A supercharger having twisted meshing rotors sealingly contained within a housing having an inlet port to admit air into the meshing rotors and an outlet port to expel air from the meshing rotors, the rotors having mesh points where the rotors contact one another and spaces between their mesh points to accept air from the inlet port and propel it to the outlet port as the rotors are rotated and the mesh points travel axially, the housing, inlet and rotors defining an angle known as the seal transfer angle which is greater than or equal to zero degrees when the inlet port is closed and the volume of air between rotors is sealed and has no leakage path. In the described supercharger the housing, rotors and inlet port are configured to have a negative seal transfer angle of, e.g., −10 to −40 degrees or more, up to the maximum available, and to provide a leakage path for an angular portion of the rotors' rotation, improving high end performance without degrading low end performance.

Superchargers, known also as blowers, use a variety of techniques to magnify airflow to an engine and to generate increased power and torque. Performance enthusiasts use superchargers to provide increased acceleration and speed, and automotive OEMs use superchargers to permit smaller displacement engines, with reduced fuel consumption, to be used to meet mileage goals but to also enable increased performance on demand when needed for safe passing and hill climbing. As a supercharger is itself a performance-enhancing device, any improvements to supercharger designs that further enhance performance are desirable.
One type of supercharger, a Roots-type supercharger, uses a pair of twisted meshing rotors mounted in a housing and driven from an engine crankshaft to propel air from an intake port to an output port. The increased volume of air provides a pressure increase, or boost, within an engine's combustion chamber and a more forceful detonation of the fuel-air mixture introduced there. An example of this type of supercharger is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,488,164, 7,886,966 and 8,632,324 issued to Eaton Corporation, a manufacturer of rotors and superchargers.
FIGS. 1-4, reproduced from U.S. Pat. No. 8,632,324, illustrate the prior art supercharger of the referenced patents, which is supplied as background to help understand the context of the present invention. Referring to the prior art drawings FIGS. 1-4, FIG. 1 is an external, perspective view of a Roots-type blower, generally designated 11 that includes a blower housing 13. The illustrated blower 11 is of the rear inlet, radial outlet type and therefore, the mechanical input to drive the blower rotors is by means of a pulley 15, which would be disposed toward the forward end of the engine compartment. Toward the "lower" end of the view in FIG. 1, the blower housing 13 defines an inlet port, generally designated 17. The blower housing 13 also defines an outlet port, generally designated 19 which, as may best be seen in FIG. 1, is generally triangular including an end surface 21 which is generally perpendicular to an axis A (see FIG. 2) of the blower 11, and a pair of side surfaces 23 and 25. It is a requirement in such a blower that the inlet port be configured such that the inlet seal time be at least equal to the amount of the rotor lobe twist angle. Therefore, the greater the twist angle, the greater the inlet port "extent" (in rotational degrees), when the outside of the port is "constrained" by the outside diameter of the rotor bores. The inlet seal time must be at least equal to the twist angle to insure that the transfer volume is fully out of mesh prior to closing off communication of this volume to the inlet port.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the blower housing 13 defines a pair of transversely overlapping cylindrical chambers 27 and 29, such that in FIG. 2, the view is from the chamber 27 into the chamber 29. In FIG. 3, the chamber 29 is the right hand chamber, FIG. 3 being a view taken from the rearward end (right end in FIG. 2) of the rotor chamber, i.e., looking forwardly in the engine compartment. The blower chambers 27 and 29 overlap at an inlet cusp 30a (which is in-line with the inlet port 17), and overlap at an outlet cusp 30b (which is in-line with, and actually is interrupted by the outlet port 19). Referring now primarily to FIG. 2, the blower housing 13 defines a first end wall 31 through which passes the inlet port 17, and therefore, for purposes of subsequent description and the appended claims, the first end wall 31 is referenced as "defining" the inlet port 17. At the forward end of the chambers 27 and 29, the blower housing 13 defines a second end wall 33 which separates the cylindrical rotor chambers 27 and 29 from a gear chamber 35 which, as is well known to those skilled in the art, contains the timing gears, one of which is shown partially broken away and designated TG. The construction and function of the timing gears is well known to those skilled in the art.
Referring now primarily to FIG. 3, but also to FIG. 4, it may be seen that disposed within the rotor chamber 27 is a rotor generally designated 37, and disposed within the rotor chamber 29 is a rotor, generally designated 39. The rotor 37 is fixed relative to a rotor shaft 41 and the rotor 39 is fixed relative to a rotor shaft 43. The general construction of Roots-type blower rotors, and the manner of mounting them on the rotor shafts is generally well known to those skilled in the art. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are a number of different methods known and available for forming blower rotors, and for thereafter fixedly mounting such rotors on their rotor shafts.
Each of the rotors 37 and 39 has a plurality N of lobes, the rotor 37 having lobes generally designated 47 and the rotor 39 having lobes generally designated 49. In the illustrated embodiment the plurality N is illustrated to be equal to 4, such that the rotor 47 includes lobes 47a, 47b, 47c, and 47d. In the same manner, the rotor 39 includes lobes 49, 49a, 49b, 49c, and 49d. The lobes 47 have axially facing end surfaces 47s1 and 47s2, while the lobes 49 have axially facing end surfaces 49s1 and 49s2. It should be noted that in FIG. 4, the end surfaces 47s1 and 49s1 are actually visible, whereas for the end surfaces 47s2 and 49s2, the lead lines merely "lead to" the ends of the lobes because the end surfaces are not visible in FIG. 4. The end surfaces 47s1 and 49s1 sealingly cooperate with the first end wall 31, while the end surfaces 47s2 and 49s2 sealingly cooperate with the second end wall 33, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.
As is well known to those skilled in the Roots-type blower art, when viewing the rotors from the inlet end as in FIG. 3, the left hand rotor 37 rotates clockwise, while the right hand rotor 39 rotates counterclockwise. Therefore, air which flows into the rotor chambers 27 and 29 through the inlet port 17 will flow into, for example, a control volume defined between the lobes 47a and 47b, or between the lobes 49a and 49b, and the air contained in those control volumes will be carried by their respective lobes, and in their respective directions around the chambers 27 and 29, respectively, until those particular control volumes are in communication with the outlet port 19. Each of the lobes 47 includes a top land 47t, and each of the lobes 49 includes a top land 49t, the top lands 47t and 49t sealingly cooperating with the cylindrical chambers 27 and 29, respectively, as is also well known in the art.
The term "control volume" refers, primarily, to the region or volume between two adjacent unmeshed lobes, after the trailing lobe has traversed the inlet cusp, and before the leading lobe has traversed the outlet cusp. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the region between two adjacent lobes (e.g., lobes 47d and 47a) also passes through the rotor mesh, as the lobe 49d is shown in mesh between the lobes 47d and 47a in FIG. 3. Each region, or control volume, passes through the four phases of operation, i.e., the inlet phase; the transfer phase; the backflow phase; and the outlet phase.
There are four phases of operation of a Roots-type blower, and for each phase there is an associated seal time as follows: (1) the "inlet seal time" is the number of degrees of rotation during which the control volume is exposed to the inlet port; (2) the "transfer seal time" is the number of degrees of rotation during which the transfer volume is sealed from both the inlet "event" and the backflow "event"; (3) the "backflow seal time" is the number of degrees during which the transfer volume is open to the "backflow" port (as that term will be defined later), prior to discharging to the outlet port; and (4) the "outlet seal time" is the number of degrees during which the transfer volume is exposed to the outlet port.
Therefore, viewing FIG. 3, the control volume between the lobes 47a and 47b (and between lobes 49a and 49b) comprises the inlet phase, as does the control volume between the lobes 47b and 47c. The control volume between the lobes 47c and 47d is in the transfer phase, just prior to the backflow phase. As soon as the lobe 47d passes the outlet cusp 30b in FIG. 3, the control volume between it and the lobe 47c will be exposed to the backflow phase. Once the lobe 47d passes the outlet cusp 30, at the plane of the inlet port (FIG. 3), the control volume is exposed to the outlet pressure through a "blowhole". As stated in this prior art patent, "To insure that there is not a leak back to the inlet port 17, the control volume between lobes 47c and 47d must be completely out of communication with the inlet port, i.e., must be out of the inlet phase. With the lobe 47d being the "leading" lobe, and the lobe 47c being the "trailing" lobe of the control volume, the trailing lobe 47c must still be sealed to the chamber 27 at the peak of the inlet cusp 30a, when the leading lobe 47d is still sealed to the outlet cusp 30b, as shown in FIG. 3." The above requirement indicates the maximum amount of seal time for the inlet seal time and the transfer seal time, together, which will be significant in determining the maximum, ideal twist angle subsequently.
The followings summarizes the prior art supercharger depicted in FIGS. 1-4:
As described in these prior art patents, the meshed, lobed rotors each include a plurality of lobes and each lobe has axially facing end surfaces that define a twist angle, and each lobe defines a helix angle. According to the prior art patents rotors can be designed with a maximum ideal twist angle for the lobe as a function of the number of lobes, with a helix angle for each lobe as a function of the maximum ideal twist angle and the axial length between the end surfaces of the lobe.
As further described in these prior art patents, the rotors are in a housing having overlapping cylindrical chambers, a first end wall with an inlet port and an outlet port adjacent a second end wall. The rotor ends sealingly engage the housing end walls, and the lobes of the meshing rotors sealingly engage each other at mesh points, and have lands sealingly engaging the interior surfaces of the cylindrical chambers to define, as they rotate, a linearly propelled control volume of fluid (air) having an inlet seal time, a transfer seal time, and a total seal time that is the sum of the inlet and transfer seal times. As noted for example in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 8,632,324 "One of the important aspects of the present invention relates to a Roots blower parameter know as the "seal time" wherein the reference to "time" is a misnomer, as the term actually is referring to an angular measurement (i.e., in rotational degrees). Therefore, "seal time" refers to the number of degrees that a rotor lobe (or a control volume) travels in moving from through a particular 'phase' of operation, as the various phases will be described hereinafter."
According to the prior art patents the maximum ideal twist angle is the largest possible twist angle for each rotor lobe without opening a leak path to the inlet port so that when the twist angle is a maximum ideal twist angle, the total seal time is a total maximum seal time and the transfer seal time is zero, and when the twist angle is less than the maximum ideal twist angle, the total seal time is a total optimized seal time and the transfer seal time is greater than zero, but the total maximum seal time and the total optimized seal time are substantially constant.
Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 8,632,324 further describes an arrangement in which the lobes cooperate with an adjacent surface of the housing to define at least one backflow passage or blowhole that defines a control volume, occurs in a cyclic manner, and moves linearly in a direction toward the outlet port and provides communication between adjacent control volumes. While such a backflow passage permits airflow or leakage between adjacent control volumes to equalize pressures in the control volumes, the desired maximum ideal twist angle does not open a leak path to the inlet port.
While several strategies have been developed to improve the performance of meshing rotor superchargers in the prior art, it is currently necessary to resort to a larger volume supercharger in order to provide better performance results, and because of space limitations (e.g., under a vehicle hood) there remains a need to further improve supercharger designs, and for a given supercharger size, to provide greater performance results.

Inlet port configuration for roots-type supercharger


Embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus, method, and system for a thermal management arrangement having a low heat flux channel flow coupled to high heat flux channels.

Thermal management is of great importance to the operation of semiconductor devices. Thermal management is especially important in the operation of microprocessors as relentlessly increasing frequency targets push power output, and therefore heat generation, to the limits of the cooling capacity of passive air-cooled heatsink technology. Insufficient transfer of heat away from a semiconductor device can result in degradation of the performance and reliability of that device or circuit.
Recent focus has turned to thermal management arrangements utilizing fluid flowing through parallel channels to dissipate heat. The channels each have similar dimensions and each have an input to receive fluid from a common inlet coupled to a remote pump, and an output to transmit the fluid to a common outlet towards a heat exchanger. This prior art design may result in undesirable flow distributions among the channels due to a large portion of the fluid flowing through the channels in-line with the common inlet and outlet, while the channels at the periphery of the thermal management device may have significantly smaller flows. Additionally, across die temperature gradients may reduce the volumetric flow rates through high heat flux channels along with a corresponding increase in the flow rates through low heat flux channels.

Thermal management arrangement with a low heat flux channel flow coupled to high heat flux channels


Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to improve Bluetooth low energy streaming connection efficiency are disclosed herein. An example method includes accessing a request received at a first device from a second device, the request requesting set up of an isochronous link between the first device and the second device, the request including a configuration identifier. Whether the configuration identifier identifies a configuration stored at the first device is determined. In response to determining that the configuration identifier identifies the configuration stored at the first device, the isochronous link using the stored configuration.

In recent years, wireless devices have been used to stream audio from one device to another. For example, a user might use a mobile device to stream audio to a pair of headphones. In some examples, the user may wish to stream audio from the mobile device to a first set of speakers as well as a separate set of speakers. Streaming to multiple different speaker devices enables the audio to be simultaneously played at multiple different locations.
The figures are not to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts.

Methods and apparatus to improve Bluetooth low energy streaming connection efficiency


The invention relates to electronic sensors comprising an electromechanical microsensor cell such as a micro-accelerometer, and it more particularly relates to the way in which the microsensor cell per se is mounted in a package that furthermore comprises a printed circuit board carrying the electronic processing circuits associated with the microsensor cell. In order to establish a non-rigid electrical connection between a conductive terminal of the board and a connection pin of the cell, a narrow strip-shaped conductive connection cut by chemical machining from a thin and flexible metal sheet (CuBe) is soldered. The strip comprises at least one circle-arc segment extending over one half-turn or three-fourths of a turn. Its resilience permits very low stiffness in all directions and therefore prevents any transmission of vibrations or shocks to the cell. The manufacture of the connections may be collective for all the connections of a sensor and for successive sensors manufactured serially. Application to accelerometers subjected to large shock and vibration stresses.

For reasons relating to the nature of the sensor and the measurement intended to be carried out, for example the measurement of an acceleration of an object liable to experience large stresses, it is sometimes necessary to mount the cell in such a way that the vibrations of the object carrying the sensor, or the shocks experienced by this object, do not affect the measurement or the structure of the cell. This is because an accelerometer is typically very sensitive to vibrations and shocks, and it would deliver an electrical signal which is difficult to process if a parasitic signal due to vibrations of the object whose acceleration is to be measured were superimposed on the acceleration measurement per se. On the other hand, vibrations and shocks could damage the sensor, which would be even more detrimental. The measurement of acceleration is not the only case in which vibrations and shocks are causes of malfunctions or measurement difficulties, but it does constitute a typical case to which the invention is particularly applicable. Sensors of other physical quantities, produced by micromachining, may typically be affected.
The cell is then mounted in a package with the interposition of a shock and vibration damping element. For example, the cell is wedged in the package by elastomeric wedging blocks whose mechanical damping properties are suitable for the shocks and vibrations to be filtered, and the cell is not in direct physical contact with the package. However, it is necessary to transmit supply voltages or electrical signals between the cell and the electronics board associated with it, which board is also mounted in the package. Care therefore needs to be taken so that the electrical connections do not transmit vibrations and shocks, which the damping elements are intended to absorb, to the cell owing to their stiffnesses.
One possible method of electrical connection between the microsensor cell and the electronics board is represented in section in FIG. 1 and as a plan view in FIG. 2. The cell 10, with its electrical connection pins 12, is contained in a package 20 closed by a cover 22; it is held in place by damping blocks 24 (usually made of elastomer) which support it while absorbing the shocks and vibrations transmitted by the package. The package may be fastened on an object on which a measurement is performed, in which case the fastening (not shown) may be carried out by any means.
The cell lies on the rear face side of an electronics board 30, which carries components 32 and printed conductors 34 on its front face; the board 30 is pierced by holes 36 in which the connection pins 12 of the cell engage freely (without physical contact) through the rear of the board; the ends of the pins are connected by soldered wires 14 to conductive terminals forming part of the printed conductors 34 of the front face of the board; the wires are soldered on the one hand to the end of the pin and on the other hand to a respective terminal associated with this pin; the wires 14 are not straight, but instead are curved so as to act as a spring having a small stiffness in all directions (a straight wire would have a high stiffness in the direction of this straight line).
In order to ensure sufficient electrical conductivity between the board and the pin (preferably less than one ohm), the wires are typically made of bare gold or aluminum, or copper insulated by a plastic sheath, or copper or silver coated with an insulating enamel, etc. The diameter of the conductive wire is typically 50 micrometers, and its length is a few millimeters. The wire must be preformed before or during the soldering operation in order to give it the curved shaped which ensures a low stiffness in all directions and, like the operation of holding the wire when soldering, this preforming operation is difficult to carry out.
It has been observed that the modules produced in this way are excessively sensitive to vibrations, which prevents correct measurement.
Another way of producing the connection between the sensor and the board may consist in using a flexible printed circuit layer, as is done in printers, camcorders, etc. However, these layers are generally not flexible enough because of the relatively rigid insulating plastic material on which the electrical connections rest.
There is therefore a need for a method of simple connection with very low stiffness between the cell and the electronics board of a sensor liable to be subjected to large vibration stresses. It is an object of the invention to provide a solution which at least partly improves the known solutions.

Non-rigid conductor link measurement sensor and method for the production thereof


According to the present invention, a side part cavity (23) in which a side part is molded, a body part cavity (24) in which a body part is molded, and an attachment part cavity (25) in which an attachment part is molded are formed between a plurality of molding molds (21, 22), and a guiding part (26) that is configured to guide a foam to the body part cavity when an undiluted foam solution of the second synthetic resin material supplied to the side part cavity foams is arranged at a part of the side part cavity adjacent to, in a left-right direction X, a rear end part of the body part cavity in which a non-contact part is molded.

Since the past, a foam molding body including a body part formed of a foam of a first synthetic resin material, a pair of left and right side parts that are connected to both left and right sides of the body part and formed of a foam of a second synthetic resin material, and an attachment part projecting rearward integrally from the side parts and the body part has been known. The body part of the foam molding body of this type generally includes a hip rest part that supports the hip of an occupant and a non-contact part that connects a rear end part of the hip rest part to the attachment part.
The foam molding body is molded in a molding mold having side part cavities in which the side parts are molded, a body part cavity in which the body part is molded, and an attachment part cavity in which the attachment part is molded by causing an undiluted foam solution of the first synthetic resin material supplied to the body part cavity and an undiluted foam solution of the second synthetic resin material supplied to the side part cavity to foam.

Foam molding mold and method for manufacturing foam molding body


A variety of compositions that are particularly applicable for removing one or more of resist, etching residue, planarization residue, and copper oxide from a substrate comprising copper and a low-k dielectric material are described. The resist, residues, and copper oxide are removed by contacting the substrate surface with the composition, typically for a period of 30 seconds to 30 minutes, and at a temperature between 25° and 45° C. The composition includes a fluoride-providing component; at least 1% by weight of a water miscible organic solvent; an organic acid; and at least 81% by weight water. Typically the composition further includes up to about 0.4% of one or more chelators.

Devices with critical dimensions on the order of 90 nanometers have involved integration of copper conductors and low-k dielectrics. Devices with critical dimensions on the order of 90 nanometers require alternating material deposition processes and planarization processes. Following almost each step in the fabrication process, e.g., a planarization step, a trenching step, or an etching step, cleaning processes are required to remove residues of the plasma etch, oxidizer, abrasive, metal or other liquids or particles remaining which contaminate the surface of the wafer. Prior art devices were fabricated from aluminum and/or tungsten conductors with silica dielectrics. Fabrication of the current advanced generation of devices require copper conductors and low-k dielectric materials (typically carbon-silica or porous silica materials), both of which can react with and be damaged by various classes of prior art cleaners.
Low-k dielectrics in particular may be damaged in the cleaning process as evidenced by etching, changes in porosity/size, and ultimately changes in dielectric properties. Time required to remove residues depends on the nature of the residue, the process (heating, crosslinking, etching, baking, and/or ashing) by which it is created, and whether batch or single wafer cleaning processes are used. Some residues may be cleaned in a very short period of time, while some residues require much longer cleaning processes. Compatibility with both the low-k dielectric and with the conductor over the duration of contact with the cleaner is a desired characteristic.
Cleaning processes fall into two broad process classes: batch and single wafer. Batch cleaning typically involves multiple wafers, and the cleaning process occurs on the order of minutes, usually by contacting the wafers with an agitated cleaning solution at a temperature between about 20° C. and about 100° C., typically between 30° C. and 75° C., for a period of time ranging from 3 minutes to about 60 minutes, typically between 10 to 30 minutes. In a batch mode, the plurality of wafers are typically immersed in the cleaning solution or exposed to a constant spray of cleaning solution. The single wafer cleaning process involves cleaning under more rigid conditions of agitation and contact, at temperatures similar to or up to about 20° C. higher than comparable immersion process temperatures, but for a period of time that ranges from about 5 seconds but less than 3 minutes, and typically between 30 to 90 seconds, as the composition is dispensed onto a spinning wafer.
Semi-aqueous cleaners comprising a fluorine-containing component, solvent, and water are known.
1) Japanese patent laying open no. 2003-122028, to Kenji et al., describes a composition comprising 0.5% to 10% of a fluorine compound, greater than 30% of a mixed amide/ether solvent and water, and teaches that at solvent concentrations less than 30% corrosion of the wiring material becomes intense.
2) Japanese patent laying open no. 2001-5200, to Yoko et al., describes a resist removing composition for substrates comprising aluminum wiring, the composition comprising 0.1% to 2% ammonium fluoride, 20% to 98.8% of a polar organic solvent, 0.05% to 1.9% ascorbic acid, and 1% to 79.8% water, with pH less than 5.0. The listed polar organic solvents are N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol.
3) U.S. Pat. No.5,792,274, to Tanabe et al., describes a remover solution composition for resist which comprises (a) 0.2% to 8% a salt of hydrofluoric acid with a metal-free base, (b) 30% to 90% of a water-soluble organic solvent such as a glycol ether, and (c) water and optionally (d) an anticorrosive, at a pH of 5 to 8.
4) U.S. Pat. No.5,939,336 describes residue remover compositions of ammonium fluoride, propylene glycol, ammonia and water, at a pH of from 7 to 8.
5) U.S. Pat. No.5,972,862 describes a post-etch residue remover having: (A) 0.1% to 15% of a fluoride-containing compound such as hydrofluoric acid or ammonium fluoride; (B) 1% to 80% of a polar organic solvent selected from a list including amides, lactones, alcohols, alkyl acetates, alkyl lactates, alkylene glycols, glycol ethers, and sulfoxides; (C) 0.01% to 5% of an phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, hypophosphorous acid, polyphosphoric acid, or an organic acid; and (D) 1% to 50% of a quaternary ammonium salt. Water is not a specified component of the remover, and while there is no range specified for water, one example was described as containing 45.9% water. Examples have 1-10% NH4F, 0.1-1% organic acid, and 35-69% amide solvent, and presumably a balance (˜30% to ˜60%) water.
6) U.S. Pat. No.5,792,274 describes a resist/residue remover having 0.2% to 8% of a salt of metal-free base and HF, 30% to 90% of a water-soluble organic solvent, and water where the pH is 5-8. The preferred solvent is ethylene glycol or ethylene glycol and dimethylsulfoxide.
7) U.S. Pat. No.6,235,693 describes residues removers comprising 0.01% to 10% of fluoride compounds, 20% to 50% water, 20% to 80% of a piperidone and from 0 to 50% of an organic sulfoxide or glycol solvent, said composition having a pH between about 6 and about 10.
8) U.S. Pat. No.6,468,951 describes a composition to remove silica residue from a borophosphosilicate semiconductor wafer, said composition having a basic or an acidic pH, and being comprised of: water; 0.01% to 95% of a hydroxyl-functional solvent such as ethylene glycol or an alcohol; aqueous hydrofluoric acid; a tetraalkyylammonium hydroxide; and about 0.001 wt % to about 10 wt % of a surfactant. The patent does not mention use of the composition with copper-containing substrates.
9) U.S. Pat. No.6,638,899 describes a photoresist remover comprising hydrofluoric acid, a base free from metal ions, 30% to 80% of a water-soluble organic, water, and an alkali, wherein the pH of the remover is 8.5 to 10.
10) JP 3255551 describes a composition having 0.5-40% HF, 40-99.5% water, water-soluble organic solvent, and 0.5-40% anticorrosion agent, useful for removing resist in short time at low temperatures.
11) Finally, U.S. published Application No. 2004/0106531, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto specifically for the semiconductor fabrication processes which form various types residue, each type of which can be removed with compositions of the present invention. This application discloses removers useful for copper/low-k material substrates, the removers comprising a metal-free salt of hydrogen fluoride; 50% to 98% of a water-soluble organic solvent; an acid; and water.
With the continuing reduction in device critical dimensions and continuing needs for production efficiency and device performance, there is a need for fluorine-containing cleaning compositions with low solvent content which are effective in both batch and single wafer processes.

Method to remove resist, etch residue, and copper oxide from substrates having copper and low-k dielectric material


A method including forming a plurality of dicing channels in a front side of a wafer; the plurality of dicing channels including a depth at least greater than a desired final thickness of the wafer, filling the plurality of dicing channels with a fill material and removing a portion of the wafer from a back side of the wafer until the desired final thickness is achieved, where a portion of the fill material within the plurality of dicing channel is exposed. The method further including depositing a metal layer on the back side of the wafer; removing the fill material from within the plurality of dicing channels to expose the metal layer at a bottom of the plurality of dicing channels, and removing a portion of the metal layer located at the bottom of the plurality of dicing channels.

The present invention generally relates to semiconductor device manufacturing, and more particularly to chip dicing before backside grinding with the addition of a backside metal.
Chip dicing is the process of dividing a wafer into multiple individual chips. Typically, chip dicing involves the use of a saw blade, chemicals, a laser, or their combination to cut through and along kerf regions that run between multiple chips arranged on the wafer. The wafer may be diced using a standard dicing technique or a dice-before-grind (DBG) technique, as described in brief below. The standard dicing technique may involve dicing through the entire thickness of a wafer which has previously been ground to a desired final thickness. The dice-before-grind technique typically involves forming shallow dicing channels in a full-thickness wafer before being thinned.


A one-size-fits-all uni-hearing aid is described which is adapted to fit into either ear of an ear canal of a user to a depth proximal to the tympanic membrane. The hearing aid is comprised of two half shells joined together to house the hearing aid components. The joined shells secure a flexible tip at the distal end of the shell.

The invention herein generally relates to a miniature electroacoustic instrument and, in particular, a peritympanic hearing instrument suitable for use in humans.
Hearing instruments typically are custom-designed to suit the anatomical and audiological needs of an individual user. Because custom-made devices can be very costly, it is desirable to mass-produce a hearing instrument that is relatively inexpensive and is readily adaptable to most users' anatomical and audiological requirements, and which is inconspicuous and lightweight.
There are significant challenges associated with the development of mass-produced hearing instruments. Although the structure of the external auditory canal generally is a sinuous, oval cylinder with three sections, it can vary significantly depending on the particular individual. Traversing the outer canal towards the inner tympanic membrane, the first section is directed inward, forward, and slightly upward. The next section tends to pass inward and backward. The final section is carried inward, forward, and slightly downward. The outer portion of the ear canal is surrounded by cartilaginous tissue, with the inner portion being surrounded by bone. The canal is formed with a very thin lining of skin, which is extremely sensitive to the presence of foreign objects. Further details of the path and contours of the external auditory canal are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,688, issued to Barry Voroba et al., and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,348, issued to Adnan Shennib, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,688 describes an in-the-canal miniaturized hearing aid contained within a prefabricated ear shell assembly composed of a hollow rigid body with a soft, resilient covering fixed to its exterior. The microphone, receiver, amplifier, and battery are all wholly contained within a prefabricated modular sound assembly which snaps into a patient-selectable prefabricated ear shell assembly. The soft, resilient covering that is affixed to the exterior of the rigid core is intended to allow the cylindrical or elliptical shape of the in-the-canal hearing aid to more easily conform to the individual variations in a user's auditory canal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,348 described a hearing device having highly articulated, non-contiguous parts including a receiver module for delivering acoustic signals, a main module containing all of the hearing aid components except the receiver, and a connector that is articulated with both the receiver module and the main module to permit independent movement of the receiver and main modules. Separation of the receiver from the main module, and the receiver's articulation with respect to the main module, is intended to provide at least two degrees of freedom in movement and independent movement of the receiver module with respect to the main module, and visa versa.
Attempts have also been made to provide inserts intended to be used as a part of a hearing aid device. U.S. Pat. No. 2,487,038, issued to Jasper Baum, describes an ear insert shaped for insertion into the concha or the outer cavity of an ear. It includes a series of ball-shaped ball-like wall sections each made with sufficiently thick walls so as to give them great stiffness and prevent substantial distortion of the cross-section of the sound-passage portions extending therethrough under the action of external bending forces when the insert is inserted into the curved space of the outer ear cavity. The ball-like wall sections are interconnected by short neck-like sections to readily flex and take up substantially the entire deformation to which the channel insert is subjected. Thin flexible, skirt-like protrusions in outward and rearward directions from the ball-like wall sections to become wedged against the surrounding surface portions of the outer ear cavity for automatically establishing therewith an acoustic seal.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,080,011, issued to John D. Henderson, describes an ear canal insert with a very soft tip with flanges. A flexible mounting tube is considerably stiffer than the material of which the head portion flanges are formed so that it can be used to force the insert portion of the device into the ear canal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,007, issued to Gary L. Ward et al., describes earmolds that convey amplified sound from the hearing aid to the ear. An acoustic conduction tube extends into the ear canal and a flanged tip on the conduction tube creates a resonant cavity between the tip and the tympanic membrane. The tip is constructed of a flexible material to form a sealed cavity adjacent the tympanic membrane, permit the seal to be obtained with only slight pressure against the wall of the ear canal, and permit the tip to be oscillated by the natural, unamplified sounds which arrive by air conduction through the ear canal, so that the oscillation can raise the resonant frequencies of the cavity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,802, issued to Mark F. Stanton, describes a modular hearing aid system comprising a customized exterior shell formed of compliant material, in situ, in the usual manner in accordance with the shape of the ear canal of the individual user, such that a separate and distinct shell is required for each ear. A housing containing the hearing aid components is removably inserted in the shell. The housing has a bilateral standardized shape so it can be used with either a right or left ear customized shell.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

One-size-fits-all uni-ear hearing instrument


Multibeam optical disk record and reproduction apparatus and method, in which at least two light beams generated are concentrated in different positions of on recording tracks of a recording medium to record or reproduce data to or from the recording medium on the different positions at the same time. The light beams are moved independently of each other across the recording tracks so that any one light beam is movable during the recording or reproducing of data by another light beam. This allows parallel recording/reproducing with a plurality of light beams without producing areas unaccessed due to the jumps of the light beams.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multibeam optical disk record and reproduction apparatus and method in which data is recorded onto or reproduced from an optical disk with a plurality of light beams in parallel.
2. Description of the Background Art
A conventional optical disk record and reproduction method is known in which data are recorded onto or reproduced from an information recording medium such as an optical disk in parallel by using a plurality of light beams in order to increase READ/WRITE operation speed. An apparatus of this kind is reported in xe2x80x9cDigest of Papersxe2x80x9d, 7th IEEE Symposium on Mass Storage Systems (1985), pp. 17-21.
In the conventional optical disk record and reproduction system, a particular recording disk dedicated for parallel recording using a plurality of light beams is required. Also, the system does not work effectively with a common optical disk for a single light beam.
Now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, problems will briefly be described which arise when the reproducing of data from a conventional common recording disk is carried out by using a plurality of light beams. FIG. 3 shows a positional relationship between recording tracks T of a conventional recording disk and light spots of light beams such as beam 1 and beam 2 focused on the recording tracks T for recording and reproducing. Data is recorded on the spiral recording tracks T and a part of the spiral traced by a head H in one rotation of the recording disk is designated one track. A pair of light beams, i.e., beam 1 and beam 2 carry out recording and reproducing of adjacent two tracks, for example, with the head H on the tracks while the recording disk is turned in a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 shows positions of beam 1 and beam 2 moving along the tracks with reference to elapsed time in the reproducing operation of a conventional system. As shown in FIG. 4, beam 1 starts the reproducing from the leading edge of the track n at the time t1 while beam 2 also starts the reproducing from the leading edge of the track n+1 at the time t1. At the time t2, beam 1 reaches the end of the track n and beam 2 reaches the end of the track n+1. Then, since the track n+1 is already reproduced by beam 2, beam 1 is jumped to the track n+2 and beam 2 is also jumped to the track n+3. However, it takes approximately several hundreds of xcexcs (microsecond) for the jumps, and beam 1 and beam 2 start to the reproducing of the tracks n+2 and n+3 from the time t3. Accordingly, the head portions (indicated by hatching in FIG. 4) of the tracks n+2 and n+3 can not be reproduced between the times t2 and t3 during the jumps. In recording operation, the same problem arises. In case of three light beams or more light beams used, some areas remain unreproduced or unrecorded in jumping between the tracks in the same manner as described above.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multibeam optical disk record and reproduction apparatus, free from the drawbacks of the prior art, which is capable of preventing causing of not recorded or reproduced portions on a conventional recording disk, enabling data parallel processing in recording and reproducing operations, and improving an operation speed of the recording and reproducing.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a multibeam optical disk record and reproduction apparatus which is capable of carrying out an effective reproducing operation even for a recording disk which is apt to cause misreading.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical disk record and reproduction apparatus, comprising means for generating at least two light beams, means for concentrating the light beams in at least two different positions of an information recording medium having at least one recording track for recording and reproducing data to and from the recording medium, and means for moving the positions of the light beams independently of each other across recording tracks on the recording medium, any one of the light beams being movable during recording or reproducing of data by another light beam.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multibeam optical disk record and reproduction method, comprising the steps of generating at least two light beams, concentrating the light beams on different positions of a plurality of recording tracks formed in a spiral line on a recording medium to record or reproduce data to or from the recording medium on the different positions at the same time, and moving the light beams independently of each other on the recording track.
In operation, one of a pair of recording/reproducing light spots is movable independently of the other light spot. This allows one light spot to continue, during a jump at by the other light spot, to reproduce or record data on a track, which precedes by one track the destination track of the jumping light spot so as to cover the area which the jumping light spot has left unreproduced or unrecorded. If this operation is applied to the example of FIG. 4, beam 2 continues to reproduce during a jumping of beam 1 so as to reproduce data of the area which otherwise beam 1 would leave unreproduced.
Thus, parallel recording/reproducing with a plurality of light spots can be achieved without producing areas unaccessed due to the jumps of the beams, thereby providing higher speed of recording/reproducing.
Further, when an error is detected in data reproduced by one light spot, the other light spot is jumped to the erroneous position of the recording disk to retry the reproducing, thereby providing effective reproduction even for a recording disk which is apt to cause misreading.


A sealing inspection device includes a scan unit through which a display device substrate including a top plate coupled to a bottom plate by a sealing member in the sealed area passes; and a photographing unit through which the display device substrate which has passed through the scan unit, further passes. The scan unit generates coordinate values of the sealed area of the display device substrate, detects a defective region in the sealed area of the display device substrate, and includes a plurality of scan cameras. The photographing unit generates an image of the sealed area of the display device substrate using the generated coordinate values, measures an effective sealing width of the sealed area using the generated image, and comprises a measuring camera.

(a) Field
The invention relates a sealing inspection device and a sealing inspection method. More particularly, the invention relates to a sealing inspection device and a sealing inspection method for inspecting a sealed state of a sealed area of a substrate formed by coupling a top plate and a bottom plate to each other by a sealing member.
(b) Description of the Related Art
As an information-oriented society has developed, the demand for various types of display devices has also increased. Accordingly, various kinds of display devices such as a liquid crystal display ("LCD", a plasma display panel ("PDP") and an organic light emitting diode ("OLED") display have been researched and actively employed as display devices for a variety of equipment.
The OLED display among these kinds of display devices has a structure in which elements such as an organic layer including an emission layer is interposed between a pair of electrodes, e.g., first and second electrodes.
When moisture and/or oxygen are introduced into elements of the OLED display, the elements have various problems in that life span of the elements is reduced due to oxidation or exfoliation of an electrode material therein, light efficiency is deteriorated, and a light emitted color is deteriorated.
Therefore, encapsulation is typically performed to isolate the elements of the OLED display from the outside and prevent moisture from permeating thereto, in a manufacturing process of the OLED display.
To that end, the general OLED display generally includes a display substrate including an organic layer, and an encapsulation substrate disposed opposite to the display substrate and coupled to a sealing member (e.g., a sealant) to perform encapsulation of elements of the OLED display.
In a manufacturing process of the OLED display, the sealing member is coated on a sealed area of the OLED display and then cured such as by laser irradiation. In a curing operation or while a sealed state OLED display is transported, errors or defects are generated in the sealed state OLED display. Therefore, there remains a need for an improved manufacturing or inspection process for an OLED display which evaluates sealing effectiveness in a sealed state of the OLED display.

Device and method for inspecting a sealing member


Methods for making a pressed monolithic gas generant for an inflatable restraint device (for example, an airbag system for a vehicle) are provided. The methods include admixing a gas generant material with a ballistic performance modifier to form a mixture. The mixture is granulated. Then, a pressed monolithic gas generant grain is formed by applying pressure to the granulated mixture, where the grain has an actual density of at least about 95% of the maximum theoretical density. The pressure may be applied in a controlled manner to both side of the gas generant material in a die cavity, and removing formed grain from die cavity while maintaining some pressure to both sides of the grain, thereby further improving various pyrotechnic properties. The methods of the disclosure provide pyrotechnic compositions that are economical to manufacture, have improved burn rate, combustion profile, effluent quality, strength, durability, and integrity of the grain, while having a consistent shape between different production lots.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Passive inflatable restraint systems are often used in a variety of applications, such as in motor vehicles. When a vehicle decelerates due to a collision, an inflatable restraint system deploys an airbag cushion to prevent contact between the occupant and the vehicle, thus minimizing occupant injuries. Such devices usually employ an inflator that can include a pyrotechnic gas generant. The gas generants burn very rapidly to generate heated gas that inflates an airbag, thereby restraining the occupant relative to the vehicle.
Vehicle occupants may not be in a predetermined position to receive the complete benefits of airbag deployment. If the rate of pressure increase in the airbag is too rapid and the amount of pressure generated by the gas generant is excessive, then an out-of-position occupant may not receive the desired benefits of the airbag. There is an ever growing demand to improve airbag performance and safety, as well as a need to reduce manufacturing and production costs. Accordingly, there is a need for increasing the functionality of the propellant or gas generant used in airbag inflators, while reducing the cost of the gas generant and entire airbag inflator system.
Improvements in gas generant performance remain desirable. Tailoring the performance of the gas generant in an inflatable device system, such as an airbag, can require a complex design of not only the gas generant, but also hardware systems that control gas flow. It is preferred that gas generants for inflators of inflatable restraint devices rapidly generate gases during combustion at desired pressure levels and rates to achieve superior performance and to improve out-of-position performance. Likewise, gas generant materials are preferably safe for handling, have high gas yields and acceptable flame temperatures, with burning rates appropriate to the generant web thickness. Gas generants that fulfill these requirements and further minimize the production of byproduct compounds in effluent gases released through the airbag are highly desirable.

Methods of manufacturing monolithic generant grains


A connecting device for tubular elements (1), for assembling the tubular elements into modular structures, includes a plurality of inserts (22), each insert having an expandable portion (2) and a head (3). Shells (9) are provided, each shell having a plurality of housings (10) having a shape approximately complementary to a shape of the head (3). The head may be fixed to a related housing (10). The insert (22) is locked into an end of the tubular element (1), when the expandable portion (2) is inserted into the end of the tube, and expanded. The tubular element (1) is connected to the shell (9), when the head (3) is in the locked condition, the tubular element (1) being engaged in a related housing (10) of the shell, and fixed to the shell by a fixing device.

There are known connecting devices requiring the transverse drilling of the ends of the tubular elements in order to connect said tubular elements for assembling structures for use as shelves, tables, exhibitors, and the like. Consequently the lengths of the elements must be predefined during the manufacturing phase, since they cannot be easily changed.
There are known connecting devices allowing the connection between tubular elements without fixing holes, but said connecting devices are external with respect to said tubular elements.
The main drawback of said known devices consists in that they are bulky and very visible, so affecting the aesthetics of the whole structure. A further drawback of said known devices consists in that it is necessary to loosen several connecting devices, in order to modify the position of an element.
Document DE 94 13 840 U discloses a connecting device suitable for tubular elements fit for constructing modular structures, wherein said connecting device includes insert means having an expandable portion and a head, shells each provided with a plurality of housing having a shape approximately complementary to the head; fixing, means to fix the head to a related housing.


An accessory for a pickup truck ad the like comprising a frame positioned behind the rear window thereof. The frame supports a plurality of louvers which are selectively positionable in first, second, and third orientations. The louvers are substantially transparent and at least one exterior surface thereof is reflective. The louvers are adapted to display selected graphics when positioned in the first and third orientations. The accessory may also employ triangular louvers which may be adapted to display selected graphics which positioned in the first, second, and third orientations.

As is well known, all modern vehicles are provided with visors which can be deployed either at the windshield or at the side windows of the vehicle to limit glare from the sun thereby facilitating safe driving and comfort. Although the use of visors for the windshields and side windows of automobiles, pickup trucks, and other vehicles has been standard practice for decades, devices for preventing glare from the sun from entering vehicles through the rear windows thereof are uncommon. It has been known, however, to provide pickup trucks with an accessory comprising vertically spaced louvers which slope downwardly thereby preventing glare and heat from sun the sun from entering the vehicle while affording at least limited visibility through the rear window thereof.
The present invention comprises an accessory for pickup trucks and similar vehicles which simultaneously prevents glare and heat from the sun from entering the vehicle through the rear window thereof and facilitates the display of graphics such as advertising, artwork, etc. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention a plurality of louvers are formed from a mirrored semi-transparent material, for example, plastic sheet material. The louvers are pivotally supported on a frame and are arranged in an equally spaced, overlapping array. The louvers are manually or mechanically positionable relative to the rear window of the vehicle upon which the accessory is installed.
In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention the louvers are selectively positionable in any of three orientations. In the first orientation the louvers extend angularly downwardly and substantially parallel to the rear window of the vehicle thereby facilitating the display of a first graphic. In the second orientation the louvers extend perpendicularly to the rear window thereby facilitating maximum visibility therethrough. In the third orientation the louvers extend angularly upwardly and substantially parallel to the rear window thereby facilitating the display of a second graphic.
An alternative embodiment of the present invention employs triangular louvers having three surfaces on which graphics can be displayed thereby facilitating additional display of advertising, graphics, and the like. The triangular louvers are more rigid than substantially flat louvers and thereby eliminate any catching of the louvers or chatter caused by overlap of the louvers.

Sun screen and display system for pickup trucks and the like


A lamp base (2) for a high-pressure discharge lamp comprises an ignition transformer (1000), which is placed in the interior (214) of the lamp base (2) and which serves to ignite the gas discharge inside the high-pressure discharge lamp. To this end, the ignition transformer (1000) comprises a core on which its windings (1001, 1002) are placed. The core is formed by a first core part (1004) and by at least one second core part (1005, 1006, 1007), which are each made of a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material and are separated by at least one gap (10078). The first core part (1004) has a cylindrical section on which the windings (1001, 1002) of the ignition transformer (1000) are placed, and core parts (1004, 1005, 1006, 1007) are formed in such a manner that the core, apart from the at least one gap (1008), has a closed shape.

Such a lamp base has been disclosed, for example, in WO 97/35336. This document describes a lamp base for a high-pressure discharge lamp having an ignition transformer, which is arranged in the interior of the lamp base and has a closed core. In particular, the ignition transformer is in the form of a toroidal-core transformer. An ignition transformer having a closed core has the disadvantage that, owing to its high inductance during lamp operation after the end of the ignition phase, it impedes the change in polarity of the lamp current if the high-pressure discharge lamp is operated with a current of alternating polarity and the lamp current flows through the secondary winding of the ignition transformer. In addition, with such an ignition transformer the saturation state is reached quickly, with the result that it has a comparatively low energy storage capacity and, after the end of the ignition phase of the high-pressure discharge lamp, a comparatively high current flow occurs which can overload the electrical components of the operating device of the lamp since the inductor effect of the secondary winding of such an ignition transformer is comparatively low. In addition, the application of the transformer windings on to a toroidal core is complex.
WO 02/51214 has disclosed a lamp base having an ignition transformer, which is arranged in the interior of the lamp base and is in the form of a rod-core transformer. This ignition transformer generates a strong magnetic leakage field, which interacts with metallic parts of the lamp base and of the high-pressure discharge lamp and influences the lamp current. In particular, the leakage field causes a current flow in a metallic shielding housing, which surrounds the lamp base for the purpose of improving the electromagnetic compatibility. The current flow in the metallic shielding housing influences the change in polarity, i.e. the current zero phases, of the lamp current and can lead to the high-pressure discharge lamp being extinguished. In addition, the available ignition voltage is reduced owing to the losses in the shielding housing as a result of the magnetic alternating field emanating from the ignition transformer during the generation of the ignition voltage pulses. When a rod-core transformer is used as the ignition transformer, the ignition voltage pulses are considerably damped by the metallic shielding housing.

Lamp base for a high-pressure discharge lamp and corresponding high-pressure discharge lamp

Osram Gesellschaft mit Beschraenkter Haftung


A technique for shifting the phase of a periodic signal. A periodic signal, such as a clock signal, may be provided in a synchronous system, such as a memory system implementing a Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) device. It may be advantageous to be able to phase shift the signal. The present technique implements a delay line which includes a plurality of delay elements coupled in series. The periodic signal is delivered to the delay line and the time between transitions from high to low or low to high is stored in one of a number of latches coupled to the delay line at various points. A number of tapping elements are also coupled to the delay line at some incremental point corresponding to a correlative latch. By varying the proximity of each tapping element and corresponding latch along the delay line, various phase shifts of the periodic signal can be produced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to synchronous systems and, more particularly, to a technique for shifting the phase of a signal in a synchronous system.
2. Description of the Related Art
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art which may be related to various aspects of the present invention which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Microprocessor-controlled integrated circuits are used in a wide variety of applications. Such applications include personal computers, vehicle control systems, telephone networks, and a host of consumer products. As is well known, microprocessors are essentially generic devices that perform specific functions under the control of a software program. This program is stored in a memory device which is coupled to the microprocessor. Not only does the microprocessor access memory devices to retrieve the program instructions, but it also stores and retrieves data created during execution of the program in one or more memory devices.
There are a variety of different memory devices available for use in microprocessor-based systems. The type of memory device chosen for a specific function within a microprocessor-based system depends largely upon what features of the memory are best suited to perform the particular function. Memory manufacturers provide an array of innovative fast memory chips for various applications. One type of memory device is a standard Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM). Synchronous control means that the DRAM latches information from the processor under the control of the system clock. The processor can be told how many clock cycles it takes for the DRAM to complete its task so that the processor can safely implement other tasks while the DRAM is processing its request. In synchronous systems, and especially high speed synchronous systems, the phase of the clock and data may be carefully controlled to insure that data is not overwritten or otherwise lost as it is clocked through the system.
Because microprocessor technology enables current microprocessors to operate faster than current memory devices, techniques for increasing the speed of memory devices are often implemented. One technique for increasing the speed of a SDRAM is called a xe2x80x9cprefetch.xe2x80x9d In a prefetch system, more than one data word is fetched from the memory on each address cycle. The data may be temporarily stored in a buffer. Multiple words of data can then be sequentially clocked out for each address access. The main advantage of this approach is that for any given technology data can be accessed in multiples of the internal clock rate of the DRAM.
In a Double Data Rate (DDR) memory, the data transfer rate is twice that of a regular SDRAM because the DDR""s I/O data can be strobed twice for every clock cycle. Thus, data is sent on both the rising and falling edge of the clock signal rather than just the rising edge of the clock signal as in typical Single Data Rate (SDR) systems. With the increased rate of data transfer in synchronous systems such as DDR systems, matching the clock and data rates becomes more difficult. If the data and clock signals between the controller and memory are out of phase, it may be beneficial to shift the phase of the data or clock to optimize the likelihood of clocking of the data without losing any of the information.
The present invention may address one or more of the problems set forth above.


A transfer roll coating color is described comprising a pigment and an adhesive as main components, wherein the average aspect ratio of the pigment is 10 or less, the adhesive is a low viscosity starch adhesive, the solids content of the color is about 58 weight % or higher, and the viscosity of the color determined at 60 rpm by using a No. 4 rotor of a Brookfield.TM. viscometer is 1,500 cps or less. Coated papers obtained by transfer roll coating using the colors at an amount of 5 g/m2 or higher per side also are disclosed.

Paints or coatings used in conventional transfer roll coatings for coating paper, in which pigments and adhesives are the main components typically are highly viscous compared to other coating colors, and characterized in that coating weights are generally low. Pigments which may be used in a typical formulation include inorganic pigments such as kaolin, clay, precipitated calcium carbonate, ground calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, aluminum hydroxide, satine white, barium sulfate, magnesium oxide, talc and colloidal silica; as well as organic pigments such as plastic pigments and white urea resin pigments, which are generally used in admixture of two kinds or more. Adhesives which may be used include water-soluble polymers such as casein, oxidized starch, phosphoric esterized starch, soybean protein and carboxymethyl cellulose, as well as synthetic rubber latexes such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), methyl butadiene rubber (MBR) or methyl styrene butadiene rubber (MSBR), and acrylic latexes. The adhesives (also referred to as binders) typically are used in an amount of about 10-50 weight % of the water-soluble macromolecule, and 10-30 weight % of the latex, based on 100 weight % of the pigment. Furthermore, additives such as anti-foaming agents, dispersants, water-proofing agents, preservatives, coloring agents or lubricants may be added.
The solids content of the transfer roll coating color is typically about 40-55 weight %, and the ratio between the pigment and the adhesive (pigment:binder ratio) is such that the adhesive is about 30-50 weight % to the pigment, which means that the amount of the adhesive is high. Furthermore, starch adhesives and latex adhesives often are used together and the ratio of the starch adhesive can be as high as 20-50 weight % to the pigment. The starch adhesives generally used have a viscosity of at least 3,000 centipose (cps), generally 10,000 cps or higher, as determined at a solids content of about 30 weight %, a temperature of about 50 .degree. C. and 60 rpm by means of a No. 4 rotor of a Brookfield.TM. viscometer. In addition, the amount of coating on one side of the paper generally is less than 5 g/m.sup.2, more often less than 3 g/m.sup.2, for an effective coating.
Transfer roll coating is known to be suitable for coating sizing liquids onto paper because a light weight coating is obtained. Transfer roll coating of paper has many advantages, such as (1) the device is compact, (2) the coating can be carried out with wide webs, (3) on-machine coating can be carried out, (4) less paper break occurs, (5) a continuous operation is possible for several days, (6) coating on both sides of the paper is easily achieved, and (7) the difference between the front and back surfaces of the product are minimal. However, there are also some disadvantages, such as (1) the feel of the coated surface often is inferior to that obtained by blade coating, (2) the characteristics of the coating may be limited, and (3) maintenance of the transfer rolls is necessary.
The coated surface obtained by transfer roll coating often has a specific stripy coating pattern, and transfer roll coating may not give an even, smooth and glossy coated surface, compared to that which can be obtained with blade coating. The appearance of the stripy pattern can be improved by increasing the coating weight, but a split surface pattern such as orange peel, or an aventurine appearance, may then appear which reduces the quality of printability which can be obtained when the transfer roll coated paper is printed. For these reasons, in spite of its many advantages described above, transfer roll coating has been used only for applying sizing liquid coatings or light weight coatings where a high coated amount is not necessary, or for preparation of a low-grade coated paper where printability is not critical.
There has recently been a market trend toward higher quality coated papers. For example, in art papers, so-called super art papers with more gloss and superior printability have appeared; and papers having higher opacity, stiffness and gloss are required even in the customary grades such as superlight weight coated papers. This tendency toward improved quality is similar in low-grade coated papers. To obtain the requisite improvement in smoothness and gloss of the coated paper, a super calender or a machine calender has hitherto been used, and means such as an increase in the calender pressure and temperature are used to obtain coated papers with higher gloss. However, if these means are applied to transfer roll coated paper, gloss may be improved somewhat, but calipers become short, and qualities such as opacity, whiteness, stiffness and ink acceptability are lowered.
An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer roll coating color with which an even coated surface without any undesirable surface patterns, as well as high-gloss and smooth coated surface can be obtained using low pressure calendering conditions, without affecting any of the advantages of transfer roll coating. These advantages include stable runnability at high speed on machine, and a coated paper product having excellent printability, comparable to coated papers obtained by the blade coating method.
Generally, if the coating weight is increased, a smoother surface can be obtained. The coating weight in transfer roll coating is controlled by adjusting the nip pressure between the rolls, the circumferential speeds of each roll, and the solids content in the coating color. Therefore, the present inventors considered that an increase in the coating weight could solve the above-mentioned problems, and studied the nip pressure between rolls, the circumferential speeds and the solids contents in the coating color. In the case where the nip pressure was lowered to enlarge the gap between rolls, the coating weight was increased, but an undesirable ring-form pattern was produced in the coating. In the case where circumferential speeds were differentiated, the feeling of the coated surface worsened. It was thus found that the coating weight may be only slightly controlled in practice by differentiating the nip pressure or circumferential speeds. Therefore, control of the coating weight is mainly a function of the solids content in the color. To obtain coatings having high coating weights, the solids content of the coating color should be increased. However, if the solids content is increased using the materials used in conventional transfer roll coating colors, the viscosity of the color is also increased, thereby producing a split pattern on the applicator roll where the coating is applied. The said pattern not only appears on the coated surface to damage the feel of the coated surface, but also produces during the coating process boiling of the coating, gum-up and scattering of color mists, by which some of the advantages of transfer roll coating, namely, wide webs, high coating speed and stable operation on the machine, are lost.
By further study, the present inventors found that if the solids content is about 58 weight % or higher, and the viscosity of the color at the said solids content is about 1,500 cps or less determined at 60 rpm by using a No. 4 rotor of a Brookfield.TM. viscometer, transfer roll coating can be carried out to give a highly glossy and smooth coated surface under low pressure calendering conditions without affecting the advantages of the transfer roll coating process, namely, high speed and stable runnability on the machine. Furthermore, use of such coating colors provides coated papers with excellent printing quality, comparable to that obtained by the blade coating method. Furthermore, we found that a coating color having a solids content of about 58 weight % or higher, and a viscosity determined at 60 rpm by using the No. 4 rotor of a Brookfield.TM. viscometer of 1,500 cps or less, can be obtained by use of a low viscosity adhesive, and that a coated paper having both good feel and appearance of the coated surface can be obtained using this coating color to complete the present invention.

Transfer roll coating color and a coated paper


The present invention relates to cGMP protein kinase (PKG) and regulatory domains and methods of use thereof. The structural determination of PKG domains is also described. cGMP independent PKG activators and uses thereof are also described.

PKG serves as an integral component of second messenger signaling. In smooth muscle, the PKG isoforms Iα and Iβ integrate the nitric oxide (NO) and natriuretic peptide-mediated signal transduction pathways by modulating intracellular Ca2+, cell contractility, and—ultimately—blood flow (Hofmann et al., 2009; Francis et al., 1999; Pfeifer et al., 1999). Understanding the regulatory mechanism of the PKG holoenzyme is central to guiding pharmacological discoveries relevant to prevention and treatment of vascular diseases. Direct pharmaceutical targeting of PKG Iα however, has remained unsuccessful, largely due to the enzyme's complex, multi-domain architecture.

Peptidic activators of type I cGMP dependent protein kinases and uses thereof

The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College


Many pixels (11) are laid out in horizontal and vertical directions on liquid crystal panel (10). There is black matrix (12) between them not to display images. Lenticular lenses (20) are set so that lenticular lenses are inclined at a predetermined angle to vertical direction of liquid crystal panel. Observer observes linear observation region (21) indicated by dotted line through lenticular lenses from predetermined viewpoint. Pixels of liquid crystal panel are parallelograms. Straight line connecting lower right vertex of target pixel to lower left vertex of immediately right pixel is angularly coincide with the observation region. In this way, straight line connecting lower right vertex of target pixel to lower left vertex of immediately right pixel angularly coincides with the lenticular lenses. Consequently, brightness on a screen visible through lenticular lenses becomes constant irrespective of position of observer, which results in reduced moire.

Conventionally, lenticular lens systems have been known as image display techniques for presenting an observer with a 3D (three-dimensional) image by separating a region in which images displayed by image display means are observed (e.g. Patent Document 1).
An image obtained by combining images of an object captured from a few directions is displayed on a liquid crystal panel as the image display means. Lenticular lenses as image separation means are situated in front of the liquid crystal panel. The lenticular lenses are inclined at a predetermined angle to a vertical axis of the image display panel. An observer observes the liquid crystal panel through the lenticular lenses. Observed portions of the liquid crystal panel are changed by positions of eyes due to effects of the lenses. Consequently, a region in which each viewpoint image is visible is separated, so that the left and right eyes of the observer observe the image from different viewpoints. The brain of the observer recognizes the image as a 3D image due to parallax of both eyes as a difference between the different viewpoint images.
A positional relationship among the liquid crystal panel, the lenticular lenses and a viewpoint of the observer causes a change in observation region on the liquid crystal panel observed from a viewpoint through the lenticular lenses. There are a region of pixels and a region of a black matrix formed by electrodes and alike on the liquid crystal panel.
FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a part of pixels of a liquid crystal panel as image display means according to conventional arts. In FIG. 15, many pixels 11 are arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction on the liquid crystal panel. A region other than the pixels 11 is a black matrix 12 in which black pigments are coated after formation of electrodes and alike not to display images. Lenticular lenses (not shown) are inclined at a predetermined angle to the vertical direction of the liquid crystal panel.
An observer observes a linear observation region 21, which is indicated by the dotted line, from a viewpoint through the lenticular lenses. FIG. 15 shows a state that the observation region 21 passes through a middle of the pixels 11 of the liquid crystal panel. In FIG. 15, the observation region 21 bridging between adjacent pixels in the horizontal direction is superposed with the black matrix 12. This region is indicated by the thick lines. The observation region 21 bridging between adjacent pixels in the vertical direction is also superposed with the black matrix 12. This region is indicated by the bold lines. Because the black matrix 12 is a region without image light emission, the region superposed with the observation region 21 is a non-luminous region.
FIG. 16 shows a state that a position of the observation region 21 on the liquid crystal panel moves so that the observation region 21 passes through a center (the black dot) of a pixel 11 of the liquid crystal panel. The observation region 21 bridging between the pixels 11 is superposed with the black matrix 12. This region is indicated by the thick lines. The superposed region is also a non-luminous region.
A total length of the non-luminous regions in FIG. 15 is longer than a total length of the non-luminous regions in FIG. 16. Specifically, a total length of the thick lines in FIG. 15 is as long as a total length of the thick lines in FIG. 16. The total length of the non-luminous regions in FIG. 15 is longer than the total length of the non-luminous regions in FIG. 16 by a total length of the bold lines 13. Therefore, a screen in FIG. 15 is darker than a screen in FIG. 16. This means that brightness of an observed screen is changed by a position of the observer to cause moire, which results in degraded quality of 3D images.
Patent Document 1: JP H09-236777 A

Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America


A dispenser for dispensing powder for firearm ammunition and associated methods. The dispenser can include a hopper, a conveyor, a scale sensor, a dispensing head, a dispenser controller, and a tangible storage medium storing instructions executable by the dispenser controller. The dispensing head is movable to a plurality of dispensing positions to dispense ammunition powder to a plurality of cases from the plurality of dispensing positions. In some embodiments, the dispensing head moves between a home position, where the dispensing head receives powder from the conveyor, and the plurality of dispensing positions, where the dispensing head delivers loads of powder from the conveyor to individual ammunition cases.

Persons manufacturing or reloading firearm ammunition often use electronic powder dispensers to dispense portions of powder to be used as a propellant in a round of ammunition. Such electronic powder dispensers are typically used to dispense a certain amount of powder to a tray, and the powder is then poured into a case or shell for making the round of ammunition. Usually, the powder dispensers are used to dispense a plurality of loads of powder, one after another, for loading many rounds of ammunition. Common electronic powder dispensers suffer from various disadvantages.


A normally closed, fluid pressure responsive electric switch (10) has an electrically conductive body (12) formed with an orifice (12a) leading to a pressure chamber (12c) which is separated from a switch chamber by a flexible member (14). An annular support plate (18) and disc seat (20) are sandwiched in the body by crimping distal free end (12g) of body (12) over the flange (26b) of a connector body (26). A pressure/force converter (22) has a plurality of outwardly extending fingers which are interdigitated with a corresponding number of fingers extending inwardly from an aperture in the disc seat. The converter has one end (18b) engaging the membrane and an opposite end having a circular force applying surface (22g) adapted to engage a snap acting disc (24) disposed on the disc seat within a recess formed in the connector body. The disc is centered by a centering lip (22e) formed on the converter fingers. A terminal (28) extends through the connector base (26) and has a terminal rib (28e) which engages the opposite side of the disc forming an electric path from the terminal through the terminal rib to the disc and from the disc to the disc seat in one of two opposite configurations of the disc and from the disc seat to body (12) through deformed portions (12h) of the body wall (12f). In an alternate embodiment a two terminal switch (10') is provided by placing a second terminal (34) in electrical engagement with disc seat (20') and electrically isolating the disc seat from the body (12).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,483, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a normally open, fluid pressure responsive electrical switch, used, for example, to monitor automotive hydraulic fluid to provide signals to the engine control module (ECM) of a vehicle responsive to power steering demand so that engine speed can be increased when required to prevent stalling. The switch comprises a housing member having a fluid receiving orifice extending into a recess forming a fluid chamber in the housing member. A flexible membrane is disposed over the recess with an annular support plate held against the diaphragm by the metallic outer portion of an eyelet which also serves as a disc seat for an electrically conductive snap acting disc. A force/pressure converter has a piston portion received through the center of the annular support plate to engage the membrane at one end and an opposite end is provided with a circular force applying surface adapted to engage a disc mounted on the disc seat. A terminal post is mounted in the eyelet electrically isolated from the outer portion thereof and is provided with a continuous or segmented circular stationary electrical contact. The snap acting disc has a convex configuration facing the converter and out of engagement with the stationary electrical contact when subjected to fluid pressures below a selected level which will snap to an opposite, concave configuration facing the converter and in electrical engagement with the stationary electrical contact when subjected to fluid pressure above the selected level.

Normally closed, pressure responsive electrical switch


A method for automatic feedback control and/or monitoring of an oil and/or gas production system, or part(s) thereof, which includes one or more processing unit(s) and/or one or more flow line(s) and/or one or more controls. The method includes measuring or estimating value(s) of at least one level or pressure or flow rate or load indicator associated with at least one of the processing unit(s) and/or flow line(s) and at least one of calculating setting(s) for the controls based on at least one controlled variable in form of the measured or estimated level or pressure or flow rate or load indicator, including compensating for nonlinearities of the control means or estimating at least one of the oil-, gas-, water-, or liquid flow rate(s) into and/or out of at least one of the processing units and/or flow line(s).

Production throughput and regularity are two of the most important key performance indicators in an oil and gas production system. Production throughput is intended to mean the oil and/or gas and/or water and/or liquid and/or total mass production per time interval (or, flow rate(s)), whilst regularity is intended to mean the production system's ability to meet the demands and quality requirements for intermediate or final product deliveries. The throughput and regularity depend on many different factors, some may be specific to each production system, others more general. One important and general factor in any oil and gas production system is how flow rate variations are mitigated or smoothened throughout the system. This is especially important when large flow rate disturbances are entering processing facilities in the production system and are directly connected to liquid levels and gas pressure control in the processing facility's buffer tanks. The structure and tuning of the associated control method directly affect the production system's throughput and regularity. By tuning it is meant the choice of parameters in the algorithms which constitutes the control method. Examples of buffer tanks or vessels or drums include, but are not restricted to, two/three phase separators, slug catchers, degassing drums, coalescers, inline degassers, inline deliquidisers, and scrubbers.
Disturbances in terms of variations in the oil, water, liquid, and/or gas flow rates entering the buffer tanks often cause problems for the liquid level and gas pressure controllers. The disturbances may be the results of                Terrain or riser induced slugging, also called severe slugging, see e.g. WO 02/46577.        Hydrodynamic slugging, that is, high-frequency slug flow as results of too large difference in the gas and liquid velocities.        Pigging of the pipeline. Pigging is an operation that is applied to pipelines for several reasons, such as inspection, application of chemicals like corrosion inhibitors, removal of solids or liquids, and so on. The pig is a mechanical device that is placed in the pipeline and is transported through the pipeline driven by the pressure difference and/or by a local motor. The pig sweeps up the liquid as it progresses through the pipeline and thus slug flow ensues.        Operational changes, such as switching between wells with different characteristics (for example different gas-oil ratios, water-cuts, etc.), or changes in well choke openings.
Trips or complete or partial un-planned shutdowns often result due to such disturbances. Avoiding such situations are of great importance. In addition, in order to maximize the throughput and regularity of the production system, the flow rate variations throughout the system should be kept as small as possible by, for example, the buffer tanks' control system. This to not upset the processing facility more than necessary and in order to fulfill the quality requirements on processed oil, water, and gas. A typical example of a tightly tuned level controller (LIC) is shown in FIG. 17. This level controller aggressively tries to maintain a constant liquid level. The implication is that there is no mitigation of the disturbances entering the buffer tank. This again might cause problems for downstream processing units and equipment. It should be noted that large flow rate variations in the processing facility do not necessarily have to be caused by large flow rate variations entering the processing facility. It might be the result of poor tuning and/or unfortunate structure of the buffer tank controllers. This is illustrated in FIG. 18, where the level controller (LIC) amplifies the variations in the liquid flow entering the buffer tank.
At first glance, the two examples shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 might seem easy to prevent by just performing a retuning of the controllers. Usually, the level and gas controllers are ordinary linear PID (Proportional+Integral+Derivative) controllers, which may be described by the following equation:
                    u        =                              K            P                                          (                          ⅇ              +                                                1                                      T                    i                                                                                ∫                                          T                      i                                                                                ⅇ                                                                    (                        τ                        )                                                                                ⅆ                      τ                                                                                +                                                T                  d                                                                  e                  .                                                      )                                              (        1        )            where u is the commanded valve opening, e is the control error (set point minus controlled variable measurement). Retuning means changing the controller parameters KP, Ti, and Td. This might of course improve the mitigation of the flow rate variations. However, the improvement will often be only temporary. That is, when the operating conditions change, the controllers with the new controller parameters will again perform poorly. This is due to complicating effects such as nonlinearities as, for example, variable process and valve gains, and interactions/couplings between control means and controlled variables, which a stand-alone plain PID controller is not designed to handle.

Method and a system for feedback control or monitoring of an oil or gas production system and computer program product


Disclosed is a light emitting diode (LED) comprising a light emitting stacked structure and an electrode structure formed to have a pattern on the light emitting stacked structure. The electrode structure of the LED includes a cluster of reflectors disposed along the pattern on the light emitting stacked structure, and a pad material layer formed to entirely cover the reflectors.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a light emitting diode (LED), and more particularly, to an LED capable of improving light extraction efficiency by reducing light loss due to an electrode structure formed at an upper portion of the LED.
2. Discussion of the Background
GaN-based light emitting diodes (LEDs) are currently used in a variety of applications such as full-color LED display devices, LED traffic lights and white LEDs. Recently, it has been expected that high-efficiency white LEDs will substitute for fluorescent lamps. Particularly, the efficiency of the whit LEDs has reached the level similar to that of typical fluorescent lamps.
A GaN-based LED is generally formed by growing epitaxial layers on a substrate such as sapphire, and comprises an N-type semiconductor layer, a P-type semiconductor layer and an active layer interposed therebetween. Meanwhile, an N-electrode pad is formed on the N-type semiconductor layer, while a P-electrode pad is formed on the P-type semiconductor layer. The LED is driven by being electrically connected to an external power source through the electrode pads.
The GaN-based semiconductor layers are generally grown on a single crystalline substrate such as sapphire, and a single LED is finally completed through a chip separation process. At this time, since the single crystalline substrate is separated along its crystal plane, it typically has a rectangular shape. Generally, the shape of the substrate in a final LED defines the shape of a light emitting structure, e.g., the shape of a mesa, the shape of an electrode pad and the shape of extension portions extending from the electrode pad. For example, extension portions extending from electrode contact portions so as to enhance current spreading has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,018, and these extension portions typically extend in a straight line along a rectangular edge of the rectangular shape.
By using an extension portion(s) extending from an electrode pad, it is possible to improve the effect of current spreading into an LED, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the LED. However, since a material, e.g., Cr, having a poor reflecting property is used as a lower structure of the electrode pad and the extension portion extending therefrom, there is a large amount of light loss due to light absorption at lower portions of the electrode pad and/or the extension portion. The light loss serves as a primary factor for obstructing the enhancement of the light extraction efficiency of the LED. Although a number of studies have been conducted to reduce the light loss by decreasing the entire area of an electrode pattern having an extension portion, the decrease of the entire area of the electrode pattern may have a bad influence on the current spreading effect of an LED. Particularly, it may be difficult to implement a large-area LED chip.


A rear wheel axle support assembly for a fitness bicycle includes: a front rack, a rear rack, and two retaining portions, on an upper portion of a left and a right rods of the front rack provided two coupling seats for connecting the left and the right rods of the rear rack, so that the front rack and the rear rack are connected in a herringbone pattern, the two retaining portions disposed at an upper end of the left and the right rods of the front rack for clamping both ends of a rear wheel axle of a fitness bicycle. The rear wheel axle support assembly is capable of clamping and unclamping the rear wheel axle of a fitness bicycle by using retaining portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support assembly, and more particularly to a rear wheel axle support assembly for a fitness bicycle capable of clamping and unclamping the rear wheel axle of a fitness bicycle by using retaining portions.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
A conventional rear wheel axle support assembly as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a U-shaped front rack 1, a U-shaped rear rack 2, and two retaining portions 3 and 4. On the upper portion of the left and the right rods 11, 12 of the front rack 1 are provided two coupling seats 13 for connecting the left and the right rods 21, 22 of the rear rack 2, so that the front rack 1 and the rear rack 2 are connected in a herringbone pattern. The retaining portions 3 and 4 are disposed at the end of the left and the right rods 11, 12 of the front rack 1 for clamping both ends of the rear wheel axle 51 of a fitness bicycle.
Referring to FIG. 2, the retaining portion 3 comprises an outer cylinder 31, an inner cylinder 32 and a retaining rod 33. The inner cylinder 32 is disposed in the outer cylinder 31 and is provided with an inner threaded hole 321 for screwing with a threaded section 331 on the retaining rod 33. At both ends of the retaining rod 33 are arranged a retaining sleeve 332 and an adjusting ring 333. Furthermore, a locking ring 334 is screwed on the threaded section 331 and located between the adjusting ring 333 and the outer cylinder 31. The retaining portion 4 is structurally the same as the retaining portion 3, so further explanations will be omitted.
As mentioned above, the retaining portions 3 and 4 are used to clamping both ends of the rear wheel axle 51, and by rotating the adjusting ring 333, the retaining ring 332 will rotate clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the outer cylinder 31, so as to clamp or to unclamp the rear wheel axle 51.
Therefore, it is inconvenient and time-consuming for the user to clamp or unclamp the rear wheel axle 51 by rotating the rotating ring 333 of the retaining portion 3.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

Rear wheel axle support assembly for a fitness bicycle