A method and apparatus for electroplating at least part of the surface area of an article with a metal coating is described, the method including the steps of: placing the article in a vessel, the vessel being provided with machinery to allow access of fluid to an interior volume; the article being contained in the interior volume and, machinery to allow egress of the fluid; providing the vessel with anode and cathode connections such as to enable the article to become cathodic with regard to an anode extending into the interior volume; providing machinery to cause at least two different fluids including at least one plating electrolyte to be introduced into the vessel in sequence, flow through the interior volume and to exit therefrom for a sufficient time to allow a required thickness of the metal coating to be deposited.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus particularly, though not exclusively, for the electro-deposition of metal coatings on plain bearings.
Plain bearings such as are used as crankshaft bearings in internal combustion engines for example, are generally semi-cylindrical in form, a pair of bearings forming a cylinder around each shaft journal usually being used. Each individual semi-cylindrical or half bearing generally comprises two or more layers including: a strong backing material such as steel for example; a lining of a bearing alloy such as an aluminium or copper alloy for example; and, frequently a so-called overlay coating of a softer metal alloy based on alloys of lead, tin, cadmium or zinc for example on top of the bearing alloy lining to provide bearing properties such as conformability and dirt embeddability for example.
Presently, the most commonly used method of providing the overlay coating is by electroplating from solutions containing ions of the required metals in appropriate concentrations in conjunction with either an inert or a consumable anode of the appropriate alloy. In the prior art plating processes, pairs of half bearings are held in stacks in jigs which allow free access of plating solution to the bearings. The jigs then being immersed in open tanks of various chemicals appropriate to the plating process being carried out. A typical prior art plating process may comprise the steps of: initially immersing the jigged bearings in a tank of cleaning fluid; transferring the cleaned bearings in their jig to a water wash tank; immersing the washed bearings in an acid etch tank; transferring the etched bearings to a water wash tank; transferring the washed bearings to a nickel plating tank; transferring the nickel plated bearings to a water wash tank; transferring the washed bearings to a tank for the electro-deposition of an alloy overlay coating; and finally transferring the overlay coated bearings to a water wash tank. Generally the transfer stages between tanks are effected by overhead cranes or conveyors and result in the fluid from one tank draining out of the jig as it is being raised with consequent splashing and risk of contamination and injury to the people operating the process. It must be born in mind that many of the cleaning, etching and plating solutions used comprise extremely toxic and harmful chemicals which, in addition to the danger posed by direct contact with people, may also produce harmful fumes.
A further disadvantage of the prior art process is that much of the time from initially jigging the bearings to removing the plated bearings from the jig is taken up in the transferring from tank to tank and in allowing time for each solution to drain as much as possible to minimise cross contamination between tanks.
A further disadvantage of conventional tank plating systems is that although the plating solutions in the tank are generally stirred, the current density able to be employed without xe2x80x9cburningxe2x80x9d of the overlay deposit is relatively low leading to relatively long plating times.
GB-A-2 181 744 shows a method of plating an internal surface of a hollow object by providing an internal anode and filling the internal volume of the object with a plating solution. However, the plating solution is only changed if it becomes exhausted and no indication of process conditions are given.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for the electroplating particularly, though not exclusively, of plain bearings, the method and apparatus being less hazardous to people than existing methods and apparatus.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for the electroplating of plain bearings which is more economic and faster than known methods and apparatus.
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the disclosure of the present invention hereinbelow.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method for electroplating of a metal coating of at least a part of the surface area of an article includes the steps of: placing the article in a vessel, the vessel being provided with means to allow access of fluid to an interior volume thereof in which volume said article is contained and, means to allow egress of said fluid; providing said vessel with anode and cathode means such as to enable said article to become cathodic with regard to an anode extending into said interior volume; providing means to cause at least two different fluids including at least one plating solution to be introduced into said vessel in sequence, flow through said interior volume and to exit therefrom for a sufficient time to allow a required thickness of said metal coating to be deposited, said at least one plating solution flowing continuously through said vessel during deposition of said metal.
In the case of overlay plating of half bearings for example, the method may typically comprise the steps of clamping the half bearings together in either a generally cylindrical or semi-cylindrical stack for example within the interior volume of the plating vessel; passing a cleaning fluid through the vessel and past at least the bores of the bearings; then pumping water through the vessel to remove the cleaning fluid; next acid to etch the surface on which the overlay is to be deposited; next water to remove residual acid and wash the bearings; next a plating solution to deposit a thin layer of a so-called interlayer such as nickel or copper onto the bearing surface to act as a diffusion barrier between the bearing lining alloy and the overlay; next water to remove the residual interlayer plating solution; next overlay plating solution to deposit the overlay alloy per se; and, finally water to flush away residual overlay plating solution.
It should be emphasised that the above plating sequence is merely exemplary and that more, different or fewer fluid passing steps may be employed depending upon the specific bearing alloy being plated, the overlay alloy composition and the resulting bearing structure which is desired.
In the case of cylindrical or semi-cylindrical articles such as bearings for example, the anode has an elongate form extending into the plating vessel and may be generally coaxial with the bearing bore axis or vessel axis. It has been found that the method of the present invention is inherently a factor of at least about two or three times faster than in the conventional plating process where the jigged bearings are moved from tank to tank due to the higher current densities which may be employed allowing deposition of a given amount of metal in less time. However, it has been found that the speed of the electroplating deposition step per se may be further significantly increased by providing means to enable the anode surface to move such as by rotating, oscillating or reciprocating motion for example.
In one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the anode is provided with a paddle wheel at a position adjacent the fluid inlet means such that the fluid flow itself causes the anode to rotate. The higher the fluid flow rate, the faster the rate of rotation of the anode.
In another embodiment of the method and apparatus according to the present invention, the anode is driven by means of an electric motor thus, allowing independent control of rate of anode surface movement and fluid flow rate.
The use of high plating fluid flow rates such as in the range from about 15 to 40 l/min together with the use of a moving anode surface has enabled higher current densities in the range from about 5 to about 100 A/dm2 for any given step in the plating process to be employed thus producing rapid plating and an overall increase in the speed of the plating process by a factor of four or five. In the prior art plating processes, current densities were limited to about 7 A/dm2 otherwise xe2x80x9cburningxe2x80x9d of the plated coating occurred as evidenced by black sooty deposits forming on the surface. It is envisaged that flow rates of up to about 160 l/min may eventually be employed giving consequent increases in plating current densities which may be employed and hence reductions in process times.
In addition to the advantage of increases in plating process speed noted above, another considerable advantage of the present invention is that of safety whereby people operating the process are largely separated from the chemicals which are being used since they are contained within the plating vessel and stored in remote closed holding tanks being transported to and from the holding tanks by being pumped through conduits.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for the deposition of a metal coating by electroplating on at least a part of the surface area of an article, the apparatus comprising: a vessel, the vessel having means to allow access of fluid thereinto, said article being contained in said vessel and, means to allow egress of said fluid from said vessel; anode and cathode means such as to enable said article to become cathodic with regard to an anode extending into said vessel; fluid supply means to supply at least two different fluids including at least one plating solution to said vessel in a predetermined sequence; control means to control the flow and sequence of said at least two different fluids to said vessel; means to enable continuous flow of said plating solution during deposition of said metal coating; holding tank means for holding at least some of said different fluids; and, electrical supply and control means to enable said electroplating of said article.
The different fluids may be held in separate tanks from which the fluids may be supplied from and returned to by suitable pump means and conduits connecting the vessel and tanks. The fluids may be supplied to the vessel via suitable valve control means which enable flow to and from the vessel to be initiated and terminated in a predetermined sequence.
The vessel may preferably be closed to the ambient environment so as to obviate spillage of fluid.
The vessel may also have a compressed air supply connected thereto to blow out the bulk of any residual fluids so as to minimise contamination of flushing water.
The fluid holding tanks may be provided with suitable monitoring means to ensure that the required concentrations of chemicals for example are maintained within desired limits.
The anode may be either an inert anode from a metal such as stainless steel or Hastelloy (trade name) for example or may be a consumable anode of the alloy which is being deposited as the overlay coating in the case of bearings, e.g. lead-tin-copper alloy.
The speed of the electroplating process has been found to be greatly enhanced by making the anode move during the process. In one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention the anode has been provided with a paddle wheel which is driven by the incoming fluid as noted above. However, the speed of rotation is necessarily controlled inter alia by the fluid flow rate and the speed of rotation may thus not be optimum. The anode may alternatively be driven by motor means such as electric or air motor, for example, having speed control means. The anode may alternatively be oscillated about its axis or reciprocated in a direction substantially parallel to its axis or a combination of such motions. It is believed that the increase in plating speed due to anode movement is due to the prevention or limitation of diffusion layers around the anode being formed and thus hindering the free passage of metal ions to the article being plated.
Similarly, the high electrolyte flow rates ensure that there is always a fresh supply of metal ions at the article surface and prevents stagnation at the article surface.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fluids may be introduced into the vessel in a direction generally parallel to the vessel axis, the vessel axis being preferably generally vertical. The combination of the high plating fluid flow rate and moving anode surface causes turbulence which prevents the formation of a stagnating boundary layer of plating fluid adjacent both the anode surface and the article surface being plated thus, enabling the use of much higher plating current densities than have hitherto been possible.
Preferably, the anode cross section may be such as to cause turbulence in the flowing plating solution during movement thereof. Cross sectional shapes such as rectangular or xe2x80x9cSxe2x80x9d-shaped for example may be employed.
A yet further advantage of the apparatus and method of the present invention is that the floor space occupied is greatly reduced and holding tanks can be sited closer together and in remote and/or elevated positions away from people thus again improving safety and manufacturing area utilisation.
In order that the present invention may be more fully understood, examples will now be described by way of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:


A multi-layer barrier for insulation blocking an opening or passage of a building and for providing ventilation to or within a building. A plurality of inflated hollow membrane cube-like structures are formed adjacent to one another, which traverse a longitudinal width of the opening or passage. The hollow membrane cube-like structures are formed from generally rectangular sheets having two long parallel edges, two parallel short edges and a floor having one or more orifices in the forming floor of each non-bottom sheet between membranes, for air connection between membrane structures to be changed from an inflated and a deflated state.

The present invention relates to a novel inflatable multi-layer barrier mounted so as to provide insulation to or within a building. The present invention relates particularly to such a barrier system for use in agricultural buildings, such as barns, livestock or animal housing buildings, greenhouses and the like.
Inflatable vent systems contemplated by the prior art include a cover assembly for sealably permitting the closure and opening of such vent openings by inflating and deflating a horizontal multi-sectioned tubular mat assembly which is mounted exteriorly or interiorly to the opening of a building, usually a greenhouse.
There have been a number of mat-like inflatable partition assemblies that have been developed for controlling the ventilation, lighting, humidity and temperature inside a building. Some of these vent assemblies extend across the ceiling of a greenhouse at various heights so as to provide an overlying insulating cover and/or to minimize the air space to be heated. For example, such assemblies are discussed at U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,038,788; 4,290,242; 4,297,813; 4,301,626; 4,305,235; 4,318,251 and 4,352,259.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,242 describes a plurality of clear polyethylene tubes extending in a spaced adjacent relationship longitudinally across a greenhouse at the edge of a roof that projects beyond the wall. Once again, the system is intended for application in a greenhouse structure.
More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,888 describes an expandable mat-like vent closure apparatus comprising a clear inflatable mat, the opposed surfaces being seated to one another to form a plurality of horizontal tubular members with a plurality of internal air passages connected to one another. The plurality of horizontal tubular membranes are formed from a single sheet sealed together horizontally at various intervals by spot seal.
The disadvantage of this vent closing structure and system is that the membranes are tubular and the points of attachment of the single membrane are spot sealed which cause "valleys" in the membrane barrier structure on both sides.
These "valleys" are points where the insulation value of the barrier is essentially minimal as there is no air barrier between the ambient exterior conditions and the interior of the building, this hindering the ability to optionally and economically control conditions in the building, such as temperature and the like.
In particular, the "valley" structures associated with the spot seals form areas where condensation may accumulate on either side of the barrier structure, again inhibiting the insulation value of the barrier as well as adding weight to the barrier requiring more energy to maintain the barrier inflated or inhibiting or preventing, due to the load, inflation and thus closure of the barrier, requiring the inconvenience of removal of the accumulated condensation for proper function of the barrier system.
Another problem associated with this prior art structure is that due to spot sealing of a single membrane sheet, the structure is lacking in rigidity, being more flimsy and limited in the practical height of the membrane structure which may be achieved by air inflation of the structure. This creates a practical limit as to the size of opening with which the prior art barrier may be used.
The improvement of this invention lies in that the plurality of inflatable hollow membranes structures are cube-like instead of tubular and thus there is increased rigidity, insulating value and no longer a need for spot seals between each tubular membrane. The multi-layer barrier allows for ventilation and prevents heat loss. The multi-layer insulating barrier lies in the gutter of a frame, composed of an upper and lower support, which allows for the movement of the barrier when it is being inflated. As required, there is also a plurality of vertical supports that are mounted to the upper and lower channels and are sufficiently spaced to prevent sagging of the barrier when it is being inflated or deflated.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the cube-like membranes ensure that the barrier is more resilient and durable and thus a greater number of cube-like membranes can be stacked one on top of the other, allowing increase in the practical height of the insulating barrier. The barrier systems existing in the prior art are limited to approximately 5 feet because of the lack of resilience in the inflatable sheet due to its weakness in construction, whereas the present invention will permit a barrier up to approximately double this height.


A shelf support system includes a sleeve or wedge member and a collar adapted to be secured to a generally cylindrical support post, that is one that is circular when viewed in radial cross-section. The sleeve has an inner surface that is configured to embrace the support post and an outer surface formed with a first axially outwardly inclined wedge portion and at least one second axially outwardly inclined wedge portion that, when viewed in such radial cross-section, extends at an angle to the first portion. Additionally, the collar is adapted to be secured to a member to be supported and to embrace the sleeve. The collar has a first wedge surface formed to mate with the first portion of the outer surface of the sleeve and at least one second wedge surface formed to mate with the second portion of the outer surface of the sleeve. Thus, when the sleeve embraces the post and the collar embraces the sleeve, axial loading of the collar in one direction causes the first wedge surface to mate with the first portion of the outer surface of the sleeve and the second wedge surface to mate with the second portion of the outer surface of the sleeve, thereby urging the sleeve toward the post in at least two generally radial directions.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a support structure that can be used to support shelving or other elements for carrying or supporting any desired item. More particularly, the present invention relates to a support assembly for use in, for example, a knock-down shelving system to adjustably support shelves.
The support assembly of the present invention ideally can be incorporated into a knock-down shelving system that includes a plurality of support posts for supporting one or more shelves at corner support assemblies thereof. The shelving system will include a sleeve or wedge member and a collar adapted to be secured to a generally cylindrical support post, that is one that is circular when viewed in radial cross-section. The sleeve has an inner surface that is configured to embrace the support post and an outer surface formed with a first axially outwardly inclined wedge portion and at least one second axially outwardly inclined wedge portion that, when viewed in such radial cross-section, extends at an angle to the first portion. Additionally, the collar is adapted to be secured to a member to be supported and to embrace the sleeve. The collar has a first wedge surface formed to mate with the first portion of the outer surface of the sleeve and at least one second wedge surface formed to mate with the second portion of the outer surface of the sleeve. Thus, when the sleeve embraces the post and the collar embraces the sleeve, axial loading of the collar in one direction causes the first wedge surface to mate with the first portion of the outer surface of the sleeve and the second wedge surface to mate with the second portion of the outer surface of the sleeve, thereby urging the sleeve toward the post in at least two generally radial directions.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Shelving systems having adjustable height shelves and so-called "knock-down" type shelving systems are known, and each has utility in many applications. For example, a knock-down shelving system with adjustable height shelves may be used in the food service, industrial, commercial, hospital, and similar fields for storage of desired items.
One type of a well known knock-down shelving system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,424,111 and 3,523,508 both to Maslow, and is manufactured and sold by InterMetro Industries Corporation, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., a company related to the assignee of the present invention. The shelving system disclosed in these patents has achieved great commercial success under the InterMetro trademark SUPER ERECTA SHELF®, and incorporates a plurality of cylindrical support posts each formed with a series of equally spaced, annular grooves on its outer surface. A basic shelving system might include four such posts to support one or more formed-wire shelves, with each shelf having a frusto-conically-shaped collar at each corner for receiving a support post. A two-piece interlocking sleeve fits around the support post. The sleeve features a rib on its interior surface for engaging one of the grooves on the support post and has a frusto-conically-shaped outer surface, which is widest at the bottom, designed to complement the shape of the shelf collars. The support posts fitted with sleeves are received in the collars of each shelf to assemble the shelving system. When assembled, the weight of the shelf and any items stored on it creates a radially-inwardly directed wedging force between the collars and sleeves, which brings the sleeves into tight contact with the posts.
Another type of commercially successful shelving system, sold and marketed under the trademark METROMAX® by InterMetro Industries, features a "knock-down" structure that incorporates triangular support posts. Such a system is the subject of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,811,670; 4,946,350; 5,271,337; and 5,279,231.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,670, a corner assembly for securing each corner of a shelf to the triangular support post includes a wedge member, a corner bracket structurally associated with the shelf, and a collar. The wedge member snap-fits onto the support post, and the collar and corner bracket form a sleeve that may fit around the wedge and support post, thereby to support the shelf by a wedging force.
The shelving systems shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,964,350; 5,271,337; and 5,279,231 feature modular shelves in combination with the triangular support posts. The modular shelves include a rectangular shelf frame formed from two end beams connected to two side beams. A center beam may be inserted between the end beams, parallel to the side beams, to increase the load-bearing capacity of the system. A plurality of plastic shelf mats are adapted to be snap-fit onto the shelf frame. The shelf frame is secured to the support post by corner assemblies comprised of a corner portion of the end beam, a wedge member and a separate collar. A sleeve formed by the corner portion and the collar is seated on the support post and wedge member and secured by a wedging action. Two lock cylinders lock the collar to the corner portion to secure the sleeve.
Still another type of commercially successful shelving system manufactured and sold by InterMetro Industries is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,042 (Welsch). In one embodiment, this system includes a two-piece wedge assembly configured to embrace a circular support post. The wedge assembly is formed of a sleeve and a wedge that are snap-fit or otherwise joined together about the support post. The wedge has a single planar wedge surface that tapers outwardly from its upper end to its lower end, such that the lower end is wider, and extends toward the interior of the shelving system. A collar, having a rear section that outwardly inclines from top to bottom to complement the slope of the single wedge surface, is seated on the wedge assembly and secured by wedging action.
(Each of the patents mentioned above is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.)
Despite the significant utility and commercial success of the above-described shelving systems, a need exists for an even more highly stable shelving system, utilizing a cylindrical support post, that is easily assembled and has shelves that are easily adjusted to different heights without the need for special tools, and in which the shelves are secured in a static manner to provide a load carrying capacity suitable for heavy-duty use. In particular, it is desirable to provide a system in which a support member can be secured to a cylindrical support post so as to provide stability and rigidity in multiple radial directions relative to the axis of the post.

Shelf support system having a cylindrical support post and providing improved stability and rigidity


There is provided a microchip that is formed of a first substrate having a surface with a groove and a second substrate joined together and has a fluid circuit in the form of a cavity defined by the groove and a surface of the second substrate closer to the first substrate. The fluid circuit at least includes a detection portion having an optical path for transmitting light. The microchip includes at least one of a step defined by a groove formed in contact with at least one side surface of a groove of the first substrate that defines the optical path and a recess provided in the second substrate at a position opposite to the step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to microchips useful as a micro total analysis system (μ-TAS) or the like suitably used for biochemical test of DNA, protein, cell, immunity, blood and the like, chemical synthesis and environmental analysis and the like, and particularly to microchips having a detection portion for optical measurement.
2. Description of the Background Art
In recent years in the fields of medical care, health, food, medicine development and the like it has been increasingly important to sense, detect or assay deoxyribo nucleic acid (DNA), enzymes, antigen, antibody, protein, viruses, cells and other similar biological substances and chemical substances, and there have been proposed a variety of biochips and micro chemical chips that can measure such substances conveniently. (Hereinafter such chips will be referred to as a "microchip" collectively.)
The microchip allows a series of test and analysis operations that are conducted in a laboratory to be conducted within a chip of a square measuring a few centimeters to 10 cm per side and having a thickness of approximately a few millimeters to a few centimeters. It thus allows the test and analysis operations to be conducted with a small amount of specimen and reagent, at a reduced cost, and with quick response and high throughput, and thus has many advantages such as a test result obtained immediately at a site at which the specimen is obtained.
Normally, the microchip has a fluid circuit therein. The fluid circuit is configured mainly e.g., of a liquid reagent reservoir portion for reserving a liquid reagent to be mixed with or used to cause a reaction with a specimen (e.g., blood as an example thereof) or used to treat the specimen, a measurement portion for measuring the specimen, the liquid reagent and the like, a mixer portion for mixing the specimen and the liquid reagent together to obtain a liquid mixture thereof, a detection portion for analyzing and/or testing the obtained liquid mixture and other similar portions, and a small flow path (e.g., having a width of approximately a few hundreds μm) connecting these portions appropriately. For use, the microchip is mounted typically in a device (a centrifuge) that can apply centrifugal force thereto. The microchip with appropriately directed centrifugal force applied thereto allows a specimen and a liquid reagent to be measured in amount and mixed together to provide a liquid mixture thereof and the liquid mixture to be introduced into the detection portion and the like. (For example see Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 2007-017342 for an example of a microchip having a fluid circuit therein.)
The detection portion having the liquid mixture accommodated therein is for example exposed to light (for detection) to measure the liquid mixture in transmittance or subject it to similar optical measurement.


Methods and apparatus provide for: receiving tokens from a plurality of resources, where the tokens are exchange media for permitting a plurality of requesters to access an associated one of the resources for a period of time; allocating the tokens to respective requester groups into which the plurality of requesters have been assigned; receiving requests for one or more of the tokens from one or more of the requesters and granting, from the allocated tokens, one or more of the tokens to the requesters based on token granting criteria; and re-distributing unused tokens from one or more requester groups to one or more other requester groups based on priorities assigned to the requester groups; and dynamically altering the priorities assigned to the requester groups when a number of unused tokens of one or more of the requester groups has fallen below a threshold.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for managing the use of a finite number of resources among a plurality of requesters, such as the processors in a multi-processor system. By way of example, the present invention has applicability in a multiprocessor system in which tokens are used to allocate resources among a plurality of requesters.
There is an apparent insatiable desire for faster computer processing data throughputs, for example, because cutting-edge computer applications involve real-time, multimedia functionality. Graphics applications are among those that place the highest demands on a processing system because they require such vast numbers of data accesses, data computations, and data manipulations in relatively short periods of time to achieve desirable visual results. These applications require extremely fast processing speeds, such as many thousands of megabits of data per second. While some processing systems employ a single processor to achieve fast processing speeds, others are implemented utilizing multi-processor architectures. In multi-processor systems, a plurality of sub-processors can operate in parallel (or at least in concert) to achieve desired processing results.
In some existing multi-processor systems, a plurality of parallel processors may compete for a finite number of resources, such as one or more shared memories, I/O interfaces, etc. Resource management techniques are employed to allocate the resources among the processors for finite periods of time in order to ensure that each processor may use the resources. The conventional approach to managing the allocation of the resources may involve an arbiter of requests for the resources.
The requesters may be the respective processors in a multi-processor and the resources may be memory banks, I/O interfaces, etc. Tokens are mechanisms used to allocate blocks of time during which the requesters may use the resources. Thus, a given resource must obtain a token before it may issue a command (load, store, move, etc.) to a bus over which the resources may be accessed. Upon initialization of the system, the requesters may be assigned to groups (Group 0, Group 1, Group 2, etc.) by way of operating system software (or related software). A Token Manager (TM) receives tokens from the resources (specific sets of which are designated for respective ones of the requester groups), and grants tokens to the requesters on a round robin priority basis. The requesters may request a token on a high/low priority basis; thus, the TM grants the tokens to the requesters on a round robin basis as to high priority token requests and on a round robin basis as to low priority token requests.
Some of the requester groups may have a relatively low number of requesters assigned thereto, and in some cases one or more requester groups may be empty. Nevertheless, in accordance with existing systems, the TM still receives tokens designated for all of the requester groups. Thus, some of the requester groups (particularly the empty ones) may have an excess of tokens. Existing solutions to this inefficient distribution of tokens calls for establishing priorities for the requester groups that dictate the order in which excess tokens are re-distributed to the requester groups. A problem with this approach of token management is that the algorithm for establishing the priorities may be static or extremely slow, thereby resulting in an uneven and inefficient distribution and grant of tokens to the requesters. Indeed, some requester groups may deplete their tokens while others may have an excess of tokens despite having a redistribution algorithm in place. Thus, certain requesters may have to wait for a resource. This is wasteful if another group has one or more available tokens to the resource that are unused.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus for dynamic redistribution of tokens in a multi-processor system


A power-supply circuit includes a capacitor, which is connected to a terminal at a first end while being grounded at the second end, for supplying a hold voltage between both ends thereof to a load; a capacitor connected, via a diode, to the terminal at a first end; an operational amplifier for raising a voltage at the second end of the capacitor, in response to a reduction in the hold voltage, such that the hold voltage becomes equal to a target voltage; and a transistor.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a technology for supplying a low-ripple voltage to a load.
2. Related Art
Portable electronic apparatuses, which are required to be thin and lightweight, include displays using electro-optical devices, such as liquid-crystal devices and organic-electroluminescent (EL) devices, that can meet such requirements. Since a voltage required for driving an electro-optical device is higher than a voltage of 3 to 5 V for activating a logic of an electronic apparatus, a power-supply circuit is required for the electronic apparatus to boost a single direct-current voltage of a battery or the like.
A variety of power-supply circuits of this type are available. In a portable electronic apparatus for which compactness, simplicity, low power consumption, and the like are required, a power-supply circuit is generally configured such that a voltage generated by turning on and off (switching) is held in a capacitor (holding device) provided at an output stage while being smoothed and supplied to a load (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-278938 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-117649).
Although the capacitor is provided at the output stage of the power-supply circuit, some ripples appear since the voltage across the capacitor is increased by switching while being gradually attenuated with power consumption by a load. It is desired that such ripples be minimized because they cause fluctuations in the root-mean-square (rms) value of a voltage applied to the electro-optical device and affect the quality of display.
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and its object is to provide a voltage-supply circuit, a voltage-supply method, a power-supply circuit, an electro-optical unit, and an electronic apparatus that can supply a low-ripple voltage.

Voltage-supply circuit, voltage-supply method, power-supply circuit, electro-optical unit, and electronic apparatus


Apparatus and associated methods for providing accurate tone reproduction in an output image, specifically in terms of dot gain curve shape and scale, through a DDCP imaging chain (such as that implemented by a raster image processor (200), particularly a screening process (460) occurring therein, and a marking engine (130)) used in a direct digital color proofing (DDCP) system (100), based upon "Process" data (600) associated with that imaging chain and customer defined ("Aim") data (500). Specifically, monotonically interpolated, e.g. using monotone piecewise cubic interpolation, "Aim" and "Process" data for "all possible" inputs are determined from corresponding input "Aim" and "Process" data and then combined to yield a customized dot gain look-up table (460) that, for a given operating condition, reflects the "Aim" data modified by the inverse of the "Process" data, i.e. the latter reflecting the native dot gain characteristic of this imaging chain which occurs at that condition. Thereafter, incoming contone values for a proof image are routed through the look-up table to yield resulting modified values which, when subsequently printed by the DDCP imaging chain at that operating condition, will yield a proof image that exhibits only a desired "Aim" dot gain curve, without substantially any corruption, if at all, from the native dot gain characteristic of that chain. By obtaining and then interpolating appropriate "Process" and/or desired "Aim" data, for a common operating condition and then constructing a look-up table therefrom, the DDCP imaging chain can produce a proof image that, within physical limits occurring at that operating condition, will accurately exhibit only the desired "Aim" dot gain curve and hence the desired tone reproduction characteristic associated therewith.

Graphic arts applications frequently require the accurate reproduction of a high resolution color image (commonly referred to as an "artwork"), such as a color photograph, a color drawing, a color layout and the like. A typical application might involve printing a high resolution color image or a series of such images on a page of a periodical, such as a magazine, or a corporate annual report.
Images are oftentimes generated either photographically, on suitable film, or electronically, on video tape or other suitable electronic media. When generated, images share a basic characteristic: they are recorded on a continuous tone (hereinafter referred to as "contone") basis. As such, the color existing at any point in the image is represented by a continuous amplitude value, oftentimes discretized as eight-bit values ranging from "0" to "255".
Color reproduction equipment takes advantage of the principle that the vast majority of colors can be separated into a specific linear combination of four primary subtractive colors (cyan, yellow, magenta and black--C, Y, M and K) in which the amount of each primary color is set to a predetermined amount. In the case of printed reproductions of an image, use of primary color printing obviates the need to use a differently colored ink for each different color in the image. As such, each image is converted into a succession of three or four color separations, in which each separation is essentially a negative (or positive) transparency with an altered tone reproducing characteristic that carries the color information for only one of the primary colors.
Modern offset printing presses do not possess the capability of applying differential amounts of ink to any location in an image being printed. Rather, these presses are only designed to either apply or not apply a single amount of ink to any given location on a page. Therefore, an offset printing press is unable to directly print a contone separation. To successfully circumvent this problem, halftone separations are used instead. An image formed from any single color halftone separation encodes the density information inherent in a color image from amplitude modulated form into a spatial (area) modulated form, in terms of dot size, which is subsequently integrated by the human eye into a desired color. By smoothly changing halftone dot sizes (dot areas), smooth corresponding tone variations will be generated in the reproduced image. Given this, the art has taught for some time that a full color image can be formed by properly overlaying single color halftone reproductions for all of the primary subtractive colors, where each reproduction is formed from a halftone dot separation that contains dots of appropriate sizes and in one of these primary colors. Clearly, as size of the dots decreases, an increasing amount of detail can be encoded in a dot pattern and hence in the reproduced image. For that reason, in graphic arts applications, a halftone separation utilizes very small dots to yield a relatively high dot pitch (resolution).
With this in mind, one might first think that printing a color image for graphic arts use should be a fairly simple process. Specifically, a color image could first be converted into corresponding continuous tone separations. Each of these contone separations could then be converted into a corresponding halftone separation. A printing plate could then be manufactured from each halftone separation and subsequently mounted to a printing press. Thereafter, paper or other similar media could be run through the press in such a fashion so as to produce properly registered superimposed halftone images for all the subtractive primary colors thereby generating a full color reproduction of the original image.
In practice, accurately printing a color image is oftentimes a very tedious, problematic and time consuming manual process that requires a substantial level of skill. First, the conventional manual photographic process of converting a contone separation into a halftone separation, this process commonly being referred to as "screening", is a time and resource consuming process in and of itself. Second, various phenomena, each of which disadvantageously degrades an image, often occur in a reproduced halftone color image. Moreover, the complete extent to which each of these phenomena is present in the reproduced image is often known only at a rather late point in the printing process thereby necessitating the use of tedious and time and resource consuming iterative trial and error experimentation to adequately eliminate these phenomena.
Specifically, to verify the accuracy of the color printing process and to enable appropriate adjustments to be made at various stages in the printing process in order to correct image defects and improve reproduction accuracy, a test image, frequently referred to as a "proof" is generated from the halftone separations once they are made. After a proof is generated, it is presented as being representative of the reproduced image which will be produced by a printing press in order to determine the accuracy of the printed image. Oftentimes, the proof contains unexpected and unsightly Moire patterns that arise from the interaction of pattern(s) in the image itself with that introduced by use of angled halftone screens that are used to photographically generate the halftone separations. Frequently, these Moire patterns can be rendered invisible by rotation of one or more of the screens to a different screen angle. Unfortunately, the exact change in the screen angle is frequently very hard to discern from the resulting Moire pattern itself and instead must be determined through trial and error experimentation. Unexpected artifacts can also exist in the proof thereby necessitating that various changes must be made to one or more of the separations. As such, this requires that a one or more new halftone separations must be generated or at least changed, a new proof must be produced and then analyzed, with this "proofing" process being iteratively repeated until the objectionable Moire patterns and all objectionable artifacts are eliminated from the proof. Now, once an acceptable proof is made thereby indicating that a printed image based on the separations will likely present a desired depiction of the original artwork, a separate printing plate is then made for each halftone separation. At this point, a full color print, commonly referred to as a "press sheet", is produced from these plates onto a sheet of actual paper stock that is to be used to carry the reproduced image. The press sheet is then examined to discern all imperfections that exist in the image reproduced therein. Owing to, e.g., unexpected dot gain, the existence of any artifacts in the press sheet and tone variations occurring between the press sheet and the desired image of the original artwork, further adjustments in the coloration or screen angle of the separations may need to be made with the entire process, i.e. generation or modification of halftone separations and printing plates, being repeated until an acceptable press sheet is produced. With experience gained over several years, a skilled color technician can reduce the number of times that this entire process needs to be repeated in order to produce a set of color halftone separations that yields an acceptable press sheet.
As one can now readily appreciate, the iterative manual process of producing an acceptable set of halftone separations, due to the inherent variability of the process, can be very tedious and inordinately time consuming. Unfortunately, in the graphic arts industry, publication deadlines are often extremely tight and afford very little, if any, leeway. Consequently, the available time in a graphic arts production environment allotted to a color technician to generate a set of halftone separations to meet a particular publication deadline, for example, is often insufficient to allow the technician adequate time, due to the trial and error nature of iterative process, to generate that set of separations which produces a very high quality halftone color image. As such, the technician is often constrained by time pressures to produce a set of separations that produces a visually acceptable and hence satisfactory, though not necessarily a very high quality, image.
In addition, the manual process can be disadvantageously quite expensive. Inasmuch as the manual process, even for a skilled color technician, involves a certain amount of trial and error experimentation, a number of separate proofs is often made with changed or new separations being generated as a result. Each new separation requires another piece of film. Film and associated developing chemicals are expensive. In addition, if an unacceptable press sheet is produced, then additional separations may need to be made along with new printing plates, which further lengthens the process and increases its expense.
In an effort to reduce the time required and expense associated with conventional manual photographic based color reproduction processes, the art has turned away from use of these manual processes in high volume graphic art applications to the use of intermediate off-press proofing technologies, such as electro-photographic techniques. In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,459 (issued to C. Cowan et al on Nov. 24, 1987, assigned to the present assignee hereof and hereinafter referred to as the U.S. Pat. No. '459 to Cowan et al) discloses an electro-photographic color proofing system. While this system generally produces an excellent quality proof, it does not permit a user to precisely specify a dot gain curve shape which, in turn, restricts the ability of this system to provide accurate tone reproduction over the entire operating space of the system.
Specifically, tone reproduction, as it relates to a digital separation, essentially defines an input/output relationship between measured optical reflection densities and corresponding, e.g. eight-bit, contone values. To provide accurate tone reproduction, the measured densities should properly track the contone values. Each contone value represents a corresponding area of a halftone dot. As will be seen, tone reproduction entails consideration of two phenomena: dot gain and solid area density.
As to dot gain, it has been known in the art for quite some time that the effective area of a halftone dot, as printed and as perceived by a viewer, frequently diverges from that of its associated contone value. This is generally caused by a number of factors, some of which are strictly physical in nature, such as for example media absorbency and ink spreading, while others are optical in nature, such as an amount of light that is reflected from or absorbed into a dot. As the actual dot areas that form an image diverge from the corresponding contone values these areas are intended to depict, that image exhibits increasingly poor tone reproduction. For ease of reference and convenience, optical reflectance densities for halftone images are generally viewed, in the art, in terms of equivalent halftone dot areas which permits tone reproduction to be considered in terms of dot gain.
Dot gain, as that term is known in the art, is simply defined as the difference, expressed as a percent and referenced to a full sized (100%) halftone dot, between the size of an output halftone dot (i.e. "dot out") that is produced for a given sized input halftone dot (i.e. "dot in"), specifically dot gain=dot out-dot in. When graphically depicted over a full range of input dot areas, i.e. from 0-100%, output dot area typically does not equal input dot area on a 1:1 basis. While 0% and 100% sized input dots must correspondingly produce 0% and 100% output dots, i.e. zero dot gain must occur at both of these limit points, dot gain is frequently non-zero and positive between these limits thereby defining a non-zero dot gain curve. If output dot area were to equal input dot area on a 1:1 basis throughout the entire range, then this would define a a 45.degree. line (for null dot gain) that emanates from an origin on a dot in vs. dot out curve. Corresponding numerical values for dot gain are frequently specified at 25%, 50% and 75% sized input dots, and occasionally for input dots sized at 90% (for shadow areas) and 10% (for highlight areas). A simple dot gain curve may take the shape of an inverted parabola that has zero dot gain for a 0% input dot, increases on a non-linear basis through 10% and 25%, reaches a maximum at 50%, and thereafter non-linearly decreases through 75% and 90% and finally once again reaches zero at a 100% input dot. The shape of the dot gain curve for any halftone separation effectively provides the shape of the tone reproduction curve of that separation.
Solid area density, frequently stated as D.sub.max, simply defines the optical reflection density of a solid area that is to be produced by a halftone separation for the maximum contone value associated therewith, e.g. "255" for eight-bit contone values. The value of D.sub.max effectively scales the tone reproduction curve of the image formed by that particular separation.
It has been known for some time in the art, that maximum solid area density and dot size are physically linked. In this regard, even as the physical area (i.e. the actual coverage) of a halftone dot remains constant, the apparent size of this dot (i.e. that perceived by a viewer and owing to the optical effects of light reflectance and absorbance between the dot and the media on which that dot is printed) varies with changes in solid area density. Furthermore, the optical effects of dot gain will often be exacerbated by various physical effects, such as media absorbency or ink spreading as noted above, that are associated with actually printing these dots. Specifically, by virtue of these physical effects, a larger or smaller dot may actually be printed than that which was intended.
With the above in mind, if a color proof image is to match the tone reproduction inherent in a press sheet, then that proof image needs to accurately reproduce both a desired solid area density and the dot gain curve shape that are expected to result in the press sheet for each primary color separation in the proof.
To effectuate some control over tone reproduction, the electro-photographic proofing system described in the U.S. Pat. No. '459 to Cowan et al only permits an operator to specifically vary dot size of the halftone dots at a 50% input dot size for any separation. However, this system does not permit the operator to precisely specify a desired dot gain curve shape to be used to generate a primary color halftone image from that separation. By only providing such dot size control, this system in effect merely allows an operator to select any one dot gain curve from a family of pre-defined and similarly shaped dot gain curves that only vary amongst each other by scale. However, mere selection among a family of pre-defined dot gain curves oftentimes does not result in a proper dot gain curve shape that accurately reflects the dot gain inherent in a color printing process which the proof image is to represent. Consequently, the proof will not accurately exhibit the dot gain curve shape inherent in that process. As such, the very limited control over dot gain provided by electro-photographic proofing systems has tended to unduly limit the tone reproduction capability of these systems and hence has often prevented these systems from accurately reproducing various subtleties in a color proof image that would appear in a press sheet.
For a variety of reasons, such as for example, increased flexibility, control and throughput over that provided by optical (including electro-photographic) proofing systems, the art is currently turning towards the use of so-called direct digital color proofing (DDCP) systems. These systems directly generate a halftone color proof image from a set of digitized contone separations and particularly the digitized contone values therefor. Specifically, DDCP systems manipulate the separations in digital form to electronically generate appropriate halftone separations, including, inter alia, electronic screening and dot gain compensation, and then directly write the proof image using an appropriate high resolution binary marking engine. Furthermore, inasmuch as these systems completely eliminate photographic film based processes, these systems are expected to be very economical to operate.
By virtue of providing dot gain compensation in a completely digital fashion, it is expected that these systems will permit far better control over image subtleties and hence tone reproduction than that available through optical proofing systems known in the art. Nevertheless, the art has simply not progressed to the point of providing the capability in a DDCP system of allowing an operator to completely specify and readily change, when required, a desired dot gain curve shape that, within the physical limits of the system, is to be reproduced in the proof and then have the system produce a proof image that exhibits that desired dot gain curve shape. I expect that, by providing this capability, very accurate tone reproduction in a digital proof image will result.
Therefore, a need presently exists in the art for a technique, specifically intended for inclusion in a DDCP system, that can be used to very accurately control the tone reproduction characteristics of the proof image by first permitting an operator to completely specify not only the solid area density but also a desired dot gain curve shape that is to be reproduced in the proof and then producing the proof image to contain that desired dot gain curve shape. By satisfying this need, a proof image will result such that the resulting image will very closely depict the desired image.

Method and apparatus for calibrating tone reproduction in a proofing system


A passive perfusion angioplasty catheter is provided which includes an elongated flexible member defining an inflation lumen and an inflatable balloon member affixed to a distal end of the flexible member for pressing against an interior wall of an artery. The balloon member defines at least one passage between a surface thereof and the interior wall permitting blood to flow therethrough when the balloon member is pressed against the interior wall. A method of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of angioplasty, the balloon-catheter reconstruction of a blood vessel. In particular, it relates to a unique passive perfusion balloon catheter for use in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, which allows blood to flow through the artery between the arterial wall and the irregular surface of the balloon to the distal side of the stenosis during dilation of the blood vessel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Atherosclerosis is a debilitating disease that is characterized by irregularly distributed lipid deposits, called plaque, on and within the walls of arteries. Ultimately, atherosclerosis results in a narrowing of, and a total or partial occlusion of blood flow through, the arterial lumen. Atherosclerosis typically begins in the second or third decade of life and usually affects arteries throughout the vascular system in varying degrees.
In some portions of an affected artery, the build up of plaque results in a more severe narrowing called a "stenosis." If the stenosis is severe, blood flow is restricted or precluded and surgical or balloon catheter treatment is often necessary on clinical grounds to restore patency to the area. When stenosis is found over 70-80 % of a coronary artery, myocardial ischemia (the inadequate flow of oxygen rich blood to the myocardium, the muscle layer of the heart) can occur. Myocardial ischemia is sometimes accompanied by angina pectoris, a constricting pain in the chest, shoulder or arms. Also attendant with the progression of atherosclerosis are coronary artery spasm and the formation of life-threatening intraluminal thrombi, commonly referred to as blood clots.
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, using a balloon catheter, was first introduced in the mid-1970's and has become a widely accepted method for treating obstructed arteries. There are currently four basic designs employed in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty 1) standard balloon over a wire; 2) low profile, small shaft balloon over a wire; 3) standard shaft balloons with fixed or partially movable wires and 4) balloon on a wire system. The procedure will be described applying the first design.
The procedure is typically performed by first making a puncture wound in the patient's right groin to gain access to the right femoral artery. A guide wire is passed through the artery and advanced through the arterial system until the distal end of the wire reaches the arterial stenosis, whether iliac, femoropopliteal, aortic, renal, splanchnic, or brachiocephalic. For many stenosis, in particular those in coronary arteries, a guiding catheter is advanced over the guide wire until its distal end passes over the distal end of the guide wire. The guide wire is then removed and a special PTA (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty) wire is advanced through the guiding catheter up to the locus of the stenotic lesion. The physician then manipulates the proximal end of the PTA wire to pass it through the stenotic lesion that is obstructing the artery. Once the PTA wire passes successfully through the stenotic lesion, a PTA balloon angioplasty catheter is passed over the PTA wire by feeding the distal end of the balloon catheter over the proximal end of the wire and then pushing the balloon catheter over the wire until the balloon is adjacent to (within) the stenotic lesion. Thus positioned, the balloon is inflated by injecting thereinto a bio-compatible fluid, such as saline. As the balloon inflates, it stretches the artery wall, distorts the plaque defining (or forming) the stenotic lesion and frequently produces a tear in the inner layers of the vessel wall. The plaque is displaced thus improving or restoring patency to the target artery.
Conventional angioplasty catheters have the undesirable effect of completely denuding the intimal surface, the innermost layer of endothelial cells lining the artery, when the balloon surface contacts the intima. An intact endothelial surface prevents contact between platelets and other components of the intima which act as powerful agonists of platelet adhesion and activation. If the depth of arterial injury is extensive, a powerful stimulation of the clotting system may occur leading to thrombosis and occlusion. Limiting the extensive the loss of endothelial cells may protect against thrombosis. Thrombi which form in the arterial lumen can block blood flow despite a physician's successful efforts in displacing the plaque. One method of treating this problem has been the use of prolonged inflation periods. However, longer inflation times are only practical (can only be utilized) if the catheter allows blood to continue to flow through the artery.
Conventional angioplasty catheters used to perform percutaneous transluminal angioplasty also have the disadvantage of completely occluding blood flow while the balloon is expanded in the artery. This can cause damage to the arterial wall by preventing the endothelial and smooth muscle cells from absorbing oxygen and, if the stenosis is in a coronary artery, may cause serious damage to those portions of the heart that receive blood via that artery. Consequently, angioplasty is not only a painstaking task for the physician who must inflate the balloon for only a few seconds and then deflate the balloon to allow blood to continue to flow through the artery, but is also potentially dangerous for the patient. Indeed, if the balloon is inflated for longer than 60-90 seconds, the patient may experience severe angina, shock, and/or rhythm disturbances of the heart.
Angioplasty procedures currently being used in practice also result in a re-stenosis rate of 20-50%.
Attempts to overcome these problems have been met with limited success. For example, a passive perfusion-type balloon catheter has been developed which has blood entry side hole(s) proximal to the balloon and blood exit hole(s) distal to the balloon. The side holes permit blood to pass through the lumen of the catheter, by-passing the balloon and stenosis as the inflated balloon blocks the arterial lumen. However, typically such catheters have a large profile, even with the balloon deflated, because the main body of the catheter must be relatively large to allow the blood to flow therethrough, and are relatively stiff. These characteristics limit their usefulness as the primary catheter for very tightly stenosed arteries, small vessels or tortuous coronary arteries. Furthermore, although blood may flow straight through to the distal end of the stenosed region, the inflated balloon still occludes side branches and, therefore, does not protect the myocardium served by such side branching arteries from ischemia.
Additionally, the intimal surface which comes in contact with the inflated balloon is still completely denuded, making the subsequent formation of thrombi or restenosis more likely. Even further, since flow rates are proportional to arterial pressure in any passive perfusion system, patients with hypotension may not obtain relief of myocardial ischemia with the limited passive autoperfusion that conventional catheters allow.


The present invention relates to an output voltage stabilization circuit. Specifically, the present invention relates to an output voltage stabilization circuit of a display device driving circuit, which generates a reference current dependent on a high source voltage using a current source independent of a magnitude of the high source voltage, generates a reference current dependent on a low source voltage using a current source independent of a magnitude of the low source voltage, and then generates a control signal by comparing the magnitudes to each other, whereby the output voltage stabilization circuit may stabilize an output voltage regardless of an order in which the low source voltage and the high source voltage are turned off in a circuit using both the low source voltage and the high source voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an output voltage stabilization circuit, and more particularly, to an output voltage stabilization circuit of a display device driving circuit, which stabilizes an output voltage of the display device driving circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an electric paper refers to a display device including a plurality of globular capsules and a plastic transistor arranged over and under the globular capsules. Unlike existing displays using backlights, the electric paper uses reflected light like paper.
An electric paper display device (EPD) has a production cost lower than existing flat display panels. Furthermore, since the EPD does not require backlights and continuous recharging, the EPD exhibits excellent energy efficiency. The EPD may offer a sharper image and a wider viewing angle than liquid crystal displays (LCD). Furthermore, since the EPD has a memory function, previous data stored therein is not lost although power is turned off. Therefore, the EPD may be widely used in bulletin boards, electronic books and so on.
In order for the EPD to maintain previous data, a driving circuit of the EPD should maintain an output at a ground level VSS after power off. In the conventional EPD, however, the output of the driving circuit may not be maintained at the ground level VSS depending on a power-off sequence.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a driving circuit of a conventional EPD.
Referring to FIG. 1, the driving circuit 100 of the conventional EPD includes a level shifter 110 and an output driver 120.
The level shifter 110 is configured to convert low voltage data LV DATA_1 to LV DATA_3 into high voltage data HV DATA_1 to HV DATA_3 using a low source voltage VCC, a high source voltage VPOS/VNEG, and a bias voltage Vbias_LV, and then provide the converted data to the output driver 120. The output driver 120 is configured to provide an output signal OUTPUT corresponding to the high voltage data HV DATA_1 to HV DATA_2 to a display panel (not illustrated). The output signal OUTPUT includes a ground voltage VSS and a high source voltage VPOS/VNEG.
The low source voltage VCC is a source voltage which is supplied to a low source voltage circuit for inputting a signal to the output driver 120. For example, the low source voltage circuit may include a circuit (not illustrated) for generating the bias voltage Vbias_LV or the level shifter 110 for generating the low voltage data LV DATA_1 to LV DATA_3. The high source voltage VPOS/VNEG is a source voltage supplied to the output driver 120. The high source voltage VPOS/VNEG includes a positive source voltage VPOS and a negative source voltage VNEG.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the driving circuit of the EPD includes a low source voltage circuit using a low source voltage and a high source voltage circuit using a high source voltage. Among driving circuits, a general logic circuit operates at a low source voltage, and an output circuit for driving a display panel operates at a high source voltage.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating the output driver of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, the output driver 120 is configured to selectively output the positive voltage VPOS, the negative voltage VNEG, or the ground voltage VSS according to the level of the high voltage data HV DATA_1 to HV DATA_3 provided from the level shifter 110.
The conventional EPD includes a low source voltage circuit using a low source voltage and a high source voltage circuit using a high source voltage different from the low source voltage. The circuits using two or more different source voltages in such a manner may malfunction depending on the power off sequence of the low source voltage and the high source voltage. Such a malfunction may have a fatal effect on the EPD.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a power off sequence when the low source voltage VCC is turned off before the high source voltage VPOS/VNEG in the driving circuit of the EPD.
Referring to FIG. 3, when the low source voltage VCC is first turned off, the level shifter 110 receives an abnormal signal and outputs an abnormal signal. Accordingly, the output driver 120 may output a signal at an ambiguous level, instead of the positive voltage VPOS, the negative voltage VNEG, or the ground voltage VSS.
That is, when the low source voltage VCC is turned off before the high source voltage VPOS/VNEG in the driving circuit of the EPD, the ambiguous-level output signal of the level shifter 110 is applied to an input terminal of the output driver 120, and the input terminal of the output driver 120 becomes in a floating state. Accordingly, an output terminal of the output driver 120 may also become in a floating state.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a power off sequence when the high source voltage VPOS/VNEG is turned off before the low source voltage VCC in the driving circuit of the EPD.
Referring to FIG. 4, when a strong light source is irradiated onto the EPD while the high source voltage VPOS/VNEG is turned off, a different result from a result based on an input of the level shifter 110 may be outputted due to a malfunction of the level shifter 110. Accordingly, the output driver 120 outputs a voltage at an unexpected level.

Output voltage stabilization circuit of display device driving circuit


An electric distribution box includes a circuit which is operable to perform the flowing, interruption and detection of electric current, and the circuit having distribution parts and a first bus bar which connects the distribution parts, a case body in which the circuit is contained, and an external input/output terminal portion which is detachably mounted on an outer surface of the case body, and is adapted to be connected to the first bus bar.

This invention relates to an electric distribution box used, for example, in a hybrid car, an electric car, a fuel cell car or the like so as to effect the flowing, interruption and detection of electric current, and more particularly to an improved structure of connecting the electric distribution box to the exterior.
There is already known a related electric distribution box in which distribution parts, such as an electromagnetic relay and a voltage sensor, are mounted within a case body so as to effect the flowing, interruption and detection of electric current.
In this electric distribution box, for example, a circuit is formed by the distribution parts and a bus bar electrically connecting these distribution parts, and this circuit is mounted within the case body formed by a lower case and an upper case, and the flowing, interruption and detection of electric current are effected.
Referring to one example of use, for example, in a hybrid car, an electric car or the like, a battery, an ignition switch, an inverter, etc., are arranged via this electric distribution box, and the electromagnetic relay is operated in response to an output signal from the ignition switch, and the inverter is caused to feed main electric power while the voltage sensor detects a condition of the battery (see, for example, JP-A-2004-282908 (Page 1, FIG. 1)).
Such an electric distribution box is connected to the constituent parts (including the battery, the inverter and so on) of the electrical system and constituent parts of a drive system via wire harnesses installed on a vehicle body frame.
Incidentally, this electric distribution box is mounted in a limited space within the vehicle in such a manner that its direction is predetermined. Therefore, the electric distribution box has the following problem.
Namely, the wire harnesses for connecting the constituent parts of the electrical system and drive system to the electric distribution box are not always installed in such a direction as to be easily connected to the electric distribution box.
Particularly when the kind of the vehicle varies, a connecting portion of the electric distribution box for connection to the wire harnesses often does not coincide with the direction of installation of the wire harnesses. In such a case, each wire harness is beforehand formed to have an extra length, and the wire harness is bent so as to be connected to the electric distribution box. Alternatively, an electric distribution box of different specifications is additionally prepared, and is connected to the wire harness. Thus, there has been a problem with respect to its mounting ability.


An exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate to light via a reticle includes a first plurality of optical elements configured to direct the light; a first vacuum chamber configured to accommodate said first plurality of optical elements; a first support configured to support said first vacuum chamber; and a second support configured to support at least one of said first plurality of optical elements substantially independently of said first support.

Conventionally, in lithography to manufacture a semiconductor microdevice such as a semiconductor memory or logic circuit, reduction projection exposure using ultraviolet rays has been performed.
The minimum size that can be transferred by reduction projection exposure is proportional to the wavelength of light used for the transfer and inversely proportional to the numerical aperture of a projection optical system. Hence, in order to transfer a fine microcircuit pattern, light wavelength has been decreased. The wavelength of ultraviolet light is decreased as in mercury lamp i-line (wavelength: 365 nm), a KrF excimer laser (wavelength: 248 nm), and an ArF excimer laser (wavelength: 193 nm).
The feature size of semiconductor devices has been decreasing rapidly, and lithography using ultraviolet light has limitations in dealing with this trend. In order to print a very small microcircuit pattern of as small as less than 0.1 μm efficiently, a reduction projection exposure apparatus which uses extreme ultraviolet light (EUV light) having a wavelength of about 10 nm to 15 nm which is shorter than that of ultraviolet rays has been developed. Accordingly, an EUV light source to supply EUV light to an exposure apparatus is under development as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-320792.
The currently proposed exposure apparatus EUV light source mainly includes two types, i.e., the laser plasma (LPP) type and the discharge (DPP) type.
To transfer a microcircuit pattern, the optical axes of the light source and exposure apparatus must be aligned accurately, and the optical axes that are aligned once should be kept not to displace from each other.
Each of FIGS. 3 and 4 shows the positional relationship among the light-emitting point of a conventionally typical EUV light source, the connecting portion of the EUV light source to an exposure apparatus, the position of the focal point, and the positions of the mirrors of an illumination optical system.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a portion in the vicinity of the connecting portion of an exposure apparatus and a DPP type EUV light source which emits EUV light.
Referring to FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a light source chamber; and 2, an exposure apparatus chamber. A connecting flange 3 of the light source chamber 1 and connecting flange 4 of the exposure apparatus chamber 2 are fastened and fixed to each other with a hexagonal bolt or the like (not shown). In the light source chamber 1, plasma light emitted from a light-emitting portion 5 is reflected by a multilayered film mirror 6 and focused on a focal point 7 of the connection surface of the two chambers 1 and 2. The focused light diverges again and is reflected by a concave mirror 28 of the exposure apparatus so as to form parallel light.
The light-emitting portion 5 and multilayered film mirror 6 are fixed to a base (not shown) arranged in the light source chamber 1. The mirror 28 of the exposure apparatus is fixed to a base (not shown) arranged in the exposure apparatus chamber 2. The position of the focal point 7 is determined by a focal point aperture arranged in the exposure apparatus chamber 2. Usually, the focal point 7 is set on the connection boundary surface of the light source chamber 1 and exposure apparatus chamber 2, as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 is a view showing another conventional example which uses an LPP type EUV light source.
Referring to FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a light source chamber; and 2, an exposure apparatus chamber. A connecting flange 3 of the light source chamber 1 and connecting flange 4 of the exposure apparatus chamber 2 are fastened and fixed to each other with a hexagonal bolt (not shown) or the like. This structure is identical to that of FIG. 3.
In the light source chamber 1, plasma light emitted from a light-emitting portion 5 is reflected by a multilayered film mirror 6 and focused on a focal point 7 of the boundary surface of the light source chamber 1 and exposure apparatus chamber 2.
In the exposure apparatus chamber 2, reference numeral 39 denotes a pair of Schwarzschild-type mirrors. Of the mirrors 39, one convex mirror 39a has a hole which is formed at its center and set on the boundary surface where the light source chamber 1 and exposure apparatus chamber 2 are connected. The hole (aperture) of the convex mirror 39a coincides with the focal point 7. Light focused on the focal point 7 diverges again and is reflected by the other concave mirror 39b, and is reflected again by the convex mirror 39a so as to form parallel light.
The conventional example described above has the following problems. More specifically, the light-emitting portion 5 of the light source, the focusing optical system 6, and the aperture of the focal point 7 are fixed to a support in the light source chamber 1, and a mirror 8 of an illumination optical system is fixed to a support in the exposure apparatus chamber 2. If pressures in the respective chambers fluctuate, the corresponding chambers deform, and the relative positions of optical components which are adjusted in advance may displace.
The aperture to determine the position of the focal point 7 is located on the flange 3, i.e., on the connection boundary surface of the light source chamber 1 and exposure apparatus chamber 2. Therefore, a member to fix the aperture must be set in the flange 3 and is thus difficult to attach.

Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method


A safe medical-drug injector with a collapsable plunger combination thereof is proposed. The injector includes a hub connected with a needle, a hollow barrel, and a collapsable plunger combination including a hollow cannula and a retractable plunger that is telescoped with the hollow cannula. At least a stress adjustable notch is formed at the core of the retractable plunger or in an upper edge of the hollow cannula, and at least one raised portion is formed on an outer lateral side of the retractable plunger near the stress adjustable notch to be correspondingly embedded with at least a depression formed on an inner lateral side of the hollow cannula. The engagement between the raised portion and the depression is released to make the retractable plunger drawn back to the hollow cannula when a following press is applied on the hollow cannula after the safe medical-drug injector completes an injection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a safe medical-drug injector and, more particularly, to an automatically retractable safe medical-drug injector and a collapsible plunger combination thereof. The collapsible plunger enables the users of the injector to manipulate the injector by single-hand.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that the major route of infection to the diseases such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Symptom (AIDS), hepatitis B or C is blood transportation. For the requirement to avoid the risk of such infection, an injector used by medical personnel or medicine taker is generally designed to be an unreusable or disposable syringe which can be used for only one time. However, most kinds of disposable syringes are not convenient to manipulate for that the user have to perform the injection by two hands. Accordingly, a diabetic may still choose to use the conventional injector instead of the disposable syringe to take insulin, and therefore the risk of getting infected with diseases through blood transportation still remains.
In view of this, a novel safe medical-drug injector which can be manipulated by single-hand is proposed and disclosed in Taiwan patent No. 520995 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,793. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the disclosed syringe includes a hollow barrel 12′, a needle hub 11′ for accommodating a needle 10′, an annular retracting spring 13′ and a breakable inward plunger 14′. The breakable inward plunger 14′ further includes a proximal part 17′, a breakable portion 18′ and a hollow distal part 19′ that are one-piece formed. When an injection is performed and completed, the user is able to break the breakable portion 18′ of the plunger 14′, which is inserted into the hollow barrel 12′, by further pressing on the plunger 14′ and cause the proximal part 17′ to draw into the hollow distal part while cause the needle hub 11′ and the used needle 10′ together to draw into the hollow barrel 12′.
As far as the plunger 14′ is concerned, the high symmetry and the high precision in making the breakable portion 18′ are required for the consideration of the operational convenience when the force is applied on the plunger 14′. Therefore, the manufacturing of the plunger 14′ is always costly due to the critical dimensional tolerance for the mold used to one-piece mold the plunger 14′. Besides, the break of the breakable portion 18′ and the retraction of the needle hub 11′ are not always achieved unless the direction of the applied force of the injection is limited to substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plunger 14′. As a result, it is hard to perform an injection on the organ with larger curvature such as the back of neck, ear, eye, etc.

Safe medical-drug injector and collapsible plunger combination thereof


A sand and seed divot replacer including a pour spout having an inwardly extending lip formed on the inner surface of the pour spout at an end distal from the pouring end. An open top bottle is provided including an outwardly extending circumferentially positioned band located on the exterior surface of the bottle adjacent the open top. The spout constructed of a resilient material and the distal end sized to receive the band of the bottle with the lip in latching engagement with the band of the bottle. The bottom wall of the bottle including an indented portion. A holder is provided having a main body open at the top and closed at the bottom with a bottom wall. The holder is sized for receiving the bottle and spout. The bottom wall of the holder includes an indented portion sized for nesting in the indented portion of the bottle.

The present invention relates to a sand and seed divot replacer for use by golfers.
When golfing, golfers often form divots in the fairways when making golf shots. Many golf courses request golfers to replace the divots with a sand and seed mixture allowing new grass to form.
Known sand and seed divot replacers include a bottle with spout. The bottle is provided with a threadably removable bottom wall for closing the bottom of the bottle. In order to fill these bottles, the bottle and spout are inverted and the threaded bottom wall removed. The seed and sand mixture is then poured into the inverted bottle. With these devices, however, the spout needs to be closed when filling the bottle with the sand and seed mixture. This can be inconvenient and may cause loss of seed and sand mixture during the filling process. Further, the known sand and divot bottle kits include holders for holding the bottle. But with the known holders, the bottle is held loosely in the holder causing the bottle to rattle when a golf cart, to which the holder is mounted, is driven around the golf course.

Sand and divot replacer with quick release top


Perfume compositions comprise over 50% by weight of perfume ingredients characterized by possessing (i) a molecular formula possessing from 8 to 13 carbon atoms, including at least one phenyl moiety, substituted or unsubstituted; (ii) an octanol/water partition coefficient (log P) of at least 1.5; (iii) a saturated vapour pressure (SVP) of at least 3 micron Hg at 25 C; and (iv) belonging to one of the following groups (i) ethers of general formula R1OR2; (ii) aldehydes or nitriles of general formula RIX, wherein X is CHO (formyl group) or CN (cyano group); (iii) esters of general formula R1CO2R2; (iv) alcohols or phenols of general formula R1OH; or (v) ketones of general formula R1COR2; wherein R1 and R2 are alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl residues, optionally substituted, whose alkyl moieties may be straight-chained or branched, and which may be linked as part of a ring structure. The compositions find particular application in the form of encapsulates for use in consumer products.

It is common to add fragrance compositions to consumer products to deliver a fresh (or clean) odour to targeted substrates (such as textiles, hard surfaces, skin, hair etc.) and to provide an olfactory aesthetic benefit.
Efforts continue to be made to find improvements in the performance of fragrance compositions, including their in-product shelf life, their delivery effectiveness and their longevity or substantivity on various substrates.
For example, during cleaning processes a substantial amount of fragrance is lost with rinse water and through drying, and it is extremely important to be able to overcome these process conditions and ensure that the fragrance material left on the substrate provides maximum fragrance effect via the minimum amount of material, i.e. there is a need to be able to create highly substantive fragrance materials.
Substantive fragrance ingredients (also known as "enduring perfumes") are those that effectively deposit onto a substrate in, for example, a cleaning process and are detectable (olfactively) on the wet and subsequently dried substrate. Persons skilled in the art of creating fragrance compositions, usually have some knowledge of particular fragrance ingredients that are substantive (in general, such ingredients are heavy, insoluble and non-volatile).
Fragrance performance may also be enhanced through the use of encapsulation systems to protect and release them in a controlled manner.
Encapsulation systems are usually designed to achieve two objectives.
The first objective relates to the protection of ingredients entrapped in such systems. The second objective is to control, depending on the final application, the release of the entrapped ingredient. In particular, if the entrapped ingredient is volatile, it is important to prevent its release during storage, but at the same time ensuring release of the entrapped volatile ingredient during use. Release is normally triggered by conditions that are typical of such use (e.g. heat, moisture).
An example of such encapsulation technology is embodied in microcapsules filled with perfume, which are commercially marketed by, e.g., Reed Pacific (in Australia), Celessence (in the UK), Hallcrest Inc. (in the US), or Euracli (in France). These microcapsules are adapted to break under friction and provide an instant "burst" of the fragrance when the microcapsules are ruptured. Microcapsules of the aminoplast type are used in the textile industry and include microcapsules that are deposited on the fabric surface during the fabric finishing operation. These microcapsules are generally removed in the course of subsequent domestic washing, but typically can withstand about five washes before the fabric or skin beneficiating ingredients lose their intended effect.
The preparation of microcapsules for encapsulation technology is a known art; preparation methods are, for instance, described in detail in a handbook edited by Simon Benita ("Microencapsulation; Methods and Industrial Applications, Marcel Dekker, Inc. N.Y., 1996), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for the preparation techniques described therein.
Further reference is made to a number of patent publications that describe the use of encapsulated fragrance in household applications, such as detergent compositions and in fabric softener products. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,184 describes detergent compositions that contain perfumes in the form of friable microcapsules. Preferred materials for the microcapsule shell walls are the aminoplast polymers comprising the reaction product of urea and aldehyde.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,646 describes the preparation and use of perfumed particles, which are stable in fluid compositions and which are designed to break and release the perfume as the particle is used. This patent describes fabric softener compositions comprising perfume particles comprising perfume dispersed in a solid core comprising a water-insoluble polymeric carrier material. These cores are encapsulated by a friable coating, such coating being preferably an aminoplast polymer.
Encapsulated fragrance composition particles may be mixed into, for example, laundry compositions. Perfume may be combined with water-soluble polymer(s) to form particles that are then added to a laundry composition, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,209,417; 4,339,356; 3,576,760; and 5,154,842.


A terahertz wave detecting device includes: a substrate; and a plurality of detection elements that is arranged above the substrate, wherein the detection element includes an absorbing section that absorbs a terahertz wave to generate heat, and a converting section that converts the heat generated in the absorbing section into an electric signal, wherein the absorbing section includes a dielectric layer, a first metal layer that is provided on a surface of the dielectric layer, and a second metal layer that is provided on the other surface of the dielectric layer, and wherein the plurality of detection elements is arranged so that the terahertz wave that is diffracted between the adjacent absorbing sections is incident onto the dielectric layer.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a terahertz wave detecting device, a camera, an imaging apparatus and a measuring apparatus.
2. Related Art
An optical sensor that absorbs light to convert the light into heat and converts the heat into an electric signal has been used. Further, an optical sensor in which sensitivity with respect to a specific wavelength is improved is disclosed in JP-A-2013-44703. According to this disclosure, the optical sensor includes an absorbing section that absorbs light to generate heat, and a converting section that converts the heat into an electric signal.
The absorbing section has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, in which irregularities are formed on one surface of the absorbing section in a lattice form with a predetermined interval. Light incident onto the absorbing section is diffracted or scattered, and thus, multiple absorption of light occurs. Further, light having a specific wavelength is absorbed in the absorbing section. Thus, the absorbing section can convert the light into heat in response to the light intensity of the light having the specific wavelength. One converting section is provided in one absorbing section. Further, the converting section converts a temperature change in the absorbing section into the electric signal. The specific wavelength has a wavelength of about 4 μm, and the interval of the irregularities is about 1.5 μm.
In recent years, a terahertz wave that is light having a frequency of 100 GHz to 30 THz has attracted attention. For example, the terahertz wave can be used for imaging, various measurements such as a spectral measurement, a nondestructive inspection or the like.
The terahertz wave is light having a long wavelength of 30 μm to 1 mm. When the terahertz wave is detected, according to the configuration disclosed in JP-A-2013-44703, the optical sensor increases in size. Further, since the thermal capacity of the absorbing section increases, the reaction rate is decreased, so that the detection accuracy of the optical sensor is lowered. Thus, there is a need for a terahertz wave detecting device capable of converting, even when a terahertz wave is detected, the terahertz wave into an electric signal with high accuracy.

Terahertz wave detecting device, camera, imaging apparatus and measuring apparatus


A semiconductor package comprising a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip disposed on the first semiconductor chip, wherein the first semiconductor chip includes a first semiconductor body, an upper pad structure, and a first through-electrode penetrating the first semiconductor body and electrically connected to the upper pad structure, and the second semiconductor chip includes a second semiconductor body, a lower bonding pad, and an internal circuit structure including a circuit element, internal circuit wirings, and a connection pad pattern disposed on the same level as the lower bonding pad, the upper pad structure includes upper bonding pads and connection wirings, the upper bonding pads are disposed at positions corresponding to the lower bonding pad and the connection pad pattern, and the internal circuit structure is electrically connected to the first through-electrode through at least one of the upper bonding pads and the connection wirings.

The present inventive concept relates to a semiconductor package, and more particularly, to a semiconductor package including a stacked chip structure.
There is a continuous demand for miniaturization and weight reduction of electronic components mounted on electronic products. In order to reduce the size and weight of electronic components, it is beneficial that semiconductor packages mounted thereon have a smaller volume and process high-capacity data. It is also beneficial that semiconductor chips mounted on such semiconductor packages are highly integrated and are combined in a single package in each semiconductor package.