A thermal transfer printer (10) includes multiple media trays (16, 120, 126) each encoded to communicate to a printer controller (46) via sensors (132, 134, 136) a print medium size and type contained in the tray, and a pair of thermal transfer ribbon (24) sensors (44,45) to communicate whether the ribbon includes a pre-coat material panel (34). A printer driver responsive to the media size and type sensors and the thermal transfer ribbon sensors to causes pre-coat material to be applied to coated or plain paper print media but not to transparency print media. Post-rendering color correction is provided for color images printed on various media type and pre-coat combinations. The printer driver prevents an image from printing when potentially wasteful conditions are detected in response to a print job request, forced tray selection, or automatic tray switching selection.

Thermal transfer printing involves the controlled transfer of an ink (e.g., a colorant dispersed in a wax base material) from a carrier such as a polymer ribbon onto a print medium surface. A thermal transfer printer having a print head with a large number of independently activatable heating elements per unit of length is one prior art apparatus employed for this purpose. The ink/carrier structure is placed within the printer such that the carrier side is adjacent to the heating elements and the ink side is adjacent to a print media support upon which the print medium rests during printing.
To print an image, the print head contacts the print medium and ink is transferred to particular locations on the print medium surface when predetermined combinations of heating elements are activated adjacent to those image-forming locations. The ink/carrier structure is locally heated by the heating elements to a temperature at or above the melting point of the ink. In this manner, an amount of ink softens and adheres to the print medium at the predetermined locations to form the image. It is well known that the thermally transferred ink adheres better and more completely to a smooth print medium surface than to a rough surface such as that commonly found in plain paper. Therefore, specially coated paper is typically used in thermal transfer printers to improve the image quality and durability of printed images.
Color images are printed with an ink/carrier structure that includes separate regions of differently colored inks such as the subtractive primary colors, yellow, magenta, and cyan. Color printing is accomplished by sequential passes of the print medium past the print head, each pass selectively transferring different colored inks at predetermined times. Such thermally transferred color images transmit light rectilinearly and are therefore well suited to overhead transparency projection applications. Moreover, transparency film typically has a smooth surface to which thermally transferred ink readily adheres.
Because specially coated print media are relatively costly and not as commonly available as plain paper, some means is desired to improve the durability and image quality of thermal transfer images printed on plain paper. U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,615 of Tanaka for THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTING APPARATUS describes an ink/carrier ribbon having yellow, magenta, and cyan ink panels and an additional panel of pre-coat material (hereafter "pre-coat"). Pre-coat is thermally transferred to predetermined areas of a rough print medium, such as plain paper, that subsequently receive a thermally transferred image. Pre-coat adheres to rough media and provides a smooth, transparent, thermal adhesive base to which thermally transferred inks readily adhere. Alternatively, pre-coat can be white to improve the chroma and brightness of images printed on opaque or colored media.
Pre-coat has disadvantages, however, such as degradation of the light transmission through transparency film, and degradation of image quality, by forming a "halo" around images when applied to coated media. Colors may also be perceived differently when viewed under the various above-described combinations of media type and pre-coating.
Thermal printing ribbons are available with a single black panel, three color panels (yellow, magenta, and cyan), or four color panels, (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black). Such ribbons are typically supplied on spools that have encoded end caps to communicate to the printer whether the ribbon includes one, three, or four panels. All colored ribbons also have an encoding stripe that runs along one edge of the length of the ribbon to communicate panel location and color data to the printer.
Printers have been developed that can print images on various print media types including, but not limited to, plain paper, coated paper, and transparency film. Such print media types are also available in a variety of standard sizes such as letter (A-size) and international A4-size.
Some printers, such as one embodying this invention, clamp an edge of a selected print medium to a drum and wrap the print medium around the drum during printing. Such an arrangement provides accurate control of print medium positioning relative to the print head and is particularly advantageous in applications such as multi-pass color printing. However, because printing can not be accomplished adjacent to the clamped edge of the medium, special extended-length media are available that include a perforated tear-off strip. Such media can be clamped at the extended length portion and printed over a remaining standard length portion. After printing, the extended-length portion is removed at the perforation. Plain paper, coated paper, and transparency film are currently available in A-size and A4-size, with or without a perforated extended-length portion.
Because a wide variety of print media exists, printers have been developed that have multiple media feeders into which a variety of media trays can be fitted. The trays are each sized to hold specific sizes of paper and are encoded to communicate the paper size to the printer. Some trays are also fitted with a switch by which the media type loaded in the tray, such as "transparency" or "paper," can be selected and communicated to the printer.
Most printers can detect when the print medium in a tray has been depleted or the tray is not inserted and take appropriate actions such as halting printing, lighting an "out of paper" indicator, switching trays, and sending an "add paper" or "insert tray" message to the printer user. Because there is such a variety of media types and sizes, a thermal transfer printer capable of automatically determining whether to pre-coat user selected combinations of trays, media types, and media sizes would be advantageous.
Many printers include a control software driver program (hereafter "printer driver") for handling many of the variables described above. Such printer drivers are often interfaced to a computer programming language known as PostScript.RTM., which is available from Adobe Systems Inc., Mountain View, Cal. The PostScript.RTM. language, described in the PostScript.RTM. Language Reference Manual, Second Edition, 1990, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Reading, Mass., includes methods for manipulating text and graphics, selecting media sizes, types, trays, and the number of copies to be printed. These and other variables are collected together with data to be printed into a data file referred to as a print job. PostScript.RTM. also supports multiple print job queuing, sorts print job priorities, and handles errors detected in the print jobs.
Print job errors are ordinarily resolved by PostScript.RTM.. For example, if a requested paper size is depleted PostScript.RTM. may automatically switch (if multi-tray printer) and print on any available media in another tray. The problem is that PostScript.RTM. was developed without a foreknowledge of evolving technologies such as thermal transfer printing. New printing technologies require circumvention by the printer driver of some existing error resolution methods.
For example, in a thermal transfer printer, switching trays when a tray becomes empty does not address whether the alternate tray has coated paper, whether pre-coat ribbon is installed, or whether a tray has extended-length perforated paper (that may be either plain or coated). Moreover, the perceived colors of a thermal transfer image are altered by various combinations of media type and pre-coat. Acceptable image colors printed by one type of printer may not be acceptable colors when printed by a thermal transfer printer with arbitrary combinations of media type and pre-coat. PostScript.RTM. supports a post-rendering lookup table for correcting colors, but no method exists for switching color correction tables in response to media type and pre-coat combinations found in multi-tray thermal transfer
Finally, a PostScript.RTM. tray switching printing. Finally, a PostScript.RTM. tray switching capability that allows inadvertent printing on transparency film does not account for the presence of pre-coat or the expense of wasted thermal transfer ribbon and results in an unacceptable and expensive waste of time and materials.
Therefore, what is needed is a method and apparatus for determining whether to pre-coat and print a particular print medium under predetermined combinations of the above-described print medium and printer related variables.

Thermal transfer printer having media pre-coat selection apparatus and methods


An apparatus (100) for post-grouting a rock bolt (1) has an elongate sleeve (101) adapted to receive a rock bolt (1) with a first end (1a) thereof extending beyond the sleeve first end (101a) and a second end (1b) thereof extending beyond the sleeve second end (101b). An end fitting (102) is attached to the sleeve second end (101b) and has a central aperture (106, 107) for receiving the rock bolt (1). Grout passages (112) communicate the exterior of the end fitting (102) with the interior of the sleeve (101). A seal means (117) is displaceable between open and closed positions so as to seal the grout passages (112). The seal means (117) is biased towards the closed position at which the grout passages (112) are substantially sealed. Injection of grout into the end fitting (102) via the passages (112) deflects the seal means (117) to the open position enabling flow of grout through the passages (112) and into the sleeve (101).

The roof of an underground mine is secured using rock bolts to confine the rock. The rock bolts are inserted into a hole, predrilled into the rock.
Usually, the rock bolt is secured at the top of the hole by a mechanical or chemical anchor creating a point anchor. Alternatively, or additionally, the rock bolt is secured in the hole by grouting along its length with a cement or polyester resin.
Grouting of the bolt along its entire length is the much preferred method to improve confinement of the rock through load transfer between the rock and bolt along its entire length rather than at a local area only. Grouting of the bolt also protects it from corrosion.
In rock bolt installations where it is feasible to drill a relatively small diameter hole (up to 32 mm diameter) in the rock face, it is preferred to use chemical anchors at the top of the hole which extrude the resin grout along the length of the bolt so as to effectively fully grout the bolt.
In installations where larger diameter holes (typically 45 mm diameter) need to be drilled, resin cartridge chemical anchors are relatively ineffective as the large annulus between the conventional solid bolt (typically 22 mm diameter) and the hole wall is too large to enable effective mixing of the resin. In such cases, the bolts are typically post-grouted with a cement grout to fully encapsulate the rock bolts.
Australian Patent Application No. 49856/93 discloses a method of post-grouting a rock bolt which utilises a plastic sleeve mounted on the bolt and which extends along substantially the entire length of the bolt (approximately 2 m long) toward the top of the hole. The sleeve communicates with a grouting chamber located at the base of the bolt below the roof plate. Grout is pumped into the grouting chamber, using a grout nozzle pushed into a hole provided in the grouting chamber. The grout flows upwardly through the inner annular passage defined between the sleeve and rock bolt to the end of the sleeve at the top of the hole and then spreads down the outer annular passage between the sleeve and the wall of the rock bolt hole. The plastic sleeve accordingly divides the grout into two annular columns, which provides additional corrosion protection to the rock bolt. A tensioning nut is threaded onto the exposed end of the bolt and engages the body of the grouting chamber which in turn engages a roof plate bearing against the rock face surrounding the rock bolt hole.
The above method, however, suffers from several disadvantages. Firstly, when the rock bolt is installed into a roof covered with a wire mesh, the leading end of the plastic sleeve often catches on the wire, obstructing the installation. Secondly, once the grouting nozzle is detached from the grouting chamber, grout drains from the grouting chamber under gravity through the hole into which the grouting nozzle had been inserted, thereby reducing the level of grout encapsulation of the bolt. Thirdly, whilst the grout encapsulates the rock bolt within the rock bolt hole, the tail end of the rock bolt and the nut used to pre-tension the rock bolt remain exposed and subject to corrosion. Further, if the rock face is uneven, the roof plate will often not be perpendicular to the hole and the rock bolt when pressed against the rock face by tensioning of the nut. This causes the grouting chamber body, moving with the roof plate as a result of friction, to be misaligned with the nut. Accordingly, the nut and grouting chamber body do not engage with parallel faces and the ability to tension the rock bolt with the nut is thereby reduced.


A vibration dumping device for cables used in a diagonal stress bridge is disclosed. The dumping device includes an anchor pipe 5, an anchor flange 7, and a cable flange 9. The anchor flange 7 is secured to the anchor pipe 5, while the cable flange 9 is secured to the cable 6 in an encircling relationship. The dumping device also includes an aligning flange 8. The aligning flange 8 includes mounting portions (slotted holes) 8c which permits the aligning flange 8 to be mounted on the anchor flange 7 in an eccentric relationship therewith. The aligning flange 8 also includes mounting seats (stud bolts) 8b for visco-elastic bodies 11. The aligning flange 8 is mounted on the anchor flange 7, with the center defined by the mounting seats 8b for the visco-elastic bodies being aligned with the longitudinal center of the cable 6. The visco-elastic bodies 11 are clampedly mounted between the aligning flange 8 and the cable flange 9.

A construction for restricting or damping vibration of cables of a diagonal stress bridge is known in the art. Such a construction includes, as shown in FIG. 13, an anchor pipe 2 or protective pipe disposed at a position on a girder or tower of a bridge to which an end of cable 1 is connected. The anchor pipe 2 includes a flange 3 which encircles the cable 1. A plurality of visco-elastic bodies 4 are disposed between the flange 3 and the cable 1. Vibration of the cable 1 causes shear deformation in the visco-elastic bodies 4, so as to cause energy loss in the visco-elastic bodies 4, thus restricting or damping vibration of the cable 1 (see Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No. 06-136718 (KOKAI HEI-6-136718) and Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No. 07-3720 (KOKAI HEI-6-3720).
A diagonal stress bridge is constructed by first erecting main towers. Then, steel girders or girders of prestressed concrete are extended outwardly from the main towers. The girders are connected to and supported by the main towers using diagonal members (cables). Further girders are constructed in repetitive manner.
Thus, the amount of tension to be carried by the cables varies at a given time during the course from the initial stage to the completion of the construction work. Accordingly, the core of the cable 6 disposed centrally of the cables is caused to be offset from an intended position for design, or to be changed in its angle of inclination. In an actual large bridge, the amount of such an eccentricity may be even on the order of some tens millimeters.
Under the circumstances, the vibration damping device disclosed in Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No. 6-136718 or 7-3720 mentioned above is frequently difficult to be mounted between the anchor pipe 2 and the cable 1.
That is to say, the configuration of a visco-elastic body 4 is, in essence, determined by an expected spring constant or damping constant, and the thickness of the visco-elastic body is on the order of 20 to 80 millimeters. Thus, positional adjustment in the amount of some tens millimeters during mounting is not achieved by solely deforming the visco-elastic body.
In practice, the procedure of mounting the anchor pipe 2 on a girder 2 is delayed until the tension of the cable becomes unchanged as when the bridge is almost completed. Then, the longitudinal center of the anchor pipe 2 is aligned with the longitudinal center of the cable. This restricts fabrication work for girders and towers, or mounting work for the anchor pipes.


Jewelry-forming components of a body member having a first magnetized portion and a further element associated therewith for magnetically repelling or attracting and receiving another jewelry-forming component. A plurality of such components can be magnetically coupled to form an article of jewelry, generally in the form of a ring, bracelet, necklace or chain link.

The invention relates to jewelry components that are magnetized and joined to form new and unusual jewelry articles having heretofore unknown properties and advantages. In particular, the present invention relates to jewelry components that are magnetically attractable to or repulsed by each other so a plurality of such components can be joined or combined into rings, bracelets, chains, chokers, necklaces, watchbands or the like, with the magnetic force holding the components together or apart, as desired. Also, components can be connected in any one of a number of positional relationships so that the final jewelry article is self-sizing to the wearer.
Jewelry articles are generally made of different types of precious metals and stones and are held together by mechanical linkages or interconnections. This is of course well known to the skilled artisans and in common use today. Designers are somewhat limited by these mechanical connections, and it would be desirable to have other joining forms for creation of new and unusual jewelry articles.
The use of magnetic force to join components is known in the field. Various permanent magnets have been used, and these can be provided with very strong magnetic fields. They are generally used to hold two oppositely magnetized components together. Such permanent magnets are generally made of non-precious metal alloys and for that reason are not desirable for use in fine jewelry.
While there have been some attempts at making precious metal magnets, two problems have been encountered. Many precious metal magnets do not possess sufficient magnetic strength to secure jewelry components together. Furthermore, attempts at alloying such metals to increase their magnetic strength causes further dilution of the precious metal content of the alloy, thus rendering it less desirable for use in jewelry components or articles. A magnetized platinum cobalt alloy is known, but previously has not been deemed to be suitable for use in jewelry components or articles.
In addition, highly magnetic jewelry articles can be problematic in certain situations. Contact of strong magnets with credit cards, computer disks or other magnetically sensitive materials can cause damage to such materials. Also, rings, bracelets and necklaces, if strongly magnetized, are generally located such that they can easily come in contact with magnetically sensitive materials to cause damage or loss of information therein.
Also, when a person wishes to purchase an article of jewelry to be worn, care must be taken to assure that the size of the piece is correct. When purchasing an item such as a bracelet or necklace, the size is selectable from one of a plurality of standard lengths at the desire of the purchaser. Other items, such as watchbands, are provided with removable links so that the size can be selected to conform to the size of the person's wrist. For other items, such as a ring, the jeweler will usually measure the size of the person's finger so that the ring can easily slide along the person's finger into place. It is often difficult to properly size the ring so that it can be snugly maintained in place as it must also be sufficiently large to pass over the person's knuckles, especially for people that have arthritic joints. This means that the ring must be sized larger to accomplish this and then will be too loose when in the proper position. Also, the person's finger can change in size over the years, and a ring that is correctly sized at one time can end up being incorrectly sized in the future.
The accommodation of different sizes creates difficulties for the jewelry manufacturer and seller, in that different sizes must be made available, or specialized orders must be custom made to the person's actual or desired dimensions. It would be desirable to avoid having to carry large inventories of different sized jewelry articles, as well as to avoid having to make custom sized pieces for each customer. These problems are now solved by the present invention.
It also would be desirable to have magnetically joinable jewelry components to assist designers in creating new visual appealing designs or for these components to have magnetic strengths that are sufficiently strong to securely join jewelry components together. The present invention now satisfies these needs.
Also, it would be desirable to have magnetically joinable jewelry components to assist designers in creating new visual appealing designs. It is also desirable for these components to have magnetic strengths that are sufficiently strong to securely join jewelry components together without emitting or radiating high magnetic fields that can cause damage to magnetically sensitive materials or similar items. The present invention now satisfies these needs and provides other advantages for use in fine and costume jewelry applications.

Magnetically attractable components for jewelry articles


A method and apparatus for caching client node requested data stored on a network server is disclosed. The method and apparatus comprise caching server responses at the pre-packetized level thereby decreasing response time by minimizing packet processing overhead, reducing disk file reading and reducing copying of memory from disk buffers to network interfaces.

Typical network servers, such as Web servers, video severs or file servers, as well as local operating systems, are designed to respond to client information or data requests as quickly as possible. Caching, or storing recently requested information, e.g., a data file, in memory buffers in anticipation of the next request, is a common approach used by network servers and local operating systems to decrease server response time.
For example, Web servers make heavy use of disk caches by storing recently requested HTML content in main memory buffers rather than on disk. This type of storage arrangement works well according to the locality-of-reference principle; namely, it is likely recently stored content will be requested again soon.
Packet-switched communications networks such as Ethernet-type local area networks (LANs) or the Internet are commonly used in host/host or server/client environments. Typically, previously requested information retrieved by a server is cached for ready access and throughput the next time that information is requested. However, even though the requested data is cached, each new request for the same or substantially the same data prompts the server to create new packets (including the cached data as the payload) to be sent to the network interface for transmission.
For example, with respect to Web servers, known systems cache the results of URL resolves (e.g., mapping a URL to a file on a disk) and cache HTTP response headers per document, which may contain an HTTP response such as an HTTP 200 OK response, the date of last change, and the like. Thus, in these known systems, caching of the static content (e.g., HTTP response header and body) may be performed. Static content is generally content that is the same for all clients.
In a typical server/client packet-switched communications network, a client may send a data request to a server. Based upon the client request, the server retrieves a data file from a hard drive or floppy disk, separates the data file into packets and sends the packets to the client in response. Prior to sending the packets, the server must allocate memory buffers, one for each packet, to temporarily store the response data. In this process, the server must copy the entire data file from the hard drive or disk to local memory, packetize the data and store each packet in separate buffers. Copying all of the bytes of the requested information along with header information into memory buffers takes a considerable amount of time.
Thus, while the aforementioned caching techniques may decrease response time in packet-switched communications networks and the like, there is still a need for an improved method and apparatus for reducing average network server response time and improved throughput in packet-switched networks.

Method and apparatus for pre-packetized caching for network servers


A thrombectomy device including a delivery catheter; a tapered dilator catheter configured to be movably disposed within the delivery catheter; and an expandable aspiration funnel configured to be movably disposed within the delivery catheter in a retracted position and at least partially outside the delivery catheter in an extended position, the funnel comprising a non-permeable covering, a diameter of a distal end of the funnel being greater in the extended position than in the retracted position, the funnel being configured to adapt its shape and length to a surrounding blood vessel such that the funnel lengthens as it narrows to retain a thrombus within the funnel. The invention also includes methods of using the device.

The present invention relates to a thrombectomy device that allows extraction of vascular thrombi and to a system for extraction of vascular thrombi from a blood vessel.
Endovascular treatment has been employed in cases of stroke since the 1990s. The number of patients it has been used on has grown slowly but steadily. The main obstacle for wide use of these highly complex treatments is the need for a more coordinated medical system, at various levels. The main goal of these medical networks is to ensure that patients can get to centers with required capabilities within 6-8 hours of symptom onset.
Recently, the first positive randomized study was published (Berkhemer O. A. et al. "A randomized trial of intraarterial treatment for acute ischemic stroke." N Engl J Med. January 2015; 372: 1 1-20. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa141 1587. Epub 17 Dec. 2014. PubMed PMID: 25517348) demonstrating the efficacy of the thrombectomy treatment as compared to more conventional medical treatments by reducing the disability rate three months after a stroke. In addition, four other major similar clinical trials were published in 2015 definitively confirming the superiority of thrombectomy treatment with latest-generation devices by reducing impairment as compared to other medical treatments.
With regard to endovascular treatment, initially the strategy was local perfusion of a fibrinolytic agent through a microcatheter directly into the thrombus. In the early 2000s, a new device was introduced that appeared to be more effective than intraarterial fibrinolysis. It was a spiral that opened around the thrombus, facilitating its extraction (MERCi®). In 2006, a system basically based on bringing a large-gauge catheter in close proximity to the thrombus in order to aspirate it became popular. The catheter is connected to a continuous aspiration pump (Penumbra®). This system has evolved over the years, seeking to attain a catheter with an increasingly large diameter, able to navigate close to the thrombus.
The use of the so-called stent retrievers began around 2009. Their use consists of crossing the thrombus with a microcatheter, then advancing the stent through the microcatheter. Once the distal end of the sheathed device has reached the most distal part of the thrombus, the stent is unsheathed, self-expanding at the thrombus level and captures the thrombus. It is advisable to wait several minutes with the stent expanded to increase the engagement of the thrombus and then withdraw the expanded stent with the intention of it dragging the thrombus. This final step can be done while aspirating through the catheter to try to reverse the flow and thus increase the chances of recovering the thrombus. Stent retrievers have entirely displaced the first-generation devices described above due to their high efficacy, ease to use and reduced procedure times.
In addition, when using a stent retriever, a guide balloon catheter is often used. This catheter only advances to the extracranial carotid (distant from thrombi located in the intracranial arteries). Upon inflation of the balloon situated at the end of the catheter, the catheter is able to stop the flow in the arterial segment distal to the balloon, which is where the thrombus to be extracted is located. By aspirating through it, the flow in the arterial segment distal to the balloon can be reversed in order to facilitate the removal of the thrombus together with the stent retriever.
In summary, there are currently two trends in the use of thrombectomy devices: on one hand the so-called stent retrievers (with or without balloon catheter), and on the other hand devices based on an aspiration catheter (with manual aspiration with syringe or automatic aspiration with aspiration pump). The two techniques can be combined.
An example of a thrombectomy device is described in WO2011/082319, with a variety of interchangeable tips according to the needs of the surgeon during thrombectomy procedure. In all cases, the device described in this document has to cross the interior of the thrombus or pass between the thrombus and the arterial wall before being expanded. Furthermore, in all cases the thrombus must be fragmented to be dissolved by natural or artificial means. As result of these operational principles, this device does not allow the removal of the thrombus in a way that ensures there will be no distal embolization due to a release of clot fragments.
WO 02/087677 A2 discloses an apparatus and methods used to prevent the introduction of emboli into the bloodstream during and after surgery performed to reduce or remove blockage in blood vessels.
Furthermore, unlike the device of the present invention, it does not have a covered distal end, and, therefore, it is unable to stop the flow of the artery, much less reverse it.
Additionally, stent-retrievers of the present art will, upon deployment, need time (up to three minutes) to acclimatize to the thrombus prior to retrieving the thrombus to minimize fracturing of the thrombus. When dealing with a potential stroke, time is of the essence, and the current device can be used to retrieve the thrombus immediately upon arrival by aspiration.
Therefore, the device according to the present invention is intended to replace aspiration devices, improving on their effectiveness, since it will allow aspiration from a very close proximity to the thrombus and with a large mouth, allowing occlusion of the artery, stopping the flow, and aspirating the entire thrombus without fragmenting it.
The present invention may be used by itself to cut off blood flow, aspirate the thrombus, and remove the thrombus; which means that a physician does not need additional devices to complete these tasks.
An automated embodiment of the present invention also may be used in both traditional (hospital) and non-traditional (nursing home, assisted care facility) environments which may allow for greater deployment and usage of the present invention and hasten the removal of the thrombus, thus significantly improving patient outcomes, as blood flow may be restored in critical areas of the brain within much shorter times.

Thrombectomy device, system and method for extraction of vascular thrombi from a blood vessel


A model simplification tool can receive a command to simplify the presentation of a visually complex semantic model from a graphical modeling application. The visually complex semantic model can be comprised of a multitude of object representations and their associations, such that the usability of the model is impaired. An association status can be determined for each object representation, which can designate the object representation as autonomous, containment, or subordinate. The presentation of the visually complex semantic model can be consolidated based on the association status of object representations. Subordinate objects can be nested within containment objects to produce a simplified semantic model. The simplified semantic model can be rendered within the graphical modeling application.

The present invention relates to the field of semantic modeling, and, more particularly, to simplifying the presentation of visually complex semantic models in a graphical modeling application.
Semantic models are commonly used to graphically represent a variety of objects and the relationships between them. Many graphical modeling applications are commercially available that provide users with an easy and effective means for creating semantic models. However, as the semantic model increases in size and/or complexity, the coherency and readability of the graphical representation within the graphical modeling application is greatly reduced.
For example, a semantic model of an enterprise business system can include a vast quantity of objects and relationships. Because such a large and highly-connected model requires a considerable amount of presentation space, a graphical modeling application is generally unable to present the model in its entirety in a display area without a considerable reduction in size, which further reduces the readability. Additionally, relationship lines between objects that are widely dispersed are difficult to draw without obscuring other objects and/or relationships.
Graphical modeling applications currently offer little assistance for simplifying the presentation of these visually complex semantic models. Users are forced to reorganize their large, complex models in order to work with the restrictions of the modeling application. Rearranging objects, reducing object and/or text size are typical steps taken by users, which often only further reduce the readability of the model.

Simplifying the presentation of a visually complex semantic model within a graphical modeling application

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


In one embodiment, a method of providing mobile internet comprises receiving a down-link packet having a endpoint identity protocol element (EIP), the EIP comprising a global locator associated with a provider network, a first local locator set to a predetermined value, and an endpoint identifier associated with a mobile host; querying the provider network to obtain a second local locator value associated with the mobile host, the second local locator indicates the location of a first radio router with which the mobile host had previously exchange authentication; overwriting the first local locator portion of the EIP with the second local locator; and routing the down-link packet towards the mobile host using the second local locator.

Recent deployments of Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) have layered mobility providing tunnels over the top of the Internet Protocol (IP) to deliver ubiquitous wide-area mobility. GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP), Mobile IP (MIP), Proxy Mobile IP (PMIP), WiMAX's R6 Protocol (GRE), all provide mobility services by tunneling packets over the Internet. Notably Mobile IPv6 does have an optional optimized routed mode whereby after having originally traversed a tunnel, packets are subsequently routed directly between the mobile node and its correspondent. However, the control of route optimization is under the control of the tunnel endpoint, and it is anticipated that in reality optimal routing will not be enabled, either because of business, regulatory or technical reasons. Indeed, 3GPP's latest "flat all-IP" architecture termed System Architecture Evolution (SAE) defines support for MIPv6, but uses a combination of GTP and PMIP tunneling to ensure that all users' packets are tunneled back to complex Mobile Gateways where additional services may be applied.
With almost 1 billion mobile phones sold in 2006, the industry will soon be faced with the situation that the default technique for accessing the Internet will be via a mobility tunnel. Such tunneled traffic bypasses the increasing number of value added features being embedded into the fabric of the Internet, for example, enhanced security functionality being integrated into the edge of the access network. The tunneling of traffic brings a mindset of large Telco-type deployments with rigorous requirements on service availability as the state of potentially millions of hosts is centralized in the tunnel gateway. Because of these approaches, "mobile Internet" services will continue to be more brittle than those delivered over the native IP network on top of which the mobility tunnels are transported.


A low-frequency radiating element and a high-frequency radiating element are configured so as to respectively operate in a relatively low frequency band and a relatively high frequency band that are non-contiguous with each other. A matching circuit is inserted between a transmission/reception circuit and a branching point. A high-frequency variable reactance circuit is inserted between the branching point and the high-frequency radiating element. A low-frequency variable reactance circuit is inserted between the branching point and the low-frequency radiating element. The high-frequency variable reactance circuit and the low-frequency variable reactance circuit are configured such that their reactances can be adjusted independently of each other.

In recent years, it has become common for cellular phones to have a radiating element for a low frequency band (0.8 GHz to 0.9 GHz) and a radiating element for a high frequency band (1.7 GHz to 2.0 GHz). An antenna device is known in which a variable matching circuit is inserted between a branching point at which one line branches to two radiating elements, and a transmission/reception circuit (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-81370). One of the radiating elements corresponds to a fundamental frequency band and the other radiating element corresponds to a higher-order frequency band.
The variable matching circuit includes a first matching circuit and a variable capacitance element that is connected in series with the first matching circuit. The first matching circuit includes a grounded inductance element and a capacitance element that is connected in parallel with the grounded inductance element. Even if the capacitance of the variable capacitance element of the variable matching circuit is changed, the resonant frequency in the fundamental frequency band can be easily adjusted without greatly affecting the resonant frequency in the higher-order frequency band.
There are plans to introduce carrier aggregation technology to next generation mobile communication systems. Carrier aggregation technology is a technology for forming a single broad band channel by aggregating carriers of a plurality of non-contiguous frequency bands.
In Japan, examples of combinations of frequency bands that are targets for carrier aggregation include the combination of the 1.5 GHz band and the 2.0 GHz band, the combination of the 0.8 GHz band and the 1.5 GHz band, and the combination of the 0.9 GHz band and the 2.0 GHz band. In the United States of America, examples of combinations of frequency bands that are targets for carrier aggregation include combinations of the 0.7 GHz band and a band in a range from the 1.7 GHz band to the 2.0 GHz band. In this specification, sometimes a band in the range of the 0.8 GHz band to the 0.9 GHz band will be referred to as a low frequency band, the 1.5 GHz band will be referred to as a medium frequency band and a band in the range from the 1.7 GHz band to the 2.0 GHz band will be referred to as a high frequency band. However, this does not mean that bands of the low frequency band, the medium frequency band and the high frequency band are limited to these specific bands. In addition, use of higher frequency bands is also being investigated.
In an antenna device of the related art having two radiating elements, one of which is used for a low frequency band and the other of which is for a high frequency band, it is difficult to simultaneously cover all of the combinations of frequency bands that are targets of carrier aggregation. In order to cover all of the combinations of frequency bands, for example, it might be necessary to prepare three or more radiating elements each having an electrical length that is appropriate for the corresponding frequency band.

Antenna device and matching circuit module for antenna device


A polythioether is provided of the formula

The present invention relates to a polymer and process for making the same, more particularly to a polythioether formed by a process of combining a polythiol, polyepoxide and a polyvinyl ether.
Thiol-terminated sulfur-containing polymers have a long history of use in aerospace sealants because of their fuel resistant nature upon cross-linking. Among the commercially available polymeric compounds having sufficient sulfur content to exhibit this desirable property are the polysulfide polymers described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 2,466,963 and sold under the trade name LP(copyright) polysulfide by Morton International of Chicago, Ill., and the alkyl side chain containing polythioether polymers described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,307 that are sold only in complete sealant formulations by PRC-DeSoto International, Inc. of Glendale, Calif. In addition to fuel resistance, polymers useful in this context must also have the desirable properties of low temperature flexibility, liquidity at room temperature, high temperature resistance, a reasonable cost of manufacture, and not be so malodorous as to prevent commercial acceptance of compositions that contain the subject polymers.
Air frame manufacturers are actively striving to increase productivity by using faster curing aerospace sealants. Hand mixing and application are still common in the aerospace industry owing to high production standards, and as such, an aerospace sealant formulation requires a relatively long application life. For example, prior art manganese dioxide cured polysulfide sealants had a two hour application life and required about a two day cure to attain a Shore A hardness of 30. Current aerospace sealants are expected to have an application life of two to three hours and obtain a Shore A hardness of 30 in less than eight hours.
Until now, aerospace sealants based upon these sulfur-containing polymers have been crosslinked by oxidation of the thiol terminal groups with metal oxides or peroxides. Optimum properties with regard to elasticity are obtained by curing with manganese dioxide. Unfortunately, such sealants, when continuously exposed to modem mercaptan containing aviation fuels, e.g., as in integral fuel tank sealing applications, exhibit polymer chain degradation as evidenced by a phenomena known as xe2x80x9cchalking.xe2x80x9d
Another disadvantage of these systems has only recently come to light. Aircraft manufacturers, in an effort to increase the fuel economy of their airplanes, have an active program in place to reduce the weight of components they use. Sealant manufacturers have responded to this request for lower density sealants by incorporating lightweight fillers. The disadvantage with this approach is that only a relatively small quantity of these fillers can be used without dramatically decreasing the sealant""s physical strength.
Only recently, the specific gravity of aerospace sealants has been reduced from the 1.6-1.8 range down to a minimum of approximately 1.0. Those skilled in the art have attained this specific gravity by incorporating fine hollow spheres and compensating for the loss in physical strength by additions of more highly reinforcing fillers and pigments such as precipitated calcium carbonate or fuimed silica. The flaw with this approach is that the more highly reinforcing fillers have higher surface areas and in most cases higher oil absorptions. This higher surface area results in increased pigment-polymer interactions resulting in a dramatically increased viscosity. These higher viscosities negatively impact application properties and adhesion.
A polythioether is provided of the formula
wherein R1 is H, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkyl alcohol, C1-6 alkyl substituted with at least one of:
xe2x80x94NHR5 wherein R5 is a C1-6 alkyl, R2 is C2-6 alkyl, C6-8 cycloalkyl, C6-10 alkylcycloalkyl, xe2x80x94[xe2x80x94(CH2)rxe2x80x94Qxe2x80x94]sxe2x80x94(CH2)txe2x80x94, or C1-2 alkyl substituted forms thereof, wherein r is an integer value from 2 to 8, Q is a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of: O, S, xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94 and xe2x80x94NCH3xe2x80x94, S is an integer value from 1 to 5, and t is an integer value from 2 to 10, R3 is H or C1-4 alkyl, R4 is xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94 or R2, M is a C1-10 alkyl, C6-20 aryl, C6-20 aryl substituted with at least one C1-8 alkyl group, or a N or O heteroatom, Y is C2-20 alkyl, C6-20 cycloalkyl, C6-10 alkylcycloalkyl, or xe2x80x94[xe2x80x94(CH2)rxe2x80x94Qxe2x80x94]sxe2x80x94(xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94)txe2x80x94, n is an integer value from 1 to 60, m is an integer value from 1 to 60, and p is an integer value from 1 to 10, wherein the polythioether has a viscosity at 20xc2x0 C. of less than 1000 poise. Preferably, the polythioether has a number average molecular weight between about 1000 and about 10,000 Daltons. A polyfunctionalizing agent is optionally provided in order to increase the functionality of a polythioether from 2 to 5 with the most preferred range being 2 to 3.
A process for forming such a polythioether includes the steps of reacting a polythiol with either an aromatic polyepoxide or a polyvinyl ether to form a prepolymer. The prepolymer is then combined with the other of the aromatic polyepoxide or the polyvinyl ether. The use of such a polythioether is contemplated as an aerospace sealant.
It has surprisingly been discovered that the combination of certain polythiols with polyepoxides and oxygenated dienes according to the invention results in polythioether polymers that are liquids at room temperature and pressure. Further, these new polythioether polymers are higher in strength than either conventional polysulfide or polythioether polymers. Despite the increase in physical strength, polymer formulations consistent with this invention do not sacrifice other desirable physical and chemical properties inherent with polythioether polymers. The polythioether polymers of the present invention are substantially free of both malodorous cyclic byproducts and deleterious catalyst residues, and hence have superior thermal resistance properties. The inventive polythioethers have utility as aerospace sealants.
According to the invention, the combination of polythiols with polyepoxides and oxygenated dienes may be represented as follows:
Suitable polythiols include the dithiols wherein R2 is a C1-10 alkyl or aryl and may or may not contain a heteroatom. Substituents on R2 are those which do not interfere with the reaction of the polythiol with either a polyepoxide or polydiene. Thus, R2 is free of reactive unsaturated carbon to carbon bonds, as well as highly water sensitive species. Preferred heteroatoms are S and O. Preferred dithiols include straight chain aliphatic dithiols with a chain length of two to six carbon equivalents, dimercaptodiethylene (DMDE), dimercaptodiethylsulfide (DMDS), dimercaptodioxaoctane (DMDO), dipentene dimercaptan, and vinylcyclohexane dimercaptan. Additional operative dithiols are recited in U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,319.
Suitable polyepoxides include those wherein group M is a C2-10 alkyl, C6-20 aryl, C6-20 aryl substituted with at least one C1-8 alkyl group, or a N or O heteroatom. Suitable polyepoxide compounds operative herein are recited in U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,086. Preferably, polyepoxides according to the present invention contain an aryl group within M. It has been discovered that an aryl backbone component synergistically operates with the hydroxyl groups associated with thiol epoxide reaction to form a superior strength and handling property polythioether polymer. R3 of an inventive polyepoxide reagent is hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl. Preferably, R3 is hydrogen or a methyl group. R4 is methylene or any of the substituents denoted as the polythiol R2. P is an integer value ranging from 1 to 10. Additionally operative polyepoxides include the diglycidylether of bisphenol A (such as EPON 828(copyright), Shell Chemicals Ltd.), diglycidylether of bisphenol F (such as ERISYS(trademark), CVC), any of the lower functionality Novolaks (such as DEN 431(trademark), The Dow Chemical Co.), as well as butane- and hexane-diol diglycidyl ether (such as ARALDITE(copyright), Ciba-Geigy).
Suitable polyvinyl ethers include those wherein group Y is C2-10 alkyl, C6-10 cycloalkyl, C6-10 alkyl cycloalkyl or xe2x80x94[xe2x80x94(CH2)rxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94]sxe2x80x94(CH2)txe2x80x94, where r is an integer value between 1 and 8, s is an integer value between 1 and 5, and t is an integer value between 2 and 10. Preferred polyvinyl ethers include the divinylethers of ethylene glycol, butanediol, hexanediol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol and tetraethylene glycol. Additionally, a blend of two or more of these divinyl ethers are equally suitable and are within the scope of this invention. Commercial blends of divinyl ethers are available from BASF under the trade name PLURIOL(copyright) and from International Specialty Products under the product designation xe2x80x9cDPE.xe2x80x9d
In the representative reaction scheme illustrated above, the subscripts n and m are chosen such that the resulting polymer has a molecular weight, Tg, and room temperature viscosity within the requisite range, for example, of an aerospace sealant, and such that m greater than n. Preferred molecular weight includes 1000-6000 Daltons. In one embodiment, Tg should be as low as possible but below xe2x88x9240xc2x0 C. Finally, room temperature viscosity should be below 1000 poise.
In another embodiment, the inventive polythioether is greater than difunctional and is represented by the formula: Bxe2x80x94(I-R1)z where B is a z-valent residue of a polyfunctionalizing agent, z is an integer value from 3 to 6, I is the resulting polythioether of Formula I less the terminal hydrogen groups, and R1 is H, C1-6 alkylene, C1-6 alkyl alcohol, C1-6 alkyl substituted with at least one of:
Preferably, the average functionality, as defined as the number of reactive groups per polythioether molecule, ranges between about 2.05 and about 3.00.
While in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention as summarized by Formula I, an excess of dithiol is present to assure thiol termination of the resulting polythioether polymer, it is appreciated that by varying the relative amounts of polythiol relative to polyepoxide or polyvinyl ether, that polymers can be prepared that have not only terminal thiol groups, but terminal vinyl or epoxide groups. Furthermore, the polythioether polymers thus formed need not be further reacted prior to cure or, alternatively, are further reacted with other compounds to form capped polythioether polymers. Capping of polythioethers of the present invention affords the opportunity to include additional terminal functionalities into the inventive polymers. Such capping moieties illustratively include hydroxyl groups, secondary amine groups and alkyl groups.
In aerospace sealant applications, the polythioether polymer derived according to the invention may be combined with suitable lightweight fillers. Typically, a polythioether polymer is present at from about 40 to about 80 weight percent, 0.3 to 1.5 weight percent lightweight fillers or 10 to 50 weight percent of conventional inorganic fillers, 0.1 to 2 weight percent curing agent, and the remainder of the composition optionally including one or more additives of: pigments, cure accelerators, surfactants, adhesion promoters, thixotropic agents and solvents. Suitable lightweight fillers for use in this invention may be organic, inorganic, or a composite of both. They fall within two categoriesxe2x80x94microspheres and amorphous fillers. The amounts of the microspheres and amorphous lightweight fillers used in the composition of the invention may be from about 0.3 to about 10 percent and from about 4 to 15 percent of the total weight of the composition, respectively. The specific gravity (s.g.) of the microspheres ranges from about 0.1 to 0.7 and are exemplified by polystyrene foam, microspheres of polyacrylates and polyolefins, and silica microspheres having particle sizes ranging from 5 to 100 microns and a specific gravity of 0.25 (ECCOSPHERES(copyright), W. R. Grace and Co.). Other examples include alumina/silica microspheres having particle sizes in the range of 5 to 300 microns and a specific gravity of 0.7 (FILLITE(copyright), Pluess-Stauffer International), aluminum silicate microspheres having a specific gravity of from about 0.45 to about 0.7 (Z-LIGHT(copyright)), and calcium carbonate-coated polyvinylidene copolymer microspheres having a specific gravity of 0.13 (DUALITE 6001AE(copyright), Pierce and Stevens Corp.).
Suitable amorphous lightweight fillers for use in this invention have a specific gravity ranging from about 1.0 to about 2.2 and are exemplified by calcium silicates, fumed silica, precipitated silica, and polyethylene. Examples include calcium silicate having a specific gravity of from 2.1 to 2.2 and a particle size of from 3 to 4 microns (HUBERSORB HS-600(copyright), J. M. Huber Corp.) and fumed silica having a specific gravity of 1.7 to 1.8 with a particle size less than 1 (CAB-O-SIL TS-720(copyright), Cabot Corp.). Other examples include precipitated silica having a specific gravity of from 2 to 2.1 (HI-SIL TS-7000(copyright), PPG Industries), and polyethylene having a specific gravity of from 1 to 1.1 and a particle size of from 10 to 20 microns (SHAMROCK S-395(copyright), Shamrock Technologies Inc.).

High strength polymers and aerospace sealants therefrom

Abstract: xe2x80x94NHR5 wherein R5 is a C1-6 alkyl, R2 is C2-6 alkyl, C6-8 cycloalkyl, C6-10 alkylcycloalkyl, xe2x80x94[xe2x80x94(CH2)rxe2x80x94Qxe2x80x94]sxe2x80x94(CH2)txe2x80x94, or C1-2 alkyl substituted forms thereof, wherein r is an integer value from 2 to 8, Q is a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of: O, S, xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94 and xe2x80x94NCH3xe2x80x94, s is an integer value from 1 to 5, and t is an integer value from 2 to 10, R3 is H or C1-4 alkyl, R4 is xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94 or R2, M is a C1-10 alkyl, C6-20 aryl, C6-20 aryl substituted with at least one C1-8 alkyl group, or a N or O heteroatom, Y is C2-20 alkyl, C6-20 cycloalkyl, C6-10 alkylcycloalkyl, or xe2x80x94[xe2x80x94(CH2)rxe2x80x94Qxe2x80x94]s(xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94)txe2x80x94, n is an integer value from 1 to 60, m is an integer value from 1 to 60, and p is an integer value from 1 to 10, wherein the polythioether has a viscosity at 20xc2x0 C. of less than 1000 poise.


A method and apparatus for trimming of a local oscillation within a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) includes processing that begins when an RFIC receives a radio frequency (RF) signal having a known frequency. The processing then continues when the RFIC mixes the RF signal with a receiver local oscillation to produce a low intermediate frequency (IF) signal, which may have a carrier frequency of zero (i.e., a baseband signal) or up to a few mega Hertz). The processing then continues when the RFIC demodulates the low IF signal to produce demodulated data. The processing then continues as the RFIC determines a DC offset from the demodulated data, where the DC offset is reflective of the difference between the known frequency and the frequency of the receiver local oscillation. The processing then continues as the RFIC adjusts the receiver local oscillation to reduce the DC offset when the DC offset compares unfavorably with an allowable offset threshold.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to wireless communication systems and more particularly to frequency modulated (FM) radio receivers used in such systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire lined communications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices. Such communication systems range from national and/or international cellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-home wireless networks. Each type of communication system is constructed, and hence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards. For instance, wireless communication systems may operate in accordance with one or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), and/or variations thereof.
Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptop computer, home entertainment equipment, et cetera communicates directly or indirectly with other wireless communication devices. For direct communications (also known as point-to-point communications), the participating wireless communication devices tune their receivers and transmitters to the same channel, or channels, (e.g., one or more of the plurality of radio frequency (RF) carriers of the wireless communication system) and communicate over that channel(s). For indirect wireless communications, each wireless communication device communicates directly with an associated base station (e.g., for cellular services) and/or an associated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-building wireless network) via an assigned channel, or channels. To complete a communication connection between the wireless communication devices, the associated base stations and/or associated access points communicate with each other directly, via a system controller, via the public switch telephone network, via the internet, and/or via some other wide area network.
For each wireless communication device to participate in wireless communications, it includes a built-in radio transceiver (i.e., receiver and transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (e.g., a station for in-home and/or in-building wireless communication networks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the transmitter converts data into RF signals by modulating the data in accordance with the particular wireless communication standard to produce baseband signals and mixes the baseband signal with a local oscillation in one or more intermediate frequency stages to produce the RF signals. The radio receiver generally includes an antenna section, a filtering section, a low noise amplifier, an intermediate frequency (IF) stage, and a demodulator. The antenna section receives RF signals and provides them to the filtering section, which, in turn, passes RF signals of interest to the low noise amplifier. The low noise amplifier amplifies the received RF signals of interest and provides them as amplified RF signals to the IF stage. The IF stage steps down the frequency of the RF signals of interest to an intermediate frequency or to base-band. The IF stage provides the intermediate frequency signals or base-band signals to the demodulator, which recaptures the data in accordance with the demodulation protocol.
For the demodulator to accurately recover data from IF signals or baseband signals, DC offsets must be overcome. As is known, in frequency modulated (FM) systems, one source of DC offsets in the demodulated output result when the clock circuitry of a transmitting radio produces a slightly different clock rate than the clock rate produced by the receiving radio. In other words, the local oscillation within the transmitting radio does not produce the exact same rate of oscillation as the rate produced by the local oscillation in the receiving radio.
To correct for DC offsets, radio receivers include, within the demodulator, a DC offset detection circuit and DC offset compensation circuit. The DC offset detection circuit indicates the level of DC offset while the DC compensation circuit essentially removes the DC offset from the demodulated IF signals or baseband signals. While this technique compensates for DC offset, the frequency offset is present throughout the radio receiver. As is further known, the frequency offset is an error and its presence throughout most of the radio receiver processing can adversely affect the receiving processing function.
Therefore, a need exists for a radio receiver that directly removes the source of the DC offset before it is created.

Trimming of local oscillation in an integrated circuit radio


A method for annealing a semiconductor substrate. The method includes turning on at least one heat source, heating a semiconductor substrate in a chamber, turning off the at least one heat source, and cooling the semiconductor substrate in the chamber. The heating a semiconductor substrate includes absorbing an energy from the at least one heat source by the semiconductor substrate. Moreover, the cooling the semiconductor substrate includes flowing a first gas in a vicinity of at least one wall of the chamber, flowing a second gas in a vicinity of the at least one heat source, and flowing a third gas in a vicinity of the semiconductor substrate.

The present invention is directed to integrated circuits and their processing for the manufacture of semiconductor devices. More particularly, the invention provides a method and apparatus for rapid cool-down of annealed wafer for the manufacture of integrated circuits. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to spike anneals for source and drain dopant activation for the manufacture of integrated circuits. But it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability.
Integrated circuits or "ICs" have evolved from a handful of interconnected devices fabricated on a single chip of silicon to millions of devices. Current ICs provide performance and complexity far beyond what was originally imagined. In order to achieve improvements in complexity and circuit density (i.e., the number of devices capable of being packed onto a given chip area), the size of the smallest device feature, also known as the device "geometry", has become smaller with each generation of ICs. Semiconductor devices are now being fabricated with features less than a quarter of a micron across.
Increasing circuit density has not only improved the complexity and performance of ICs but has also provided lower cost parts to the consumer. An IC fabrication facility can cost hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars. Each fabrication facility will have a certain throughput of wafers, and each wafer will have a certain number of ICs on it. Therefore, by making the individual devices of an IC smaller, more devices may be fabricated on each wafer, thus increasing the output of the fabrication facility. Making devices smaller is very challenging, as each process used in IC fabrication has a limit. That is to say, a given process typically only works down to a certain feature size, and then either the process or the device layout needs to be changed. An example of such a limit is the cool-down rate of annealed wafers used for the manufacture of integrated circuits.
Fabrication of custom integrated circuits using chip foundry services has evolved over the years. Fabless chip companies often design the custom integrated circuits. Such custom integrated circuits require a set of custom masks commonly called "reticles" to be manufactured. A chip foundry company called Semiconductor International Manufacturing Company (SMIC) of Shanghai, China is an example of a chip company that performs foundry services. Although fabless chip companies and foundry services have increased through the years, many limitations still exist. For example, the limited cool-down rate of annealed wafer cannot usually effectively control thermal budget of anneals. These and other limitations are described throughout the present specification and more particularly below.
FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram for wafer temperature during furnace anneal or rapid thermal anneal. During wafer anneals, the wafer temperature changes with time. During time period 110, the wafer temperature remains at the pre-anneal temperature. During time period 120, the wafer temperature increases from the pre-annealed temperature to the anneal temperature. During time period 130, the wafer temperature remains steady at the anneal temperature. During time period 140, the wafer temperature decreases from the anneal temperature to the post-anneal temperature. The post-anneal temperature usually equals the pre-anneal temperature. During time period 150, the wafer temperature remains at the post-anneal temperature. At a feature size of 0.35 μm, time period 130 is usually one or several minutes, and the anneal process is usually performed in a furnace. At a feature size between roughly 0.25 μm and 0.15 μm, time period 130 usually ranges from about 5 seconds to about 30 seconds. The anneal process is usually performed in a single furnace, and is called rapid thermal anneal. As shown in FIG. 1, the anneal contributes to the thermal budget in the amount represented by area 160. Area 160 is determined at least in part by the anneal temperature, the length of time period 130, the ramp-up rate during time period 120, and the ramp-down rate during time period 130. In order to reduce feature size, the thermal budget should usually be lowered.
From the above, it is seen that an improved technique for processing semiconductor devices is desired.

Method and apparatus for rapid cooldown of annealed wafer

Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation


A system, a method and a built-in phase noise measurement apparatus are introduced. The built-in phase noise measurement apparatus includes a first DLL and a TDC, in which the first DLL circuit controls a delay of a first signal to generate a second signal based on a control code, tune the control code until a phase of the second signal is aligned to a phase of a reference clock signal, and record a value of the control code when the phase of the second signal is aligned to the phase of the reference clock signal. The DLL circuit controls the delay of the first signal based on the value of the control code after the phase of the second signal is aligned to the phase of the reference clock signal. The TDC determines the phase noise of the first signal based on the reference clock signal and the second signal.

A phase noise measurement using probes is costly and complex because the probes, especially high-speed probes, are expensive and the probes suffers contact problems at high temperature. As such, the phase noise measurement using built-in-self-test (BIST) circuit is desired. However, the phase noise measurement using the BIST circuit may be affected by noise or disturbance fro a reference clock signal. As a result, a result of the phase noise measurement is not the pure phase noise.
As the demand for low cost and high performance of the phase noise measurement, a creative technique and design for improving the performance of the phase noise measurement is desired.

Apparatus, system and method for phase noise measurement

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batter which comprises a negative electrode which comprises a carbonaceous material capable of doping and de-doping lithium, a positive electrode made of an active material which comprises a Li-containing metal complex oxide of the general formula, Li.sub.x MO.sub.2, wherein M represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni and Mn and 0.5.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1, and a nonaqueous electrolyte which contains an electrolyte and an organic solvent therefor. The organic solvent is a mixed solvent of propylene carbonate and at least one member selected from the group consisting of diethyl carbonate and dipropyl carbonate.

1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to secondary batteries and more particularly, to nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries which have a positive electrode containing a Li-containing metal complex oxide and a negative electrode made of a carbonaceous material.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
As is known in the art, various and novel types of portable electronic apparatus such as, for example, camera-assembled VTR, portable telephone sets, lap top-type microcomputers and the like, have been developed and put on the market one after another. There is now a great tendency toward compact and lightweight articles. Under these circumstances, batteries which are a portable mobile power source are required to be ones which have a higher energy density.
Main known secondary batteries are of the aqueous types which include, for example, lead batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries and the like. Although these batteries have good cycle characteristics, they are not satisfactory with respect to the energy density. In addition, the known batteries involve problems from the standpoint of ecology. Accordingly, there is a demand of developing novel types of secondary batteries in place of these conventional batteries.
Now, great attention has been directed to lithium nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries or so-called lithium rechargeable electrochemical cells which are free of any ecological problem and have a high energy density for high working potential.
In nonaqueous electrolyte batteries, the energy density of the battery depends on the characteristics of the positive electrode. Accordingly, there have been investigated and proposed a great number of active materials for the positive electrode.
In contrast, with secondary batteries, whether the development is successive or not depends on how a negative electrode composed of a lithium metal having good cycle characteristics can be developed. From this point of view, there remains little possibility of developing such a negative electrode of lithium.
For instance, a lithium secondary battery which is of the SUM-3 type and makes use of metallic lithium as the negative electrode has been reported with good characteristics. However, several troublesome problems involved in the lithium negative electrode have not been solved yet.
More particularly, With the case of nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries wherein lithium metal or alloys are employed as the negative electrode, when they are subjected to repetition of charge and discharge cycles, the metallic lithium is liable to electrodeposit as a powder, which is converted into dendrite-shaped crystals during the course of the charge cycle. As a consequence, they pass through fine holes of a separator film or interstices among fibers of a non-woven fabric separator to the positive electrode, whereupon internal short-circuiting takes place. Thus, a satisfactory charge and discharge cycle life is not ensured. In addition, since the metallic lithium is very active, there is a problem on safety.
To solve the problem, so-called Li-CIC (carbon-lithium intercalation compound) electrodes have been developed as a substitution for the lithium negative electrode and are considered to be promising with respect to the cycle life. More particularly, the Li-carbon intercalation compounds wherein lithium ions are intercalated in a kind of carbonaceous material are able to undergo reversible oxidation-reduction reaction in organic electrolytes containing lithium salts while accompanying electrochemical de-doping and doping of the lithium ions. The oxidation-reduction potential is in the range of about 0.02 to 1.0 volt, so that if combined with an appropriate material for positive electrode, such compounds will be usable as a material which is excellent as a negative electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries. In the discharge cycle of a battery system using the carbon-lithium intercalation compound as the negative electrode, the lithium ions doped in the carbon of the negative electrode are moved toward the positive electrode in which they play a role of escorting the electrons which are passed from the negative electrode through an outer circuit. On the other hand, in the charge cycle, the lithium ions which have been moved to the positive electrode are returned to the negative electrode wherein they play a role of escorting the electrons which are returned through the outer circuit. This means that in any stage of the charge and discharge cycles, any metallic lithium does not exist in the inside of the battery, thus not causing electrodeposition of inactive lithium or growth of dentrite as will occur in prior art counterparts. In addition, since active materials for the positive and negative electrodes are unlikely to suffer breakage of the crystal structure, very good charge and discharge cycle characteristics are ensured.
In the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, the characteristic properties of organic electrolytes used in the battery are very important for obtaining good charge and discharge characteristics. Many studies have been made on the relationship between the characteristics of organic electrolyte and the charge and discharge characteristics. With regard to the nonaqueous electrolyte second batteries using lithium as the negative electrode, the following knowledges are obtained.
1. The conductivity of organic electrolyte is remarkably improved using combinations of solvents with a high dielectric constant and solvents with a low viscosity. This can be semi-quantitatively explained in terms of the dissociation and mobility of ions in the electrolyte.
2. The higher conductivity of an electrolyte results in a smaller degree of polarization of the lithium negative electrode, with the tendency that the charge and discharge efficiencies become high.
3. Mixed systems of propylene carbonate, sulforane or diethylsulfoxide as the solvent with a high dielectric constant and 1,2-dimethoxyethane as the low viscosity solvent can yield high conductivity and good charge and discharge properties.
In this connection, however, we found as a result of intensive studies that when an electrolyte using a mixed solvent, for example, of propylene carbonate and 1,2-dimethoxyethane is employed, relatively good charge and discharge cycles are obtained at normal temperatures but when the battery is repeatedly charged and discharged at high temperatures, for example, of 40.degree. C., the capacity is abruptly lowered, so that the cycle life is inconveniently reduced to 1/10 of the life at normal temperatures.
As a matter of course, the secondary batteries to be used instead of existing Ni-Cd batteries and lead batteries have to be satisfactorily worked in a low to high temperature range of from at least -20.degree. C. to at least 45.degree. C. or over.
Accordingly, the abrupt lowering of the capacity under high temperature conditions in the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery using carbon-lithium intercalation compounds as the negative electrode greatly impedes the practical use of the battery.

Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery


The present invention relates to methods for removing antigens from tissues by sequentially destabilizing and/or depolymerizing cytoskeletal components and removing and/or reducing water-soluble antigens and lipid-soluble antigens. The invention further relates to tissue scaffolding and decellularized extracellular matrix produced by such methods.

The ability of xenoantigens to elicit the immune response represents the critical barrier in the generation of scaffolds from xenogeneic tissues for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications (Platt, et al., Circulation. (2002) 106:1043-1047). Decellularization approaches were originally developed with the intention of addressing antigens in xenogeneic tissues. The decellularization paradigm attributes xenograft antigenicity to the cellular component of a tissue and uses the absence of cells by light microscopy as the principle determinant of success of the process. Implantation of decellularized porcine valve tissue into sheep, rats, and dogs showed little immunogenic response for up to one year, encouraging confidence in decellularization methods (Goldstein, et al., Ann. Thorac. Surg. (2000) 70:1962-1969; Iwai, et al., J Artificial Organs. (2007) 10:29-35). Unfortunately, in vivo studies have reported the rapid failure of SynerGraft decellularized porcine heart valves following implantation into juvenile patients (Simon, et al, Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg. (2003) 23:1002-1006). Failure of the acellular SynerGraft prosthetic has been attributed to inadequate xenoantigen removal with decellularization (Simon, et al., supra). Foreign body type reaction and inflammatory cell infiltration into implanted SynerGraft valves has also been demonstrated (Simon, et al., supra; Sayk, et al., Ann. Thorac. Surg. (2005) 79:1755-1758). Additionally, persistent cellular debris following the SynerGraft decellularization process has been shown to be sufficient to elicit an immunogenic reaction and calcification (Schmidt, et al., Biomaterials. (2000) 21:2215-2231). Recent studies have indicated that acellularity on light microscopy does not equate to removal of known xenoantigens from the biomaterial (Goncalves, et al., J Heart Valve Dis. (2005) 14:212-217; Meyer, et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res. A. (2006) 79A:254-262; Wong, et al., Acta Biomaterialia (2013) epub ahead of print (doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2012.12.034). We have shown the lack of correlation between residual nuclei counts in bovine pericardium (BP) and residual water-soluble protein (WSP) antigenicity of the biomaterial (Wong, et al., Biomaterials (2011) 32:8129-8138). Taken together, these results indicate that the fundamental principles behind the use of decellularization as the sole process necessary for xenogeneic scaffold generation and principal determinant of biomaterial antigenicity appear to be flawed. Thus, a void remains in the development of an antigen removal (AR) process to effectively reduce xenogeneic scaffold antigenicity.
A critical error in previous decellularization approaches was focusing merely on cell disruption without regard to the need for the antigenic molecules to be solubilized for efficient removal from the xenogeneic tissue. We have demonstrated previously that by promoting the solubilization of WSPs using a reducing agent and salt to prevent intermolecular aggregation and subsequent precipitation from solution, removal of WSP antigens from BP is significantly enhanced (Wong, et al., Biomaterials, supra). Our solubilization-based AR approach reduced the residual WSP antigenicity of BP by an additional 80% compared to hypotonic solution and 60% compared to 0.1% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) decellularization methods while maintaining biomaterial tensile properties and extracellular matrix (ECM) structure and composition (Wong, et al., Biomaterials, supra). However, by only promoting WSP solubilization for removal, lipid-soluble protein (LSP) antigens are likely to persist within the tissue. Thus, a means to encourage LSP solubilization for subsequent removal, following initial WSP solubilization, could reduce overall residual antigenicity in BP post-AR (BP-AR).
The concept of differential protein solubility has long been recognized in proteomics wherein a sequential, differential approach is used for the serial extraction of protein fractions from a homogenized tissue. Protein extraction methods exploit the physiochemical properties of proteins in order to differentially and sequentially extract various subsets of proteins for downstream analyses (Beers, et al., Am. J Physiol. (1992) 262:L773-778; DuPont. J. Agric. Food Chem. (2005) 53:1575-1584; Cordwell, et al., Methods Mol. Biol. (2008) 424:139-146; Wilson, et al., Matrix Biol. (2008) 27:709-712). The use of a series of solutions to promote protein solubilization along a spectrum of solubilities (e.g., WSP extraction followed by LSP extraction) is critical for such sequential, differential extraction protocols, since proteins can only be extracted from the material into solutions in which they are soluble (Cordwell, et al., Methods Mol. Biol., supra). However, the importance of promoting sequential, differential protein solubility during AR from intact tissues in the generation of xenogeneic scaffolds has not been investigated. This is a surprising oversight given the complex composition of protein antigens within a tissue requiring removal prior to implementation in tissue engineering applications.
The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery that a series of solutions, each promoting the solubilization and subsequent removal of a different subset of tissue proteins based on their solubility, enhances overall AR from BP. Furthermore, such a sequential, differential AR strategy significantly reduces BP antigenicity while maintaining biomaterial functional properties. In this study, several LSP solubilization promoting agents were applied as a second step of AR following initial WSP solubilization and assessed for their ability to reduce the residual LSP antigenicity of the resultant BP-AR. The effectiveness of this two-step sequential, differential strategy for reducing LSP antigens in BP was compared to a one-step AR strategy (WSP solubilization) (Wong, et al., Biomaterials, supra) and the literature gold standard (1% (w/v) SDS). See, Wong, et al., Acta Biomaterialia (2013) epub ahead of print (doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2012.12.034). The effect of this two-step AR protocol on ECM mechanical properties, structure and composition of BP-AR was assessed by uniaxial tensile testing, histological analysis and biochemical quantification of ECM components, respectively.
Previously described myocardial tissue decellularization methods have also been solely based on the ubiquitous use of harsh denaturing detergents, mainly SDS, in concentrations as high as 2% in hypotonic water solutions. See, Elder, et al., Biomaterials. (2009) 30(22): 3749-3756. Although effective in solubilizing cellular and tissue components, it has been shown that these methods are not successful in removing antigenic determinants, while they are often detrimental to the extracellular matrix (removing elastin, glycosaminoglycans and damaging collagen structure). Further, commonly utilized detergents are toxic to repopulating cells reducing the chances of successful recellularization strategies for the produced scaffolds.
Reported methods to produce a myocardial scaffold have been based on detergent-based decellularization methods. More specifically, these approaches included the use of one detergent (SDS, Triton-X100, Saponin) with protease inhibitors (to prevent extracellular matrix protein degradation) and occasionally enzymatic treatments (such as trypsin) and nucleases for nucleic acid degradation in different concentrations and combinations. All these reports determine loss of nuclei and cellular components and production of an acellular scaffold as their outcome measure for protocol success. As we have already shown in our laboratory this assumption is not valid, since antigens may be associated with non-cellular components of the tissue. Additionally, the omission of a reducing agent in all these treatments would be expected to result in protein precipitation rather than solubilization and extraction, regardless of the concentration of the detergent used.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Solubilization of antigen components for removal from tissues

The Regents of the University of California


A shopping cart chassis is provided with at least one tubular frame member. At least a first part of the length of the frame member has a wall with a hollow cylindrical configuration defining an annular transverse cross-section. At least a second part of the length of frame member has a wall with a hollow configuration defining an elongate transverse cross-section having a longer dimension and a shorter dimension. A second part of the frame member is oriented so that the longer dimension of the elongate transverse cross-section is generally parallel to the direction of the force of gravity when the shopping cart is in its normal use orientation.

A conventional shopping cart has a one-piece or multi-piece chassis that is mounted to swivel casters and that typically supports at least a wire or polymer basket. One such conventional shopping cart design is illustrated in the U.S. Patent Publication US 2004/0084863 A1 published on May 6, 2004 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The chassis for that cart is fabricated from a plurality of tubular frame members.
The tubular frame members are conventionally formed from hollow, steel tubing, and the frame members are preferably and typically connected or joined together by welding.
Another shopping cart design has a chassis formed from a single length of tubing that is bent into the desired configuration.
The cost of the shopping cart is dependent upon, among other things, the amount of the steel that is used in the tubular frame member or members of the chassis. It would be desirable to provide an improved design for a shopping cart or a portions of shopping cart in which the amount of steel in one or more tubular frame members could be minimized, or at least reduced.
It would be particularly desirable to provide an improved design in which the wall thickness of a hollow tubular frame member could be reduced, at least over a portion or portions of the length of the tubular frame member.
Because shopping carts are typically subjected to various dynamic and static loads, including loads imposed by goods being carried, as well as by loads resulting from impacts, it would be advantageous to provide an improved design for a shopping cart chassis or portions thereof wherein the chassis could withstand the anticipated dynamic and static loads without failure or other damage.
Although it would be beneficial to provide an improved design for a shopping cart chassis (or portions thereof) that could be made from a tubular frame member having a reduced amount of steel or other structural material, it would also be desirable to provide such an improved design that can employ tubing that is of a conventional type which is readily available in the tubing market—rather than requiring special non-stock tubing.
The present invention provides an improved shopping cart chassis which can accommodate designs having the above-discussed benefits and features.


Provided is a continuous hydraulic suspension system which has, in each front and rear valve block (25, 26), an Energy Management Valve (EMV) (27, 28) and Check Valves (CV) (29, 30, 31, 32) to provide re-circulation of oil in the resistive mode. The system allows reduced energy consumption during non-motoring modes, and enables a smaller capacity pump and/or an electric motor pump to be used.

There is one form of hydraulic suspension system known as the dis-continuous system in which a pressure control valve regulates a controlled pressure by throttling pump flow to tank. A directional control valve (DCV) connects the controlled pressure to one chamber (e.g. chamber "A") of a double effect actuator while connecting the other chamber of the actuator (e.g. chamber "B") to tank, thus generating a load in one direction. To exert the load in the other direction, the directional control valve is switched position, connecting the controlled pressure to chamber "B" of the actuator and chamber "A" to tank. Thus, when the actuator is in the resistive mode (it travels in the opposite direction to the load it exerts) the flow out of the chamber which has its pressure regulated by the pressure control valve is re-circulated to the other chamber via the pressure control valve (PCV) and the directional control valve (DCV). As the pump has fixed displacement, and the PCV is throttling the flow to tank, power is still consumed by the system.
When this form of hydraulic suspension system is used with 2 actuators (generally one on the front and one on the rear), it is duplicated and uses a flow divider to share the pump flow between the front and rear systems.
A third dis-advantage is that the pressure control valve has a minimum controlled pressure relative to the tank pressure. Hence when the directional control valve is switched, it creates some discontinuity in the load exerted by the actuator. Discontinuity in flow will also occur with possible noise issues. To minimize those discontinuities, synchronization between the pressure control valve and the directional control valve is required, ensuring that the pressure control valve is regulating its minimum controlled pressure whilst switching the directional control valve.
In this form, when the system is required to change the controlled load, it regulates the pressure via the pressure control valve, changing the pressure in the "primary" circuit (hydraulic line from the pump outlet to the pressure control valve). The more compliance in the primary circuit, slower the system will be to increase the controlled pressure and the load which can be controlled by the system.
In another hydraulic suspension arrangement known as the continuous system, a PCV regulates the pump pressure, and pressure reducing valves (PRVs) regulate the actuator chamber pressures to change load without causing any flow/pressure discontinuity. All actuator chambers are controlled, and so load change between extension and compression (and vice versa) is continuous, avoiding the "dead-band" which inevitably occurs in dis-continuous systems.
The valve arrangement prevents re-circulation of actuator flow from one chamber of the actuator to the opposite chamber, because of the design of pressure reducing valves requiring them to control the downstream pressure in the actuator chamber by either supplying oil from the pump line or releasing oil to the tank.
Thus, when the actuator is in the resistive mode (it travels in the opposite direction to the load it exerts) the flow out of the chamber which is at the highest pressure is directed to tank whilst the flow which is required to fill in the chamber which is at the lowest pressure is taken from the pump which is at the highest pressure: energy is consumed within the system, showing the inefficiency of the valve arrangement.
In this arrangement, no flow divider valve is required. Hence pump flow is shared between a front and rear actuator as they require. The associated parasitic losses are also avoided.
In this arrangement the pressure controlled by the PCV is always greater or equal than the one which is regulated by the PRVs. In operating modes of the system where actuator load is changing, control strategies can be implemented to not decrease the PCV controlled pressure so that compliance of the "primary" circuit is not a limitation to the system response time. Further, this allows use of the "primary" circuit as an energy storage device.


A component built-in module of the present invention includes: a substrate which includes a top surface and a bottom surface; a plurality of electronic components which are mounted on the top surface of the substrate; a resin which seals the top surface of the substrate; and a reinforcing plate which is bonded to the bottom surface of the substrate. The reinforcing plate and the resin are bonded to each other.

For example, an electronic device such as a mobile phone includes a casing including an upper casing and a lower casing each composed of a synthetic resin, a plurality of component built-in modules that each have a plurality of electronic components mounted thereon and that are accommodated within the casing, a display, and a battery.
Meanwhile, with the recent full scale arrival of an ubiquitous network society there has been an increasing demand for downsizing and low-profiling of electronic devices. With a structure such as one seen in a mobile phone in which components including a plurality of component built-in modules, a display, and a battery are accommodated within a preliminarily prepared casing, it is becoming difficult to realize further low-profiling.
On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which, in at least a part of a resin casing including an upper casing and a lower casing, there is a built-in and sealed component built-in module having an electronic component mounted on a wiring substrate. In this Patent Document 1, by having at least one of several component built-in modules built into the resin casing, the space inside the casing can be reduced and further low-profiling can be achieved.
Patent Document 2 discloses a structure that enables low-profiling by sealing one surface of a substrate with an electronic component mounted thereon, and treating one surface (bottom surface) of a component built-in module as a substrate and the other surface (top surface) as a resin sealing surface.

Component built-in module, electronic device including same, and method for manufacturing component built-in module


An engine (1) includes a cylinder head (3), a retainer (80), a pressing member (70), and an injector (40). The cylinder head (3) has an attachment hole (15) formed therein. The retainer (80) is attached to the cylinder head (3). The pressing member (70) has a pressed surface (77) configured to be pressed by the retainer (80). The injector (40) is inserted into the attachment hole (15) and has an indentation (46) configured to be pressed by the pressing member (70). The indentation (46) is arranged inside the attachment hole (15). The pressed surface (77) is arranged outside the attachment hole (15).

Traditionally, there is a technology to fix an injector by pressing the injector with a retainer and the like, in a diesel engine. Examples of such a type of engine are disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2 (hereinafter, PTL 1 and PTL 2, respectively), for example.
As a typical attachment structure of the injector, PTL 1 discloses the following structure. Namely, an injector inserted into a cylinder head is pressed from the above by one end side of a retainer. The other end side of the retainer abuts the cylinder head and the like to serve as a fulcrum. A portion between the fulcrum and the injector is fastened and fixed by using a bolt.
PTL 2 discloses a structure in which a fuel injection valve is accommodated in a receiving bore of a cylinder head, and a clamping shoe is used to press the fuel injection valve to the cylinder head. An intermediate element is arranged between a valve housing of the fuel injection valve and the clamping shoe.


A system and methodology facilitates use of a diverter latch assembly in cooperation with a lateral wellbore. The diverter latch assembly comprises an upper latch assembly coupled with a lower latch assembly via a swivel. The upper latch assembly also comprises a releasable latch positioned to engage a tieback receptacle located in the well. The swivel and the releasable latch are designed to enable rotation of the releasable latch relative to a tubing of the lower latch assembly during release of the diverter latch assembly from the tieback receptacle. The rotational release system helps provide controlled release and withdrawal of the diverter latch assembly while reducing risk of damage to the diverter latch assembly or other downhole components.

In a variety of multilateral well systems, diverters are used to facilitate reentry into either the main or lateral wellbores. During construction of the junction between the main wellbore and a lateral wellbore, a diverter may be installed as a torque tube for running the junction equipment. Subsequently, the diverter is pulled and a drilling diverter is installed to facilitate a drilling operation. Drilling diverters generally are designed to snap into engagement with downhole equipment, e.g. completion equipment, positioned in the well. Upon completion of the drilling operation, the drilling diverter is disengaged by applying a tensile snap out force. To avoid unwanted disengagement, however, drilling diverters are designed such that a substantial snap out force is used to disengage the drilling diverter.