-53, 2002; Gattanka et al., Invest. Opthalmol. Vis. Sci. 45(1):153-8, 2004).
In glaucoma filtration surgery, excessive postoperative scarring at the wound site significantly reduces surgical success. (Migdal et al, Ophthalmology 101, 1651-1656 (1994), Addicks et al., Opthalmol. 101, 795-798 (1983)). Although anti-scarring agents such as mitomycin-C and 5-fluorouracil could help prevent postsurgical scarring and improve glaucoma surgical outcome, (Khaw et al., Arch. Opthalmol. 111, 263-267 (1993), Cordeiro et al., Invest. Opthalmol. Vis. Sci. 40, 1975-1982 (1999)) they do so by causing widespread fibroblast cell death and are associated with severe and potentially blinding complications. (Crowston et al. 449-454 (1998), Stamper et al., Am. J. Opthalmol. 114, 544-553 (1992)). In light of the role of TGFβ in the wound repair process, alternative strategies (Codeiro, Prog. Retin. Eye Res. 21, 75-89 (2002)) such as antibodies (Cordeior et al., Invest. Opthalmol. Vis. Sci. 40, 2225-2234 (1999), Mead et al., Invest. Opthalmol. Vis. Sci. 44, 3394-3401 (2003)) to TGFβ and antisense oligonucleotides (Cordeior, et al., Gene Therapy 10, 59-70 (2003)) have been used to block TGFβ action. However these techniques remain inadequate for the treatment of the debilitating scarification that occurs in many glaucoma. For example, use of antisense therapy is poorly effective in treating various disorders because antisense molecules are known to induce an interferon response in the patient. Use of antibody-based therapies are marred by the need to generate specific antibodies against particular epitopes of a given antigen. Thus, there remains a need to identify new methods of intervening in disorders that result from an over-expression or even mere presence of TGFβ type II receptor.

Silencing of TGFβ type II receptor expression by siRNA

The Broad of Trustees of the University of Illinois


The present disclosure proposes a method for producing a structured wear protection film. The method comprises the steps: providing a wear protection base film, applying a formable lacquer-containing cover layer onto at least a partial area of the wear protection base film, at least partial structuring the lacquer-containing cover layer by use of a digital printing process in order to produce a structure of the lacquer-containing cover layer and at least partially hardening the lacquer-containing cover layer. Moreover, a structured wear protection film, the use of a structured wear protection film and a decorative panel comprising a structured wear protection film are proposed. In summary, the above-described method offers the advantage that a particularly detailed structure of a wear protection surface can be obtained, that the structure can be aligned in various ways in a particularly simple manner relative to a decoration, that an economical production of small series is made possible and that restrictions in the process control are alleviated.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Structured surfaces for wear protection are known per se and are used in particular for protecting decorative panels.
The term "decorative panel" in the sense of the disclosure means in particular wall, ceiling, door or floor panels which comprise a decoration applied onto a carrier plate. Decorative panels are used in a variety of ways, both in the field of interior design of rooms and as decorative cladding of buildings, for example in exhibition stand construction. One of the most common fields of application of decorative panels is their use as a floor covering, for cladding ceilings, walls and doors. The decorative panels often have a decoration and a surface structure that is intended to imitate a natural material.
Wear or cover layers are generally applied above the decorative layer in order to protect the applied decorative layer. In many cases, it is provided that a surface structure imitating a decorative template is introduced into such wear or cover layers, so that the surface of the decorative panel has a haptically perceptible structure which is adapted to the applied decoration in terms of its shape and pattern, so as to obtain a replication of a natural material as close as possible to the original even with regard to haptics.
Here, in the formation of structured wear protection surfaces with lacquers, the structure is introduced in a known manner by means of embossing tools.
It can be a disadvantageous in such methods that in particular the formation of small and locally limited structures, such as pores, is difficult. In addition, the exact alignment of the embossing tools relative to the decor can cause problems. In addition, variations in the structure can only be realized with great effort and, for example, small production series are comparatively uneconomical, since embossing tools have to be produced and exchanged for each series. Furthermore, it can be disadvantageous that such a structuring may require considerable forces, and to this end the structuring process requires a stable subsurface and is therefore usually carried out directly on the decorative panel. This can result in particular in restrictions in the process control.
The production of structured surfaces for wear protection can therefore still offer room for improvement.


A method of providing access to information on a controller in a building automation system includes providing an external definition file, the external definition file including a first section that includes an application interface definition that defines a set of user interface displays and a second section that defines a functionality of objects using protocol-specific data. The method also includes employing a host application to create a first node comprising one or more objects based upon the protocol-specific data, the first node configured to communicate and exchange information with the controller. The method further includes employing the host application to create a user interface element based on the application interface definition, the user interface element configured to provide a user interface to data relating to the controller received from the first nodes.

Building automation systems or building control systems are systems that operate to monitor, control and manage various physical operations within a building. For example, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is a building automation system that monitors, controls, and manages the building environmental temperature, as well as other related functions. Another example of a building automation system is a building safety or fire safety system, which manages the detection of dangerous conditions as well as the notification of alarm conditions throughout a building or facility.
Building automation systems include, at least for commercial and industrial settings, interconnected control panels or controllers that are dispersed throughout a building. These distributed controllers perform control and interface functions to terminal devices such as temperature sensors, ventilation dampers, smoke detectors, etc. The distributed control panels/controllers are typically interconnected with each other via a building network, which can take many forms. In this manner, the distributed control panels can share information, such as, for example, alarm information. The building network also provides a means by which other centralized or remote user terminals or clients may access information from the distributed controllers.
One challenge with regard to building automation devices is that they often include devices from multiple manufacturers that must share information with each other. While some standards for building automation devices exists, different devices from different manufacturers can often use various interfaces, protocols, and applications. The use of devices from multiple manufacturers is common for a number of reasons. In complex systems, it is often impossible, or at least impracticable, to use a single source for all sensors, controllers, ventilation dampers, air handling units. Moreover, many systems grow incrementally over several years, often resulting in incorporation of products of different manufacture.
In order to allow diverse products to communicate and share information, many building automation system devices are configurable to provide a data interface using one or more standard protocols and/or data formats. Both proprietary and open protocols interfaces are employed in large building systems. Device manufacturers often find it desirable to adapt their products to interface with several of the most popular system configurations. A common open protocol network service is the LONWORKS® network service (LNS), available from Echelon Corp. Another commonly used open protocol is the BACnet protocol available in systems from Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., which is based on an ASHRAE standard network protocol known in the art.
One important aspect of a building automation system (BAS) is the ability to provide user interface applications that can access data on field devices. Contemporaneous BAS system data is typically accessible from the distributed control panels, or even from the terminal devices themselves (sensors, etc.). Such access can allow a computer that is attached to the building network to read values from controllers, provide set points to controllers, perform tests, and even commission a new device on the system. In general, an application provides a user interface from which requests to view, control or monitor data may be received from a human operator. Upon receiving a request for information, the application operates by providing a request to a data management system within the building automation system. The data management system operates to determine the logical location (i.e. node) of the device that maintains the requested information and further determines the proper driver/protocol for obtaining useful information from the device. The data management system then formulates a request that is transmitted to the device in question via the building network. The remote device (e.g. a field panel controller) receives the request, and, if everything operates properly, responds with the requested data. The data management system receives the responsive data, prepares the data into the format expected by the application, and then passes the information to the application.
These applications, which allow user access to BAS data points, are often custom-configured for each building. The custom-configured software applications naturally incur significant development costs. To address these costs, standard applications having broad applicability are desirable. While it is possible to develop and employ a standard suite of applications useful in the building control environment, the varied needs of facility managers, building occupants, and building structures nevertheless often requires at least some custom-developed software.
One particularly troubling source of costs is the cost of developing applications for operating on a particular field device, or more specifically, developing human interfaces to the software running on a field device. As discussed above, the various controllers, sensors, actuators, etc. can be of various manufacturers. As a result, such devices have different test requirements, commissioning requirements, and the like. It is often necessary to develop a specific software to interact with the field device firmward or software each model of device to perform these tasks. There is a need to reduce these costs.

Arrangement and method for accessing data of a building automation system component


Disclosed is a polishing agent comprising: water; tetravalent metal hydroxide particles; and an additive, wherein the additive contains at least one of a cationic polymer and a cationic polysaccharide. The present invention can provide a polishing agent which is capable of polishing an insulating film at a high speed with less polishing flaws, and having a high polishing rate ratio of a silicon oxide film and a stopper film, in the CMP technology of flattening insulating film. The present invention can also provide a polishing agent set for storing the polishing agent, and a method for polishing a substrate using this polishing agent.

In the recent processes for production of semiconductor devices, the importance of processing technologies for density enhancement and miniaturization is ever increasing. The chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) technology, which is one of such technologies, now serves as a technology essential for the formation of shallow trench isolation, flattening of pre-metal insulating films or interlayer insulating films, and formation of plugs and embedded metal wirings, in the processes for production of semiconductor devices.
In the conventional processes for production of semiconductor devices, fumed silica polishing agents are generally investigated for the flattening of insulating films such as silicon oxide films, which are formed by a method such as a chemical vapor deposition (CVD; chemical layer growth) method or a spin coating method. Fumed silica polishing agents are produced by growing particles by a method of thermally decomposing silicon tetrachloride or the like, and adjusting the pH.
However, such silica polishing agents have a technical problem that the polishing rate is low. In the generation of a design rule of 0.25 μm or less, shallow trench isolation is being used for the isolation of devices within an integrated circuit.
In the shallow trench isolation, CMP is used to eliminate any excess silicon oxide film formed on the substrate, and in order to stop polishing, a stopper film to be polished at slower polishing rate is formed underneath the silicon oxide film. The stopper film is formed using silicon nitride or the like, and it is preferable that the polishing rate ratio between the silicon oxide film and the stopper film is large. Conventional colloidal silica-based polishing agents are such that the polishing rate ratio of the silicon oxide film and the stopper film is as small as about 3, and the polishing agents do not have a characteristic of being durable for the actual use in shallow trench isolation.
On the other hand, cerium oxide polishing agents are being used as glass surface polishing agents for photomasks, lenses and the like. The cerium oxide polishing agents have an advantage that the polishing rate is fast as compared with silica polishing agents or alumina polishing agents.
In recent years, polishing agents for semiconductor using high-purity cerium oxide polishing particles have been put to use. For example, the technology is disclosed in Patent Literature 1. It is also known to add additives in order to control the polishing rate of cerium oxide polishing agents and to enhance overall flatness. For example, this technology is disclosed in Patent Literature 2.
In recent years, further miniaturization is in progress with regard to the processes for production of semiconductor devices, and polishing flaws that occur at the time of polishing have been a problem. In regard to this problem, there has been an attempt to make the average particle size of the cerium oxide particles of such polishing agents using cerium oxide as described above small. However, when the average particle size is made small, the mechanical action is reduced, and therefore, there is a problem that the polishing rate is decreased.
In regard to this problem, a polishing agent using tetravalent metal hydroxide particles is under investigation, and this technology is disclosed in Patent Literature 3. This technology is intended to take advantage of the chemical action of the tetravalent metal hydroxide particles, while reducing the mechanical action as far as possible, and to thereby achieve a balance between the reduction of polishing flaws caused by the particles and the enhancement of polishing rate.

Polishing agent and method for polishing substrate using the polishing agent


A powered, unidirectional output controlling apparatus mounted between the main shaft of an electrically powered tool and a power source is provided. The apparatus comprises a rotating seat, a plurality of flexible disc seats made from a rubber material, a locking seat, a plurality of locking rollers and a fixing ring. One end of the rotating seat is engaged with the power source output of a power transmission mechanism and the other end of the rotating seat is provided with a plurality of insertion shafts passing though the locking seat fastened by two flexible disc seats. The locking seat is first mounted into the fixing ring. The center of the rotating seat is provided with a bolt hole for the mounting of the main shaft. The external edge of the fixing ring is secured to the housing of the electrically powered tool. An inner side of the fixing ring is formed with an annular groove into which a rubber ring is disposed. The perimeter portion of he locking seat is provided with a plurality of locking slots and the locking slots are mounted with a plurality of locking rollers. During reverse transmission, the flat bottom surfaces of the locking slots push the locking rollers to engage with a narrow space at the lateral ends of the locking slots, such that the locking rollers engage with the fixing ring and the locking seat.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a powered, unidirectional output controlling apparatus, and in particular to an electric powered tool requiring no internal electric power to drive the main shaft to rotate.
(b) Prior Art
Electric powered tools, such as electric screwdrivers, or electric drills, improve the effectiveness and conveniences in work done. However, not all work can be done rapidly with these electric powered tools. For instance, these tools are not suitable for fine adjustment of screws, or loosening screws through one or two rotations, or drilling a small hole on a surface, etc. These work operations require manually operable tools. Recently, manufacturers have incorporated the advantages of a manual tool into an electrically powered tool by adding a connection member to connect the main shaft of the tool with the tool housing. However, such tools require an actuating component which requires manually triggering in order to provide a locking action. Although the main shaft can be locked and the reverse resistance of the engaged housing will not be reversely transmitted to the power source, such does cause the power source to drive without loading, and there are drawbacks when it is used.
These drawbacks of the conventional devices are as follows:
(1) The actuating components have to be triggered manually and therefore a triggering handle has to extend from the tool housing, while the rest of the components are mounted within the tool housing. Thus, the assembling of components is difficult and troublesome.
(2) The actuating end of the actuating component can easily be worn out after a period of utilization. This will lower the locking force, which causes a lowering of transmission force.
(3) The manufacturing of the tool housing is difficult for the reason that a hole for the triggering handle has to be made.
(4) The inner and external sides of the engaging device are locked and cannot be driven. Thus, the motor cannot drive the main shaft. It can only be driven if the engaging function of the engaging device is released.
The above drawbacks are overcome by providing a powered, unidirectional output controlling apparatus.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a powered, unidirectional output controlling apparatus, which is an electrically powered tool used to drive the main shaft to drive without using internal power of the apparatus. In accordance with the present invention, the actuating component step does not require manual triggering to hold the housing of the apparatus, such that the main shaft and the housing are engaged to form a manually operated tool. In manual operation, the reverse resistance transmitted from the tool only engages the housing, and will not be reversely transmitted to the power source, which causes no-load rotation of the motor. Further, the manual triggering of the apparatus is not required and therefore no triggering handle is formed at the housing which causes difficulty in the assembly of components.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a powered, unidirectional output controlling apparatus, wherein the flat bottom face of the locking slot can push the locking roller to engage the narrow space at a lateral end of the locking slot.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a powered, unidirectional output controlling apparatus, wherein the manufacturing of the tool housing is simple and the cost of production is low.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a powered, unidirectional output controlling apparatus, wherein an elastic disc, made from a rubber material, in association with an O-ring fitted in an annular groove of the fixing ring, can be used to absorb the inertial impact force resulting form reverse transmission.
One aspect of the present invention is to provide powered, unidirectional output controlling apparatus mounted between the main shaft of an electric powered tool and a power source, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a rotating seat, a plurality of flexible disc seats made from a rubber material, a locking seat, a plurality locking rollers and a fixing ring. One end of the rotating seat is engaged with the power source output of a power transmission mechanism and the other end of the rotating seat is provided with a plurality of insertion shafts passing through the locking seat fastened by two flexible disc seats. The locking seat is first mounted into the fixing ring. The center of the rotating seat is provided with a bolt hole for the mounting with the main shaft. The external edge of the fixing ring is secured to the electric powered tool housing, and a perimeter portion of the locking seat is provided with a plurality of locking slots and the locking slots are mounted with a plurality of locking rollers. During reverse transmission, otherwise stated as during the manual application of torque to the housing, the flat bottom surfaces of the locking slots push the locking rollers to engage with the narrow space at the lateral end of the locking slots such that the locking rollers engage with the fixing ring and the locking seat.

Powered, unidirectional output controlling apparatus


Disclosed is an apparatus for detecting deterioration of a catalyst of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinder banks in such a manner that the deterioration of the catalyst can be assuredly discriminated regardless of the presence of deviation of a control phase with respect to each cylinder bank. The influence of change of the air/fuel ratio can be eliminated considerably by reducing the air/fuel ratio correction coefficient for a right bank, or by also using the correction coefficient for the left bank as that for the right bank to cause the phases of them to be synchronized with each other, or by dither-controlling the right bank. Therefore, the change of the air/fuel ratio with respect to the left bank can be assuredly detected while necessitating one sub air/fuel ratio sensor. By discriminating the state of deterioration of the catalyst in accordance with results of detections made by the left air/fuel ratio sensor and the sub air/fuel ratio sensors, the deterioration of the catalyst can be assuredly discriminated regardless of the presence of deviation of control phase with respect to the two banks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting deterioration of a catalyst of an internal combustion engine in which a main air/fuel ratio sensor is disposed in each exhaust system of a plurality of cylinder banks, and a sub air/fuel ratio sensor is disposed in the lower stream from a catalyst provided in a collecting exhaust pipe of the cylinders, the apparatus being arranged to detect the deterioration of the catalyst in accordance with the results of detections performed by the main air/fuel ratio sensors and the sub air/fuel ratio sensor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hitherto, an internal combustion engine has been provided with main air/fuel ratio sensors in the upper stream from the ternary catalyst to feedback-control the air/fuel ratio in order to improve the purification efficiency of the ternary catalyst disposed in the exhaust system thereof and to improve the fuel consumption efficiency. However, the main air/fuel ratio sensor disposed in the upper stream from the ternary catalyst easily deteriorates due to heat. Therefore, a so-called double sensor system is constituted by additionally providing a sub air/fuel ratio sensor in the lower stream from the ternary catalyst so as to cause the sub air/fuel ratio sensor in the lower stream to supervise the control of the main air/fuel ratio sensor in the upper stream, so that a correction is performed.
In an internal combustion engine of the aforesaid type, the deterioration of the catalyst is discriminated in accordance with the results of the detection operations performed by the main air/fuel ratio sensors and the sub air/fuel ratio sensor. For example, there have been a known method which employs the frequency ratio by using the outputs from the two air/fuel ratio sensors as parameters (refer to Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-128221), a method which employs the amplitude ratio (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,866), and a method which employs the area ratio (refer to SAE910561).
There is sometimes also employed the double sensor system in a V-type engine having two cylinder banks and two exhaust manifolds. The aforesaid V-type engine is, due to this structural requirement, constituted in such a manner that a catalyst is disposed in a collecting exhaust pipe which combines the two exhaust systems and a sub air/fuel ratio sensor is disposed in the lower stream from the catalyst in order to decrease the number of the sub air/fuel ratio sensor disposed in the lower stream. Furthermore, supervision of the air/fuel ratio feedback control of each cylinder bank performed by the two main air/fuel ratio sensors disposed in the upper stream is carried out by one sub air/fuel ratio sensor disposed in the lower stream.
Hence, in the V-type engine, the deterioration of the aforesaid catalyst has been discriminated in accordance with the results of the detection performed by either of the main air/fuel ratio sensors disposed in the upper stream and the sub air/fuel ratio sensor disposed in the lower stream.
Therefore, in the V-type engine, the sub air/fuel ratio sensor disposed in the lower stream detects the composition of the mixture gases exhausted from the two exhaust systems. In a case where the control phase of the first bank and that of the second bank coincide with each other as shown in (A) of FIG. 20, the same density gases, that is, two rich gases or two lean gases are mixed with each other in the collecting exhaust pipe in such a manner that if a rich gas is exhausted from one of the two exhaust systems, also a rich gas is exhausted from the other exhaust system, and if a lean gas is exhausted from one of the exhaust systems, also a lean gas is exhausted from the other system. Therefore, the waveform can be measured by the sub air/fuel ratio sensor disposed in the lower stream.
However, the fact that the air/fuel ratio feedback control is performed for each bank will cause a problem to arise in that the rich gas and the lean gas air mixed with each other to become a gas having an air/fuel ratio of .lambda.=1 in the collecting exhaust pipe if the control phases of the two bank become different from each other and the exhaust air/fuel ratios become different in the opposite directions as shown in (B) of FIG. 20. If no amplitude is attained in the waveforms detected by the sub air/fuel ratio sensor as described above, the discrimination whether or not the catalyst has deteriorated cannot be made.

Apparatus for detecting deterioration of catalyst of internal combustion engine


An audio output apparatus includes: an audio codec outputting an analog audio signal corresponding to a digital audio signal from a system controller; a switch unit having a first end coupled to the audio codec through a capacitor, and a grounded second end; and a switch controller triggered by a trigger signal to output a control signal to a control end of the switch unit such that the switch unit couples the capacitor to ground in response to the control signal. The trigger signal is generated by one of the system controller, the audio codec, and a power circuit supplying electric power to the system controller, the audio codec and the switch controller upon occurrence of a condition associated with pop noise, and is outputted to the switch controller before the pop noise is generated, such that the pop noise is conducted to ground via the switch unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an audio output apparatus, more particularly to an audio output apparatus capable of suppressing pop noise.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1a to 1d, four circuits 11, 13, 15, 17 disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. 275312 are shown to be capable of suppressing pop noise. The circuit 11 shown in FIG. 1a includes a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) 111 for conducting pop noise to be presented at an audio output end 12 to ground in response to a control signal. The circuit 13 shown in FIG. 1b includes a diode 131 for conducting pop noise from an audio output end 14. The circuit 15 shown in FIG. 1c includes a diode 151 for conducting pop noise from an audio output end 16 to ground. The circuit 17 shown in FIG. 1d includes diodes 171, 172 for conducting pop noise from an audio output end 18.
However, since the BJT 111 and the diodes 131, 151, 171, 172 are unidirectional, they are unable to conduct pop noise with a negative voltage. Furthermore, when the BJT 111 and the diodes 131, 151, 171, 172 are conducting, higher voltage drops are present across the BJT 111 and the diodes 131, 151, 171, 172. Such voltage drops may be amplified by a reproduction device, thereby resulting in pop noise.

Audio output apparatus capable of suppressing pop noise