A method for forming a semiconductor having improved copper interconnects is provided. The method comprises forming a first dielectric layer above a first structure layer. Thereafter, a first opening is formed in the first dielectric layer, and a first copper layer is formed above the first dielectric layer and in the first opening. A portion of the first copper layer outside of the opening is removed. A surface portion of the first copper layer is also removed from within the opening, and a second layer of copper is formed above the first layer of copper, replacing the removed surface portion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to semiconductor fabrication technology, and, more particularly, to techniques for controlling the formation of copper interconnects.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a constant drive within the semiconductor industry to increase the operating speed of integrated circuit devices, e.g., microprocessors, memory devices, and the like. This drive is fueled by consumer demands for computers and electronic devices that operate at increasingly greater speeds. This demand for increased speed has resulted in a continual reduction in the size of semiconductor devices, e.g., transistors. That is, many components of a typical field effect transistor (FET), e.g., channel length, junction depths, gate dielectric thickness, and the like, are reduced. For example, all other things being equal, the smaller the channel length of the FET, the faster the transistor will operate. Thus, there is a constant drive to reduce the size, or scale, of the components of a typical transistor to increase the overall speed of the transistor, as well as integrated circuit devices incorporating such transistors. Additionally, reducing the size, or scale, of the components of a typical transistor also increases the density, and number, of the transistors that can be produced on a given amount of wafer real estate, lowering the overall cost per transistor as well as the cost of integrated circuit devices incorporating such transistors.
However, reducing the size, or scale, of the components of a typical transistor also requires reducing the size and cross-sectional dimensions of electrical interconnects to contacts to active areas, such as N+(P+) source/drain regions and a doped-polycrystalline silicon (doped-polysilicon or doped-poly) gate conductor, and the like. As the size and cross-sectional dimensions of electrical interconnects get smaller, resistance increases and electromigration increases. Increased resistance and electromigration are undesirable for a number of reasons. For example, increased resistance may reduce device drive current, and source/drain current through the device, and may also adversely affect the overall speed and operation of the transistor. Additionally, electromigration effects in aluminum (Al) interconnects, where electrical currents actually carry aluminum (Al) atoms along with the current, causing them to electromigrate, may lead to degradation of the aluminum (Al) interconnects, further increased resistance, and even disconnection and/or delamination of the aluminum (Al) interconnects.
The ideal interconnect conductor for semiconductor circuitry will be inexpensive, easily patterned, have low resistivity, and high resistance to corrosion, electromigration, and stress migration. Aluminum (Al) is most often used for interconnects in contemporary semiconductor fabrication processes primarily because aluminum (Al) is inexpensive and easier to etch than, for example, copper (Cu). However, because aluminum (Al) has poor electromigration characteristics and high susceptibility to stress migration, it is typical to alloy aluminum (Al) with other metals.
As discussed above, as semiconductor device geometries shrink and clock speeds increase, it becomes increasingly desirable to reduce the resistance of the circuit metallization. The one criterion that is most seriously compromised by the use of aluminum (Al) for interconnects is that of conductivity. This is because the three metals with lower resistivities (aluminum, Al, has a resistivity of 2.824xc3x9710xe2x88x926 ohms-cm at 20xc2x0 C.), namely, silver (Ag) with a resistivity of 1.59xc3x9710xe2x88x926 ohms-cm (at 20xc2x0 C.), copper (Cu) with a resistivity of 1.73xc3x9710xe2x88x926 ohms-cm (at 20xc2x0 C.), and gold (Au) with a resistivity of 2.44xc3x9710xe2x88x926 ohms-cm (at 20xc2x0 C.), fall short in other significant criteria. Silver (Ag), for example, is relatively expensive and corrodes easily, and gold (Au) is very costly and difficult to etch. Copper (Cu), with a resistivity nearly on par with silver (Ag), a relatively high immunity to electromigration, high ductility and high melting point (1083xc2x0 C. for copper, Cu, vs. 660xc2x0 C. for aluminum, Al), fills it) most criteria admirably. However, copper (Cu) is difficult to etch in a semiconductor environment. As a result of the difficulty in etching copper (Cu), an alternative approach to forming vias and metal lines must be used. The damascene approach, consisting of etching openings such as trenches in the dielectric for lines and vias and creating in-laid metal patterns, is the leading contender for fabrication of sub-0.25 micron (sub-0.25xcexc) design rule copper-metallized (Cu-metallized) circuits.
In the damascene approach, a layer or film of copper is formed over the surface of the dielectric, filling the openings and/or trenches. The excess copper is then removed by polishing, grinding, and/or etching, such as by chemical/mechanical polishing, to leave only the copper in the openings or trenches, which form the copper interconnects. The surface of the copper interconnects, however, may remain rough or scratched by the removal process. This roughening of the surface of the copper interconnect may increase its resistance to the flow of current, reducing its effectiveness as a high-speed, low-resistance conductor.
Additionally, the surface of the copper interconnects may become contaminated by material removed from other portions of the wafer and/or elements found in the CMP slurry. These contaminants may likewise increase the resistance of the copper interconnect, reducing its effectiveness as a high-speed, low-resistance conductor. The contaminants may also have other undesirable effects on the copper interconnect and/or material deposited thereover, such as corrosion, surface flakes that can bridge Cu lines, surface defects and flakes that can result in future delamination of dielectric layers, surface defects that can increase resistance at an interface between a metal line and a metal via, or the like.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided. The method comprises forming a first dielectric layer above a first structure layer. Thereafter, a first opening is formed in the first dielectric layer, and a first copper layer is formed above the first dielectric layer and in the first opening. A portion of the first copper layer outside of the opening is removed. A surface portion of the first copper layer is also removed from within the opening, and a second layer of copper is formed above the first layer of copper, replacing the removed surface portion.
In another aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device is comprised of a first dielectric layer positioned above a first structure layer and having a first opening formed therein. A copper interconnect is deposited in the first opening. The copper interconnect has a first and second region wherein the second region forms an upper surface above the first region of the copper interconnect. The second region is formed by a selective deposition process.


A disk drive assembly includes a housing having openings substantially filled with a polymeric material. Exemplary polymeric materials include liquid crystal polymers. The polymeric regions can be formed in various parts of the housing, including the base plate or the cover, and can help reduce noise and vibrations that occur during operation of the disk drive.

This invention relates to noise and vibration reduction in computer disk drives.
In typical disk drive assemblies; a major source of acoustic noise is sympathetic vibration of the disk drive housing caused by the spindle motor used to spin the disks or by the actuator used to move the read/write heads across the disks for data access. The disk drive assemblies are commonly in the form of a rectangular housing with a spindle motor and actuator motor mounted to one internal surface of the housing. A plate is used to cover the housing and motors. In many assemblies the shaft of the spindle motor is attached to the base plate. Therefore the housing vibrates at resonant frequencies, increasing the total amount of acoustic noise. With high performance requirements expected to increase to rotational speeds greater than 30,000 rotations per minute (rpm), noise and vibrations have become an even greater engineering concern.
Vibrations of the plate are typically caused by the bending and torsion modes associated with the plate. Approaches to reducing noise and vibration include providing an isolation device between the motors and the housing. Another approach is to provide damping (constraint) layers. The foregoing approaches to reducing noise and vibration are directed toward eliminating or reducing the torsion and bending modes of the entire plate. Improvements for reducing the vibrations and noise of the entire plate are desirable, particularly for high rotational speeds.
A disk drive assembly can include a housing having regions of a polymeric material. The polymeric regions can include openings substantially filled with a polymeric material such as a liquid crystal polymer. The polymeric regions, which may form a uniform pattern, can be formed in various parts of the housing, including the base plate or the cover, and can help reduce noise and vibrations that occur during operation of the disk drive.
In one aspect, a disk drive assembly includes a housing having openings substantially filled with a polymeric material. Various components can be disposed within the housing including a read/write head assembly, an actuator motor to control positioning of the read/write head assembly, a recording medium, and a spindle motor to control rotation of a recording medium.
A method of manufacturing a disk drive assembly also is disclosed and includes forming a housing having a pattern of holes, substantially filling the holes with a polymeric material, and mounting internal components of the disk drive assembly within the housing. A mold injection or other technique can be used to substantially fill the openings with the polymeric material.
One or more of the following advantages may be present in various implementations. By reducing the affects of noise and/or vibrations during operation, the disk drive can be operated at higher speeds. Furthermore, the techniques described here can be used in conjunction with or instead of constrain layers. When used instead of such constraint layers, the current techniques can be used without increasing the thickness of the base plate. That can be important for certain applications, such as mobile disk drives, in which the disk drive must operate within strict Z-height limitations. Moreover, the disclosed techniques do not require an additional assembly step during manufacturing.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the claims.

Noise and vibration reduction in computer disk drives


In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for pay-per-call advertising and billing. A method, comprises generating a web page listing a plurality of merchant entries; and providing a option to reveal a phone number of at least one merchant entry of the plurality of merchant entries.

Performance based advertising refers to a type of advertising in which an advertiser pays only for a measurable event that is a direct result of an advertisement being viewed by a consumer. For example, paid inclusion advertising is a form of performance-based search advertising. With paid inclusion advertising, an advertisement is included within a search result page of a key word search. Each selection ("click") of the advertisement from the results page is the measurable event for which the advertiser pays. In other words, payment by the advertiser is on a per click basis.
Another form of performance-based advertising includes paid placement advertising. Paid placement advertising is similar to paid inclusion advertising in that payment is on a per click basis. However, with paid placement advertising an advertiser ranks a particular advertisement so that it appears or is placed at a particular spot, e.g., at the top of a search engine result page, thereby to increase the odds of the advertisement being selected.
Generally, advertisements may be as simple as a listing returned by a search performed on an on-line directory service. For example, a search conducted on Yahoo!'s Local Yellow Page site for "take-out Italian restaurants" may return a laundry list of results. However, it is difficult to determine whether calls made by a user to a merchant were actually made because of the advertisement returned by the search.
In one sense, the problem lies in today's pay-per-click standard. It works fine for e-businesses who have web sites, but for the millions of businesses who don't—local plumbers, roofers, florists—clicks don't mean anything. These advertisers need to see a correlation between what they're paying for and what they're getting. Clicks don't show that correlation—a report at the end of the month showing that you got 20 clicks doesn't show value to a local plumber. A phone call, however, does demonstrate value to the advertiser—he can hear when the phone rings and evaluate the revenues that phone call generated versus the amount he spent on the advertising. Therefore, there is a clear need to change the existing model.

Method and apparatus to provide pay-per-call advertising and billing


In an optical amplifier of the invention, a WDM signal light is separated into N components by a demultiplexer after which each component is amplified by N optical amplifier sections, and the output light level of each optical amplifier section is controlled to a constant level by respective control circuits and multiplexed in a multiplexer. At this time, in the demultiplexer, the bandwidth of the signal light output from each of the output ports is designed to have a different value, so that inter-wavelength deviation in the optical output level that occurs in each of the optical amplifier sections, falls within a preset range. Moreover, the constant output control of each control circuit is performed by individually adjusting the gain of each of the optical amplifier sections in relation to fluctuations in the power level without channel number changes of the WDM signal light input to the demultiplexer. As a result, deviation in the optical output level over the entire wavelength bandwidth of the WDM signal light for fluctuations in the input level of the WDM signal light, can be suppressed to a minimum, with a simple configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and an optical amplifier for amplifying wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal light including a plurality of signal channels of different wavelengths, and in particular relates to an optical amplification technique for reducing a deviation in optical output level that occurs between signal channels of each wavelength, due to variations in optical input level.
2. Description of the Related Art
A WDM optical transmission system is operated with signal channels according to the demand for traffic transmission capacity. Usually, the number of signal channels at the start of operation is set to be comparatively few, and the signal channels are increased according to an increase in demand, to expand the transmission capacity.
The optical amplifier (hereafter, also referred to as WDM optical amplifier) used for the above mentioned WDM optical transmission system generally must have the following basic capabilities (1) to (3):    (1) Low output level deviation (flat gain wavelength characteristic)    (2) Wide input dynamic range capable of corresponding to differences in transmission distance or loss on the transmission path    (3) Low noise figure (NF) characteristic.
Conventionally, a WDM optical amplifier is designed to have these basic capabilities, and so as to acquire the required optical output power when the number of input signal channels is a maximum. Specifically, as shown for example in FIG. 15, a configuration is known in which a variable optical attenuator (VOA) 103 is connected between the stages of a two-stage configuration of optical amplifier sections 101 and 102 (for example, erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) or the like) which are capable of collectively amplifying signal channels of all wavelengths, and the attenuation of the variable optical attenuator 103 is adjusted so that the total power of the WDM signal light output from the post-stage optical amplifier section 102 becomes constant.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 16, a configuration has also been proposed in which a WDM signal light input to a WDM optical amplifier is demultiplexed into a plurality of wavelength bandwidths using a demultiplexer 201, and signal light of each wavelength bandwidth is amplified in corresponding optical amplifier sections 2021 to 202N, and then the optical output power is adjusted in variable optical attenuators (VOA) 2031 to 203N, and each signal light output from each of the variable optical attenuators 2031 to 203N is multiplexed using a multiplexer 204 (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-57389, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-53686).
Incidentally, in a conventional WDM optical amplifier such as shown in FIG. 15, since the pumping light power required in the optical amplifier sections 101 and 102 increases as the number of signal channels increases, it is necessary to mount a pumping light source of large output capacity in order to collectively amplify all signal channels. However, since a pumping light source of large output capacity is expensive, there is a drawback in that a WDM optical amplifier equipped with such a pumping light source becomes a high-cost product.
Moreover, the aforementioned WDM optical amplifiers as shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 are usually also used in an operating condition where the number of signal channels in the WDM optical transmission system are few. Therefore, in a WDM optical transmission system that performs multiple repeatedly transmission using a conventional WDM optical amplifier, in the case where operation with few signal channels at the time of the initial implementation is assumed, then as shown in FIG. 17, this becomes a product for which the equipment cost per number of operation channels is comparatively high. As a result, there is a problem in that for a client who purchases the WDM optical transmission system, in a system that uses a conventional WDM optical amplifier cost at the time of initial implementation is high, and capitalization is not cost effective in an operating condition where transmission capacity is low. In addition, if the expected maximum transmission capacity is predicted incorrectly at the time of initial implementation, there is a possibility of having an operating condition where the maximum number of transmittable signal channels is not reached, and the client carries the risk of excessive capital investment. In the future, as densification technology for WDM signal light advances, the total output power of the WDM optical amplifier will become greater requiring considerable pumping light power. Therefore the risk mentioned above is expected to become more prominent.
Furthermore, in relation to the aforementioned configuration of the conventional WDM optical amplifier as shown in FIG. 16, there has been a problem in that the variable optical attenuators 2031 to 203N are provided individually corresponding to each wavelength bandwidth in order to make the signal light power of the respective wavelength bands which have been demultiplexed in the demultiplexer 201 and respectively amplified in each of the optical amplifier sections 2021 to 202N, constant at a desired level to acquire a flat wavelength characteristic. Therefore the configuration becomes complex which causes an increase in cost. In relation to this problem, for example, instead of providing each of the variable optical attenuators 2031 to 203N, it is also considered to adjust the gain of each of the optical amplifier sections 2021 to 202N so as to control the signal light power of each bandwidth to become a constant level. However, in this case, if constant output control is performed in relation to fluctuations in the total power of the WDM signal light input to the WDM optical amplifier (input dynamic range) by adjusting the gain of each of the optical amplifier sections 2021 to 202N, the gain wavelength characteristic of each of the optical amplifier sections 2021 to 202N respectively changes. Hence the deviation in optical output level over the entire wavelength bandwidth of the WDM signal light becomes greater. Therefore, there is a problem in that it becomes difficult to satisfy fully the aforementioned basic capabilities (1) and (2).

Amplification method and optical amplifier for wavelength division multiplexed signal light


An apparatus for performing a plug and play function, a digital image processing system using the same, and a method thereof are provided. The apparatus includes: a device searching module for searching a connected device; a connection state analyzing module for determining whether the searched device is previously connected by comparing the type of device and a previous connection state; a storing unit for storing information about the type and the previous connection state; an information managing module for searching detail information of data stored in the connected device; a reproducing function verifying module for determining whether the data stored in the connected external device is processable; and a plug and play module for displaying the determination result and a selection menu for controlling the connected device to perform a target function according to a user's input.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for performing a plug and play function, a digital A/V system using the same and a method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A user may ascertain devices connected to a digital image processing system through a menu displayed on a display of the digital image processing system, and the user is also allowed to control the connected devices through the displayed menu to perform a predetermined function of the connected devices. For example, a user may reproduce a MPEG1 layer 3 (MP3) music data or a joint photographic coding experts group (JPEG) picture data stored in a memory card through a digital TV.
Operations of the digital image processing system to reproduce a picture data stored in a memory card using an external device connecting device will be described using a digital television as an example of the digital image processing system with reference to accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital television having an external device connecting device according to the related art.
As shown in FIG. 1, the digital television having the external device connecting device according to the related art includes an analog input processing unit 130, a digital input processing unit 150, a stream controller 170, an external interfacing unit 190, an output signal processing unit 180, a system controller 110, a storing unit 120 and a user interfacing unit 111.
The analog input processing unit 130 includes a national television system committee (NTSC) decoder 131 and an MPEG encoder 132. The analog input processing unit 130 receives an analog signal, converts the received analog signal to a high-quality audio/video (A/V) digital data stream and outputs the A/V digital data stream.
The digital input processing unit 150 includes a tuner 151 and a vestigial side band (VSB) demodulator 152. The digital input processing unit 150 receives a digital signal, demodulates the digital signal to high-quality A/V digital data stream and outputs the A/V digital data stream.
The stream controller 170 selective outputs the A/V digital data streams from the analog input processing unit 130 and the digital input processing unit 150 in response to a system controller 110.
The external interfacing unit 190 connects an external device storing multimedia data, i.e., music, picture and moving image, to the digital television using a proper interface.
The output signal processing unit 180 includes a transport stream (TS) DEMUX 180, an MPEG decoder and a graphic processing unit 182. The output signal processing unit 180 processes the output signal of the stream controller 170 and outputs an analog A/V signal.
The system controller 110 generally controls the constitutional elements of the digital television having the external device connecting device according to a user's command inputted through the user interface 111 to process signals inputted from the digital television having the external device connecting device, to display an image and to perform functions such as recording images into the storing unit 120 or reproducing images stored in the storing unit 120.
Hereinafter, a procedure of reproducing picture data stored in a memory card using a digital television having an external device connecting device according to the related art will be described.
At first, a memory card storing picture data is connected to the digital television through the external interfacing unit 190 to reproduce the picture data stored in the memory card through the digital television while a user is watching a TV program.
The user displays a menu of the digital television through the user interface 111 to control modes of the digital television.
The system controller 110 reads the stored data from the memory card through the external interfacing unit 190 and stores the read data in the storing unit 120 or outputs the read data on a display after processing the read data through the output signal processing unit 180 according to a user's command inputted through the displayed menu.
Generally, a user connects an external device to a digital image processing system to use a predetermined function of the external device. However, the related art digital image processing system allows the user to use the target function of the external device only through a preprocess operation such as displaying a menu and selecting a target function among displayed menus.
Since a user generally are not familiar with such an controlling mechanism of external devices provided from the digital television, the user needs to learn how to control the digital television to normally perform a target function of the connected external device. While the user learns to control the digital television through trial and error, the user general makes mistakes to control the external device. Such a mistake may delete valuable information stored in the external device. According to the difficulties of controlling the digital television, a user seldom uses the functions of the digital television to control the external device.

Apparatus for performing plug and play, digital A/V system using the same and method thereof


An apparatus for and method of detonating unexploded mines is disclosed. A ground-engaging foot is caused to reciprocate by power means with sufficient force to activate an unexploded mine. Control means is used to control the manner of reciprocation of the foot by controlling the power applied to the foot. A shock absorption arrangement absorbs shock energy created upon detonation of an unexploding mine. Preferably the apparatus is vehicle mounted for example upon a remotely controlled tracked vehicle.

The present invention relates to apparatus for and a method of detonating mines.
After wars it is often difficult to locate precisely active mines, particularly those mines distributed indiscriminately by retreating armies. Some four hundred million mines have been sold throughout the world with various estimates to the exact numbers in place (The United Nations estimate 100 million). Most mine detection and destruction equipment has been developed for the military. This equipment is designed mainly to allow armies to breach mine files quickly. To this end, the military accepts that all mines will not be destroyed by the equipment and a certain number of casualties may result.
Furthermore the methods used to detect and destroy mines cause considerable damage to the local environment. While this damage may be acceptable to the military it is not acceptable to civilian administrations. The use of military equipment to clear mines also adds considerably to the costs.
At present the only way to ensure a high level of clear up rate is for people to prod the ground carefully with sticks until they locate a mine which can then be defused. This procedure to say the least is hazardous and slow. In Afghanistan it is estimated that this clearance method will take at least another hundred years to clear existing mines. Add to this the need to identify the boundaries of the relevant minefields and the time element is further increased.
For Non-Government-Organizations (NGO's) to use military equipment is often outside their budget and as previously stated the equipment does not give a high enough success rate.
GB 2 132 567A describes vibration apparatus for mine disposal. The vibration apparatus is mounted by an arm to a powering vehicle, the arm being in two portions joined by frangible means which separate in the event of an explosion.

Apparatus for and method of detonating mines


An optical system support, especially for an optical measuring device, includes a base on which a mechanism for fixing an electro-optical transceiver system is provided. The optical system support is a ceramic optical system support.

The present disclosure relates to an optical system support, especially for an optical measuring device, comprising a basic body on which means for fixing components of an electrooptical transceiver system are provided. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a production process for such an optical system support. In addition, the present disclosure relates to an optical measuring device, especially a laser rangefinder, comprising a lens holder, an optical system support and a transceiver system.
DE 10 2005 041 980 A1 discloses an optical measuring device for laser rangefinding which is designed as a handheld device. Provided as a central element in the laser rangefinder is an optical system support made of plastic, on which an electrooptical transceiver system is held. For this purpose, the optical system support has receptacles and fastening means for the optical and/or electronic components of the measuring device. For instance, a lens holder with a receptacle for a receiving optical system is provided integrally on the front region of the optical system support. Furthermore, a printed circuit board, with a laser diode with a collimator lens mounted in front of it for producing a laser beam and a light-sensitive receiving diode, is held on the optical system support. The printed circuit board is positioned in the measuring device in such a way that the laser diode can emit the light beam through the transmitting optical system and the light-sensitive receiving diode is positioned at the focal point of the receiving optical system. To improve the measuring accuracy and to reduce measuring errors, the light paths for transmitting and receiving are arranged in parallel. As a result, external influences on the optical system support act on the two light paths equally.
The optical system support with the electrooptical transceiver system fixed thereto is mounted together with a display device, an input device and an energy supply device in a common housing. During operation, the laser rangefinder is actuated by way of the input device. Then, a laser beam is emitted from the laser diode onto an item from which the distance is to be measured. The point of light projected onto the item is concentrated on the light-sensitive receiving diode and evaluated by means of the receiving optical system. The distance value obtained by the measurement is output by way of the display device.
In practice, optical measuring devices have to meet high requirements for their mechanical load-bearing capacity. Already during assembly, forces that may lead to deformations may act on the optical system support. During use, the device may also be exposed to shocks and thus be deformed. This can only be compensated or prevented partly by structural design measures. For handheld optical measuring devices especially, there are limits to this on account of their functional purpose. For instance, steel is in fact a suitable material since it has a great modulus of elasticity (see Table 1). Diecast aluminum and cast magnesium are less suitable in this respect and plastic has the lowest modulus of elasticity. However, for reasons of weight, the use of steel is disadvantageous, since it is the heaviest of the materials listed in Table 1.
TABLE 1MaterialModulus of elasticitySteel (bent plate part, St 37)210000 N/mm2Diecast aluminum (GD-AlSi 12) 75000 N/mm2Cast magnesium (GD-MgAl5) 50000 N/mm2Plastic (PPS-GF40) 13000 N/mm2
Furthermore, the measuring devices are subjected to thermal influences, for example by solar irradiation. If the optical system support is fixedly connected to the housing, this may lead to bending if it is heated on one side, whereby the optical system support is deformed and the measuring accuracy is reduced. It is therefore desirable that the material has on the one hand a high thermal conductivity and on the other hand a low coefficient of thermal expansion. As can be seen from Table 2, this combination is the most suitable in the case of steel, while it is the least suitable in the case of plastic.
TABLE 2ThermalCoefficient ofMaterialconductivitythermal expansionSteel (bent plate part, St 37)48-58 W/mK13 μm/mKDiecast aluminum (GD-AlSi 12)160 W/mK21μm/mKCast magnesium (GD-MgAl5)200 W/mK26 μm/mKPlastic (PPS-GF40)0.3 W/mK20-40 μm/mK
Since the electrooptical transceiver system contains electronic components which, on account of the modulation frequencies that are used of up to 1 GHz, generate an electromagnetic radiation, requirements for electromagnetic compatibility must also be observed.
Although, in principle, the optical system support can serve as a shielding if it is produced from conducting material, this is difficult on account of the high modulation frequencies that are used. Therefore, the optical system support should be produced from a material with a low electrical conductivity, with the result that it cannot itself act as an antenna for the electrooptical transceiver system, and consequently does not contribute to the radiation. The metallic materials steel, diecast aluminum and cast magnesium all have a high conductivity, with the result that they are less suitable from the aspect of electromagnetic compatibility. Only plastic, as an insulator, is well suited for this.
TABLE 3MaterialElectrical conductivitySteel (bent plate part, St 37)about 10m/ohms mm2Diecast aluminum (GD-AlSi 12)19-22m/ohms mm2Cast magnesium (GD-MgAl5)8m/ohms mm2Plastic (PPS-GF40)insulated
In addition, the optical system supports produced by diecasting or injection diecasting have production-related internal stresses. This effect is also present in principle in the case of bent steel plate parts. These internal stresses relax during the lifetime and with temperature, so that over time there is a misalignment of the optical system.
Depending on the materials that are used, production-related accuracy limits are predetermined for the optical system support, and consequently for the optical measuring device. The production-related accuracy is lowest in the case of diecast aluminum and increases through cast magnesium and plastic to steel.
In the assembly of the optical measuring device, adhesive is often used, since adhesive bonding largely avoids stresses in the optical system support being caused by assembly and can be carried out with low costs and high accuracy. Cast metal materials are generally less suitable for this than steel or plastic, since they generally have poorer adhesive bonding properties. The use of adhesives is also restricted since, for example, metals are not transparent, with the result that it is not possible to use light-curing adhesive to carry out the adhesive bonding operation more quickly. Only plastics materials can be produced in a transparent form allowing a light-curing adhesive to be used.
Altogether, it can be stated that no material meets all the desired requirements. The most suitable materials appear to be steel or plastic, plastic being disadvantageous in particular with respect to its stability and thermal properties, whereas steel is critical in particular with regard to electromagnetic compatibility. In addition, the internal stress in particular must be regarded as disadvantageous in the case of all the materials previously used.
It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide an optical system support that has simultaneously a high mechanical and thermal load-bearing capacity, good electromagnetic compatibility, a long lifetime, can be produced with high accuracy and can be easily assembled.


A child-resistant, elderly friendly dispensing container comprises a housing having an opening in its top wall and a drawer which slideably fits in the housing. The drawer has a front cavity section and a rear latch section. The latch section includes a horizontally disposed resilient panel formed with an upward button which, when the drawer is closed, extends up through the opening in the top wall of the housing and forms an automatic latch, holding the drawer closed. In order to open the drawer, the button must be depressed and, at the same time, the drawer must be pulled out from the housing. The top of the housing is formed, adjacent the opening for the button, with a relief zone into which the button moves when the drawer is in dispensing position and blocks further opening.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tablet dispenser and is particularly noteworthy for being child resistant and, at the same time, elderly friendly. More specifically, the invention relates to a container and dispenser for tablets which may be opened only upon the combined execution of two simple separate operations beyond the ability of a young child, but readily performable by the elderly.
With the concern about accessibility to medication which may be toxic to infants, there has been a flood of different dispensing containers which resist opening by a young child. Often these containers have required special manipulation, adult strength and good eyesight to operate and have been based on the ability of the user to understand directions usually imprinted on the container. Some, for instance, have required force in a certain spot.
In some cases, the aim to make a container or dispenser child resistant has been taken to extremes and has prevented the access by those for which use of the contents are intended: the elderly have been frustrated because they have neither the strength or cognitive skills to perform the needed operations. In such cases the purpose of the dispensing container, to dispense, has itself been defeated.
2. Description of Related Art including Information Disclosed under .sctn..sctn.1.97 to 1.99
Examples in the prior art of such structures are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,368 which issued Feb. 16, 1971 to Wilfred L. McHugh; U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,098 which issued Sep. 12, 1978 to Charles S. Howard; U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,224 which issued Nov. 21, 1978 to Robert H. Laauwe et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,284 which issued Jul. 4, 1989 to Edward Drozd et al. These are examples of containers which generally require the manipulation of one part relative to another.


The registration notification signal sent to the home cellular system when an internationally roaming cellular mobile station registers in a foreign cellular system includes an identification of the currently serving switching node. Upon subsequent receipt of an incoming call dialed to the roaming mobile station home directory number, the home cellular system signals the serving cellular system and a temporary local directory number is assigned and returned to the home cellular system. The switching node identification is then processed to identify the proper international dialing digits for calling the country where the serving switching node is located. The returned temporary local directory number is then appended to the identified international dialing digits to form an international telephone number which is used by the home cellular system to route the received call to the currently serving cellular system for delivery to the called internationally roaming mobile station.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cellular telephone networks and, in particular, to the routing of telephone calls to and from mobile stations engaged in international roaming.
2. Description of Related Art
The mobility benefits provided to subscribers by cellular telephone networks comprise, perhaps, their most important and effective marketing advantage over and technical distinction with respect to conventional wire line telephone service. It is common for subscribers then to use their mobile stations not only in the immediate geographic areas surrounding their homes and businesses, but also to travel outside of their home cellular service area to other cellular service areas. When this occurs, the subscribers and their mobile stations are said to be "roaming".
Within one country, the plural cellular systems scattered throughout that country are generally technically compatible with each other. If the various service providers have billing and other reciprocity service agreements with each other, a cellular subscriber may then roam among and between those service areas and still make and receive telephone calls. The process of registering in the visited system occurs transparently to the subscriber. Even absent an agreement with respect to billing, the overall system technical compatibility allows the subscriber to arrange for a personal billing agreement with the service provider, and thus access the visited cellular system to make and receive telephone calls. With respect to the reception of calls, the subscriber mobile station is reached by dialing its originally (permanently) assigned directory number.
The number of people owning cellular mobile stations has dramatically increased in recent years. Furthermore, an increasing number of geographic locations now have access to a cellular telephone service. With this increase in numbers of users and service availability, there also exists an increasing number of instances where subscribers have the capability, and the desire to engage in, of cellular roaming. In fact, it is now common for persons to take their cellular mobile stations with them on business trips and vacations. Often times these trips and vacations involve travel to a different country.
While technical compatibility with the cellular system in the visited country may be present, it is unlikely that the service provider in the visited system and the subscriber's home service provider have agreed to service provision and billing arrangements with respect to internationally roaming subscribers. The subscriber must accordingly contact the service provider in the visited country and manually register their mobile station for service. Once registered, the subscriber may then make a cellular telephone call. Receiving a cellular telephone call, however, further requires the assignment by the service provider of a temporary directory number to the subscriber's mobile station. A party desiring to call the subscriber may then have to use the assigned temporary directory number rather than the subscriber's home directory number in placing an international call to the subscriber. Accordingly, to be accessible for incoming calls while engaging in international roaming, the subscriber must inform others of the newly assigned temporary number. Inconveniently, this number is valid only for the currently visited cellular system. If the subscriber should thereafter move to another country (or even switch service providers within a single country), or perhaps change to a different switch of the same service provider in the same country, another manual registration must be made and another temporary directory number is assigned for subsequent use.
There is a need then for a more efficient method and system for enabling subscribers to engage in international roaming. Preferably, such a method and system would allow a subscriber to maintain use of their home directory number.

Cellular telephone network routing method and apparatus for internationally roaming mobile stations


This invention relates to a height adjustable pedal-ring mechanism for bar stool. This mechanism comprises a main shaft, a taper sleeve, a cross-shaped support frame with a central tube, a pedal ring, and a base frame. The pedal ring is connected to the cross-shaped support frame. The taper sleeve has an outer spiral line on the upper part of the taper sleeve and an outer gradient slope on the lower part of the taper sleeve. The cross-shaped support frame is equipped with a central tube at the central part of the cross-shaped support frame. The central tube has an inner spiral line matching with the outer spiral line of the taper sleeve and an inner gradient slope matching with the outer gradient slope of the taper sleeve. This mechanism employs the outer gradient slope of the taper sleeve and the inner gradient slope of the central tube to fix the vertical position of the pedal ring.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the prior art for bar stool pedal ring raising and lowering mechanism 1 employs one-fix-point design, which comprises a main shaft 11, a pedal ring 12, a cross-shaped support frame 13 with a central tube 14, a C-type sleeve 15, a screw 17, and a screw hole 16 on the middle section of the central tube 14. The pedal ring 12 is connected to the cross-shaped support frame. Through the screw hole 16, the screw 17 serves to fasten the vertical position of the pedal ring 12. When the screw 17 rotates onto the main shaft 11, it presses the C-type sleeve 15 onto the main shaft 11. This prior art design not only need strenuous effort in the fastening process, but also has the following defects:
1. The C-type sleeve 15 is made of plastic material, which has a function to increase the strain force between the screw 17 and the main shaft 11. But when the screw 17 presses the C-type sleeve 15, it damages the surface of the C-type sleeve 15, in the long run the C-type sleeve 15 loses its function.
2. The localized pressure due to one-fix-point design also causes the deformation of the main shaft 11 to decrease the function of the bar stool pedal ring raising and lowering mechanism 1.
3. The vertical position of the pedal ring 12 is fixed only by the screw 17.
As a result, when the user put the foot on the pedal ring 12, the weight of the user tilts the pedal ring 12 and also causes the deformation of the main shaft 11.
As mentioned above, one-fix-point design causes the damage on the C-type sleeve 15 and the deformation of the main shaft 11. The pedal ring 12 and the cross-shaped support frame 13 are easy to be tilted. It endangers the user who is using it.

Height adjustable pedal ring mechanism for bar stool


A compressed air valve circuit actuated assembly for operating a rotary tool turret of a lathe is disclosed which includes an actuator movably disposed in a housing and fixedly connected through an opening to the turret. The actuator moves linearly between a recessed position, wherein a first actuator attached ring of spaced apart teeth is closely intermeshed with a second housing attached ring of identical teeth, and an advanced position wherein the rings are decoupled to permit turret and actuator rotation. A series of compressed coil springs confined between the actuator and housing biases the actuator toward the recessed position. Compressed air supplied from the circuit to a housing chamber moves the actuator to the advanced position in opposition to the springs. A cross-piston, disposed in a bore formed in a housing surface portion and movable between start and ending positions, is coupled by an indexing pin to a slot in the actuator only when the actuator is in the advanced position. The circuit actuates the cross-piston to move and, simultaneously, cause the pin to rotate the actuator through a predetermined angle while the actuator is advanced, whereafter, the circuit switches to permit the springs to return the actuator to the recessed position to decouple the pin from the slot. The circuit then return operates to return the cross-piston to the start position to complete an assembly operating cycle.

This invention relates broadly to a mechanism for operating the rotary tool turret of a lathe and, more specifically, to a pneumatically actuated tool turret operating assembly for a lathe.
Broadly speaking, pneumatically actuated rotary tool turret operating systems for lathes have long been known and used in the prior art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,847 issued to H. Thumm on Feb. 23, 1993. The prior art system disclosed in the patent to Thumm employs a first rim of teeth fixedly attached relative to a tool turret and a second rim of teeth which is immovable relative to a housing. A locking member is employed which also includes teeth and is arranged for slidable movement between a locking position and an unlocking position by means of an air operated piston. The teeth of the locking member engage the teeth of the first and second rims when in the locking position to immobilize the turret to maintain one of the turret tools in an operative position relative to a work piece held in the lathe. The teeth of the locking member disengage the teeth of at least one of the rims when the locking member is disposed in an unlocked position so that the tool turret can be rotated by a motor and gear train to move another tool mounted on the turret into the operating position in place of a tool which previously occupied that position.
One difficulty that can be encountered using the system of Thumm occurs due to the requirement of a relatively high air pressure on a piston in order to maintain the locking member in engagement with the other two rims of teeth so as render the tool turret immobile. A sudden loss or substantial variation in piston air pressure for any reason can cause the locking member to become decoupled from one or both of the other rims and thus render the turret freely rotatable. If a turret tool happens to be in contact with or in close proximity to a rotating work piece during such an air pressure failure or variation, the system can crash resulting in potentially severe damage to the lathe and even injury to operating personnel who may be present in the work area.
Another difficulty with such a prior art system arises from the use of a three piece tooth coupling arrangement for locking the turret in position because a very slight amount of wear in any of these three components will produce play or looseness in their coupling which can produce play in the turret when supposedly locked to the housing. This, in turn, can produce distortions in a work piece being machined in the lathe. Yet another difficulty encountered with such prior art systems is the relative complexity and expense of providing a gear train and motor for rotating the tool turret when unlocked. Still another difficulty encountered using such prior art systems is in the lack of provision for inhibiting contamination of the internal components from the surrounding work place environment.
By means of the present invention, these and other difficulties encountered using such prior art systems are substantially eliminated.

Assembly for operating a rotary tool turret of a lathe


An arc tube is composed of an arc tube body that is formed by winding a straight glass tube. Two portions of the straight glass tube are spirally wound around an imaginary conical surface. The spiraled portions of the glass tube are sandwiched between a pair of movable fixed plates. The spiraled portions of the glass tube are heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a point at which the glass tube is deformable and yet lower than the softening point of the glass tube. The spiraled portions are flattened by the movable plate moving downwardly under its own weight.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of an arc tube composed of a glass tube having a spirally wound portion of which tube axis is contained within one plane. The present invention also relates to the arc tube, a low-pressure mercury lamp, and an illumination apparatus.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Low-pressure mercury lamps for general purpose illumination includes fluorescent lamps composed of a circular arc tube (hereinafter, "circular fluorescent lamp"). One feature of circular fluorescent lamps lies in the flatness in shape.
Recently, there has been a growing demand for downsizing circular fluorescent lamps. This is because the downsizing of a circular fluorescent lamp leads to downsizing of an illumination apparatus for use with the fluorescent lamp attached thereto.
One example of an arc tube that is smaller than conventional circular arc tubes is an arc tube composed of a glass tube that spirally winds toward an end thereof, around an imaginary axis farther and farther from the imaginary axis. The tube axis of the wound portion of the glass tube is contained within one plane. This shape is referred to as a "flat spiral", because the axis of the glass tube is contained within one plane. (See JP Patent Application Publication No. 09-92154.)
With the glass tube having a flat spiral shape, the space enclosed within the circular arc tube is effectively utilized. Thus, the arc tube may be made smaller in outermost diameter, without shortening the discharge distance in comparison with that of the conventional arc tube.
The arc tube having a flat spiral shape is formed through a molding step and a deforming step as follows. In the molding step, a softened glass tube is wound downwardly around the surface of a circular cone (this surface is referred to as an "imaginary conical surface"), and thus the glass tube winds farther and farther away from the axis of the imaginary conical surface (this axis is referred to as "imaginary axis"). This shape is referred to as a "stereo spiral", because the axis of the glass tube shifts in the direction of the imaginary axis as the grass tube spirals. In the deforming step, the spirally wound glass tube is heated throughout its length, so that the glass tube deforms under its own weight.
Unfortunately, however, there is a problem in the conventional method of manufacturing an arc tube into a flat spiral shape. According to the conventional method, upon flattening the wound portion of the glass tube in the direction of the imaginary axis, the glass tube is heated to its softening point in order to allow the glass tube to deform under its own weight. As a result, the wound portion of the glass tube fails to maintain its tubular shape. For this reason, it is often the case where the glass tube after the deforming is distorted in cross section, adjacent turns of the glass tube come into contact with each other, and the end portion of the glass tube tapers. In short, according to the conventional method, it is difficult to manufacture an arc tube in excellent design.

Arc tube formed from a glass tube and having a spirally wound section within one plane

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


This disclosure relates to sporicidal compositions and uses thereof. The sporicidal compositions include one or more cationic steroidal antimicrobials (CSAs). The sporicidal compositions may be applied to an object to kill or deactivate bacterial spores contacting the sporicidal composition. The object may be a food product, food processing equipment, industrial equipment, or healthcare facility objects. The sporicidal composition may be administered to a subject that has, is suspected to have, or is at risk for an infection associated with spore-forming bacteria.

Spore-forming bacteria are a class of microorganisms with the ability to survive in extreme environmental conditions. Morphological features of spores provide resistance to stress factors such as high temperature, radiation, disinfectants, and drying. Consequently, spore elimination in industrial and medical environments is very challenging.
Spore-forming bacteria, such as Bacillus and Clostridium species, are able to produce spores in response to environmental conditions such as limited nutrients. Spore formation results in the generation of metabolically dormant and environmentally resistant cells with enhanced ability to survive high temperature, UV and gamma radiation, antibiotic treatment, and extreme environmental conditions. Spore-forming bacteria frequently occur in food products, and they are responsible for food spoilage and food-borne diseases. Importantly, dormant spores of some bacteria, such as Clostridium species, are an infectious and transmissible form of the microbe. In another example, the persistence of spores, their germination, and their outgrowth into the vegetative form is responsible for a re-emergence of Clostridium difficile infections, even after long-term antibiotic treatment.
Bacterial spores formed in sporulation processes are extremely resistant to physical sterilization processes, antibiotics, and other antimicrobial agents. The structure of a spore plays a crucial role in the protection of cells against stressful environmental conditions. The spore coat aids in the resistance of spores against some chemicals and lytic enzymes and increases resistance of cells to heat, radiation, or a variety of select chemical decontaminates. The inner membrane of spores represents a strong permeability barrier, significantly defending internal structures of spores, including DNA, and playing a vital role in the development of chemical resistance. See Cortezzo, D. E. and Setlow, P., "Analysis of factors that influence the sensitivity of spores of Bacillus subtilis to DNA damaging chemicals," J Appl Microbiol, 2005. 98(3): p. 606-17. Thus, agents with the ability to by-pass permeability barriers of spores can potentially provide sporicidal activity.
Other factors providing resistance to bacterial spores include lower water content and high mineralization of spore cores, high levels of dipicolinic acid (DPA) and its associated divalent cations (mostly CaDPA), the protection of spore DNA against wet heat damage by its saturation with α/β-type small, acid-soluble proteins (SASPs), the presence of UV-absorbing pigments located in the spore's outer layers and DNA damage repair mechanisms during spore germination and outgrowth.
Most research on sporicidal agents has focused on the application of reactive chemical compounds, many of which are toxic to humans and therefore have limited application. Oxidizing agents and acid solutions may induce alterations in the spore membranes sufficient to kill the spores or considerably affect their ability to germinate and grow in typical environmental conditions.
It was reported that peroxynitrite and acids appear to kill spores by damaging the spore's external layers, including the inner membrane, resulting in spore death. See Genest, P. C., et al., "Killing of spores of Bacillus subtilis by peroxynitrite appears to be caused by membrane damage," Microbiology, 2002. 148(Pt 1): p. 307-14. Treatment of spores with hydrogen peroxide causes dysfunction of spore germination. See Melly, E., Cowan, A. E., and Setlow, P., "Studies on the mechanism of killing of Bacillus subtilis spores by hydrogen peroxide," J Appl Microbiol, 2002. 93(2): p. 316-25. However, there are many applications for which these harsh agents cannot suitably be used. Additionally, enzymes present in the spore coat, including superoxide dismutase, might detoxify some of such oxidizing agents before they penetrate into the deeper parts of the spore, which can significantly reduce their usefulness. See Henriques, A. O., Melsen, L. R., and Moran, C. P., "Involvement of superoxide dismutase in spore coat assembly in Bacillus subtilis," J Bacteriol, 1998. 180(9): p. 2285-91.

Use of cationic steroidal antimicrobials for sporicidal activity


A method for isolating a fungus-responsive promoter comprising the steps of:. (i) identifying a promoter sequence in the genomic DNA of a plant using a promoter-effective portion of the promoter of the gene of SEQ ID No. 1 as a hybridization probe, and PA1 (ii) isolating said fungus-responsive promoter.

(i) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the use, in a transgenic plant, of at least a portion of a fungus-responsive promoter to induce (i.e., stimulate), in response to a fungus infection of the plant, the expression of a gene or a DNA fragment substantially selectively in cells of the plant around the site of the fungal infection. The use of the fungus-responsive promoter of this invention is especially valuable in transgenic plants for controlling a foreign gene or a DNA fragment that is to be expressed selectively in the cells of the plant which immediately surround the fungal infection site so as to render the plant resistant to the infecting fungus, particularly a plant-pathogenic fungus.
This invention also relates to a first or fungus-responsive chimaeric gene that can be used to transform a plant and that contains a first foreign DNA that:
a) encodes a product which, when expressed in cells of the plant immediately surrounding a fungal infection site, can either i) kill or at least adversely disturb significantly the plant cells immediately surrounding the fungal infection site or ii) kill, disable or repel one or more fungi in the fungal infection site; and PA1 b) is under the control of at least a portion of the fungus-responsive promoter of this invention. PA1 a) the substantial, preferably complete, absence of expression of the first chimaeric gene in all other plant cells; or PA1 b) the substantial absence and preferably the complete absence, by expression of the second chimaeric gene of this invention, of the effects of any expression of the first chimaeric gene in all other plant cells--thereby rendering the plants resistant to fungal infections. PA1 1) the fungus-responsive promoter, which preferably comprises all or promoter-effective portions of a prp1 promoter, especially all or promoter-effective portions of the prp1-1 promoter, particularly promoter-effective portions of the prp1-1 promoter fragment between nucleotides 1 and 696 of SEQ ID no. 1 described in the Sequence Listing, more particularly the promoter fragment between nucleotides 295 and 567 of SEQ ID no. 1 described in the Sequence Listing, and which can direct transcription of a foreign DNA substantially selectively, preferably selectively, in cells of a plant surrounding, preferably immediately surrounding, a site of an infection of the plant by a fungus, particularly a plant-pathogenic fungus such as a Phytophthora (e.g., P. infestans) or a Cladosporium (e.g., Cladosporium fulvum); PA1 2) the first foreign DNA that encodes a first RNA and/or protein or polypeptide which, when produced or overproduced in cells of the plant which surround, preferably immediately surround, the fungal infection site, either a) kills, disables or repels the fungus or b) kills or at least disturbs significantly the metabolism, functioning and/or development of the plant cells surrounding, preferably immediately surrounding, the fungal infection site, so as to limit further spread of the fungus; and PA1 3) suitable 3' transcription termination signals (i.e., 3' end) for expressing the first foreign DNA substantially selectively, preferably selectively, in cells of the plant which surround, preferably immediately surround, the fungal infection site. PA1 1) the second promoter, such as a relatively weak constitutive promoter (e.g., the nos promoter), which can direct transcription of a foreign DNA in at least cells of the plant other than those surrounding, preferably other than those immediately surrounding, the fungal infection site; PA1 2) the second foreign DNA that encodes a second RNA and/or protein or polypeptide which, when produced or overproduced in at least such other cells of the plant, can inhibit or inactivate the first foreign DNA or the first RNA or protein or polypeptide in at least such other cells of the plant; and PA1 3) suitable 3' transcription termination signals for expressing the second foreign DNA in at least such other cells of the plant.
This invention further relates to a cell of a plant, the genome of which is transformed to contain the first chimaeric gene and optionally a second or restorer chimaeric gene; the second chimaeric gene contains a second promoter that controls a second foreign DNA encoding a product which can inhibit or inactivate the first foreign DNA or its encoded product at least in cells of the plant other than those immediately surrounding a fungal infection site, particularly when the first foreign DNA encodes a product that can kill or adversely disturb significantly such other plant cells.
This invention yet further relates to: a) the fungus-resistant transgenic plant, such as a Solanaceae (e.g., tomato or potato) or Brassicaceae (e.g., oilseed rape), which is regenerated from the plant cell of this invention transformed with the first and optionally the second chimaeric genes of this invention, b) fungus-resistant transgenic plants derived from the regenerated transgenic plant and seeds of such plants, and c) plant cell cultures, all of which consist essentially of the transformed plant cells of this invention.
The plants of this invention are characterized by the fungus-responsive expression of the first chimaeric gene of this invention in plant cells surrounding, preferably immediately surrounding, the fungal infection site and either:
(ii) Description of Related Art
The fungi are a very old group of microorganisms. Harmful fungi cause diseases of man, other animals, and especially plants. About 8000 species of fungi can cause plant diseases, and all plants are attacked by some kind of fungi. Some plant-pathogenic fungi can attack many plant species, others attack only one.
In general, fungal plant diseases can be classified into two types: those caused by soilborne fungi and those caused by airborne fungi. Soilborne fungi cause some of the most widespread and serious plant diseases, such as root and stem rot caused by Fusarium spp. and root rot caused by Phytophthora spp.
Since airborne fungi can be spread long distances by wind, they can cause devastating losses, particularly in crops which are grown over large regions. A number of these pathogens have caused widespread epidemics in a variety of crops. Important diseases caused by airborne fungi are stem rust (Puccinia graminis) on wheat, corn smut (Ustilago maydis) on corn, and late blight disease (Phytophthora infestans) on potato and tomato.
Most of these fungal diseases are difficult to combat, and farmers and growers must use a combination of practices, such as sanitary measures, resistant cultivars, and effective fungicides, against such diseases. Hundreds of million of dollars are spent annually for chemical control of plant-pathogenic fungi. As a result, there is today a real need for new, more effective and safe means to control plant-pathogenic fungi.
It is known that plants possess defense mechanisms against fungal diseases. When a plant recognizes a fungal attack, it can respond by inducing several reactions in its cells immediately surrounding the fungal infection site. Resistance mechanisms are activated by the initial infection, so as to limit the spread of the invading fungal pathogen (Ward et al, 1991). The resistance mechanisms include a localized cell death known as a hypersensitive response, the accumulation of phytoalexins, and lignification (De Wit, 1987). The specificity of these responses, which can be very effective in limiting the spread of a fungal infection, depends on the genetic make-up of the host and the pathogen.
Characterization of the genetic components which control cultivar/race specific host/pathogen interactions is a goal of current molecular plant pathology research. Transcriptional activation of defense-related genes is part of the complex defense system which enables plants to deal with contacts with potential pathogens (Collinge and Slusarenko, 1987; Hahlbrock and Scheel, 1989; Bowles, 1990). The identification of cis-acting elements regulating the expression of defense-related genes has been sought in order to elucidate the process by which signal transduction chains connect the initial recognition of a pathogen by a plant host with its induction of defense reactions (Lamb et al, 1989). As found for several other host/pathogen systems (van Loon, 1985; Hahlbrock and Scheel, 1989), infection of potato with the fungus Phytophthora infestans, which is the causal agent of late blight disease, leads to transcriptional activation of genes encoding enzymes of the phenylpropanoid metabolism and PR-proteins (Fritzemeier et al, 1987; Kombrink et al, 1988; Taylor et al, 1990). Transcription of these genes is induced with similar kinetics in compatible and incompatible interactions of different potato cultivars with different Phytophthora infestans races. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of one of the "pathogenesis related" (or "PR")-protein genes in potato, i.e., prp1-1, which is a member of the large prp1 gene family (with 10-15 very similar copies per haploid genome), shows striking similarity to the corresponding sequences of a gene encoding the HSP26 heat-shock protein in soybean (Taylor et al, 1990). In situ hybridization experiments showed that the PRP1 transcript accumulates around the site of fungal penetration, but the function of this protein in the defense strategy of potato is not yet clear. The homologous soybean HSP26 protein represents a unique member within a group of low molecular weight heat-shocked proteins of plants, missing some characteristic structural features and appearing in an unusually high relative concentration under a broad variety of stress conditions (Czarnecka et al, 1984; Vierling, 1991) but also having no known role in cell metabolism. No sequence similarity has been found between the protein encoded by the prp-1-1 gene and several know PR-proteins from other Solanaceous species (Taylor et al, 1990).
Most plant genes encoding proteins related to pathogen defense, analyzed to date on the level of cis-acting elements, are also activated by several other stress stimuli like mechanical wounding, light and/or elevated concentrations of heavy metals (Oshima et al, 1990; Schmid et al, 1990; Stermer et al, 1990; Douglas et al, 1991; Joos and Hahlbrock, 1992; Becker-Andre et al, 1991).

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenschaften E.V.


An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical contactor highly resistant to deformation capable of achieving satisfactory performance of electrical contact with a small number of elements.

1. Technical Field Relating to the Invention
This invention relates to an electrical contactor and an electrical connecting apparatus that are for example applicable as an electrical contactor to contact an electrode provided in a wiring substrate, a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like and an electrical connecting apparatus having multiple electrical contactors.
2. Background of Related Art
A well-known electrical contactor is to electrically connect electrical circuits on wiring substrates arranged to face each other, for example. An example of such an electrical contactor can be found in patent document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-7730) (in patent document 1, the electrical contactor is called a probe).
FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view showing an electrical contactor 1 described in patent document 1. The vertical section of FIG. 10 is cut at a plane passing through the central axis of the electrical contactor 1.
The electrical contactor 1 has a conductive barrel 2 and a conductive plunger 3. The barrel 2 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The barrel 2 has two spring parts including a spring part 2b and a spring part 2d that exert elastic forces in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction). Specifically, the barrel 2 has an upper part 2a, the upper spring part 2b, an intermediary part 2c, the lower spring part 2d, and a lower part 2e arranged in this order as viewed from the top. The plunger 3 has a substantially cylindrical columnar shape. The inner diameter of the barrel 2 and the outer diameter of the plunger 3 is substantially the same. The plunger 3 is mostly inserted in internal space of the barrel 2. The plunger 3 is inserted in the internal space of the barrel 2 such that the upper end of the plunger 3 does not protrude outside the barrel 2 from the upper part 2a regardless of the presence or absence of application of external force on the electrical contactor 1. A lower part of the plunger 3 protrudes downward further than the lower part 2e of the barrel 2. The lower part 2e and the plunger 3 are bonded and fixed to each other for example by resistance welding, laser welding, or swaging in a position (indicating not one point but several points or a circle) P at a given height of the lower part 2e of the barrel 2.
For use of the electrical contactor 1 integrated in an electrical connecting apparatus, the upper end of the barrel 2 is electrically connected to an external electrode or the like not shown in the drawings above the barrel 2 and the lower end of the plunger 3 is electrically connected to an external electrode or the like not shown in the drawings below the plunger 3 while the spring parts 2b and 2d of the barrel 2 store energy and exert elastic forces in the vertical direction in response to application of external force.

Electrical contactor and electrical connecting apparatus

Abstract: An electrical contactor of this invention includes a barrel having a spring part achieving a spring function formed in a partial section, and a first plunger and a second plunger inserted in the barrel through an opening at one end and an opening at an opposite end of the barrel and fixed to the barrel. It is preferable that an end part of the first plunger in the barrel and an end part of the second plunger in the barrel are placed in internal space of the same non-spring part not to achieve a spring function. It is preferable that the barrel has three or more spring parts separated while non-spring parts are placed between the spring parts.


File link migration is described. A method may include identifying a first file link referencing a file residing at a first computer system, and identifying, at the first computer system, a first inode data structure referenced by the first file link, the first inode data structure comprising a first link count. The method may also include creating a second inode data structure at a second computer system, wherein the second data structure comprises a second link count, and creating a second file link to reference the second inode data structure at the second computer system. The method may also include, responsive to determining that the first link count matches the second link count, migrating file data referenced by the first data structure to the second computer system.

Data may be stored as unstructured data, for example, in files and directories in a file system. A file in the file system may have multiple file links that point to the same file data for the file. A file link can be an original file name for a file and/or an alternative file name that is implemented as a hard link for the file. A hard link is a directory entry that points to a location of the file in the file system. If the file is opened using one of its hard links, and changes are made to the file's content, then the changes can also be visible when the file is opened by an alternative hard link or the original file name of the file. The files may be stored in a data store (e.g., disk) that is coupled to a storage server in a machine in the file system. The file system can include multiple machines, multiple storage servers, and multiple data stores. A storage server may be decommissioned, for example, due to capacity reduction, problems with the machine, storage server, and/or disk, etc. When a storage server is to be decommissioned, the data (e.g., files) on the disk for the storage server should be migrated to another disk being managed by another storage server in another machine in order to prevent data loss. When the file data for the file is migrated to another storage server, the current file links usually still point to the old location of the file data. Any attempts to access the file data using the current file links typically result in errors since the file data has already been migrated to the new location.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A torsion pedal feel emulator assembly for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the same. The assembly includes a pedal member for receiving an applied pedal force. A torsion member is operably attached to the pedal member. A portion of the torsion member is positioned adjacent a reaction surface. The torsion member rotates as a result of the applied pedal force, and a dynamic reaction force is generated against the applied pedal force. A pivot is operably attached to the torsion member and the motor vehicle. The method includes receiving an applied pedal force. A torsion member is rotated as a result of the applied pedal force. A dynamic reaction force is generated against the applied pedal force as a result of the torsion member rotation.

Conventional vacuum boosted brake apply systems utilize a direct application of pedal-to-brake force via hydraulic fluid. Drivers have become accustomed to the pedal response or "feel" generated by such systems. With brake-by-wire (BBW) or similar type of vehicle braking system, however, the application of braking force to the wheel brakes is generated by an electric or an electro-hydraulic controlled means. This changes the BBW pedal feel characteristics at the vehicle's brake pedal from those conventional apply systems and prevents the driver from experiencing the customary brake pedal feel. Therefore, strategies have been developed for emulating pedal feel that drivers are accustomed.
Known BBW systems that generate a pedal feel consistent with that of conventional vacuum boosted apply systems may utilize a master cylinder assembly to emulate pedal feel. The brake pedal feel is typically transparent to the driver when compared to the conventional vacuum boosted apply systems. Examples of such emulators include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,729,979 and 6,367,886 to Shaw. Such brake pedal emulators may include (sequentially compressible) springs or other biasing members and restrictive fluid flow paths to generate non-linear reaction force versus pedal travel (e.g., movement of the pedal) consistent with conventional apply systems. These emulator elements are typically carried within the master cylinder assembly.
Although such assemblies may provide adequate brake pedal travel and feel characteristics, use of a master cylinder including emulator elements adds to the cost and size of the brake pedal assembly. As such, it would be desirable to provide a non-linear reaction force to pedal travel assembly and method that do not require a master cylinder or like mechanisms to generate pedal feel consistent with vacuum boosted brake apply systems.
Unlike the non-linear reaction force versus travel output of brake pedals, the accelerator, clutch, and emergency brake pedals typically exhibit a linear response that is much simpler mechanically to provide. Nevertheless, the use of spring(s) or like biasing elements to generate the pedal feel may add to the cost of the pedal assembly. As such, it would be desirable to provide a linear reaction force to pedal travel assembly and method without the need for external springs or like elements to generate the desired pedal feel.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a pedal feel emulator assembly and method that overcomes the aforementioned and other disadvantages.


The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented systems and methods for scheduling a neural network for execution. In one implementation, a system for scheduling a neural network for execution may include at least one memory storing instructions and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to determine a profile for one or more applications co-scheduled with at least one neural network; determine a batch size for the at least one neural network based on the determined profile for the one or more applications; and scheduling the one or more applications and the at least one neural network based on the batch size.

Modern servers and other computers run many tasks in parallel or at least concurrently. Parallelism and concurrency increase efficiency as compared with single-stream execution. However, different levels of efficiency may be obtained depending on schedules governing the parallelism or concurrency. Neural networks include an additional layer of complexity. Depending on the batch size of inputs to neural networks, the execution of neural networks may require different levels of memory or processing cycles. This may impact the level of efficiency obtained when executing one or more neural network in parallel or concurrently, whether with each other or with other applications.

Systems and methods for scheduling neural networks by varying batch sizes


A speed reducer includes a helical gear, an eccentric shaft and a slider plate. The speed reducer also includes a transmission gear and an output gear body. The transmission gear is supported at a first support part, transmission gear spinning is restricted by engagement with the slider plate, and the transmission gear revolves by the helical gear rotating with the eccentric shaft. The output gear body rotates by the transmission gear revolving. The transmission gear includes a pair of restricting protrusions protruding toward the slider plate side. The restricting protrusions have engaging surfaces that touch the slider plate wherein the engaging surfaces oppose the slider plate in a radial direction of the transmission gear. Surfaces at opposite sides of the restricting protrusions from the slider plate are formed, as seen in the axis direction of the transmission gear, to be convex to the opposite sides thereof from the slider plate.

Patent Document 1 discloses a speed reducer-equipped motor provided with a speed reducer that reduces a speed of rotation of a motor. The speed reducer recited in this document is provided with: a worm gear fixed to a rotation axis of the motor; a worm wheel meshing with the worm gear; a gear that is revolved by rotation of the worm wheel, in a state in which spinning of the revolving gear is restricted; and an output shaft that is rotated by rotary force being transmitted thereto in accordance with the revolution of the revolving gear. A member that restricts spinning of the revolving gear is provided between the worm wheel and the revolving gear. The member that restricts spinning of the revolving gear is supported to be movable in a radial direction of the worm wheel.

Speed reducer and speed reducer-equipped motor


A centrifuge is capable of holding a sample container in selected orientations, either during or after centrifugation, to drain supernatants between two or more chambers of the container. The draining may be gravity or centrifugal draining. This allows an automated process to subject a sample to a first physical or chemical treatment to produce a first supernatant, the first supernatant to be subjected to a second physical or chemical treatment, and a second supernatant to be separated from a desired component.

The separation of components through centrifugation is well known. For example, in the medical field it is common to subject a sample of blood to centrifugation to produce a precipitate of cellular material and a supernatant of plasma. The plasma is then decanted to complete the separation of these components.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,178,602 (Wells) and 5,047,004 (Wells) show an automated centrifuge, which includes structure for holding a centrifuge tube, after centrifugation, in a position that allows the supernatant to drain from the tube and into another container by gravity. The holding structure shown in these patents comprises a locking mechanism mounted for axial movement with respect to the axis of rotation of the centrifuge. An electromagnet that is easily controlled causes the axial movement.
It is also known to decant a supernatant by the process of centrifugal draining. According to that process, a centrifuge rotates a centrifuge tube while the tube is held in a position such that the supernatant is drained from the tube by centrifugal forces.
Fibrin sealants for treating wounds are known and are typically produced by combining a fibrinogen/Factor XIII component with bovine thrombin. When these are mixed, a fibrin tissue adhesive results, which is applied to the wound. Descriptions of compositions for use as tissue sealants are given in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,292,362 and 5,209,776 (Bass et al.). The fibrinogen is obtained from plasma, either pooled or autologous, and cryoprecipitation is one known technique for separating fibrinogen from plasma. One cryoprecipitation technique is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,318,524 and includes the centrifugation of thawing plasma to produce a precipitate containing fibrinogen/Factor XIII. Other techniques for producing fibrinogen/Factor XIII include inducing precipitation of the component by addition of such agents as Ammonium Sulfate or polyethylene glycol (PEG) to blood plasma.


Method and apparatus for cleaning a storage or transport tank by spraying a cleaning agent against the interior wall using at least one spray nozzle, said nozzle making a rotating movement in a plane, while said plane is simultaneously revolved around an axis which makes an angle with the axis of rotation of the nozzle, the point of impingement of a jet cleaning agent delivered by the nozzle describing a track over the interior wall of the container, said track passing a plurality of times a closed circumferential line on the wall of the tank, which line is chosen as a reference, wherein the nozzle or each nozzle is so controlled that passages of the impingement track that is being described substantially occur in the greatest as yet unintersected portion of said circumferential line, which portion is located between earlier points of intersection of the impingement track and said circumferential line namely, at distances from said earlier points of intersection which substantially bear a ratio of 1:(1/2.sqroot.5-1/2).

Before the invention is described, some relevant technical concepts will be defined.
The movements of the nozzles of a tank washing machine can generally be described as a periodic rotating movement in a plane while that plane itself is revolved around an axis which makes an angle with the axis of rotation of the nozzle. As far as is known, in all known machines the two axes of rotation are mutually perpendicular. The machines in which the two rotating movements are uniform and rotate completely, are known as so-called "Butterworth" machines In other machines the rotating movement of the spray nozzles in the plane is not uniform and completely rotating but covers only a portion of the circle and can be described as a backward and forward movement. Examples thereof are the so-called "bottom washers" and some "single nozzle machines".
Although the aforementioned axes of rotation which define the movements of the nozzle can be disposed in any desired position in the space and the movements can be such that, if desired, any portion of the space or the entire space can be covered by the jets of cleaning agent, for the sake of simplicity reference will be made to a horizontal axis which nozzles rotate about uniformly and completely, and a vertical axis which the vertical plane of rotation of the nozzles revolves around uniformly. The respective rates of rotation are designated .OMEGA..sub.h and .OMEGA..sub.v.
Although, further, any drive of rotation can be used for rotating one or more nozzles around two or more axes, hereinafter reference will be made only to a (fixed) bevel gear with a vertical axis (number of teeth=N.sub.f), over which rolls, as a planet gear, a (moving) bevel gear with a horizontal axis (number of teeth N.sub.m). In the case where the transmission ratio between the two gear nozzle rotations is in actual fact effected by means of gears, the relation between "horizontal" and "vertical" rotation can be described as: EQU T.sub.v T.sub.h =.OMEGA..sub.h /Q.sub.v =N.sub.f /N.sub.m
wherein T.sub.v and T.sub.h represent the period (period of oscillation or time of revolution) of the movements for the vertical and the horizontal axis of rotation, respectively.
The trajectory of jet impingement of one nozzle in one revolution about the horizontal axis is called a track. The width of the area cleaned by the nozzle jet is dependent upon many factors, such as distance, angle of incidence, nature and adhesion of the material to be removed to the tank wall, etc.
Due to the simultaneous rotation of the nozzle around two axes, the beginning and the end of each track, to be defined as intersections of a closed circumferential line on the tank wall, chosen as a reference, will have shifted relatively to each other. The extent of the shift depends on T.sub.v / T.sub.h.
Depending on the number of nozzles N.sub.noz, after a number of shifts the washing pattern will have made one complete round along the closed reference line and the first subsequent intersection of a nozzle jet track will occur beyond the intersection that was the first to be defined. Then one subcycle has been completed. A full cycle has been completed when after a number of rounds N.sub.track the last intersection coincides with the first. When the intersections are provided so close to each other that the shift along the closed reference line is approximately equal to the width of the jet impingement trajectory, theoretically one single cycle will suffice. In practice a complete cycle is built up from a number of subcycles, the intersections of the tracks at the closed reference line having shifted a little in each successive subcycle over a distance which is so much smaller than the distance between successive intersections in the preceding subcycle that this distance can be bridged in a number of steps in one direction. In other words, in the first subcycle a track pattern is created which is gradually densified from one side. Only after a complete cycle has been completed is a track pattern obtained of a certain density and uniformly distributed over the interior tank wall, in which the impingement tracks can overlap laterally.
Therefore, it is a drawback of the known tank cleaning method that only after a relatively long washing time a uniform dense impingement track pattern is provided so that in the case of premature interruption of the cleaning process only a small fraction of the contaminations have been removed from the tank wall.

Method of, and apparatus for, cleaning a tank