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Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application (Kokai) No. Hei 6-55961 discloses a seat device that includes a pair of lower rails fixed on a vehicle floor, a pair of upper rails which slide on the lower rails, and lower frames which are fixed with a seat cushion frame (or pan) and which are also fixed to the upper rails by bolts. On the seat assembly line, a floor side member unit which includes a lower rail and an upper rail are fixed by bolts with a seat side member which includes a lower arm.
In this known type of seat device, overlapping portions exist between the floor side member unit and the seat side member for purposes of effecting the bolt fixing. This inevitably increases the seat width dimensions. Also, the bolt fixing process adds time to the assembly process, and the parts management associated with the bolt and nut fixation brings about increased costs.
In light of the foregoing, a need exists for a seat device that is not susceptible to the same disadvantages and drawbacks as other known seat devices. | {
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Typical liquid crystal displays (LCDs) in conventional technologies are Advanced-Super Dimensional Switching (AD-SDS, also abbreviated as ADS) LCD, In Plane Switch (IPS) LCD and Twist Nematic (TN) LCD. In an ADS display device, a multi-dimensional electric field is formed with both a parallel electric field produced at edges of pixel electrodes on the same plane and a vertical electric field produced between a pixel electrode layer and a common electrode layer, such that liquid crystal molecules at all orientations, which are located directly above the electrodes and between the pixel electrodes in a liquid crystal cell, can be rotated.
In a conventional ADS display device, the pixel electrode and the common electrode have a large overlapping area and a small space between them, which renders storage capacitance Cst very large, thereby causing many constraints to the design. Currently, the pixel electrode and the common electrode are alternately disposed so as to tackle the problem of having too large a Cst. However, in general cases, a very high precision for the exposure process may be required, because the alternative disposition of the pixel electrode and the common electrode is only fabricated by a patterning process using a mask, which will inevitably increase the difficulty in controlling the equipment and the process, and increase the cost. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a diode such as a diode used in a reference potential generating circuit for a DRAM.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional reference potential generating circuit for a DRAM comprises a diode having an arrangement as shown in FIG. 1. More specifically, in a major surface region of an n-type silicon substrate 1, a p-type diffusion layer 2 containing boron ions as a p-type impurity is formed. The p-type diffusion layer 2 has a depth of e.g., about 0.3 .mu.m from the major surface 1 of the substrate 1, and an impurity concentration of 10.sup.19 atoms.multidot.cm.sup.-3 or more. In the p-type diffusion layer 2, an n-type diffusion layer 3 containing arsenic ions as an n-type impurity is formed. The n-type diffusion layer 3 has a depth of e.g., about 0.2 .mu.m from the major surface of the substrate 1, and an impurity concentration of 10.sup.19 atoms.multidot.cm.sup.-3 or more (in general, since the diffusion layer 3 is formed by doping an impurity in the diffusion layer 2, the diffusion layer 3 has a higher impurity concentration than that of diffusion layer 2). On the silicon substrate 1, an insulating film 4 is formed. The insulating film 4 has a thickness of about 1 to 2 .mu.m. A first contact hole 5 is formed in the insulating film 4 at a position corresponding to the n-type diffusion layer 3. A second contact hole 6 is formed in part of a region on the p-type diffusion layer 2. In the first and second contact holes 5 and 6 and on parts of a region on the insulating film 4 around the contact holes 5 and 6, wiring patterns 7A and 7B consisting of e.g., aluminum are formed to be in contact with the p-type diffusion layer 2 and the n-type diffusion layer 3, respectively.
In a diode having such a structure, a voltage, a so-called forward dropping voltage VF, is generated between p-type silicon and n-type silicon when a forward current flows between the wiring patterns 7A and 7B respectively contacting the p-type diffusion layer 2 and the n-type diffusion layer 3. The voltage VF depends on impurity concentrations of p-type silicon and n-type silicon i.e., the p-type diffusion layer 2 and the n-type diffusion layer 3, and has less temperature dependency. In this aspect, the voltage VF generated by the diode is suitable for generating a reference potential, and is used in a reference potential generating circuit for a DRAM or the like.
Recently, higher integration of many types of semiconductor devices such as a DRAM has been achieved. As higher integration or element micropatterning is achieved, a diffusion layer having a small depth from the major surface of the substrate 1 and a high impurity concentration is required. As a result, with the development of element micropatterning, a p-n junction having a small diffusion depth and a high impurity concentration is formed inside the semiconductor device. The diode described above also has this tendency. The diffusion depth of the p-type diffusion layer 2 from the major surface of the substrate 1 is about 0.3 .mu.m, and that of the n-type diffusion layer 3 is about 0.2 .mu.m. The impurity concentrations of these two diffusion layers are 10.sup.19 atoms.multidot.cm.sup.-3 or more. When the n-type diffusion layer 3 is formed in the shallow p-type diffusion layer 2, a shallow p-n junction is formed. When the shallow p-n junction is formed, erosion of silicon by a wiring material e.g., aluminum, constituting the wiring patterns 7A and 7B, a so-called aluminum spike becomes a serious problem. An aluminum spike is a phenomenon wherein aluminum reacts with silicon and aluminum punches through a diffusion layer to reach a substrate. When the aluminum spike occurs in a diode as shown in FIG. 1, aluminum constituting the wiring pattern 7B punches through the n-type diffusion layer 3, and reaches the p-type diffusion layer 2 to cause a short circuit. To avoid this problem, the p-type diffusion layer 2 must be formed so as to have enough depth from the major surface of the substrate 1. However, a deep diffusion layer makes higher integration or element micropatterning difficult.
On the other hand, in formation of an element structure, such as the diode described above, that is, a p-n junction structure having an n-type diffusion layer in a p-type diffusion layer, a difference between diffusion lengths caused by a difference of diffusion coefficients between boron as a p-type impurity and arsenic as an n-type impurity is utilized. In general, the diffusion coefficient of boron is higher than that of arsenic. Therefore, after boron ions and arsenic ions are implanted in the major surface region of the substrate 1, both ions are simultaneously thermally diffused to form the p-type diffusion layer 2 and the n-type diffusion layer 3. A temperature or a time period of thermal diffusion is set depending on design dimensions of the p-type diffusion layer 2. Therefore, it is not preferable to form the n-type diffusion layer 3 having a small depth from the substrate 1 or a high impurity concentration. As a result, satisfactory element micropatterning cannot be performed. | {
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U.S. Pat. No. 8,792,826 B1 discloses a method for determining proximity between radio frequency devices and controlling switches using the analysis of a series of received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values. It further relates to a method for the control of a switch based on the proximity of the radio frequency devices. It is disclosed that the switch may be used to change the state of a door lock from locked to unlocked. Different so-called technical indicators are also disclosed that are used to determine the proximity.
However, the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,792,826 may lead to a number of situations where the proximity of radio frequency devices to the switch will trigger a reaction although it was not the intention of the user. A car door may e.g. unintentionally be opened when a user passes in the vicinity of the car in a garage. Similarly, a door lock in an office space may e.g. unintentionally be opened when a user passes by his/her office in the corridor.
Thus, there is still room for improvements when it comes to providing a method for controlling access in a system comprising a portable device associated with a user and an access control device. | {
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Medical and surgical implants are placed often in anatomic spaces where it is desirable for the implant to conform to the unique anatomy of the targeted anatomic space and secure a seal therein, preferably without disturbing or distorting the unique anatomy of that targeted anatomic space.
While the lumens of most hollow anatomic spaces are ideally circular, in fact, the cross-sectional configurations of most anatomic spaces are, at best, ovoid, and may be highly irregular. Such lumenal irregularity may be due to anatomic variations and/or to pathologic conditions that may change the shape and topography of the lumen and its associated anatomic wall. Examples of anatomic spaces where such implants may be deployed include, but are not limited to, blood vessels, the heart, other vascular structures, vascular defects (such as thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms), the trachea, the oropharynx, the esophagus, the stomach, the duodenum, the ileum, the jejunum, the colon, the rectum, ureters, urethras, fallopian tubes, biliary ducts, pancreatic ducts, or other anatomic structures containing a lumen used for the transport of gases, blood, or other liquids or liquid suspensions within a mammalian body.
For a patient to be a candidate for existing endograft methods and technologies, to permit an adequate seal, a proximal neck of, ideally, at least 12 mm of normal aorta must exist downstream of the left subclavian artery for thoracic aortic aneurysms or between the origin of the most inferior renal artery and the origin of the aneurysm in the case of abdominal aneurysms. Similarly, ideally, at least 12 mm of normal vessel must exist distal to the distal extent of the aneurysm for an adequate seal to be achieved. The treatment of Aortic Stenosis through Transcather Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is becoming more common. The limitations of current TAVR techniques do not allow for repositioning of the implant once it has been deployed in place. Further, the final expanded diameter of the current devices is fixed making presizing a critical and difficult step.
Migration of existing endografts has also been a significant clinical problem, potentially causing leakage and profusion of aneurysms and/or compromising necessary vascular supplies to arteries such as the coronary, carotid, subclavian, renal, or internal iliac vessels. This problem only has been addressed partially by some existing endograft designs, in which barbs or hooks have been incorporated to help retain the endograft at its intended site. However, most existing endograft designs are solely dependent on radial force applied by varying length of stent material to secure a seal against the recipient vessel walls.
Because of the limitations imposed by existing vascular endograft devices and endovascular techniques, a significant number of abdominal and thoracic aneurysms repaired in the U.S. are still managed though open vascular surgery, instead of the lower morbidity of the endovascular approach.
Pre-sizing is required currently in all prior art endografts. Such pre-sizing based on CAT-scan measurements is a significant problem. This leads, many times, to mis-sized grafts. In such situations, more graft segments are required to be placed, can require emergency open surgery, and can lead to an unstable seal and/or migration. Currently there exists no endograft that can be fully repositioned after deployment.
Thus, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art systems, designs, and processes as discussed above. | {
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Atorvastatin is a member of the class of drugs called statins. Statin drugs are currently the most therapeutically effective drugs available for reducing low density lipoprotein (LDL) particle concentration in the blood stream of patients at risk for cardiovascular disease. A high level of LDL in the bloodstream has been linked to the formation of coronary lesions which obstruct the flow of blood and can rupture and promote thrombosis. Goodman and Gilman, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics 879 (9th ed. 1996). Reducing plasma LDL levels has been shown to reduce the risk of clinical events in patients with cardiovascular disease and patients who are free of cardiovascular disease but who have hypercholesterolemia. Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study Group, 1994; Lipid Research Clinics Program, 1984a, 1984b.
The mechanism of action of statin drugs has been elucidated in some detail. They interfere with the synthesis of cholesterol and other sterols in the liver by competitively inhibiting the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase enzyme (“HMG-CoA reductase”). HMG-CoA reductase catalyzes the conversion HMG to mevalonate, which is the rate determining step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, and so, its inhibition leads to a reduction in the concentration of cholesterol in the liver. Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) is the biological vehicle for transporting cholesterol and triglycerides from the liver to peripheral cells. VLDL is catabolized in the peripheral cells which releases fatty acids which may be stored in adipocytes or oxidized by muscle. The VLDL is converted to intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), which is either removed by an LDL receptor, or is converted to LDL. Decreased production of cholesterol leads to an increase in the number of LDL receptors and corresponding reduction in the production of LDL particles by metabolism of IDL.
Atorvastatin is the common chemical name of [R—(R*, R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-β,δ-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid. The free acid is prone to lactonization. The molecular structure of the lactone is represented by formula (I).
Atorvastatin is marketed as the hemi calcium salt-trihydrate under the name LIPITOR by Warner-Lambert Co.
Atorvastatin was first disclosed to the public and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,893. The hemi calcium salt depicted in formula (II) (hereafter “atorvastatin calcium”) is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,995. This patent teaches that the calcium salt is obtained by crystallization from a brine solution resulting from the transposition of the sodium salt with CaCl2 and further purified by recrystallization from a 5:3 mixture of ethyl acetate and hexane. Both of these U.S. patents are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention includes a new crystal form of atorvastatin calcium in both hydrate and anhydrate states. Polymorphism is the property of some molecules and molecular complexes to assume more than one crystalline or amorphous form in the solid state. A single molecule, like the atorvastatin in formula (I) or the salt complex of formula (II); may give rise to a variety of solids having distinct physical properties like solubility, X-ray diffraction pattern and solid state 13C NMR spectrum. The differences in the physical properties of polymorphs result from the orientation and intermolecular interactions of adjacent molecules (complexes) in the bulk solid. Accordingly, polymorphs are distinct solids sharing the same molecular formula, which may be thought of as analogous to a unit cell in metallurgy, yet having distinct advantageous and/or disadvantageous physical properties compared to other forms in the polymorph family. One of the most important physical properties of pharmaceutical polymorphs is their solubility in aqueous solution, particularly their solubility in the gastric juices of a patient. For example, where absorption through the gastrointestinal tract is slow, it is often desirable for a drug that is unstable to conditions in the patient's stomach or intestine to dissolve slowly so that it does not accumulate in a deleterious environment. On the other hand, where the effectiveness of a drug correlates with peak bloodstream levels of the drug, a property shared by statin drugs, and provided the drug is rapidly absorbed by the GI system, then a more rapidly dissolving form is likely to exhibit increased effectiveness over a comparable amount of a more slowly dissolving form.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,156 discloses three polymorphs of atorvastatin designated Forms I, II, and IV by the inventors of those forms. While the inventors of U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,156 claim certain processing and therapeutic advantages of their forms over amorphous atorvastatin calcium, advantages may yet be realized by other heretofore undiscovered forms of atorvastatin calcium. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a disk cartridge in which a disk-like recording medium such as an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk and a magnetic disk is accommodated within a cartridge housing so as to become freely rotatable. More particularly, this invention relates to a disk cartridge in which a shutter mechanism capable of opening an opening portion of a cartridge housing to expose a part of a disk-like recording medium includes a first shutter member and a second shutter member.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a disk cartridge in which a disk-like recording medium capable of recording and/or reproducing information such as audio data, video data or data of computers is accommodated within a cartridge housing so as to become freely rotatable, there has hitherto been known a disk cartridge having an arrangement shown in FIG. 1, for example. A disk cartridge, generally depicted by reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1, is a disk cartridge which houses therein a write once read many magneto-optical disk 4 on which users can record and write information such as data of computers later on. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an outward appearance of the disk cartridge 1.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, this disk cartridge 1 includes a cartridge housing 2 comprised of a pair of an upper shell 2a and a lower shell 2b, a magnetooptical disk 4 rotatably accommodated within a disk compartment 3 of this cartridge housing 2, or the like. An opening portion 5 which extends from the center portion to one side is formed on both of the upper and lower surfaces of the cartridge housing 2. This opening portion 5 can be opened and closed by a shutter member 6 which can slide along one side of the cartridge housing 2. A presser member 6a is used to protect a tip end portion of the shutter member 6 from being disengaged out of both upper and lower surfaces of the cartridge housing 2.
A disk-like center hub 7 made of a metal is provided at the center portion of the magneto-optical disk 4. The center hub 7 is opposed to the inner end portion of the opening portion 5. Although not shown, a turntable provided on the body of the information recording and reproducing apparatus is mounted on the center hub 7. When the magneto-optical disk 4 is chucked to the turntable, the magneto-optical disk 4 can be rotated at a predetermined velocity (e.g., constant linear velocity). In this case, an information signal is recorded on or reproduced from the magneto-optical disk 4 by a magneto-optical pickup device the head portion of which is inserted into the opening portion 5.
However, a conventional disk cartridge having the above arrangement, the shutter member 6 which opens and closes the opening portion 5 is formed as substantially a U-shape in cross section. This shutter member 6 is fitted into one side of the cartridge housing 2 and the shutter member 6 slides along the above one side of the cartridge housing 2 to open and close the opening portion 5. As a consequence, a large space is produced between the cartridge housing 2 and the shutter member 6 so that very small dusts or the like cannot be prevented from entering into the disk cartridge 2 from the above large space.
In the current in which optical disks are increasing their storage capacities and are increasing their recording densities in recent years, the pitches of the recording patterns are becoming narrower and the linear density is increasing. When read or write beams are interrupted on the recording surface smudged by dusts or the like, or the information recording surface is scratched, information cannot be read out from or cannot be written in the optical disk or the magneto-optical disk normally. To solve this problem, in the disk cartridge according to the related art, as shown in FIG. 1, the shutter member 6 having substantially the U-shape cross section is attached to one side of the cartridge housing 2 so as to become slidable. When the shutter member 6 is slid along the above one side of the disk cartridge 2, the opening portion 5 is opened or closed to protect the information recording surface of the optical disk or the like from being smudged or scratched by dusts or the like.
As the optical disk or the magneto-optical disk is increasing its storage capacity more and is also increasing its recording density more, very small dusts which had been negligible become more influential on the optical disk or the magneto-optical disk 4 when information is written in or read out from the optical disk or the magneto-optical disk 4. The above shutter member 6 whose cross-section is substantially the U-shape cannot satisfactorily protect very small dusts or the like from entering into the cartridge housing 2. In this case, when the information recording surface of the magneto-optical disk 4 is smudged by very small dusts or the like entered into the cartridge housing 2, the information recording surface is brought to the state similar to the state in which the information recording surface is smudged and scratched by dusts or the like with the result that information cannot be normally read out or written in the information recording surface of the magneto-optical disk 4.
In view of the above aspect, the assignee of the present application has previously proposed a patent application concerning a disk cartridge shown in FIG. 2 (see Japanese patent application No. 11-195044). As shown in FIG. 2, a disk cartridge, generally depicted by reference numeral 8, includes a cartridge housing 9 comprised of an upper shell 9a and a lower shell 9b, an optical disk 11 accommodated within a disk compartment 10 of this cartridge housing 9, a shutter mechanism 13 for opening and closing an opening portion 12 which is formed through the cartridge housing 9 so as to expose a part of this optical disk 11, a cover member 14 attached to the cartridge housing 9 so as to protect this shutter mechanism 13, or the like.
The cartridge housing 9 is formed by joining and fastening the upper shell 9a and the lower shell 9b. The optical disk 11 is accommodated within the disk compartment 10 of this cartridge housing 9 so as to become freely rotatable. The cover member 14 is attached to the lower shell 9b of this cartridge housing 9 so as to cover the shutter mechanism 13. This cover member 14 can protect the shutter mechanism 13 and can prevent the cartridge housing 9 from being smudged by dusts or the like.
The shutter mechanism 13 of the disk cartridge 8 is comprised of a first shutter member 15 and a second shutter member 16. The first shutter member 15 is used to open and close the opening portion 12 defined on the cartridge housing 9 at its recording and/or reproducing opening portion into and from which an optical pickup device of a disk recording and reproducing apparatus is inserted and ejected. The first shutter member 15 is comprised of a shutter portion 15a and a belt-like portion 15b. The shutter portion 15a is shaped as substantially a trapezoid in which one oblique side is shaped as a circular arc. The belt-like portion 15b is extended from this circular arc-like oblique side. The belt-like portion 15b includes a circular arc-like guide portion 15bl continued to one side of the circular arc-like oblique side and which has a radius of curvature of approximately the same as that of the circular arc-like oblique side and a rectilinear guide 15b2 continued to the other side of the circular arc-like oblique side and which is protruded from the other side rectilinearly.
This belt-like portion 15b is movably accommodated within a guide portion 17 formed between an inner wall 9al of the upper shell 9a and a peripheral wall 9bl of the lower shell 9b. The guide portion 17 is shaped like a circular arc so as to surround the disk compartment 10. One end of this guide portion 17 is closed by a side wall 9a2 of the lower shell 9b. On the other hand, the other end of the guide portion 17 is opened to a side wall 9a3 of the upper shell 9a and an operating portion 13a provided at the tip end of the rectilinear guide 15b2 is exposed from the opening portion. When the operating portion 13a is pressed and moved within a guide groove 17b defined on the side surface of the cartridge housing 9 and thereby moved on the back side, the first shutter member 15 is changed from the state shown in FIG. 3 to the state shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the shutter portion 15a is rotated and changed to open the recording and/or reproducing opening portion of the opening portion 12.
As the first shutter member 15 is rotated, the second shutter member 16 is rotated in the opposite side of the first shutter member 15. Specifically, the second shutter member 16 is rotatably supported to the cartridge housing 9 by a support pin 16a at one corner portion of the back side of the cartridge housing 9. The other end of the second shutter member 16 is extended up to the center portion of the cartridge housing 9 and is spring-biased to the side of the shutter member 15 under spring force of a coil spring 18, whereby an engagement portion 16b formed at the front end edge of the second shutter member 16 is brought in contact with a convex portion 15c formed at the rear end edge of the first shutter member 15.
The convex portion 15c of the first shutter member 15 is located at substantially the center portion of the front and rear direction of the cartridge housing 9 as shown in FIG. 3 under the condition that the first shutter member 15 closes the opening portion 12. In this state, as shown in FIG. 4, when the first shutter member 15 is rotated to open the opening portion 12, the convex portion 15c is moved to the back side of the cartridge housing 9. As a consequence, movement force of the convex portion 15c acts on the engagement portion 16b and the second shutter member 16 is withdrawn to the back side against the spring force of the coil spring 18. When the second shutter member 16 is rotated, of the opening portion 12, there is opened and closed a drive opening portion into and from which the turntable of the rotary drive mechanism is inserted and ejected.
In the above disk cartridge 8 according to the related art, since the shutter mechanism 13 is comprised of a combination of the two shutter members 15, 16 and the shutter mechanism 13 is protected by the cover member 14, there can be achieved an effect that dusts or the like can be effectively protected from entering the cartridge housing 9.
However, in the first shutter member 15 and the second shutter member 16, the engagement portion 16b is spring-biased and engaged with the convex portion 15c under spring force of the coil spring 18 and the respective end faces of the pair of the shutter members 15, 16 are butted with each other under spring force of the coil spring 18 to thereby close the opening portion 12. As a result, it is unavoidable that a space is produced between the end faces of the butting portions of the first and second shutter members 15 and 16 and that dusts or the like enter into the cartridge housing 9 from the above space.
In view of the aforesaid aspect, it is an object of the present invention to provide a disk cartridge in which butting portions of a pair of shutter members are overlapping with each other when a shutter mechanism is closed so that a coupling portion of the pair of shutter members have a labyrinth function to effectively suppress or prevent dusts or the like from entering the disk cartridge.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a disk cartridge which is comprised of a cartridge housing formed of a pair of shells so as to form therein a disk compartment, a disk-like recording medium accommodated within the disk compartment so as to become freely rotatable and a shutter mechanism having a pair of shutter members attached to the cartridge housing, the pair of shutter members rotatably coupled to each other and the respective shutter portions being butted to each other to close an opening portion of the cartridge housing when the shutter members are being closed, wherein a butt portion of at least one of the pair of shutter members has a concave portion with which a butt portion of the other shutter member is engaged.
With the above arrangement, in the disk cartridge according to the present invention, when the shutter mechanism is closed, the butt portion of one shutter member overlaps with the butt portion of the other shutter member. As a consequence, the labyrinth function can be demonstrated between the pair of the shutter members, whereby fluid can be made difficult to pass through the butt portions and dusts or the like can be made difficult to enter the cartridge housing.
In the disk cartridge according to the present invention, the butt portion of the one shutter member has a protrusion extended in the direction intersecting a thickness direction of the shutter member and the butt portion of the other shutter member has an oblong hole with which the protrusion is engaged.
With the above arrangement, the protrusion of one shutter member is entered into the oblong hole of the other shutter member and the labyrinth function is demonstrated by a combination of the protrusion and the oblong hole. Therefore, since the opening portions can be more reliably closed by the pair of the shutter members, it is possible to effectively prevent dusts or the like from being entered into the disk cartridge.
In the disk cartridge according to the present invention, the protrusion has a slope surface formed at least at its one surface intersecting its longitudinal direction and the oblong hole has a slope surface having approximately similar inclination at its surface opposing to the slope surface.
With the above arrangement, since the slope surface provided on the oblong hole is opposed to the slope surface provided at least on one surface of the protrusion, a space between the pair of the shutter members can be made constant and a more highly-dustproof property can be maintained.
In the disk cartridge according to the present invention, the length of the longitudinal direction of the oblong hole is longer than the length of the longitudinal direction of the protrusion and a pair of shutter members can be relatively moved in the longitudinal direction.
With the above arrangement, since the length of the protrusion is made longer than that of the oblong hole, dimensional errors and assembly errors of the pair of the shutter members can be absorbed by the protrusion and the oblong hole so that the dustproof property can be improved and dusts or the like can effectively be prevented from entering into the disk cartridge.
In the disk cartridge according to the present invention, the butt portions of the pair of shutter members include protrusions extended in the directions intersecting the thickness direction and an oblong hole with which a protrusion formed on the butt portion of the other shutter member is engaged.
With the above arrangement, since the protrusion and the oblong hole are respectively formed on the butt portions of the pair of the shutter members and the oblong hole and the protrusion are engaged with the oblong hole and the protrusion of the other shutter member, respectively, the space between the pair of shutter members can be made constant and there can be provided the highly-dustproof disk cartridge.
In the disk cartridge according to the present invention, the respective shutter portions of the pair of shutter members are shaped as substantially triangles and long sides of the triangles are butted so as to form the whole of the shutter portion as substantially a rectangle.
With the above arrangement, the relatively large opening portion formed of the wide and long recess can be opened and closed reliably by a combination of the two shutter portions shaped as substantially triangles.
In the disk cartridge according to the present invention, one shutter member of the pair of shutter members is rotatably supported to the disk cartridge, the other shutter member is rotatably supported to one shutter member and includes a belt-like portion the tip end portion of which is protruded to the outside of the cartridge housing and the pair of shutter members can be opened and closed with application of external force to the belt-like portion.
With the above arrangement, the pair of the shutter members can be rotated with application of external force to the tip end portion of the belt-like portion such that they can come close to each other or come away from each other. Accordingly, the opening portion can be opened and closed reliably and smoothly by moving the pair of shutter members close to each other or distant from each other. | {
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The present invention relates generally to a composition for relieving pain and the use of the same for relieving pain. More particularly, the present invention relates to a composition that contains a mixture of essential oils and that is used for treating pain in a human body.
As people attempt to accomplish increasingly accomplish more things both professionally and personally in specified periods of time, people get frustrated when physical ailments prevent them from operating near peak efficiencies. For example, many women experience significant amounts of discomfort at selected times during their menstrual cycles. Such conditions are often identified as premenstrual syndrome (xe2x80x9cPMSxe2x80x9d).
Conventional pain relievers such as aspirin and acetaminophen have produced only moderate success in addressing the physical symptoms associated with PMS. There have been numerous attempts at preparing pain relievers that exhibit a greater efficacy in treating PMS. However, these treatments do not produce advantageous results on a significant proportion of the population.
As such, it is frequently necessary for people who suffer from significant PMS discomfort levels to obtain treatment from a physician who often must prescribe stronger medications to reduce the discomfort to an acceptable level. A drawback associated with the use of such stronger medications is that these type of medications often negatively affect the patient""s mental and/or physical acuity.
In light of the recurring nature of PMS, ongoing episodes in which a person experiences a significant level of discomfort from PMS can lead to a noticeable decrease in the person""s long-term productivity, possibly even threatening the person""s ability to remain gainfully employed.
In addition to minimizing the use of medications that negatively affect mental and/or physical acuity, it is also desirable to reduce or eliminate the use of non-natural medications, as such medications are believed to cause other less desirable physical ailments such as cancer.
The present invention is a method of treating pain in a human body. The method includes preparing a pain relief composition from a mixture of aloe vera oil, eucalyptus oil, lemon oil, orange oil, peppermint oil, and rosemary oil. The method also includes topically applying the pain relief composition to the human body proximate to where a person is experiencing discomfort.
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiments in various forms, there is hereinafter be described presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments described.
The present invention is a composition that relieves pain when applied topically to the human body proximate the location of the pain. For example, the pain relief composition of the present invention is particularly suited for relieving pain associated with PMS when the pain relief composition is applied to the person""s abdomen.
The pain relief composition of the present invention is also useful in treating other physical ailments, such as muscle strains, muscle sprains, muscle aches, headaches, bruises, arthritis, and joint pain. Additionally, the pain relief composition reduces swelling when applied topically in areas of a body where swelling is found.
The pain relief composition of the present invention is formulated from organically derived essential oils. As such, the pain relief composition provides consumers with a technique to reduce the level of pain while not using artificial, man-made compositions. The organically-derived nature of the composition of the present invention has substantial value to those individuals who desire to reduce pain without using artificial, man-made compositions.
The pain relief composition is substantially a mixture of essential oils. Essential oils used in preparing the pain relief composition of the present invention include aloe vera, peppermint, lemon, orange, and rosemary oils. The concentration of aloe vera oil is between about 10 and 18 percent by weight and preferably between about 13 and 16 percent by weight. The concentration of eucalyptus oil is between about 0.5 and 5 percent by weight and preferably between about 1 and 3 percent by weight. The concentration of lemon oil is between about 0.5 and 5.0 percent by weight and preferably about 1 and 3 percent by weight. The concentration of orange oil is between about 0.5 and 5.0 percent by weight and preferably about 1 and 3 percent by weight. The concentration of peppermint oil is between about 65 and 80 percent by weight and preferably between about 70 and 75 percent by weight. The concentration of rosemary oil is between about 2 and 10 percent by weight and preferably about 4 and 7 percent by weight.
The composition of the present invention also preferably includes calendula oil (Calendula officinalis), which is derived from the marigold plant. The concentration of calendula oil is up to about 25 percent by weight and preferably about 20 percent by weight.
A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that it is possible to utilize additional essential oils in the pain relief composition without departing from the scope of the present invention. One such additional oil is camphor oil, which my be used at a concentration of up to 5 percent by weight. Another suitable essential oil is tagette oil.
Aloe vera oil is obtained from the dried leaves of Aloe barbadensis Miller (Aloe vera Linnxc3xa8).
Camphor oil contains bicyclo [2.2.1] heptan-2-one, 1,7,7-trimethyl-, 2-Camphanone; 2-Bomanone [76-22-2] C10H16O. Camphor oil is preferably obtains by steam distilling chips of the camphor tree and then purifying the material thereby obtained.
Eucalyptus oil contains not less than 70 percent by weight of C10H18O (eucalyptol). Other components typically found in eucalyptus oil include d-a-pinene, globulol, pinocarveol, pinocarvone, and selected aldehydes. Eucalyptus oil has a specific gravity of between about 0.905 and 0.925 at 25xc2x0 C. Eucalyptus oil is preferably obtained by distilling fresh leaves of Eucalyptus globulus Labillardixc3xa8re or other species of Eucalyptus L"" Heritier (Fan Myrtaceae).
Lemon oil typically contains citral, d-limonene, l-xcex1-pinene, xcex2-pinene, camphene, xcex2-phellandrene and xcex3-terpinene. The total aldehyde content of lemon oil, calculated as citral (C10H16O), is between about 2.2 and 5.5 percent. Lemon oil has a specific gravity of between about 0.849 and 0.855 at 25xc2x0 C. Lemon oil is obtained by expression from the fresh peel of the fruit of Citrus limon (Linnxc3xa8) Burmann filius (Fam Rutaceae).
Orange oil consists of at least 90 percent by weight d-limonene along with other odorous constituents such as n-decylic aldehyde, citral, d-linaloxc3x6l, n-nonyl alcohol and traces of esters of formic, acetic, caprylic and capric acids. The total aldehyde content, calculated as decanal (C10H20O), is between about 1.2 and 2.5 percent. Orange oil has a specific gravity of between about 0.842 and 0.846 at 25xc2x0 C. Orange oil is prepared by expression from the fresh peel of the ripe fruit of Citrus sinensis (Linnxc3xa8) Osbeck (Fam Rutaceae).
Peppermint oil contains not less than 5 percent of esters, calculated as menthyl acetate (C12H22O2), and not less than 50 percent of total menthol (C10H20O), free and as esters. Other components typically found in peppermint oil include methone, piperitone, xcex1-pinene, l-limonene, phellandrene, cadinene, menthyl isovalerate isovaleric aldehyde, acetaldehyde, menthofuran, cineol, an unidentified lactone (C10H16O2), and amyl acetate. Peppermint oil is distilled with steam from the fresh overground parts of the flowering plant of Mentha piperia Linnxc3xa8(Fam Labiatae). Peppermint oil has a specific gravity of between about 0.896 and 0.908 at 25xc2x0 C.
Rosemary oil contains not less than 1.5 percent of esters calculated as bornyl acetate (C12H20O2), and not less than 8 percent of total bomeol (C10H18O), free and as esters. Cineol is present at a concentration of between 19 and 25 percent by weight. Terpenes d- and l-xcex1-pinene, dipentene and camphene, and the ketone camphor also occur in rosemary oil. Rosemary oil is distilled with steam from the fresh flowering tops of Rosemarinus officinalis Linnxc3xa8(Fam Labiatae). Rosemary oil has a specific gravity of between about 0.894 and 0.912 at 25xc2x0 C.
As a preliminary step in preparing the pain relief composition of the present invention, each of the components is put through a subjective quality control evaluation in which the color, smell and weight are evaluated. These results are then compared with previous samples of the same components to ensure that each of the essential oils of the same quality as the previously used components.
Next, each of the components is separately filtered to remove any particulate matter contained therein. Filtering is preferably accomplished by passing the components through a Grade 2 filter.
The components are then warmed to a temperature of between about 30 and 40xc2x0 C. and preferably between about 35 and 38xc2x0 C. so that each of the components is at approximately the same temperature. Providing each of the components at approximately the same temperature when the components are mixed eliminates or significantly reduces undesirable interactions between the components.
The order in which the components are mixed is also believed to play an important role in preparing a stable composition. The components are mixed together based on the hydrophil content. The components with the highest hydrophil content are mixed together first followed by the components with the lower hydrophil content.
The hydrophil content of the essential oils used in producing the pain relief composition tend to vary based upon several factors including the location in which the plant that was used to produce the essential oil was grown. As such, the hydrophil content should be monitored with each group of materials.
The hydrophil content is preferably determined by evaluating each material in a gas chromatograph. Typically, peppermint oil has the highest hydrophil content of about 40-45 percent. The hydrophil content of rosemary oil is typically about 18. The hydrophil content of eucalyptus oil is typically about 11 percent.
After the addition of each component, the mixture is sufficiently mixed so that the mixture is substantially homogeneous. The temperature of the mixture is monitored to ensure the temperature of the mixture is still within a desired temperature range. If necessary, the mixture is heated to bring the temperature of the mixture with the desired range. The mixing process is repeated until all of the components have been mixed into the composition.
When used for treating the pain associated with menstrual cramps, the pain relief composition of the present invention is applied to the patient""s abdomen about 3 to 4 times a day. An amount of the pain relief composition used is selected based on the desired application area so as to provide a relatively thin layer of the pain relief composition over the entire affected area. | {
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The present disclosure relates generally to an analysis of data, and more particularly, to an optimization of an algorithm based on an analysis of a page.
Document object model (DOM) algorithms are used extensively in computing applications and environments. For example, a crawler may need to perform computations on a page (e.g., a webpage) to allow the crawler to identify features associated with the page.
It is often desirable to obtain DOM content associated with a page from a programmatic point of view. DOM algorithms may associate an identifier (ID) with the page to determine if a next page being visited is a new or duplicate of one visited previously. Use of an ID may help to avoid ending up in an infinite loop (e.g., exploring pages repeatedly) while covering most of the application (e.g., skipping pages in order to avoid loops but only skipping select pages). Another technique used is a computation of a local sensitive hashing (LSH) key on the components of a page that allows the crawler to understand which parts of the page the crawler explored before and identify pages most similar to a current page.
DOM algorithms work directly on the DOM and frequently manipulate a large amount of text. As such, the DOM algorithms are computationally intensive and often prove to be a limiting factor (e.g., a so-called “bottleneck”) in terms of performance or execution time. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In the magnetic switch of an automotive starter motor, an plunger is driven by selectively supplying electric current to an energization coil, and the resulting movement of the plunger shifts a pinion gear into mesh with a ring gear. A plate-shaped moveable contact member is integrally secured to a rod which is moved by the movement of the plunger, and the motor is electrically connected to a battery by selectively contacting this contact member across a pair of fixed contact members.
In such a magnetic switch, when the switch is closed, a relatively large current flows through the switch, and the temperature of the contact surface tends to rise as a result of this electric current, thereby increasing the contact resistance and impairing the efficiency of the switch. Japanese utility model laid open publication No. 53-155060 discloses a contact assembly in which the contact surface is provided with a surface irregularity, and the state of contact is made stable by preventing slippage at the time of contact. By thus providing a surface irregularity in the contact surface, the effective surface area for heat dissipation is increased, and the heat is more efficiently removed from the contact surface.
To optimize the efficiency of heat dissipation, each projection in the irregular contact surface is required to be separated from other projections. However, forming such surface irregularities will require punches having highly complex configurations, and it will increase the fabrication cost. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a mechanism which is capable of playing a compact disc, i.e., a CD, and a cassette tape and a player incorporating such a playing mechanism.
Playing mechanisms for playing CDs and cassette tapes are of course known. Although these two types of playing mechanisms sometimes co-exist in a multi-function player, they are simply put together in the sense of that they share the same player body, without much consideration to the question of space-saving.
The invention seeks to provide a combined CD/cassette playing mechanism which is compact in size and a player incorporating the same.
According to the invention, there is provided a combined CD/cassette playing mechanism formed by a CD playing module and a cassette playing module supported on a chassis, the CD playing module comprising a CD spindle for supporting a CD and a laser head on one side of the CD spindle for reading the CD, and the cassette playing module comprising a compartment for receiving a cassette tape, a pair of tape spindles for running the cassette tape and tape playback and recording heads, wherein a part of the cassette playing module is accommodated in the space on a side of the CD spindle other than the laser head side and immediately behind the CD for space-saving.
In a preferred embodiment, the CD playing module and the cassette playing module are positioned close together to face in opposite directions.
More preferably, the cassette playing module has a front layer occupied by the compartment and a rear layer occupied by a cassette operating mechanism, a part of the rear layer being accommodated in the space.
It is further preferred that a part of the CD playing module is accommodated in a space level with the rear layer and immediately behind the front layer of the cassette playing module.
It is yet further preferred that the CD playing module includes an electric motor for rotating the CD spindle, a part of the motor being the part accommodated in the second mentioned space.
In another preferred embodiment, the CD playing module and the cassette playing module are positioned close together to face in the same direction.
More preferably, a part of the cassette compartment is the part accommodated in the space.
It is preferred that the space accommodating the part of the cassette playing module is on the side of the CD spindle directly opposite to the laser head and partially directly opposite a CD mounted on the CD spindle.
For maximum space-saving, the part of the cassette playing module accommodated in the space corresponds to a base part of the cassette tape received in the compartment.
Preferably, the chassis supporting the CD playing module and the cassette playing module is a one-piece structure.
More preferably, the chassis is integrally moulded from plastic material.
It is preferred that the CD playing module and cassette playing module include a single electric motor for rotating the CD spindle and tape spindles.
The invention also provides a portable player incorporating such a combined CD/cassette playing mechanism. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new apparatus for removing liquid from liquid bearing material and to a new method for removing liquid from liquid bearing material.
2. Prior Art Statement
It is known to provide an apparatus for removing liquid from liquid bearing material and comprising a pair of movable electrode means having portions thereof disposed adjacent each other and defining an inlet means to the adjacent portions and an outlet means from the adjacent portions, means for moving the electrode means so that adjacent portions thereof serially move in the same direction thereof from the inlet means to the outlet means, means for feeding the liquid bearing material into said inlet means so that sections of the material serially move with the adjacent portions from the inlet means to the outlet means while being disposed between the adjacent portions, and means for creating a voltage between the electrode means so as to create an electrostatic field means between the adjacent portions of the electrode means for acting through the material that is disposed therebetween to remove liquid from the material that is disposed therebetween. For example, see the Candor U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,682; the Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,317; the Stiles U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,847; the Thomas U.S. Pat. No. 2,740,756 and the Muralidhara U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,964.
It is also known to provide an apparatus for removing liquid from liquid bearing material and comprising a pair of spaced electrodes for being disposed on opposite sides of the material, means for creating an electrostatic field between the electrodes for acting through the material to remove liquid from the material, and a projection extending from one of the electrodes so as to be disposed in the material between the electrodes to assist in removing liquid from the liquid bearing material, the electrodes comprising a pair of movable endless belts having adjacent runs thereof adapted to move in the same direction with the material therebetween so as to move in the same direction therewith. For example, see the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,317.
It is also known to have the projection of an arrangement project through an opening means passing through one of the electrodes. For example, see the King U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,617.
While the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,317, also describes that the projection and the electrodes can be sonically or ultrasonically vibrated while the projection is projecting into and/or through the liquid bearing material that is disposed between the electrodes for further enhancing the electrostatic action in removing liquid from the liquid bearing material, also see the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,682; the Muralidhara U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,953, the Muralidhara U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,920, the aforementioned Muralidhara U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,964 and Chapter 14, pages 335-374, of the book Advances in Solid-Liquid Separation edited by H. S. Muralidhara for other examples of apparatus that utilize sonic or ultrasonic vibrations in combination with an electrostatic field to remove liquid from liquid bearing material.
It is also known that liquid in capillaries or porous material tends to physically move in the direction of increasing field inhomogeneity to the capillary or pore mouth when an inhomogeneous electrostatic or electric field or nonuniform electrostatic or electric field is directed across that capillary or porous body. For example, see the article "Effect of a Corona Discharge Field On Evaporation of Liquids From Capillaries" by Karpovich et al, J. Eng. Phys., 1981, 41, 1333. In addition, see the article "Study of Electric Field-Induced Effects on Water Vapor Adsorption in Porous Adsorbents" by Someshwar et al, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam., 1985, 24, 215-220; the article "Effect of an Electric Field on the Kinetics of Water Sorption by a Capillary-Porous Material" by Panchenko et al, J. Eng. Phys., 1972, 22, 554 and the article "Influence of Inhomogeneous Electric and Magnetic Fields on Internal Mass Transfer In Capillary-Porous Bodies" by Panasyuk et al, J. Eng. Phys., 1978, 35, 827. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In modern traffic control technology it is often required that traffic lanes and access roads be temporarily redirected or closed to traffic during certain peak traffic hours. This control is accomplished by setting in the roadway control devices indicating the traffic flow desired. In the past these devices have been set in the road by hand or more recently raised by pneumatic means from a remote site.
The shortcomings of the hand setting method are obvious in that the method requires a substantial amount of time for extensive control systems and, in addition poses a hazard to those placing the devices. The pneumatic devices, exemplified by the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,530,775 and 3,447,429, require close clearances within the device to prevent excessive air leakage and are subject to contamination by road dirt and sand, ice and snow and other debris often deposited on the highway. In addition, the installation of pneumatic lines in the road is a costly and time consuming procedure. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Diode-lasers provide a most efficient and compact means of light generation and are attractive as light-sources in many applications, particularly those in which light is required only in a limited range of wavelengths. Such applications include, for example, medical applications such as photodynamic therapy and depilation; machining, welding, and heat treating using light; providing pump-light-sources for solid state lasers; and simply providing illumination.
Diode-laser-light-sources are frequently in the form of a "bar" which includes a plurality of individual lasers on a single semiconductor substrate. The lasers emit from the edge of the bar in a direction perpendicular to the length of the bar. Where one bar is insufficient to provide a desired power or brightness, an array of bars is used, one stacked above the other in a direction perpendicular to the emission-direction. Such an arrangement is usually referred to as a stacked-bar array, or a two dimensional array of emitters.
One relatively simple way of mounting such a stack of diode-laser bars is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,187. Here, in what may be described as a back-plane cooling arrangement, the diode-laser bars are mounted in metalized grooves in a common heat-sink of conductive ceramic material such as beryllia or alumina. In more elaborate arrangements each diode-laser bar is provided with an individual cooler and mechanical arrangements are provided for holding the bars and coolers in a unified array. In all such arrangements, the closer the bars are stacked, i.e., the more compact the output-aperture of the array, the brighter the array will be. Where the closely stacked bars are operated at high power or rapid pulse rates, however, problems are often encountered in removing heat generated during operation of the bars.
One prior-art solution to these problems has been to construct diode-laser bar arrays in which the diode-laser bars are separated horizontally as well as vertically. Such arrays are disclosed, for example, in German patent DE 2,153,969, and in Japanese patent JP 4,426,789. The disclosed arrays include a heat-sink having a stepped mounting surface with a diode-laser bar mounted on each step. Vertical spacing is comparable or even closer than in the case of arrays in which diode-laser bars are only vertically separated, while the horizontal spacing provides greater physical separation which facilitates cooling. The stepped mounting surface of the heat-sink, however, can be expensive to fabricate and also creates difficulty in using fluid-cooling arrangements, in particular microchannel-cooler arrangements, for the surfaces or steps on which the diode-laser bars are mounted. There is a need for a diode-laser-light-source in which diode-laser bars can be relatively widely spaced while still being effectively cooled and while still delivering light from a compact output-aperture. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to exercise machines, and more particularly to a exercise apparatus having a pair of exercise arms that each can pivot 180 degrees with respect to the table, and rotate 360 degrees, thereby enabling a broad range of exercises using a single, simple construction.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art teaches various forms of exercise machines. However, the prior art does not teach an exercise apparatus having a pair of exercise arms that each can pivot with respect to the table, and rotate 360 degrees, thereby enabling a broad range of exercises using a single, simple construction. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Rigid polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams are manufactured by reacting and foaming a mixture of ingredients, in general an organic polyisocyanate with a polyol or mixture of polyols, in the presence of a volatile liquid blowing agent. The blowing agent is vaporized by the heat liberated during the reaction of isocyanate and polyol causing the polymerizing mixture of foam. This reaction and foaming process may be enhanced through the use of various additives such as amine or tin catalysts and surfactant materials that serve to control and adjust cell size and to stabilize the foam structure during formation. Foams made with blowing agents such as CCl.sub.3 F ("CFC-11") and CCl.sub.2 FCH.sub.3 ("HCFC-141b") offer excellent thermal insulation, due in part to the very low thermal conductivity of CFC-11 and HCFC-141b vapor, and are used widely in insulation applications.
Flexible polyurethane foams are generally open-cell foams manufactured using an excess of diisocyanate that reacts with water, also included as a raw material, producing gaseous carbon dioxide and causing foam expansion. The flexible foams are widely used as cushioning materials in items such as furniture, bedding, and automobile seats. Auxiliary physical blowing agents such as methylene chloride and/or CFC-11 are required in addition to the water/diisocyanate blowing mechanism in order to produce low density, soft grades of foam.
Many foam producers have converted from chlorofluorocarbon ("CFC") blowing agents, such as CFC-11, to environmentally safer hydrochlorofluorocarbon ("HCFC") agents and hydrocarbons. However, HCFCs, such as HCFC-141b, also have some propensity to deplete stratospheric ozone albeit significantly less than that of the CFCs.
Hydrocarbon agents, such as n-pentane, isopentane, and cyclopentane, do not deplete stratospheric ozone, but are not optimal agents because foams produced from these blowing agents lack the same degree of thermal insulation efficiency as foams made with the CFC or HCFC blowing agents. Further, the hydrocarbon blowing agents are extremely flammable. Because rigid polyurethane foams must comply with building code or other regulations, foams expanded with a blowing agent composed only of hydrocarbons often require addition of expensive flame retardant materials to meet the regulations. Finally, hydrocarbon blowing agents are classified as Volatile Organic Compounds and present environmental issues associated with photochemical smog production in the lower atmosphere.
In contrast to the foregoing blowing agents, hydrofluorocarbons ("HFCs") such as 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane ("HFC-245fa") do not deplete stratospheric ozone. This invention provides azeotrope-like compositions based on HFC-245fa and hydrocarbons for use as blowing agents for polyurethane-type foams.
Azeotropic blowing agents possess certain advantages such as more efficient blowing than the individual components, lower thermal conductivity or K-factor, and better compatibility with other foam raw materials. Additionally, azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are desirable because they do not fractionate upon boiling or evaporation. This behavior is especially important where one component of the blowing agent is very flammable and the other component is nonflammable because minimizing fractionation during a leak or accidental spill minimizes the risk of producing extremely flammable mixtures.
This invention provides azeotrope-like compositions that are environmentally safe substitutes for CFC and HCFC blowing agents, that have a reduced propensity for photochemical smog production, and that produce rigid and flexible polyurethane foams and polyisocyanurate foams with good properties. The invention also provides blowing agent compositions with reduced flammability hazards compared to hydrocarbon blowing agents.
Foams made with the blowing agent compositions of this invention exhibit improved properties, such as thermal insulation efficiency, improved solubility in foam raw materials, and foam dimensional stability, when compared to foams made with hydrocarbon blowing agents alone. Although the compositions of the invention contain a hydrocarbon, it is present as a minor component and, overall, the compositions are nonflammable. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibration control apparatus, a lithography apparatus, and a method of manufacturing an article.
Description of the Related Art
In a lithography apparatus for forming a pattern on a substrate, the vibration of the main body of the lithography apparatus caused by the vibration of a base (floor) or the like may deteriorate the overlay precision, the image resolving performance or fidelity of a formed pattern, or the like. To cope with this, the lithography apparatus can use a vibration control apparatus for controlling the vibration of an object such as a surface plate on which the main body is mounted.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-21190 discloses a vibration reduction apparatus which reduces the vibration of an object supported by a base via a support (for example, a gas spring) for passively damping a vibration from the base. The vibration reduction apparatus includes an actuator for driving the object and a sensor for detecting the vibration of the object, and performs negative feedback control of the actuator based on the detection result of the sensor. This can reduce the vibration transferred from the base to the object at the natural frequency of the support.
In the above-described vibration control apparatus, if the damping coefficient of the support is not considered, the performance of controlling the vibration of the object may deteriorate. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to an optical disc apparatus reading an information recorded on a recording surface of an optical disc and recording an information, and an optical pickup and an objective lens driving apparatus used therefore.
In the optical disc apparatus, in order to make recording and reproducing speeds of the information high, there has been known a method of making a rotating speed of the optical disc high. In accordance that the optical disc rotates at a higher speed, it is necessary to increase a driving force generated in a focusing coil and a tracking coil in order to make the objective lens driving apparatus to track the optical disc rotating at a high speed.
Accordingly, in order to increase the driving force of the objective lens driving apparatus, for example, in an optical disc apparatus described in patent document 1 (JP-A-2003-168230 (page 9, FIG. 9)), two branch yokes branched from a magnetic yoke are provided in a standing manner so as to be extended between focus coils. Therefore, an efficiency of a magnetic circuit is increased by increasing a rate of a coil portion generating an effective driving force with respect to an entire length of the coil.
In the conventional optical disc apparatus described in the patent document 1, since the branch yokes are arranged in an inner side of a bottom plate portion of the magnetic yoke, it is impossible to increase a height of the branch yokes in the case that the branch yokes are manufactured by being cut up from the bottom plate portion of the magnetic yoke. In other words, since the cut-up portion is manufactured in such a manner that the heights of the branch yokes are uniform while taking an uniformity of the magnetic circuit into consideration, it is unavoidable that the height of the branch yoke is equal to or less than one half of the height of the cut-up portion. In order to solve the problem, a thickness of the bottom plate portion is reduced by extending the bottom plate portion forming the branch yokes, whereby the height of the branch yokes is increased.
However, in accordance with these methods, in the case that the height of the branch yoke is reduced, a distribution of magnetic flux density becomes non-uniform in a height direction, and a dispersion of a driving force driving the objective lens driving apparatus is increased. Further, if the branch yoke becomes thin, a cross sectional area of a magnetic path becomes small, an efficiency of a magnetic circuit is lowered, and a complex working step is required. As a result, it is impossible to increase the driving force of the objective lens driving apparatus on the basis of any method.
On the contrary, if the branch yokes are cut up from an outer edge of the bottom plate portion of the magnetic yoke, the height and the thickness of the branch yokes can be set to predetermined values. However, since it is necessary to guide a laser light to an objective lens in the objective lens driving apparatus, an opening at least equal to or larger than a light flux of the light guided to the object lens is necessary in the bottom plate portion of the magnetic yoke. Since a width of the bottom plate portion from the opening to the branch yoke is limited, a cross sectional area of the magnetic path is lowered. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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It is well known in motor vehicles to provide an air bag module mounted beneath an opening in the instrument panel. The module typically includes a metal housing having opposing side walls and end walls defining an air bag deployment opening. The module also typically includes an air bag having a mouth portion mounted to the housing by an air bag retainer. The module typically includes a cover for overlying the housing and for maintaining the air bag in the folded condition. Upon air bag inflation, the cover breaks open and the air bag deploys out from the housing through an opening in the instrument panel.
It is also known in the prior art that the housing my be formed as an extrusion. Extruded housings of the prior art typically have complex shapes with two or more straight side and bottom walls and sharply angled walls which add complexity to the extrusion process. Also, extruded housings of the prior art typically include a secondary manufacturing process or an extra component to provide diffusion of inflator gas. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates to a method of controlling fuel injection from a fuel injection pump provided in an internal combustion engine, especially a diesel engine, and more particularly to a method of controlling fuel injection from a fuel injection pump in which pilot fuel injection is carried out precedently of main fuel injection.
In the diesel engine, in general, there is produced loud combustion noise due to delayed firing of fuel, particularly markedly when the engine is under a low speed operation or a low load operation.
In reducing such combustion noise, pilot injection (preliminary injection) is known to be effective. The pilot injection is defined as injection of part of the total amount of fuel to be injected which corresponds to an amount of fuel to be consumed in one cycle, precedently of the main injection, whereby the fuel precedently injected undergoes firing to thereby sufficiently increase the temperature of the interior of the engine cylinder. Thereafter, the rest of the fuel is injected (main injection).
Conventionally, Japanese Provisional Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 60-125754 is known to disclose such a fuel injection pump having the above-described function of pilot injection. In this conventional fuel injection pump, a solenoid valve is provided between a high pressure chamber for pressurizing fuel to be pressure delivered to injection nozzles and a low pressure chamber for supplying fuel to the high pressure chamber to control overflow of fuel from the high pressure chamber to the low pressure chamber. The solenoid valve is controlled to selectively open and close during pressurizing and pressure delivery of fuel depending on operating conditions of an engine, whereby the supply of fuel to injection nozzles is intermittently carried out for pilot injection and main injection.
However, in the known fuel injection pump, the time actual firing of fuel injected by pilot injection takes place in the cylinder is detected, and the main injection is started when a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time actual firing of fuel injected by pilot injection takes place as a reference time. The time of firing of fuel injected by pilot injection can vary due to different states of operation of the engine. Accordingly, the starting time of main injection can vary which is set with reference to the actual firing time of fuel injected by pilot injection. In the meanwhile, the time of termination of the main injection cannot be postponed to a time later than the time determined by the construction of the pumping mechanism including a cam disk for driving of the plunger. That is, according to the method of electronically controlling fuel injection, employed by the known fuel injection pump, if the time of firing of fuel injected by pilot injection is delayed, the time of starting of main injection is delayed accordingly, which results in failure in securing a desired time period of main injection. Consequently, the desired amount of fuel injected through main injection, and accordingly, the desired total amount of fuel injected through pilot injection and main injection cannot be obtained, thus making it impossible for the fuel injection pump having the function of pilot injection to carry out stable fuel injection control. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Hot-melt extrusion (HME) is a widely applied technique in the plastics industry and has been demonstrated to be a viable method to prepare several dosage forms of pharmaceutical compositions. Hot-melt extruded dosage forms are typically mixtures of active medicaments, functional excipients, and processing aids. HME also offers several functional advantages over traditional pharmaceutical processing techniques such as wet, dry and melt granulation. Such advantages include absence of solvents, few processing steps, continuous operation, the possibility of the formation of solid dispersions/solid solutions and improved bioavailability. HME process can be carried out in a single screw extruder or a twin-screw extruder. Due to the self-cleaning advantage and configurable mixing capability of the co-rotating twin-screw extruder, the co-rotating twin-screw is increasingly preferred as the device for carrying out the HME process. Conventional HME process involves embedding a drug in a carrier under controlled conditions such as temperature, residence time, mixing energy input, feed rate and pressure and forcing it through an orificed die or an open die to collect the hot viscous mass or melt in the form of a strand, film or a lump. A conventional extruder for HME process includes an intake zone through which the mixture of active ingredients and suitable excipients are introduced, a melt zone for forming a viscous mass or melt and a conveying zone for conveying the hot viscous mass or melt out of the extruder. The barrel in the extruder is divided into different temperature zones that are set to specific temperatures as per the need of the extrusion process. Typically, the temperature of the viscous mass/melt along the length of the barrel is maintained such that there is no solidification inside the extruder. (For example, Vasanthavada et al., 2010 suggest the cooler zone is towards the feeder and the warmer zone towards the exit). Heat for fusion is supplied by the mechanical shear dissipation from the rotating screws inside the extruder as well as from the outside heaters that are typically electrical in nature. The extrudate exiting the extruder is a hot viscous mass or melt that can be shaped to a desired form depending on the shape of the die (cylindrical die yields a strand or slit die yields a film) that can be sized to desired lengths or passed on to a chill roll unit and pressed against the rollers to form thin sheet that will generally flake into smaller pieces.
The extrudate is then subjected to further processing by auxiliary downstream devices, typically a size reduction step to form particles of required size. Free flowing particles are used for compression, capsule filling and/or molding into tablets. Fine particles with narrow size distribution are generally required for oral suspensions. There are limitations on the materials that can be used as carriers; as such materials should be amenable to size reduction since low melting solids cannot be milled effectively and efficiently. The limitation in selection of material that can be size reduced may be a factor in restricting the enhancement in solubility, bioavailability, tastemasking, or sustained release of the pharmaceutical composition.
Spray congealing and spray drying are also known methods for producing fine particles. Spray congealing is carried out by spraying a viscous melt to generate droplets in a cooling chamber. Spray drying is carried out with a fluid material containing solvents that is injected into a heated chamber where the generated droplets are dried to form fine powders. Both processes require large foot-prints for limited capacities of production. Spray congealing is a dedicated facility for limited type of fluid material and offers limited flexibility for varied pharmaceutical preparations. Spray drying involves use of a large amount of solvents that may not meet environmental concerns and does not offer scalability from laboratory equipment to commercial equipment. All batch type processes create variability from lot to lot.
Conventional HME process further requires a multiple equipment setup, under controlled environmental conditions to process pharmaceutical compositions. The process also tends to compromise on one or more desired properties of the pharmaceutical composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,650 to Breitenbach describes a process for the continuous production of solid, particulate preparations of bioactive substances, in which the bioactive substances are homogeneously dispersed in a matrix of thermoplastic auxiliaries, in a screw extruder having an extruder barrel. The extruder is divided into a plurality of zones, so that the process comprises firstly melting the matrix auxiliaries and mixing the bioactive components with the matrix auxiliaries in a heatable zone of the extruder to form a mixture, and subsequently cooling, precomminuting and finally grinding the mixture in a cooling zone of the extruder to form a powder. It is crucial for success of the process that pure conveying elements are employed in the first part of the cooling zone, in order to minimize the energy input and reduce the shear stress and to maximize the rate of cooling of the melt below the softening point. The process further requires that the matrix polymers are preferably soluble in water but are at least swellable in water. Accordingly, this process is not suitable for all excipients such as fatty acids, glyceryl behenate and waxes; and particularly stearic acid that form a waxy lump on cooling that is not amenable for comminuting inside the extruder. The pure conveying zone resulting in rapid cooling prior to comminuting also produces some powders with exposed active medicament.
It is therefore desirable to have an improved process for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions in the form of particles that can enable improved drug delivery systems, using all excipients and particularly excipients such as fatty acids like stearic acid, glyceryl behenate and waxes that are not amenable to milling. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,136 issued on Apr. 9, 1985 to W. K. Moberg claims 1,2,4-triazole derivatives of the following formula: ##STR1## and their use as fungicides. The substitutent groups, Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2, are limited to H or CH.sub.3.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,922 issued on July 23, 1985 to W. K. Moberg discloses fungicidal imidazoles and triazoles containing silicon of the following formula: ##STR2##
The A group in the ring is limited to CH or N.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,798 discloses compounds of the formula: ##STR3## wherein
R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 can be lower alkyl and phenyl. It is stated that these compounds are useful as antimicrobial agents.
U.S.S.R. Pat. No. 346,306 discloses silylmethylazoles of the formula: EQU (R.sub.1).sub.n (R.sub.2 O).sub.3-n SiCH.sub.2 Az
wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl groups, n is 0-3, and Az is a pyrazole, imidazole, or benzimidazole ring, optionally substituted.
European Pat. No. 11,769 teaches that compounds of the general formula: ##STR4## wherein R is a substituted phenyl, naphthyl or tetrahydronaphthyl ring;
R.sub.1 is a substituted phenyl or cycloalkyl ring; PA1 R.sub.2 is H, or together with R.sub.1 it may form an annelated aryl or alkyl ring; PA1 R.sub.3 is halogen, alkyl, alkoxy or haloalkyl; PA1 n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and PA1 X is CH or N, PA1 R.sub.2 is substituted phenyl or benzyl, PA1 R.sub.1 is CN, H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, substituted aryl, or substituted aralkyl; PA1 R.sub.2 is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, substituted aryl, substituted aralkyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, OH, substituted aryloxy, or substituted aralkyloxy; PA1 m is 0 or 1; and PA1 n is 1 or 2, PA1 R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are independently H, CN, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, aralkyl, or substituted aralkyl; and PA1 W is a 1- or 4-(1,2,4-triazole), PA1 R.sub.1 is ##STR10## naphthyl, --CR.sub.7 .dbd.CHR.sub.8, or --C.tbd.CR.sub.7 ; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, vinyl, CH.sub.2 CR.sub.9 .dbd.CR.sub.10 R.sub.11, ##STR11## or OR.sub.12 provided that both R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may not be OR.sub.12 ; PA1 R.sub.4 is H or CH.sub.3 ; PA1 R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently H, F, Cl, Br, OCH.sub.3, SCH.sub.3, OCF.sub.2 H, OCF.sub.3, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, phenyl, or halophenyl; PA1 R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 are independently H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; or ##STR12## R.sub.9, R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 are independently H or CH.sub.3 : X is H, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenyl, ethynyl, F, Cl, Br, I, NO.sub.2, SH and its corresponding disulfide, SeH and its corresponding diselenide, ##STR13## Y is H, F, Cl, Br, I, ##STR14## SSR.sub.17, CO.sub.2 CH.sub.3, CHO, or SH and its corresponding disulfide; PA1 Z is CH or N; PA1 m is 0 or 1; PA1 n is 0, 1, or 2; PA1 R.sub.12 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; PA1 R.sub.13 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, allyl, benzyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylcarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkylcarbonyl; PA1 R.sub.14 and R.sub.15 are independently H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, allyl, benzyl, or phenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents independently selected from halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, NO.sub.2 or SCH.sub.3 ; PA1 R.sub.16 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkenyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.8 cycloalkenyl, alpha-pinenyl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, or phenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents independently selected from halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, NO.sub.2 or SCH.sub.3 ; PA1 R.sub.17 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, allyl, benzyl or phenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents independently selected from halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, NO.sub.2 or SCH.sub.3 ; PA1 R.sub.18 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, CH.sub.2 SCN, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenyl, CHR.sub.9 (CHR.sub.10).sub.m CN, CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 R.sub.14, C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alkynyl, CH.sub.2 NO.sub.2, benzyl, CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3, ##STR15## R.sub.19 is CH.sub.3, phenyl, or benzyl; R.sub.20 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, CH.sub.2 CN, CH.sub.2 SCN, or allyl; PA1 R.sub.21 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkyl, CH.sub.2 CN, or CH.sub.2 SCN; PA1 X is F, Cl, I, ##STR18## SSR.sub.17, or SH and its corresponding disulfide; and Y is H. PA1 R.sub.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, allyl, or OR.sub.12 ; PA1 R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently H, F, Cl, Br, phenyl, or halophenyl substituted at the 4-position; and PA1 X is I, ##STR19## SSR.sub.17, or SH and its corresponding disulfide.
are useful as antimicrobial agents.
European Pat. No. 15,756 discloses compounds of the formula: ##STR5## wherein R.sub.1 is alkyl, cycloalkyl, or substituted phenyl; and
and their use as agricultural fungicides.
European Pat. No. 36,153 discloses compounds of the formula: ##STR6## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are H or Cl, provided that at least one of R.sub.1 or R.sub.3 is Cl,
and their use as antimicrobials.
Belgian Pat. No. 867,245 discloses compounds of the formula: ##STR7## wherein Z is aryl;
and their use as agricultural fungicides.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,210 discloses compounds of the formula: ##STR8## wherein Z is an aryl or substituted aryl group;
and their use as agricultural fungicides. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In recent years the expansion of computer use, the Internet and other factors have contributed to a global economy and global work environment. It is not uncommon for those in business and industry to interact on a daily basis with others in many countries. In fact, it is increasingly common for co-workers of an individual company to communicate regularly with others within the same company who are in other countries—anywhere around the world. With the increased prevalence of a global workforce and global interaction, the ability to communicate in other languages is becoming a necessity.
Further, while computer and printing technology has accelerated rapidly, in many instances the usefulness of high-speed communication devices and high-speed printers is of limited use for effecting communication of documents between users who are fluent in different languages. For example, a person may create a document in English and wish to send the document to users who understand only German. The difficulties associated with document communication may be further exacerbated in situations where the number of people and exclusive languages understood by each increase to three or more. The English document may have little or no use to correspondents who do not understand it. Of course, the document may be translated by a person who performs language translation services, but locating and enlisting the services of such skills can be a time consuming and costly process. Further, employing a translator each time a document is produced greatly reduces the efficiency associated with business and personal communication.
Alternatively, documents may be translated using a software program having language translation capabilities. Although language translation software applications are not typically as accurate as translations performed by persons skilled in language translation, language translation software tools are an attractive alternative for many computer users because the software may be used immediately upon receiving documents to quickly perform a rough translation.
Unfortunately, if a user opts to use a language translation software application to translate documents, the software program must be installed on the user's computer and the user must learn how to operate the language translation software. Moreover, when language translation software is used to translate documents, the usual single-step method of printing documents becomes a multiple step process. The additional steps may include receiving and opening the document, storing the document in a memory location on the user's computer, launching the language translation software, supplying the document to the translation software and executing the translation of the document. Further, if there are several users, each of whom need a different language translation, the document creator may have to perform the multiple steps many times. In addition, there are many printers available now for printing multiple copies, often called mopies, which can be collated. In some instances, there are needs to print mopies in several different languages for the same reasons rehearsed above, however the capability to do so is lacking.
Some existing copiers and printers are capable of evenly distributing output from a job between a plurality of trays in a collated manner. That is, it is known to collate output copies in a single language to form multi-page documents by depositing a copy of a first page of a multi-page original document in each of a plurality of output receptacles. A copy of the second page of the original is then copied and deposited into each of the output receptacles. This process continues until a complete set of all the pages of the original document is in a corresponding number of the output receptacles. Other collating methods are known. For example, it is known to produce collated output documents by depositing a complete multi-page document in a first output receptacle, then, depositing a second complete multi-page document in a second output receptacle, depositing a third complete document in a third receptacle, and so on, until the desired number of complete copies of the original have been produced. The prior art also includes a number of methods broadly dealing with document delivery to trays of document production apparatuses.
The teachings of this prior art, however, leave many problems in this field unresolved. While the printing of multiple copies has been limited in the past due to the generally higher cost of a printed page as compared to a photocopied page, technological advances have made the printing of multiple copies cost competitive as compared to photocopying. The result is that many modem printer users utilize a printer to produce multiple copies of documents. By way of example, a user may wish to print thirteen copies of an original in a first language to a first work group, four copies of the original in a second language to a second work group, nine copies of the original in a third language to a third work group, sixty-seven copies of the original in a fourth language to a fourth work group, and twenty one copies of the original in a fifth language to a fifth work group. The only known method for accomplishing these results would be to execute separate translating and printing jobs for each work group, or to execute one large print job and then manually subdivide and translate each of the respective work group copies in required numbers in subsequent steps. Further, each of these workgroups may have need for copies in two or more different languages depending on the fluency of the group members. Executing separate copy jobs, creating language translations, and/or manually separating an aggregate job is not practical when the required number of distribution sets becomes large.
These and other problems remain unresolved in the art. Thus, there is a need in the art for a system and method of producing multiple hardcopies of an electronic document in two or more languages as specified by a user. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-speed rotary machine, and more particularly, to a convenient device with full functions and equipment to facilitate the application.
2. Description of the Prior Art
First of all, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the prior art high-speed rotary machine includes a main body 10 on which a cylindrical body 11 is disposed. The cylindrical body 11 is fitted with a crank 12 at the outer side thereof so that a turning toothed disc 13 is driven by a driving device 14 for the toothed disc. Thereafter, a driven gear 15 is driven by the driving device 14 for the toothed disc to bring a locking device 16 in rotation. Furthermore, the tool 18 (screwdriver heads or bits) plugged in the insertion hole 17 at the front end of the locking device 16 is brought into a rapid rotation.
The prior art high-speed rotary machine can reach an expected high-speed rotary effect; however, it has the following inconveniences:
1. No blocking mechanism is provided on the locking device 16. Accordingly, when the application torsion value has to be increased (when the screw is tightened at the last step or when the screw is loosened at the first step), one hand has to hold on the main body 10 and the other hand holds the crank 12 in order to turn the whole main body 10 to an expected direction. But it presents a great inconvenience.
2. No preferable locating device for fixing the tools 18 is provided in the insertion hole 17 of the locking device 16 so that it""s uneasy for the tools 18 to be separated from the insertion hole 17.
3. No tool accommodation is provided in the main body 10 for receiving and storing all kinds of tools 18.
4. The crank 12 is fitted to a single side of the main body 10. However, the user has to adjust the direction of the main body 10 and its crank 12 at any time due to the using habit of the user with the left and right hand or due to restriction of the working site.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a high-speed rotary machine having a through insertion hole which is aligned with two holes at the left and right of the main body for the crank to insert into any side thereof according to the user""s habit or the convenience of the work; moreover, an illuminating device and two tool accommodations are provided for adjusting to the operation and using requirements. Accordingly, the practicality and the convenience of the present invention are enhanced.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a high-speed rotary machine in which a locking device is provided in the most simple manner in order for the user to exactly and rapidly enhance the application torsion and to carry out the screw-tightening at the last step or the screw-loosening at the first step. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a pitching device with a gravity return and more particularly to a pitching device with a retaining chamber in which a target means is suspended recessed within the retaining chamber and with a collecting means in the lower portion of the retaining means. The collecting means directs the baseballs by gravity to an outlet which is connected to a gravity return.
Various target devices are known and disclosed in the prior art. The concept of throwing at some type of a target and being hopefully able to collect the thrown baseballs has been shown in numerous embodiments. Certain of the various patents also show a return means normally using a chute of some type for directing the baseballs back to the pitcher. However, most of the known devices do not use a return. Where the baseballs are returned, the known units frequently have a system for either throwing the ball back or lifting the ball high in the air onto a conveyor to send the baseballs back to the pitcher.
Some of these devices are usable and provide a helpful means to a person learning to throw a baseball to develop skill without assistance from other players such as a catcher to receive the baseballs. Such devices permit a pitcher to train independently of other people and know when the thrown ball is in fact thrown into the strike zone as required by the game of baseball.
The targets themselves are also of various types. A plain impact receiving mat is known, but numerous of the inventions have used flags and spinners and buttons of various types, as well as even complicated electronic devices to show where the baseball is struck. The spinners and the flaps, for example, are mounted on an axis or a supporting cord, and, unfortunately, only too often, the baseball, rather than hitting the spinners or flages, strikes the string or axis causing the ball to bounce backwardly and thus not be collected in the collecting system. It is not always possible for the pitcher always to see where he had thrown a baseball. To overcome this, some patents have used complicated electronic devices to indicate where the baseball was thrown.
By throwing the baseball into a mat, which is sufficiently soft and heavy to absorb the impact of the pitch, an indentation in the mat will occur showing the pitcher where the last ball has struck. Also, the baseball will drop, no matter where the baseball strikes the mat, down to the collecting means. Providing the baseball is sufficiently well thrown so as to enter the retaining chamber, even if it fails and strikes the mat, it will be returned to the pitcher because the baseball which missed the mat will strike the tarpaulin to the rear of the mat. Since the mat is recessed within the retaining chamber, the slight extent that the baseballs bounce backwardly from the mat will not be sufficient for the baseballs to bounce out of the retaining chamber.
Of course, an extremely wild pitch outside the perimeter of the retaining enclosure will not be returned, but by making the retaining enclosure substantially larger than the strike zone which is the same as the mat size, most all baseballs thrown, even by the least experienced pitcher, will be returned to the pitcher by means of this invention.
Many of the devices already known, although workable, are expensive to build. Those using motors and conveyors and using electronic systems for signaling obviously are expensive. Furthermore, they are heavy to move and require electrical energy at the site. Frequently, an electrical power source is not available in parks and fields where pitchers practice.
What is needed is an inexpensive device that can readily be put together and dissassembled and which is sufficiently light to be moved onto a practice area without need of an available electrical source and which provides the pitcher with knowledge of where his ball has been thrown, retains the baseball and returns the baseball to the pitcher by gravity.
The use of the invention provides a lightweight pitching device for training a baseball pitcher which can be used in any location and can be readily assembled and moved and is sufficiently inexpensive so as to be available not only to professional ball players, but by children and other amateurs wishing to practice the art of proper pitching.
These and various other problems were not satisfactorily resolved until the emergence of the instant invention. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to integrated circuit packaging, and more particularly to pin fin heat sinks and construction methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cooling semiconductor devices generally requires the use of a relatively thick Thermal Interface Material (TIM) to absorb differences in surface flatness between a heat sink and a device being cooled. These materials and the processes for inserting them into systems increase thermal resistance and decrease system reliability for a variety of reasons. Compliant Thermal Interface (CTI) heat sinks circumvent this issue by having a surface that can conform to a surface of a chip. Such systems typically include a metal spring layer. These systems are expensive. Related Compliant Pin Fin (CPF) heat sinks include a bed of rigid pins, which generally incorporate internal springs. However, a useable process for creating such devices for either Single Chip Modules (SCMs) or Multi-Chip Modules (MCMs) has not been available. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The management of contact information is one of the most frequent, and important, tasks in the everyday lives of individuals and businesses alike. For individuals, the management of contact information underlies all of their personal and professional communications. For businesses, the management of contact information underlies all professional communications with customers, partners, and others. Despite the frequency and importance of the task, technology has not to date solved many of the problems associated with the management of contact information.
For example, one's contact list—the list of all others, individuals and businesses, for whom one has contact information, together with the contact information—often is less expansive than one desires and contains information that is incomplete, inaccurate, and in a non-uniform format (meaning some or all of such information is not useful for automated processing, such as in speed dialing). This problem is largely due to the fact that the transfer of contact information from one to another typically requires manual transcription (e.g., writing or typing) of such information by the sender and/or receiver of the information. Manual transcription of such information is burdensome, time-consuming, and prone to human error. This problem is also due to the fact that it is difficult, often impossible, to find the contact information one needs. For example, privacy concerns prevent many (even most) individuals from listing their contact information in directories. What information is listed in public directories is often incomplete, inaccurate, and in a non-uniform format. Moreover, current directory services or search engines are largely unable to handle anything other than straightforward search requests. If one is successful in finding the needed information, the transfer of it again typically requires manual transcription, making it difficult or unfeasible to preserve the information in one's contact list.
For another example, one's contact list often contains information that is out of date (and thus inaccurate and/or incomplete); meaning, the contact information for one or more individuals or businesses in one's contact list has changed since last entered in the list, and thus the list does not contain the up-to-date information. This problem is due in part to the manual transcription requirement for sending and/or receiving updated contact information. This problem is also due in part to the substantial other effort typically required for communications between the sender (or would-be sender) of updated contact information and each of the many receivers (or would-be receivers) of such information. Such effort is also burdensome, time-consuming, and prone to human error.
For another example, one's contact list often does not contain “special-purpose” contact information (which may be of a personal or professional nature), like an individual's temporary contact information while on a business trip. Conversely, one's contact list often contains special-purpose contact information that is not valid, cluttering the list and sometimes confused with or overwritten in the place of valid information; for example, the individual has returned from his business trip, but his temporary contact information (no longer valid) remains in one's list. These problems are due in part to the manual transcription requirement and the multiple-communications requirement, on the parts of both the sender (or would-be sender) and receivers (or would-be receivers) of special-purpose contact information. These problems are also due in part to the substantial other effort typically required for repeatedly auditing the validity of special-purpose contact information in one's contact list. Such effort is also burdensome, time-consuming, and prone to human error.
For another example, one's contact list often does not contain contact information of unknown others whose contact information may be of interest. That is, for example, contact information is, like an advertisement, promotional in nature; indeed, it is a central part of any and all advertisements. However, one is often unaware of others offerings goods or services of interest. This problem is due in part to the fact that—though, for example, on-line search advertising is a fairly effective way to reach those likely to have an interest in one's goods or services—there are few if any effective ways to target one's contact information (or an advertisement) at the consumer who is not actively searching for it. This problem is also due in part to the manual transcription requirement; meaning, for example, even if a consumer stumbles upon an on-line advertisement of interest, it is often difficult or impossible to save it for later reference.
For another example, contact information in one's contact list is often lost. That is, for example, most individuals today store their contact lists in multiple electronic address books, each residing on one of the individual's multiple computing/communications devices (hereinafter “devices”), on-line at an internet service (e.g., AOL), or elsewhere. The devices may be misplaced, stolen, or damaged, or otherwise become inaccessible by the individual (e.g., when switching jobs and having to leave a desktop computer behind); and all contact information residing on a lost device, if not stored in another address book, is also lost. This problem is due in part to the manual transcription requirement and the auditing requirement for storing one's contact list in an address book that is less subject to loss. This problem is also due in part to the fact that, though there exist automated (at least partially) means for storing one's contact list in such an address book (e.g., an electronic address book stored on-line at an internet service), such means are prone to error and are burdensome and time-consuming to use.
For another example, contact information in one's contact list is often not available at the time or place it is needed. That is, for example, contact information stored on an individual's desktop computer may not be available to him when he is away from his computer and trying to place a call from his mobile phone. This problem is due in part to the manual transcription requirement and the auditing requirement for synchronizing the storage of one's contact list in multiple address books. This problem is also due in part to the fact that, though there exist automated (at least partially) means for synchronizing the storage of one's contact list in multiple electronic address books (including one stored on-line at an internet service), such means are prone to error and are burdensome and time-consuming to use.
For a final example, the contact information of others (in particular when taken together with one's own contact information) can yield valuable intelligence concerning one's relations to others; that is, for example, the information from multiple contact lists can reveal for one individual the “degrees of separation” between that individual and another with whom he desires to establish contact through mutual acquaintances. However, such valuable intelligence goes largely un-mined.
There exists the need for systems and/or methods to solve or alleviate these and other problems associated with the management of contact information. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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A door, an instrument panel, a ceiling material, a rear tray, a pillar, and the like, which are automotive interior materials, generally comprise a molded product and a covering material. As the molded product, a polyolefin molded product is mainly used. On the other hand, a covering material made of a polyurethane foam, a fabric lined with a polyurethane foam, polyolefin, or the like is used as the covering material. The molded product and the covering material are bonded by a pressure bonding method, a vacuum forming method or the like using an adhesive.
A solvent-based one-pack reactive adhesive is used as the adhesive for automotive interior up to date particularly in order to secure creep resistant properties on heating. For example, in Patent Literature 1, a chloroprene rubber-based adhesive comprising modified polychloroprene, a tackifier, and an organic solvent is disclosed. In Patent Literature 2, an adhesive which contains a styrene block copolymer and liquid rubber in combination and do not contain halogen such as chlorine is disclosed. However, the level of environmental requirements is increased, and therefore a switch from the solvent, one-pack, reactive adhesive to a solvent-free adhesive is desired.
Examples of the alternative candidate to render the solvent-based adhesive for automotive interior free from solvents include a hot-melt adhesive. Among the hot-melt adhesives, a reactive hot-melt adhesive advantageously has excellent heat resistance. However, disadvantageously, it is difficult for the reactive hot-melt adhesive to keep a balance between a curing time and stability during application work and storage. In light of bonding properties when an adherend is a polyolefin molded product, a reactive polyolefin adhesive obtained by silane-modifying polyolefin, such as a composition disclosed in Patent Literature 3 is the candidate. However, the reactive polyolefin adhesive emits an organic solvent into an atmosphere by hydrolysis reaction during curing, and therefore there is a fear that the reactive polyolefin adhesive might lack in aptitude as an environment-friendly adhesive.
Among the hot-melt adhesives other than the reactive hot-melt adhesive, a non-reactive, hot-melt adhesive provides no fear that an organic solvent derived from raw materials and a hydrolysis reaction volatilizes from it, and the non-reactive, hot-melt adhesive is thus very greatly expected as the environment-responsive adhesive, and promising. The non-reactive hot-melt adhesive requires no curing time, and has high stability during application work and storage, which is convenient for users. As for a non-reactive adhesive having excellent bonding properties to polyolefin molded products, Patent Literature 4, for example, discloses a use of a hot-melt adhesive in which the surface temperature of a hot-melt adhesive when bonding is set to be equal to or higher than the temperature of the atmosphere when measuring a creep resistant on heating in order to obtain creep resistant properties on heating. | {
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Polyvinyl alcohol compositions are known and useful for a variety of applications. For example, polyvinyl alcohol films are used in packaging materials, such as granulated laundry detergent and pulverulent pesticides and insecticides. Packages prepared from these films separate the contents from exposure to the immediate surroundings and provide premeasured amounts of the packaged materials.
Polyvinyl alcohol compositions are water soluble, and rapidly dissolve in hot water. Thus, packages with materials designed for being slurried, dispensed or dissolved in water may be conveniently added to hot water, such as to the wash water of a washing machine when the package contains a laundry aid. As the package dissolves, the contents are dispensed.
However, polyvinyl alcohol films are brittle at low temperatures and low relative humidities. They have thus not found wide commercial use as soluble films in packaging consumer products which may be stored under conditions conducive to package breakage prior to use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,292, inventors Richardson et al., issued Sept. 19, 1978, discloses packets of detergent compositions in polyvinyl alcohol films which are useful in automatic dishwashers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,892,905, inventor Albert, issued July 1, 1975 and 4,155,971, inventor Wysong, issued May 22, 1979, both disclose polyvinyl alcohol film-forming compositions which dissolve in cold water. The former compositions are made from a polymer mixture of polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl pyrrolidone and a watersoluble plasticizer such as glycerol or polyethylene glycol. The latter discloses polyvinyl alcohol compositions including polyethylene glycol plasticizers which are said to impart enhanced resistance to package breakage.
U.K. patent application No. 2,090,603A, published July 14, 1982, inventor Sonenstein, discloses water soluble films comprising a uniform or homogeneous blend of water soluble polyvinyl alcohol and polyacrylic acid. The compositions are said to have high rates of solubility in both cold and hot water and to be of reduced sensitivity to humidity.
Nevertheless, the known water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol films useful as packaging or delivery pouches have continued to present problems of brittleness at low temperatures and low relative humidities. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and a method of manufacturing the same, and in particular, to a semiconductor memory device allowing electrical writing and erasing of information as well as a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Background Art
As one of nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices, there has been known an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) in which data can be freely programmed and which allows electrical writing and erasing of information. Although the EEPROM has an advantage that both writing and erasing can be executed electrically, it disadvantageously requires two transistors for each memory cell, and therefore integration to a higher degree is difficult. For this reason, there has been proposed a flash EEPROM including memory cells, each of which is formed of one transistor, and allowing electrical entire chip erasing of written electric information charges, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,619.
FIG. 53 is a block diagram showing a general structure of a flash EEPROM in the prior art. Referring to FIG. 53, the flash EEPROM includes a memory cell matrix 100, an X-address decoder 200, a Y-gate sense amplifier 300, a Y-address decoder 400, an address buffer 500, an I/O (input/output) buffer 600 and a control logic 700.
The memory cell matrix 100 includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. The X-address decoder 200 and Y-gate sense amplifier 300 are connected to the memory cell matrix 100 for selecting the rows and columns thereof. The Y-address decoder 400 is connected to the Y-gate sense amplifier 300 for applying selection information of column thereto. The address buffer 500 is connected to the X-address decoder 200 and Y-address decoder 400, and temporarily stores the address information.
The Y-gate sense amplifier 300 is connected to the I/O buffer 600 for temporarily storing I/O data. The control logic 700 is connected to the address buffer 500 and I/O buffer 600 for controlling an operation of the flash EEPROM. The control logic 700 carries out the control based on a chip enable signal (/CE), an output enable signal (/OE) and a program signal (/PGM).
FIG. 54 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing a schematic structure of the memory cell matrix 100 shown in FIG. 53. Referring to FIG. 54, the memory cell matrix 100 includes a plurality of word lines WL1, WL2, . . . , WL1 extending in a row direction and a plurality of bit lines BL1, BL2, . . . , BL1 extending in a column direction and perpendicularly crossing the word lines. At crossings of the word lines and bit lines, there are disposed memory transistors Q11, Q12, . . . , Q11 each having a floating gate electrode, respectively. Each memory transistor has a drain connected to the corresponding bit line, and a control gate electrode connected to the corresponding word line. A source of each memory transistor is connected to corresponding one of the source lines SL1, SL2, . . . , SL1, which are connected to source lines S1 and S2 disposed at opposite sides.
FIG. 55 is a schematic plan showing a flash EEPROM of a stack gate type in the prior art. FIG. 56 is a cross section taken along line Axe2x80x94A in FIG. 55. Referring to FIGS. 55 and 56, a structure of the flash EEPROM in the prior art will be described below.
Referring to FIG. 55, control gate electrodes 137 are mutually connected to form word lines extending in a lateral direction (row direction). Bit lines 139 extend perpendicularly to the word lines 137. Each bit line 139 connects drain diffusion regions 132, which are aligned in a longitudinal direction (column direction), to each other. The bit lines 139 are electrically connected to the drain diffusion regions 132 through drain contacts 140. Referring to FIG. 56, the bit line 139 extends over a smooth coat film 141. Referring to FIG. 55 again, source diffusion regions 133 extend along the word lines 137 and are formed in regions surrounded by the word lines 137 and element isolating oxide films 130. Each drain diffusion region 132 is formed in a region surrounded by the word line 137 and element isolating oxide film 130.
Referring to FIG. 56, at a main surface of a P-type silicon substrate 131, there are formed the drain diffusion regions 132 and source diffusion regions 133 at opposite sides of channel regions with predetermined spaces between each other. On the channel regions, there are formed floating gate electrodes 135 with a thin oxide film 134 of about 100 xc3x85 in thickness therebetween. The control gate 137 is formed on each floating gate electrode 135 with an interlayer insulating film 136 therebetween for electrically isolating them from each other. The floating gate electrode 135 and control gate electrode 137 are formed of polysilicon layers. A thermal oxide film 138 is formed by thermal oxidation of surfaces of the P-type silicon substrate 131 as well as floating gate electrode 135 and control gate electrode 137 made of polysilicon layers. The floating gate electrode 135 and control gate electrode 137 are covered with the smooth coat film 141 formed of an oxide film or the like.
An operation of the flash EEPROM will be described below with reference to FIG. 56.
In a writing operation, a voltage VD1 of about 6 to 8V is applied to the drain diffusion region 132, and a voltage VG1 of about 10 to 15V is applied to the control gate electrode 137. Thereby, electrons (holes) are accelerated by an electric field near the drain diffusion region 132 and obtain a high energy. The channel hot electrons (holes) which have obtained the high energy are attracted and injected into the floating gate electrode 135 by the electric field which is caused by the voltage VG1 applied to the control gate electrode 137. This is called channel hot electron (hole) injection. The channel hot electrons having the high energy impinge against lattices of silicon to generate electron hole pairs. The electrons (holes) thus generated are attracted and injected into the floating gate electrode 135 by the electric field which is caused by the voltage VG1 applied to the control gate electrode 137. This is called drain avalanche hot carrier injection. If electrons are accumulated in the floating gate electrode 135 by the channel hot electron injection and drain avalanche hot carrier injection, a threshold voltage Vth of the control gate transistor increases. The state where the threshold voltage Vth is higher than a predetermined value is a programmed state and is also referred to as a state of xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d.
In an erasing operation, a voltage Vs of about 10 to 12V is applied to the source diffusion region 133. The control gate electrode 137 is maintained at the ground voltage, and the drain diffusion region 133 is maintained at the floating state. The electric field generated by the voltage Vs applied to the source diffusion region 133 causes the electrons in the floating gate electrode 135 to pass through the thin oxide film 134 by virtue of an F-N (Fowler-Nordheim) tunneling phenomenon. Owing to the removal of electrons in the floating gate electrode 135 in this manner, the threshold voltage Vth of the control gate transistor decreases. This state where the threshold voltage Vth is lower than the predetermined value is an erased state, and is also referred to as a state of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d. Since the sources of transistors are mutually connected as shown in FIG. 55, entire chip erasing of all the memory cells is carried out by this erasing operation.
In reading operation, a voltage VG2 of about 5V is applied to the control gate electrode 137, and a voltage VD2 of about 1 to 2V is applied to the drain diffusion region 132. In this operation, the determination of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d described above is carried out based on whether a current flows through the channel region of the control gate transistor or not, i.e., whether the control gate transistor is in the on-state or off-state. Thereby, information is read.
FIG. 57 is a cross section specifically showing the writing operation of the conventional flash EEPROM. Referring to FIG. 57, the writing operation will be described in greater detail. Both the channel hot electrons (holes) and drain avalanche hot carriers are generated near the drain diffusion region 132. More specifically, the position where the channel hot electrons (holes) are generated is nearer to the source diffusion region 133 than the position where the drain avalanche hot carriers are generated. Therefore, a drain avalanche hot carrier injection region 150 and a channel hot electron (hole) injection region 160 are positioned as shown in FIG. 57. The gate voltage at the time of generation of the channel hot electrons (holes) is larger than the gate voltage at the time of generation of the drain avalanche hot carriers. This is disclosed, for example, in 1982 Symposium on VLSI Technology Digest of Technical Papers, pp. 40-41. FIG. 58 shows correlation between the gate voltage and the gate current corresponding to three different values of the drain voltage VD disclosed in the above reference. As can be seen from FIG. 58, the drain avalanche hot carrier injection is carried out when the gate voltage is low, and the channel hot electron injection is carried out when the gate voltage is high.
FIGS. 59-61 are cross sections showing a process of manufacturing the conventional flash EEPROM shown in FIG. 57. Referring to FIGS. 59-61, the process of manufacturing the conventional flash EEPROM will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 59, a silicon oxide film 134 of about 10 nm in thickness is formed on the surface of the P-type semiconductor substrate 131.
Then, as shown in FIG. 60, a polysilicon film 135, which has a thickness of about 50 to 100 nm and contains impurity introduced thereinto, is formed on the silicon oxide film 134. An interlayer insulating film 136 is formed on the polysilicon film 135. A polysilicon film 137, which has a thickness of about 100 to 200 nm and contains impurity introduced thereinto, is formed on the interlayer insulating film 136. A photoresist 138 is formed at a predetermined region on the polysilicon film 137.
Thereafter, anisotropic etching is effected on the polysilicon film 137, interlayer insulating film 136, polysilicon film 135 and silicon oxide film 134, using the photoresist 138 as a mask. Thereby, the silicon oxide film 134, floating gate electrode 135, interlayer insulating film 136 and control gate electrode 137 are formed as shown in FIG. 61. Thereafter, the photoresist 138 is removed.
Finally, as shown in FIG. 57, N-type impurity is ion-implanted into the P-type semiconductor substrate 131 using the control gate electrode 137 as a mask, whereby the source diffusion region 133 and drain diffusion region 132 are completed.
In the conventional flash EEPROM, the silicon oxide film 134 forms the insulating film under the floating gate electrode 135, so that efficiency of injection of channel hot electrons is low. In the conventional flash EEPROM, electrons injected into the floating gate electrode 135 by the channel hot electron (hole) injection account for 90% of all the electrons injected into the floating gate electrode 135. Therefore, if the efficiency of injection of channel hot electrons decreases, the writing efficiency also decreases remarkably. If the writing efficiency decreases, the speed of writing information also decreases, resulting in difficulty in increasing the speed of the device.
In order to improve the above low efficiency of injection of channel hot electrons, high gate and drain voltages may be applied. However, high gate and drain voltages may deteriorate the breakdown voltage and the reliability of a peripheral circuitry which drives a high voltage when elements are miniaturized to a higher extent.
Further, miniaturization of element causes a disadvantage that injection of drain avalanche hot carriers is liable to generate an interface level. More specifically, the drain avalanche hot carrier has less energy than the channel hot electron. Therefore, the hot carriers injected by the drain avalanche hot carrier injection are liable to stop at the interface between the silicon oxide film 134 and the semiconductor substrate 131 without reaching the floating gate electrode 135. For this reason, the drain avalanche hot carrier injection is liable to cause the interface level. Here, xe2x80x9cinterface levelxe2x80x9d means the energy level at the Si/SiO2 interface region allowing transmission of electric charges to and from the silicon substrate. Generation of such an interface level may cause disadvantages such as variation of the threshold voltage of memory transistors.
In the prior art, as described above, since the efficiency of implantation of channel hot electrons is low, the gate and drain voltages must be high, resulting in disadvantages such as deterioration of the breakdown voltage of the peripheral circuitry driving a high voltage. Further, in accordance with miniaturization of elements, it becomes more likely that the interface level is disadvantageously generated by the drain avalanche hot carrier injection.
An object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor memory device which improves an efficiency of injection of channel hot electrons and suppresses generation of an interface level, which may be caused by drain avalanche hot carrier injection.
Another object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor memory device which suppresses an interface level, which may be caused by drain avalanche hot carrier injection.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor memory device, which enables easy manufacturing of a semiconductor memory device having a high efficiency of injection of channel hot electrons and capable of suppressing generation of an interface level which may be caused by injection of drain avalanche hot carriers.
According to an aspect of the invention, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions, a first nitrided oxide film, a second nitrided oxide film, and a gate electrode. The source and drain regions are formed on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate with a predetermined space between each other and are located at opposite sides of a channel region. The first nitrided oxide film is formed at a drain avalanche hot carrier injection region on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and contains a first content of hydrogen. The second nitrided oxide film is formed at a channel hot carrier injection region on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and contains a second content of hydrogen larger than the first content. The gate electrode is formed on the channel region. Preferably, each of the first and second nitrided oxide film contains nitrogen at 2.5xc3x971020/cm3 or more, the first content is less than 3xc3x971020/cm3, and the second content is 3xc3x971020/cm3 or more.
In the semiconductor memory device according to this aspect of the invention, the first nitrided oxide film containing the first content of hydrogen is formed at the drain avalanche hot carrier injection region, so that the first nitrided oxide film suppresses injection of the drain avalanche hot carriers. At the same time, the second nitrided oxide film containing the second content of hydrogen larger than the first content is formed at the channel hot carrier injection region, so that the second nitrided oxide film improves the efficiency of injection of the channel hot carriers. Consequently, the write efficiency can be improved without increasing the gate and drain voltages in contrast to the prior art.
A semiconductor memory device according to another aspect of the invention includes a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions, a nitrided oxide film and a gate electrode. The nitrided oxide film is formed at least at a drain avalanche hot carrier injection region on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and contains nitrogen of 2.5xc3x971020/cm3 or more and hydrogen of less than 3xc3x971020/cm3.
In this semiconductor substrate, since the nitrided oxide film which contains nitrogen of 2.5xc3x971020/cm3 or more and hydrogen of less than 3xc3x971020/cm3 is formed at the drain avalanche hot carrier injection region, the nitrided oxide film suppresses injection of drain avalanche hot carriers. Thereby, generation of an interface level caused by the injection of drain avalanche hot carriers can be suppressed more effectively even if elements are miniaturized to a higher extent.
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor substrate according to an aspect of the invention includes the step of forming a source region and a drain region which are provided on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate with a predetermined space between each other and are located at opposite sides of a channel region. The method also includes the step of forming a first nitrided oxide film, which contains a first content of hydrogen, at a drain avalanche hot carrier injection region on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes the step of forming a second nitrided oxide film, which contains a second content of hydrogen larger than the first content, at a channel hot carrier injection region on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes the step of forming a gate electrode on the channel region.
In this method of manufacturing the semiconductor memory device, the first nitrided oxide film, which includes the first content of hydrogen, is formed at the drain avalanche hot carrier injection region on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The second nitrided oxide film, which contains the second content of hydrogen larger than the first content, is formed at the channel hot carrier injection region on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. Therefore, the method enables easy manufacturing of the semiconductor memory device which can improve an efficiency of injection of the channel hot carriers while suppressing injection of the drain avalanche hot carriers.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. | {
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Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view. Virtual reality (VR) is a technology by which a user interactively explores a computer-generated environment typically through the use of goggles. Some AR and VR systems require computer-generated (CG) or scanned three dimensional (3D) objects to be inserted into a video sequence. Often CG-generated or scanned 3D objects have fairly limited realism. Further, the design and creation of CG-generated 3D content is labor-intensive. Another drawback is captured panoramic videos only permit users to rotate their heads, but not move freely around a room. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates generally to image processing methods and systems for handheld devices, and, more particularly to methods and systems that apply image effects to preview images captured by an image capture unit of a handheld device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, portable devices, such as handheld devices, have become more and more technically advanced and multifunctional. For example, a handheld device may have telecommunication capabilities, e-mail message capabilities, an advanced address book management system, a media playback system, and various other functions. Due to increased convenience and functions of the devices, these devices have become basic necessities of life.
Generally, most handheld devices may be equipped with an image capture unit for capturing images. For example, users can take photos using the camera set on the handheld device. Currently, when users want to add related image effects to the image captured by the handheld device, users must first use the handheld device to capture an image, and transmit the image from the handheld device to a computer. Then, image editing software can be operated in the computer to process the image, such that related image effects can be added to the image.
Above image processing operations for images captured by the handheld devices require related operational knowledge and many manual operations. The required operations are time-consuming and inconvenient for users. | {
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Osteoporosis is a diseased condition or illness wherein the quantitative loss of bones has progressed beyond a certain limit with no substantial change in chemical composition of the bones. A decrease in the amount of protein, calcium and phosphorus in bones is its physiological feature. Osteoporosis is increased with aging, and is observed most commonly in the elderly. The disease usually invades the vertebrae, and induces dorsal lumbago and shortening of the height. Especially, in the advanced case, the disease invades the long bones. Therefore, fracture often occurs in patients suffering from osteoporosis. It is thought that the femoral fractures observed in old women and men is almost always caused by osteoporosis. Pathogenic factors in the disease are varied, including endocrine disorder and nutritional disorder. Therapeutic agents such as vitamine D.sub.3, calcium preparations, calcitonin, and phosphorus preparations are employed in the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis, but these are limited in effect to a given subject and can hardly be expected to show a definite effect on osteoporosis. Therefore, it has long been desired to develop a pharmaceutical agent having a significant effect.
Recently, it has been reported that a certain compound of 3-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-ones which is different from the above agents is useful as a therapeutic agent for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis in Japanese Patent Publication No. 13391/79 and Japanese Patent Application (OPI) Nos. 48924/85, 54379/85, 132917/85, 132976/85. (The term "OPI" as used herein refers to an unexamined Japanese patent application).
Up to now, with regard to benzofuro[3,2-c]quinoline compounds related to those of the present invention, the compounds represented by the following formulae (A) and (B) have been disclosed in Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, Vol. 53, pages 1057-1060 (1980), Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry, Vol. 21, pages 737-739 (1984). ##STR3##
These compounds were prepared in order to investigate their chemical reactivities and to test their activities as mutagens, carcinogens, and anti-tumor substances, but there is no specific disclosure as to their pharmacological activities in these references.
The compounds represented by the above formula (A) and the following formulae (C), (D) and (E) have been disclosed in CROATCA CHEMICA ACTA, Vol. 59, No. 1, pages 171-176 (1986). ##STR4##
This reference discloses a method for preparation of only compound (C). But there is no specific disclosure as to its pharmacological activity.
Furthermore, it has not been reported in any literature references that any of benzofuro[3,2-c]quinoline compounds is useful for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis.
The present inventors have investigated to find effective drugs for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis. As a result, the inventors have found that certain compounds of benzofuro[3,2-c]quinoline compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof exhibit a strong inhibitory action on bone resorption and a stimulatory effect on ossification, and thus that they are useful as therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
Furthermore, the inventors have found that the compounds of the present invention also exhibit a strong stimulatory effect on longitudinal bone growth. Therefore, they are more useful as the therapeutic agent stated above. | {
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(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for detecting a victim signal in a multi-band orthogonal frequency division multiplexing ultra wideband communication system.
(b) Description of the Related Art
For the use of UWB (Ultra Wide Band) systems in a particular frequency band to protect communication systems that exist or will be introduced in the future, a technology standard regulates that other communication signal of a certain level is to be detected and measures are to be taken to protect the detected communication signal. There are no specific worldwide common standards on the type of victim signal, a victim detection level, etc. to apply such a DAA (Detect And Avoid) technology standard to an actual communication system. Also, a victim communication system to be protected, a victim detection level for applying the avoid technology to UWB, and so on are differently set according to different countries.
The detect and avoid technology standard, as discussed so far, is mainly about an avoid algorithm that sets a victim signal detection level for protecting a victim signal and is applicable according to the victim signal detection level. For example, there is an avoid algorithm that, if a packet error rate received by MAC (Medium Access Control) is higher than a reference value, discriminates whether the packet error rate comes from other UWB device or other communication equipment and then performs an interference avoiding operation.
Moreover, to prevent UWB signal interference in a WiMax band for a victim signal, an avoid algorithm is proposed which controls a band including a null tone among 128 IFFT-mapped tones of an ultra wideband signal to be shifted to a band where an interference with an WiMax signal occurs. In addition, there is an avoid algorithm in which a UWB device detects the strength of a received signal of a UWB communication band, and if the detected strength of the received signal is within a determined range of interference, determines that it has a possibility of interference with other devices and selects a different UWB communication frequency band.
To apply the detect and avoid technology standard, when a victim signal of a specific received signal level is detected from a UWB device, it is necessary for the UWB device to decrease its communication output or switch its communication band to another frequency band within a specific length of time. Typically, in order to detect such a victim signal of a specific level, the presence or absence of a victim signal of a specific level is detected, while the communication of the UWB device is being stopped, within a specific time range of avoidance defined by the detect and avoid technology standard. In this case, the communication of the UWB device has to be stopped to detect a victim signal at specific time intervals even when no victim signal is present, thus significantly lowering the throughput of the UWB communication device.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. | {
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Recently, the tendency of using Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) as light source for electronic devices, lighting devices, etc. is continuously increasing. However, in order to completely replace with LEDs the traditional light sources, especially the indoor lighting devices, the intensity of the light emitted by the LEDs must be greatly enhanced.
There are LEDs with different nominal power. The nominal power is the electric power with which the LEDs shall be driven. The nominal power is limited. If a LED is driven with an electric power larger than the nominal power the increase in brightness is lower than below the nominal power. This effect is well known and to minimize this effect it is known to actively cool the LEDs. However, an active cooling is very laborious and in most applications of LEDs it is not possible to provide a suitable cooling mechanism. If the breakdown state is achieved the brightness can not be further increased even if a higher electric power is applied. The breakdown state is usually achieved with a current of more than about 40% to 50% of the nominal constant current. For example, if the nominal constant current is about 350 mA then the breakdowns state is achieved by about 500 mA.
The standard LEDs have a nominal power of about 1.2 W. There are also known high power LEDs with a nominal power of about 3 W or 5 W. A nominal constant current corresponds to a nominal power as the LEDs are always driven with a voltage of 3.5 V. So the nominal power is the nominal constant current multiplied with 3.5 V.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,694 discloses an illumination device using a pulse modulation technique for providing an increased light output for a given heat load. This illumination device is designed for being used in surgery applications. The power is supplied in pulses to periodically activate a short wavelength emitting LED. These light pulses are stimulating a phosphor-based color conversion system to produce white light. The light pulse from the LED briefly excites the phosphor system, producing a bright illumination during the interval while power is dissipated in the LED, the LED warms. After the pulse ends and before the next pulse begins, the LED cools because no more power is dissipated in the LED. The intensity of the illumination produced by the phosphor gradually decays between the light pulses. However, the average illumination produced over the entire period is higher than a conventional LED illumination device using constant power dissipation for a given heat load. As this device is designed to be used in a human body it is only driven with a low electric power, because otherwise the human body would be injured due to the created heat. | {
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The invention described herein relates generally to organic waste treatment systems, and more particularly to an aerobic composting or humus toilet system which uses controlled solar heating coupled with controlled air and moisture flow to accelerate, augment, and render more efficient the composting process, and to transform human excrement, organic kitchen, and/or garden materials into a valuable, nutrient-rich fertilizer and soil conditioner.
Whatever the advantages, there are several significant problems associated with the use of the well-known flush toilet and attendant sewer systems. For example, it is widely thought that such toilets are terribly wasteful of clean water. Typically, five gallons of drinkable water are dumped into the sewer system each time such toilets are flushed. In fact, the average person flushes five times a day, contaminating 9000 gallons of drinking water in a year at a cost of $18-45. All of this is done to process what ends up as 75-100 pounds of humus in a properly operating composting toilet. The usual ratio is approximately 100 parts by volume of clean water mixed with one part of human excrement. The water-excrement mixture is then transported to a central treatment facility where efforts, usually unsuccessful, to separate the two components take place. In other arrangements, the water-excrement mixture passes into cesspools or septic tanks, where the two components are also ultimately to be separated. Contaminated water also leaks out of sewer systems on its way to treatment facilities and even after treatment remains contaminated to some extent. The result is often the pollution of underground water supplies and wells and the contamination of lakes, rivers, coastal regions, and other waterways. There are also major problems associated with the disposal of the sludge that results from the treatment process required by sewer systems and the septage that remains after septic tank treatment. Both systems consume large quantities of clean water. Indeed, the very nature of water-borne waste treatment systems is such that 60-90% of the cost is in the pipes and pumps used to transport the material to the treatment site.
There are many areas that do not conveniently lend themselves to either sewer or septic systems, for example, locations remote from concentrations of population, islands and hilly or mountainous regions where the soil absorption is poor. Various forms of toilets have been used in such areas. In some regions, excrement is deposited in tanks which are from time to time removed by helicopter so that their contents may be treated at more conventional purification plants. There are also commercially available a number of composting toilets. Such toilets do address the water supply and ground and water contamination problems associated with flush toilets, and they are sometimes suitable alternatives for sewer or septic systems. However, the use of such commercially available composting toilets has brought with it its own problems. It is desirable that the decomposition processes used in such toilets be aerobic in nature (as opposed to anaerobic), but that is a goal more easily stated than actually obtained. Frequently, the decomposition processes are or become anaerobic in nature and produce thereby foul stenches, the possibility of a public health hazard from the spread of disease by pathogens that survive longer in an anaerobic decomposition process and environment and soil contamination from the leakage of an ammonia by-product. Some toilets, ostensibly aerobic, are only aerobic at or near the surface of the decomposing bio-mass. In addition, such systems typically do not work well (or at all) in cool or humid environments. In all cases, when anaerobic conditions occur a buildup of an excessive amount of liquid due to the inability of the system to effect its evaporation is observed. To meet this problem, electrical heat is sometimes provided, but its benefits are also often lost to cooler ambient air. As a result, in cool or cold temperatures biological activity slows or halts and instead of composting, in which input is reduced to approximately 5 to 10% of its original volume, one has a holding tank with little or no volume reduction. The contents of such tanks must, of course, be removed and further treated before they can safely be disposed of or returned to the earth.
In dry or warm climates the bio-mass will dry out too fast in the processing by available systems (including those using electric heat). This situation, although not as objectionable as anaerobic conditions, results in a bio-mass that has not been stabilized through the biochemical and digestive part of the composting process. This results in an end product that has additional biological activity when rewetted and will provide a breeding ground for disease vectors and, if left wet, will further decompose anaerobically, creating objectionable odors.
In general, energy introduced into the presently available composting toilets is generally uncontrolled and is frequently lost to the surroundings without performing the useful function of evaporation of excess liquid. In some instances, too uncontrolled energy is allowed through the bio-mass, rendering it dry and unstabilized.
The existing designs do not satisfactorily address the necessity for control of temperature, bio-mass moisture content, aeration, the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and pH, nor do they allow for variable environmental conditions. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computers, and more specifically, to autonomic reclamation processing for tapes.
2. Description of Related Art
Prior art teaches file systems which are stored on tapes such as the linear tape file system (LTFS). A file system on tape is denoted by an index, which represents metadata of the file system structure. This metadata includes a mapping of files to block addresses on tape. This metadata is typically stored on a file system formatted tape as well.
The Linear Tape File System (LTFS) is a tape file system that works in conjunction with Linear Tape Open Generation 5 (LTO-5) tape. LTFS allows mounting a LTO-5 tape cartridge, which is loaded in a LTO-5 tape drive as a file system in a server and store data on the LTO-5 tape cartridge just like in a common file system. LTFS uses the LTO-5 capabilities to create partitions on one LTO-5 tape. One partition is used to store the file system index and the other partition is used to store the file system data. The data format in which the file system index and the file system data are written is described in the LTFS format specification. The format of the file system index written to partition 1 is based on XML. From a tape perspective LTFS is like a storage management application reading and writing date from and to tape.
A tape cannot be written in a random fashion but rather sequentially from the beginning to the end. Thus it is not possible to write data to any position on tape but only at the position where the last write operation ended. When data on a tape needs to be overwritten then the tape must be written from the beginning Over time data, which has been written to tape, expires which causes data to become inactive. The remaining data is active. | {
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Certain algorithms may be implemented to convert binary into various types of visual glyphs, which may used to convey information to other devices when the glyphs are scanned. These types of glyphs could include one-dimensional or two-dimensional matrix barcodes, such as a universal product code (UPC) barcode and a quick response (QR) code. Glyphs, such as QR codes, are a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional barcode), which uses a machine-readable optical label that contains information that can by interpreted by devices utilizing the appropriate software. In many cases, the QR code conveys information about an item to which it is attached. A single QR code can contain up to around 4,000 bytes of data, but the maximum practical QR code size is around 2,000 bytes. Although QR codes are a well-known means of conveying information, they can be interpreted quite easily due to their ubiquity. What is needed is a means for protecting the information of the QR code before the binary data is converted to its respective QR code. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing various types of lens-fitted photographic film packages, by which production costs can be remarkably lowered. The present invention also relates to lens-fitted photographic film packages produced according to this method.
2. Related Art
Lens-fitted photographic film packages (hereinafter called simply film packages) are now on the market. Each such film package is a single-use throwaway camera that makes it possible to take pictures whenever desired without buying or carrying about an expensive and heavy camera. Recently, various types of film packages other than a standard film package with no flash unit have been known, including a film package with a flash unit, a film package for telephotography, a film package for panoramic photography and so forth, for example, from Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Applns. Nos. 63-20082, 2-104340 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,719) and 4-1528.
The film packages for telephotography and those for panoramic photography (hereinafter called simply telephoto-type film packages and panoramic film packages, respectively) disclosed in the above-mentioned publications, have different constructions, for example, different housings, different focal lengths of taking lenses and different exposure mechanisms from those of the standard film package, in accordance with the photography type. Therefore, various kinds of plastic molds for forming respective parts of the various types of film packages are necessary. Moreover, since the procedure of assembling of each type film package is different from the others, it is necessary to provide an individual assembly line for each type. Consequently, the variation of the film package militates against lowering the production cost. | {
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The present invention relates to a device for generating electromagnetic radiation by accelerating charges on a small serpentine conductor.
Electromagnetic radiation may be generated by the acceleration (deceleration) of the charged particles such as electrons. This radiation may be Bremsstrahlung radiation, for example, of the type occurring when electrons are rapidly decelerated when striking a target, or as synchrotron radiation occurring when the trajectory of high-speed electrons is curved, for example, as the electrons pass through a magnetic field.
This latter principle is used in a “free-electron laser” (FEL) where a transversely aligned magnetic array, often termed a “wiggler”, produces a perturbation in the path of relativistic electrons. A similar effect may be seen in a “Bloch oscillator” where the perturbation of the electrons is caused by the periodic lattice potential of a crystal rather than a magnetic wiggler. | {
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This invention relates to small radiating antennas, resonating coils or probes and resonant transformers. The invention is small in physical size in comparison to its present state of the art counterparts.
Electrically small antennas are those whose dimensions when measured from its input terminals do not exceed 1/8 of a wavelength to its end locations. These small antennas are used primarily at HF and lower frequencies on vehicles, spacecraft, aircraft and transportable transceivers. They generally have narrow bandwidths and unfavorable input impedance characteristics They generally utilize a ferrite core material for receiving and become larger in size when employed for the transmitter end of a communications link. The transmitter end becomes quite large when large power is required such as in the ELF band of operation. Efficiencies of the present state of the art antennas are low and have a value in the order of 1%.
In present art there appears a structure patented by Reggia & Jones (U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,480 issued on Sept. 27, 1977 titled Conformal Edge-Slot Radiators). Their dielectric loaded edge-slot radiator which is an integral part of another structure must have its exterior dimensions conform to the structure which attached to allow flush mounting on large cylindrical and conical bodies as shown in their drawing. The problem with their adjustable dimensions is that the resonant frequency of their antenna can not be readily changed to fit the mounting structure. Whatever structure that employs their antenna must use various ferrite loading configurations. The antenna cannot be readjusted after assembly The antenna utilizes printed circuit board material that cannot handle large transmit power levels (that is over 100 watts). When the antenna is attached to large cylindrical and conical bodies as shown in their drawing, their structure would not be considered as a small antenna by antenna standards in use today Their invention by their description needs the addition of a larger attached structure to function.
In the medical field the usage of resonant RF coils are being employed in such areas as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. The problem with presently utilized coils is that in order to place the patient inside the coil, the coil's self resonance limits the upper operating frequency that can be used and partially radiates.
Transformers utilized in AC power, use a magnetic core material to provide a concentrated loop of magnetic flux. The magnetic flux passes thru loops of coils of different windings placed in its path to allow voltage and current to be changed or transformed into different values. All present AC power transformers, use a magnetic core that is nonresonant to function. | {
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A wireless communications system generally comprises a set of “subscribers,” typically subscribers are the endpoints of a communication path, and a set of “base stations,” typically stationary and the intermediaries by which a communication path to a subscriber may be established or maintained. In such a system, supporting equipment attached to the base stations, e.g. consoles, typically perform management of the communications in the wireless communications system. Since the supporting equipment is typically stationary, and always present in the wireless communications system, the supporting equipment typically handles the management of emergency messages. That is, the supporting equipment receives subscriber initiated emergency messages, handle the acknowledgements to the emergency messages, and process any resending of the emergency messages and/or acknowledgements.
However, there are instances where the wireless communications system does not have supporting equipment, e.g. where the wireless communications system is of low-cost and having the supporting equipment increases the cost of the wireless communications system. Further, there are instances where subscribers are in communication range of each other but out of range of the base stations attached to the supporting equipment. In both cases, where the subscribers communicate without supporting equipment, management of emergency messages does not exist because there is no supporting equipment to provide the management.
Without the supporting equipment to provide the management of emergency messages, a subscriber may not be certain that an emergency message was properly delivered to its destination, namely another subscriber because subscribers can roam out of range, may be turned off, or may otherwise be unavailable. As such, without management of emergency messages, providing confirmed delivery of an emergency message, that is confirming that a destination subscriber properly received an emergency message, is a challenge. For example, a first police officer in an emergency situation may initiate an emergency message to request backup, but without supporting equipment managing emergency messages, the emergency message is not guaranteed to be delivered to the destination, e.g. another police officer in a neighboring area that may be able to provide backup.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a new system and method for managing emergency alarms in a wireless communications system.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to each other. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate identical elements. | {
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The embodiments herein relate generally to bicycle seats or saddles. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to bicycle seats for reducing pressure on the pubic bone, ischial tuberosity and pudendal surface of the rider.
Traditional bicycle seats contain a shell enclosed by a cover. However, the shell and cover form a solid piece, which places excessive pressure on the rider's pubic bone, ischial tuberosity and pudendal surface. This is especially problematic for all riders including men and women of all ages. Men may suffer from erectile dysfunction and/or prostatitis after experiencing pressure on the pudendal surface for extended periods of time. Women may experience yeast infections and/or endometriosis from excessive pressure on the pudendal surface for extended periods of time. In addition, both men and women may experience a numbness or tingling in their genital regions or sciatica due to excessive pressure from the bicycle seat.
As such, there is a need in the industry for a bicycle seat that effectively reduces the pressure on the pubic bone, ischial tuberosity and pudendal surface of the user. | {
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The discovery of superconductivity in the La-Ba-Cu-oxide system (J. G. Bednorz and K. A. Muller, Z. Physik B-Condensed Matter, Vol. 64, pp. 189-193, 1986) precipitated worldwide activity that very soon resulted in the discovery of other classes of oxide superconductors. See, for instance, M. K. Wu et al., Phys. Rev. Letters, Vol. 58(9), pp. 908-910 (1987); R. J. Cava et al., Phys. Rev. Letters, Vol. 58(16), pp. 1676-1679 (1987); D. W. Murphy et al., Phys. Rev. Letters, Vol. 58(16), pp. 1888-1890, 1987; Z. Z. Sheng et al., Nature, Vol. 332, pp. 55-58 1988; H. Maeda et al., Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 27(2), pp. L209-L210, 1988; and U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 160,799 and 155,330, the former now U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,771, the latter now abandoned all incorporated herein by reference.
Although many of the newly discovered oxide superconductors have transition temperature (T.sub.c) above liquid nitrogen temperture (77 K.) and thus offer promise for widespread technological use, it was soon realized that significant problems have to be overcome before these novel materials can find substantial commercial application. In particular, it was found that bulk samples of the materials typically have a relatively low critical current density (J.sub.c). For instance, conventional bulk samples of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 typically have a J.sub.c of the order of 10.sup.3 A/cm.sup.2 at 77 K. and in zero applied magnetic field, and still substantially lower in an applied magnetic field. Such a J.sub.c is generally considered to be too low for most applications.
There are at least two problems that contribute to the observed low values of J.sub.c in conventional bulk samples of high T.sub.c (by "high T.sub.c " we mean generally T.sub.c .gtoreq.30 K., preferably>77 K.; by "T.sub.c " we means the highest temperature at which the D.C. resistance is zero to within experimental limits) oxide superconductors. (It will be appreciated that bulk samples consist of many superconductor grains or crystallites that are packed to form a relatively dense body). One of the two problems is the so-called "weak link" problem. This pertains to the relatively low value of current that can flow without resistance from one superconductor grain to an adjoining one. This current will be referred to as the "inter-grain" current. The other is the so-called "flux flow" problem. This pertains to the relatively low current that can flow essentially without resistance within a given superconductor grain, due to weak flux pinning. The relevant critical current density will be referred to as the "intra-grain" critical current density and will be designated herein as J'.sub.c. It will be appreciated that low values of critical current density are not an inherent property of high T.sub.c oxide superconductors since, for instance, current densities of the order of 10.sup.6 A/cm.sup.2 have been observed in thin films of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7.
Significant progress towards solution of the weak link problem has already been made. See S. Jin et al., Applied Phys. Letters, Vol. 52(24), pp. 2074-2076, 1988; S. Jin et al., Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 54(6), pp. 584-586, 1989; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 126,083, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,823, all incorporated herein by reference. The progress resulted from the discovery of so-called "melt-textured growth" (MTG), a processing technique that comprises melting and oriented solidification of the superconductor material, resulting in highly textured material that can sustain significantly higher current densities than conventionally prepared bulk material. Bulk samples of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7, prepared using MTG, have exhibited critical current densities up to about 10.sup.4 A/cm.sup.2 at 77 K. in an applied field of 1 Tesla.
Recently progress has also been made in overcoming the flux-flow problem, when it was shown that irradiation of a single crystal of YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 with fast neutrons can raise J.sub.c of the single crystal to about 6.times.10.sup.5 A/cm.sup.2 at 77 K. and 0.9 Tesla (R. B. van Dover et al., Nature, Vol. 342, pp. 55-57, Nov. 5, 1989). However, neutron irradiation of bulk samples of superconductor would be a relatively costly and inconvenient technique for achieving high J'.sub.c in commercial applications. Thus, the need still exists for finding a method that can be used to produce material with improved intra-grain critical current density J'.sub.c, i.e., that can result in material with improved flux pinning. This application discloses such a method.
As is well known, the high T.sub.c oxide superconductors that are of relevance to this application are so-called "type II" superconductors. In type II superconductors, for magnetic fields (H) between H.sub.c1 and H.sub.c2, magnetic flux lines partially penetrate the superconductor but do not destroy superconductivity (H.sub.c1 and H.sub.c2 are the lower and upper critical fields, respectively). It is desirable that the flux lines are strongly "pinned" in the material for H.sub.c1 <H<H.sub.c2, since flux line movement results in energy dissipation and electrical resistance. Thus, as is well known, it is necessary to provide strong flux pinning in the material if high J'.sub.c is desired.
In conventional (low T.sub.c type II superconductors) it is known that microscopically fine defects can serve as effective pinning sites, especially if the size scale of the defects is on the order of the superconducting coherence length of the material. However, no technique (other than, possibly, irradiation with fast neutrons) for introducing effective pinning sites into high T.sub.c (oxide) superconductors is known to the art.
As is known to those skilled in the art, intra-grain critical current density in type II superconductors can be estimated by means of the so-called "Bean model" (see C. P. Bean, Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 36, p. 31, 1964). The model expresses the intra-grain critical current density J'.sub.c as follows: EQU J'.sub.c =30.times..DELTA.M/d,
where J'.sub.c is in A/cm.sup.2, .DELTA.M is the measured magnetization difference (in emu/cm.sup.3) between increasing and decreasing applied magnetic field in a magnetization hysteresis measurement, and d is the average grain size in cm. The grain size is typically determined by standard metallographic techniques using optical or scanning electron microscopy. | {
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An array camera is a camera that is made up of multiple imaging components. Each individual imaging component captures data for a two dimensional image of a view. For purposes of this discussion, an imaging component is an individual camera and/or circuitry including an array of pixels that capture data for a two dimensional image of the view. The data of the two-dimensional images used to generate as a light field. A light field can be used to produce super-resolution (SR) images and other types of images of the view using some or all of the data from the various two dimensional images captured by the individual imaging components.
During the manufacture of most digital cameras (including array cameras) and each imaging component of an array camera, a calibration process is typically performed. In a conventional camera or imaging component, the calibration process typically measures the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF). MTF measurements enable the detection of aberrations that degrade MTF. Some calibration processes may also be used to collect data that characterizes the camera or imaging component in order to adjust the parameters of various image processing algorithms to produce desired images. Typically, the need to obtain precise data during calibration is balanced with the need to keep the manufacturing test overhead to a minimum. | {
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Long term evolution (LTE) may be a standard for wireless data communication technology that delivers a high data rate, low latency and packet optimized radio access technology. LTE, however, supports only a packet switched (PS) service while a universal mobile telecommunications system radio access network (UTRAN) supports both of a circuit switched (CS) service and a packet switched (PS) service. In order to provide a CS service in a LTE network, circuit switched (CS) fallback may be employed in the LTE network.
The CS fallback may enable the provisioning of voice and other CS services by reuse of a GSM/EDGE radio access network (GERAN) or a UTRAN CS infrastructure when user equipment is served by a LTE network. GSM may by an abbreviation of a global system for mobile communications and EDGE may be abbreviation of enhanced data rates for GSM evolution. The CS fallback is only available if LTE service coverage is overlapped with service coverage of a GERAN or a UTRAN CS network. For example, in the LTE network, a CS fallback procedure may hand over user equipment from a serving LTE cell to an associated non-LTE cell in order to process a mobile originated (MO) call or a mobile terminated (MT) call while the user equipment is camping on the serving LTE cell. The non-LTE cell may be a GERAN cell or a UTRAN cell. The LTE cell may be mapped to a corresponding non-LTE cell in one to one relation. A CS fallback call may be transferred from the serving LTE cell to the corresponding non-LTE cell in the CS fallback procedure.
When user equipment is located at a boundary of two adjacent LTE cells, user equipment may be handed over from a serving LTE cell to a target LTE cell. Such a handover from a LTE cell to another LTE cell may be initiated when the target LTE cell has a significantly better communication environment than the serving LTE cell. Accordingly, a service area of the serving LTE cell may expand toward a service area of the target LTE cell. If user equipment performs a CS fallback procedure for processing a CS service, such as a mobile originated call and a mobile terminated call, while the user equipment is located at such expanded service area of the serving LTE cell, the CS fallback procedure may hand over the user equipment to an undesired non-LTE cell, causing unnecessary location registration, delaying an entire process of handling such a CS service. | {
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Lighting systems based on LEDs are used on an increasing scale. LEDS have a high efficiency and a long life time. In many lighting systems, LEDs also offer a higher optical efficiency than other light sources. As a consequence LEDs offer an interesting alternative for the well known light sources such as fluorescent lamps, high intensity discharge lamps or incandescent lamps.
The lighting systems based on LEDs often comprise a power supply circuit that supplies power to the LEDs comprised in one or more LED modules that during operation are connected to output terminals of the power supply circuit. Typically the total current supplied by the power supply circuit depends on the number of LED modules connected to it and more in particular to the nominal current suitable for each of the LED modules and also on the temperature of the LED modules. The LED module LM comprised in a LED lighting system called Fortimo manufactured by Philips, that is presently on the market and shown in FIG. 1, comprises a first resistor Rset having a resistance that represents the nominal current suitable for the LEDs comprised in the LED module, and also comprises a second resistor NTC with a temperature dependent resistance. When such a LED module is connected to the power supply circuit PSC, a circuit MC comprised in the power supply circuit causes a current to flow through the first resistor Rset and another current through the second resistor NTC. The voltages across each of the resistors are measured and the value of the resistance of each of the resistors is determined by the circuit MC from the voltage across it. From these data, the circuit part MC derives a desired value for the LED current. A driver circuit DC comprised in the power supply circuit PSC subsequently adjusts the current supplied to the LED modules to the desired value.
An important disadvantage of this prior art is that three wires are required for connecting the resistors in each of the LED modules with circuitry comprised in the power supply circuit. This makes these existing LED lighting systems rather complex. | {
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1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a liquid crystal display apparatus including a liquid crystal panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display apparatus that includes a liquid crystal panel and that is configured to improve a viewing angle of the liquid crystal panel has been known. As disclosed in International Publication No. 2010/71221, for instance, such a liquid crystal display apparatus exercises so-called time-division gradation control in which a gradation is changed for each sub-pixel in each pixel on a time-division scheme (every display frame, for instance).
In case where the time-division gradation control is performed as in the configuration disclosed in International Publication No. 2010/71221, the viewing angle of a display surface can be improved by alternate display of a high-gradation image and a low-gradation image. In the time-division gradation control, however, contrast in the gradations of the images is so greatly changed that flickering may be prone to occur. | {
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This invention relates generally to fencing systems and, specifically, to components by which flexible fence webbing material may be secured to individual fence posts.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,263, is disclosed a composite metal and plastic fence wherein at least two high tensile strength metal wires are ensheathed in a plastic casing to form a flexible webbing material which is attached to fence posts with specialized brackets which are configured to accommodate the profile of the webbing material. The brackets are such that the individual fence webs are prevented from any substantial vertical movement on the post, while being free to slide axially in the direction of elongation of the web to permit periodic tensioning of the webs and flexing during use. These brackets, however, are somewhat complex, relatively costly to manufacture, and time consuming to install.
Other flexible web fencing systems are known as well. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,533,120; 3,233,870; and Italian patent No. 571,196.
In the present invention, a very simple and inexpensive system for attaching fence webbing or flexible rails to fence posts is disclosed which retains the advantages of brackets while eliminating many of the disadvantages. In this regard, it is to be remembered that fencing systems such as those disclosed in my prior patent are designed primarily to enclose livestock and other animals, such as horses, and, therefore, the strength not only of the webbing material, but the post connectors as well are of utmost importance.
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the improved fence post connector system of this invention includes an elongated, flexible strand which may comprise a single high tensile strength member made of wire, cable or the equivalent which may be, if desired, coated with a plastic or other suitable polymer composition. The coated wire is oriented substantially parallel with the fence post in overlying relationship to the web, so that the web extends between the wire and the post. Preferably, the plastic composition is of the same type from which the fencing material is made, for example, a polyvinyl chloride or other suitable plastic material. The metal wire is preferably 1/10" diameter steel wire (121/2 gauge) having a tensile strength of approximately 240,000 pounds per square inch. It will be understood, however, that any wire, cable or the equivalent having suitable high tensile characteristics may be used. Moreover, it will be appreciated that other suitable materials may be utilized in the construction of the flexible elongated strand according to this invention.
The preferred coated wire strand is fastened to the post at either end by suitable fasteners, such as heavy-duty staples, or the like. The fasteners are preferably made of galvanized or stainless steels to ensure long life despite prolonged exposure to the elements. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, one or more staples are driven into the post, straddling each of the free ends of the coated wire, so as to firmly fasten the wire to the post. Additional staples are applied just above and just below the web. These staples are driven into the post to a lesser extent than the endmost staples. This permits the web to move axially, i.e., in the direction of its elongation, to facilitate proper tensioning and to permit its inherent flexibility to be fully utilized.
It will be appreciated that where axial movement of the web or rail is neither required nor considered desirable, all of the staples or other fasteners may be driven into the fence post to a substantially uniform depth to firmly attach the web or rail to the post. In this regard, one or more fasteners may be driven through the web itself if so desired.
It is to be understood, of course, that the number of fence rails or webs secured to the post may vary as desired, usually from at least two to as many as six or more. In the preferred embodiment, the staples or other suitable fasteners are positioned to straddle the flexible strand and, preferably, driven into the post adjacent the upper and lower edges of each of the webs as described above.
In another exemplary embodiment, two individual strands, each comprising a plastic-coated high tensile strength wire, are applied in side-by-side relationship to each fence post for added strength.
In still another exemplary embodiment, a pair of high tensile strength wires are encapsulated in a single plastic strand which is fastened to the post in the same manner as described above.
As previously stated, the flexible connector strand may be constructed of suitable material other than plastic, and the high tensile wires need not be utilized if the strand itself has sufficient strength characteristics.
The staples or other fasteners used to secure the webs to the fence posts are, of course, sized to accommodate the described single or double wire strand arrangement. Staples are preferably provided with stop elements which limit the extent of penetration into the post. These are particularly suitable for use adjacent the upper and lower edges of the rails or webs where it is desirable to limit the penetration of the staples into the post so as to permit axial movement of the web. The staples may also be provided with serrated surfaces to further enhance the gripping power of the staples relative to the fence post, which is preferably made of wood.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the above-described fence web-to-post connection system is employed in a total fencing system which comprises at least one and preferably two or more flexible fencing webs which are attached to a plurality of fence posts extending about an area to be enclosed, and which also includes one or more web tensioning devices.
In a related aspect of the invention, a method of attaching one or more flexible fencing webs to a fence post comprises the steps of:
(a) orienting at least one flexible web of fencing material substantially horizontally with respect to the substantially vertical fence post; PA1 (b) orienting at least one elongated, flexible strand generally parallel to the fence post and in overlying relationship to the at least one web, such that the web extends between the post and the strand; and PA1 (c) firmly fastening the strand to the post at a plurality of locations.
In a preferred method, the strand is firmly attached to the post at either end of the strand, and only loosely attached to the post at locations adjacent the upper and lower edges of the one or more webs to permit axial movement of the webs.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a strong, durable connection system for attaching flexible fencing webs to fence posts which constrains the individual webs against any significant vertical movement, and where desired, permits horizontal, axial movement of the web or webs relative to the post. The invention is further characterized by low cost, simplicity and ease of both manufacture and installation. Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading of the detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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As populations in the world's largest city centers continue to grow, often at an exponential rate, public and private transportation systems are becoming increasingly burdened with increased ridership and transit stations are becoming increasingly congested, causing delays to transit users and increased costs to the transportation systems. The use of sophisticated communication devices presents an appealing approach for managing such overcrowding. Unfortunately, existing devices and approaches are insufficient to alleviate these problems. Accordingly, new systems, methods, and other techniques are needed. | {
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With the development of the processing technique and the requirement of the electronic products, it is a trend to continuously get high efficiency and small size for semiconductors. Therefore, the thermal dissipation issue is getting more and more important, particularly on the high power or high frequency elements.
Taking light emitted diodes (LED) as an example, although the LED products are applied popularly due to many advantages, such as energy saving, power saving, high efficiency and etc., the efficiency of light emitting for the LEDs is influenced by the temperature. Therefore, if the thermal energy generated by the LEDs can not be conducted out, the temperature of the LEDs would be thus raised, which influences the efficiency of light emitting, the stability and the lifetime of the LEDs.
Taking a central processing unit (CPU) as an example, if the CPU overheats over a long period of time, it would cause the lifetime of the CPU be reduced, and the operating performance and the stability thereof would be affected also.
In order to prevent the electronic elements from the influences and harms caused by the high temperature, it is a common and intuitive method to get started with the thermal dissipation of the electronic elements. It can effectively raise the high power characteristic of the elements to use the materials with high thermal dissipation ability as the thermal dissipation substrate, wherein the diamonds have the best thermal conductivity of 1000˜2500 W/Mk. The dissipation layer with the substrate made of diamonds can achieve a good thermal dissipation effect.
Although diamonds have the above advantages, the diamonds itself do not conduct electricity. In addition, there is a large difference between the hardness of diamonds and that of the substrate and the elements. Therefore, the difficulty of element cutting is increased.
Therefore the applicant attempts to deal with the above situation encountered in the prior art. | {
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1. Field of The Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating the surface of a semiconductor substrate and a method of controlling the apparatus. More particularly, it pertains to an apparatus which performs a surface treatment, such as cleaning or etching, of an oxide film and the like on the surface of a semiconductor wafer, and to a method of controlling such an apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the structure of a conventional apparatus for etching a surface, such as in cleaning, of a semiconductor substrate (hereinafter referred to as a surface treatment apparatus). In FIG. 7, an HF aqueous solution 7 prepared by dissolving hydrogen fluoride (HF) in water (H.sub.2 O) is contained in an HF aqueous solution tank 2. A carrier gas pipe 1 for introducing a carrier gas, such as an inactive gas like nitrogen gas, is disposed over the HF aqueous solution tank 2. A carrier gas cylinder 1a is connected to the carrier gas pipe 1 through a carrier gas valve 1b. A temperature adjusting device 12 is provided around the HF aqueous solution tank 2. Temperature control means 13 maintains the temperature of the HF aqueous solution 7 in the tank 2 at a fixed value, so that the vapor pressure of the HF aqueous solution 7 is maintained at a constant level, whereby a fixed amount of the HF aqueous solution 7 is vaporized. A vapor 7a of the HF aqueous solution is conveyed by the carrier gas which is fed through the carrier gas pipe 1, so it is then introduced into a reaction chamber 4 through a pipe 3 (hereinafter referred to as a vapor pipe). The reaction chamber 4 is provided with an exhaust pipe 6 for exhausting gas there-from.
The conventional surface treatment apparatus is constructed as described above. The vapor 7a of the HF aqueous solution 7 is introduced by the carrier gas into the reaction chamber 4. The carrier gas is fed into the HF aqueous solution tank 2 through the carrier gas pipe 1. Because HF is dissolved in water, the HF aqueous solution is ionized as follows: EQU H.sub.2 O.fwdarw.H.sup.+ (H.sub.3 O.sup.+)+F.sup.-
The vapor of the ionized HF aqueous solution flows to a silicon wafer 8 on a wafer stand 5. As shown in FIG. 8, the vapor reacts with an oxide film 10, such as SiO.sub.2, with which device structures 9 are covered, so as to remove the oxide film 10.
The above-described surface treatment apparatus removes the oxide film 10 in the following manner. First, SiO.sub.2 reacts with HF vapor as expressed by the following reaction equation (1): EQU SiO.sub.2 +6HF=H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6 +2H.sub.2 O (1)
Then, H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6 generated by reaction formula (1) decomposes into SiF.sub.4 and 2HF as expressed by the following reaction equation (2): EQU H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6 =SiF.sub.4 +2HF (2)
SiF.sub.4 is usually a gaseous substance at the temperature at which surface treatments, such as cleaning and etching, are performed, and is discharged through the exhaust pipe 6. However, because the solvent which dissolves HF is water and furthermore H.sub.2 O is generated by reaction formula (1), before SiF.sub.4 is removed from the surface of the silicon wafer 8, it is reacted with H.sub.2 O, as expressed by the following reaction formula (3): EQU 3SiF.sub.4 +H.sub.2 O=Si(OH).sub.4 +2H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6 ( 3)
This reaction generates reaction products, such as Si(OH).sub.4 and H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6, which are residues.
The same reaction products as those just mentioned above are also generated when tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) is removed from the surface of a semiconductor wafer.
As shown in FIG. 9, such reaction products remain as a residue 11 between the device structures 9 on the silicon wafer 8. Conventionally, the residue 11 is first treated with water and a solvent, such as isopropyl alcohol, to remove it. However, water and isopropyl alcohol are liquids which do not enter completely into the gap between the device structures 9, and therefore the residue 11 cannot be removed completely. | {
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Nowadays, use of integrated circuit (IC) devices is ubiquitous. It is common that an IC device provides both analog and digital functions in a single package. For example, an IC device for a digital signal processing application typically includes analog amplifiers, e.g., one or more operational amplifiers (op amps), and digital circuits for processing an input signal.
A typical op amp is realized in an IC device using field effect transistors (FETs), e.g., metal-oxide semiconductor FETs (MOSFETs). Such an op amp comprises a current-mirror circuit, and a differential amplifier which receives inverting and non-inverting input signals to the op amp, respectively. In the typical op amp, a first FET in the current-mirror circuit is connected to at least a second FET in the differential amplifier to provide a desired bias current to the second FET. The first FET operates in a saturation mode, and the drain current thereof is constant and repetitive of a reference current provided in the current-mirror circuit.
Ideally, an op amp imparts a large gain, referred to as a "differential gain," to only the difference between the signal levels of the inverting and non-inverting input signals. However, in practice, the op amp also imparts another gain, referred to as a "common-mode gain," to a common-mode signal whose signal level equals the average of those of the inverting and non-inverting input signals. A common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) which is defined as a ratio of the differential gain to the common-mode gain is often used as a figure of merit for the op amp. Since the output of an ideal op amp varies only with the aforementioned difference and is totally independent of the common-mode signal level, the CMRR of the ideal op amp is infinitely large, with the common-mode gain being zero.
As IC technology advances, the size limit, known as the "minimum feature size," of the circuit element s including FETs in an IC device decreases. Accordingly, the size of the circuit elements in the IC device is reduced to save space. As a result, the voltage of the power supply to the device needs to be reduced, stemming from the fact that the electric fields within the FETs in an IC device increase inversely with the size thereof. A lower power supply voltage reduces such electric fields which would otherwise cause an undesirable or even destructive current discharge within the FETs. Moreover, a lower power supply voltage causes lower power consumption in the IC device, which is desirable especially when the device is employed in a battery powered apparatus, e.g., a wireless telephone handset. Since the battery in such an apparatus has a limited capacity, the lifetime of the battery before replacement or recharging thereof increases as the power consumption of the IC device decreases. Thus, as the IC technology progresses to "0.1 .mu.m" technology in the near future, it is anticipated that the power supply voltage is going to be reduced from about 3 volts presently to about 1 volt. | {
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Semiconductor devices are used in a variety of electronic applications, such as personal computers, cell phones, digital cameras, and other electronic equipment, as examples. Semiconductor devices are typically fabricated by sequentially depositing insulating or dielectric layers, conductive layers, and semiconductive layers of material over a semiconductor substrate, and patterning the various material layers using lithography to form circuit components and elements thereon.
Dozens or hundreds of integrated circuits are typically manufactured on a single semiconductor wafer. The individual dies are singulated by sawing the integrated circuits along scribe lines. The individual dies are then packaged separately, in multi-chip modules, or in other types of packaging.
The semiconductor industry continues to improve the integration density of various electronic components (e.g., transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, etc.) by continual reductions in minimum feature size, which allow more components to be integrated into a given area. These smaller electronic components such as integrated circuit dies also require smaller packages that utilize less area than packages of the past, in some applications. | {
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In the field of computer graphics, the rendering of two-dimensional objects is of fundamental importance. Two-dimensional objects, such as character shapes, corporate logos, and elements of an illustration contained in a document, are rendered as static images or as a sequence of frames comprising an animation. There are numerous representations for two-dimensional objects and it is often the case that one representation is better than another representation for specific operations such as rendering and editing. In these cases, a conversion from one form to another is performed.
Although we focus here on digital type, possibly the most common and important two-dimensional object, the following discussion applies to all types of two-dimensional objects.
We begin with some basic background on digital type. A typical Latin font family, such as Times New Roman or Arial, includes a set of fonts, e.g., regular, italic, bold and bold italic. Each font includes a set of individual character shapes called glyphs. Each glyph is distinguished by its various design features, such as underlying geometry, stroke thickness, serifs, joinery, placement and number of contours, ratio of thin-to-thick strokes, and size.
There are a number of ways to represent fonts, including bitmaps, outlines, e.g., Type 1 [Adobe Systems, Inc. 1990] and TrueType [Apple Computer, Inc. 1990], and procedural fonts, e.g., Knuth's Metafont, with outlines being predominant. Outline-based representations have been adopted and popularized by Bitstream Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., Adobe Systems, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., Apple Computer, Inc., of Cupertino, Calif., Microsoft Corporation of Bellevue, Wash., URW of Hamburg, Germany, and Agfa Compugraphic of Wilmington, Mass.
Hersch, “Visual and Technical Aspects of Type,” Cambridge Uneversity Press. 1993 and Knuth, “TEX and METAFONT: New Directions in Typesetting,” Digital Press, Bedford, Mass. 1979, contain comprehensive reviews of the history and science of fonts.
Of particular importance are two classes of type size: body type size and display type size. Fonts in body type are rendered at relatively small point sizes, e.g., 14 pt. or less, and are used in the body of a document, as in this paragraph. Body type requires high quality rendering for legibility and reading comfort. The size, typeface, and baseline orientation of body type rarely change within a single document.
Fonts in display type are rendered at relatively large point sizes, e.g., 36 pt. or higher, and are used for titles, headlines, and in design and advertising to set a mood or to focus attention. In contrast to body type, the emphasis in display type is on esthetics, where the lack of spatial and temporal aliasing is important, rather than legibility, where contrast may be more important than antialiasing. It is crucial that a framework for representing and rendering type handles both of these classes with conflicting requirements well.
Type can be rendered to an output device, e.g., printer or display, as bi-level, grayscale, or colored. Some rendering engines use bi-level rendering for very small type sizes to achieve better contrast. However, well-hinted grayscale fonts can be just as legible.
Hints are a set of rules or procedures stored with each glyph to specify how an outline of the glyph should be modified during rendering to preserve features such as symmetry, stroke weight, and a uniform appearance across all the glyphs in a typeface.
While there have been attempts to design automated and semi-automated hinting systems, the hinting process remains a major bottleneck in the design of new fonts and in the tuning of existing fonts for low-resolution display devices. In addition, the complexity of interpreting hinting rules precludes the use of hardware for font rendering. The lack of hardware support forces compromises to be made during software rasterization, such as the use of fewer samples per pixel and poor filtering methods, particularly when animating type in real time.
Grayscale font rendering typically involves some form of antialiasing. Antialiasing is a process that smoothes out jagged edges or staircase effects that appear in bi-level fonts. Although many font rendering engines are proprietary, most use supersampling, after grid fitting and hinting, with 4 or 16 samples per pixel followed by down-sampling with a 2×2 or 4×4 box filter, respectively.
Rudimentary filtering, such as box filtering, is justified by the need for rendering speed. However, even that approach is often too slow for real-time rendering, as required for animated type, and the rendered glyphs suffer from spatial and temporal aliasing.
Three important trends in typography reveal some inherent limitations of prior art font representations and associated methods and thus provide the need for change.
The first trend is the increasing emphasis of reading text on-screen due to the dominant role of computers in the office, the rise in popularity of Internet browsing at home, and the proliferation of PDAs and other hand-held electronic devices. These displays typically have a resolution of 72–150 dots per inch, which is significantly lower than the resolution of printing devices.
This low-resolution mandates special treatment when rasterizing type to ensure reading comfort and legibility, as evidenced by the resources that companies such as Microsoft and Bitstream have invested in their respective ClearType and Font Fusion technologies.
The second trend is the use of animated type, or kinetic typography. Animated type is used to convey emotion, to add interest, and to visually attract the reader's attention. The importance of animated type is demonstrated by its wide use in television and Internet advertising.
The third trend is the proliferation of display devices that incorporate numerous layouts for components of pixels of such displays. Vertically and horizontally striped RGB components have been the standard arrangement for conventional displays, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,385 “Method and apparatus for displaying images such as text”, Hill et al. Arranging the components differently, however, has numerous advantages, as described in U.S. Patent Application publication number 20030085906 “Methods and systems for sub-pixel rendering using adaptive filtering”, Elliott et al.
Unfortunately, traditional outline-based fonts and corresponding methods have limitations in all of these areas. Rendering type on a low-resolution display requires careful treatment in order to balance the needs of good contrast for legibility, and reduced spatial and/or temporal aliasing for reading comfort.
As stated above, outline-based fonts are typically hinted to provide instructions to the rendering engine for optimal appearance. Font hinting is labor intensive and expensive. For example, developing a well-hinted typeface for Japanese or Chinese fonts, which can have more than ten thousand glyphs, can take years. Because the focus of hinting is on improving the rendering quality of body type, the hints tend to be ineffective for type placed along arbitrary paths and for animated type.
Although high quality filtering can be used to antialias grayscale type in static documents that have a limited number of font sizes and typefaces, the use of filtering in animated type is typically limited by real-time rendering requirements.
Prior art sub-pixel rendering methods, like those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,385, have numerous disadvantages pertaining to all three trends.
First, they require many samples per pixel component to get adequate quality, which is inefficient. When rendering on alternative pixel layouts comprising many components, e.g., such as the layouts described in U.S. patent application publication number 20030085906, their methods become impractical. Second, they exploit the vertical or horizontal striping of a display to enable reuse of samples for neighboring pixel components, which fails to work with many alternative pixel component layouts. Third, they use a poor filter when sampling each component because of the inefficiencies of their methods when using a better filter.
Fourth, the methods taught do not provide any measure for mitigating color fringing on alternative pixel component layouts. Fifth, translations of a glyph by non-integer pixel intervals require re-rendering of the glyph. Re-rendering usually requires re-interpreting hints, which is inefficient. Sixth, hints are often specific to a particular pixel component layout, and therefore must be redone to handle the proliferation of alternative pixel component layouts. Redoing hints is both expensive and time consuming.
Rendering Overlapping Objects
When two or more objects are rendered, their rendered images may overlap. For example, the antialiased edges of two glyphs in a line of text may overlap when the glyphs are placed close together. As another example, a single Kanji glyph may be represented by a composition of several elements, such as strokes, radicals, or stroke-based radicals, which may overlap when they are combined to render the single Kanji glyph.
In such cases, a rendering method must handle a region where the objects overlap. There are several methods in the prior art for handling such overlap regions. The “Painter's Algorithm” is a common approach used in computer graphics for two-dimensional and three-dimensional rendering. In the Painter's Algorithm, objects are ordered back-to-front and then rendered in that order. Pixels determined by each rendering simply overwrite corresponding pixels in previous renderings.
Other prior art methods blend color or intensity values of overlapping pixels, i.e., those methods combine the color or intensity values according to a rule, such as choosing a maximum or a minimum value or performing an arithmetic average of the overlapping pixels. Some of those methods use alpha values associated with each pixel to blend the values of the overlapping pixels using a technique called alpha blending.
Those prior art methods can be problematic for a number of reasons.
For example, the Painter's Algorithm results in color artifacts between closely spaced glyphs when rendering on liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), or similar display technologies with separately addressable pixel components.
Prior art methods that blend pixel colors or intensities require additional computation and storage for alpha values and exhibit various artifacts such as edge blurring or edge dropout depending on the blending method used.
In addition, coverage values determined for a set of overlapping objects using prior art coverage-based antialiasing cannot, in general, be blended together to represent the actual coverage of the combined object.
Another prior art approach for handling overlapping objects combines the objects to produce a composite object prior to rendering. For example, for an outline-based glyph composed of multiple elements, the outlines of the elements are joined to form a single outline description prior to rendering. Similarly, for rendering a stroke-based glyph composed of multiple strokes, the strokes are combined into a single set of strokes before rendering.
For object elements represented as distance fields, the distance fields can be combined into a single distance field prior to rendering using CSG operations as described by Perry et al., “Kizamu: A System for Sculpting Digital Characters,” Proceedings ACM SIGGRAPH 2001, pp. 47–56, 2001. When the composite object is represented as an adaptively sampled distance field, the composite object can require significantly more storage than the total storage required by the elements because the combining may introduce fine detail such as very thin sections or corners into the composite object that are not present in any element.
All of those prior art methods that combine prior to rendering require additional storage space and complex operations to generate the composite object. Furthermore, those methods require two passes, one to build the composite object and one to render the composite object.
Generating and Rendering Component-Based Glyphs
An Asian font, such as a Chinese, Japanese, or Korean font, can include 10,000 or more glyphs. In order to reduce memory requirements, glyphs in such fonts can be represented as compositions of a common set of components, herein referred to as elements, such as strokes or radicals. These common elements are then stored in a memory as a font library and combined either prior to rendering or during rendering to produce a composite glyph.
Prior art methods define the elements using outline descriptors, typically Bezier curves, or stroked skeletons. The elements can be combined prior to rendering into a single shape descriptor, such as a combined outline or a combined set of strokes. Alternatively, each element can be rendered independently, producing, for each pixel, either antialiased intensities or coverage values from the elements that are combined to produce a final antialiased intensity or coverage value for the pixel. Both approaches have problems as described above. | {
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The present invention relates generally to the formation of conductive films on insulating surfaces. More particularly, it relates to formation of conductive tungsten metal films on insulating surfaces of silicon dioxide.
There is a continuous trend in the development of solid state circuitry to reduce the dimensions of the devices on insulating surfaces and in this way to increase the speed of operation. As the dimensions of devices on surfaces such as silicon wafers continue to shrink and as the speed of the operation of the circuitry continues to increase, a need is recognized for improvements in the formation of conductive films and in the production of higher conductivity films. Further, there is a recognized need for improved coverage of the topographic steps of the surfaces on which the devices are formed in order to interconnect the devices. Chemical vapor deposition of tungsten on such surfaces has been identified as a process which may be suitable for use in connection with the development and production of solid state circuitry.
However, a problem has been recognized in attempting to grow a uniform adherent film of tungsten on a surface such as a silicon dioxide surface. Where vapor deposition methods are employed, the problem relates particularly to the nucleating and growing of a uniform and adherent film. Tungsten film does not readily or reliably deposit directly onto silicon dioxide surface. To the extent that it does deposit it does not adhere to the silicon dioxide surface. This is so whether the mode of deposition is thermal vapor deposition or chemical vaporization.
There are other uses of thin films of tungsten in industry although the function and attributes of these films is not known or is not clear. For example Hewlett-Packard employs an unspecified layer under a chemically vapor deposited tungsten layer in some of their devices. This layer may be to promote adhesion of the tungsten layer. Details are not known.
Another example is the deposit of a thin layer of tungsten silicide, WSi.sub.2, under the chemical vapor deposited tungsten layers of devices of a corporation trading under the name Genus. The attributes, properties and functions of this film are not known.
Intel Corp., as well as other corporations, are understood to deposit chemical vapor deposited tungsten on thick polycrystalline lines of their devices to enhance conductivity. No detailed information is available to applicant relating to such films.
Applicant is not aware of any other technology or prior art in which the objective is to replace a thin patterned deposit on a receiving surface with tungsten. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using a dielectric member and, more particularly, to a technique of removing a charge from the dielectric member, and to an image forming apparatus to which such a technique is applied.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known image forming apparatus employing a dielectric member and a charge-removing technique, provides electrical conductivity between the dielectric member and a recording electrode. A signal voltage is applied to the recording electrode to form a toner image on the dielectric member. Such an apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 51-46707 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 3,914,771. As shown in FIG. 12, a magnetic, electrically-conductive toner 1 is transferred by a rotary magnet 2 onto a non-magnetic cylinder 3, made of, for example, stainless steel, and passed onto a recording electrode 4 made of a magnetic material. A voltage is applied between the recording electrode 4 and an electrically-conductive layer 7 of a recording medium M. The recording medium M has an insulating layer 6 formed on the surface thereof, which surface constitutes the dielectric member. A charge is thus induced to the toner which electrostatically adheres to the recording medium M, whereby an image is formed.
There has been proposed an image forming device to which the recording technique mentioned above is applied, and in which the above mentioned recording electrode is utilized. FIG. 11 shows the entire structure of such a display device. In this Figure, numeral 1 denotes electrically-conductive toner; 4, a recording electrode; M, a recording medium; 8, a brush-like cleaning member; 9, a magnet; 10, a toner container; 11, a member for supporting the recording medium; 12, a main frame; and 13, a record control section. The electrically-conductive toner 1 adheres or does not adhere to the recording medium M in accordance with a signal voltage applied from the recording electrode 4. Thereby, a toner image is formed on the recording medium M. For example, when a signal voltage of +40 V is applied from the record control section 13, the toner adheres to the recording medium M, whereas when no voltage is applied, the toner does not adhere, thus forming the toner image on the recording medium M.
The toner image which has been formed on the recording medium M is displayed, and then scraped by the brush-like cleaning member 8, and thus removed from the recording medium M. Conventionally, during the above-described operation a predetermined voltage ranging from -3 to -5 V is applied to a brush 8' of the cleaning member 8. Furthermore, there has been proposed a humidity sensor which measures the amount of environmental moisture. A voltage is applied to the cleaning member 8 according to the amount of environmental moisture. These inventions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,788,564; 4,887,103; 4,989,021; 4,910,538; 5,077,566; and patent application Ser. No. 545,645 (filed on Jun. 29, 1990) now U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,832 issued Feb. 18, 1992.
In the above-noted known arrangements, as the cleaning member scrapes and collects the residual toner, it generates friction while sliding on the recording medium. In addition, a charge-removing member in contact with an electrically-conductive member of the recording medium removes the charge of the dielectric member while the charge-removing member is in contact with an electrically-conductive material, such as a brush or a rubber roller. One disadvantage to the known arrangements is that when the cleaning member slides on the recording medium and friction is produced, a charge is generated on the recording medium because of a frictional static build-up. As a result, when the recording medium passes a recording portion, the toner adheres to the charge generated during cleaning, thereby contaminating the recording medium.
Another disadvantage to the known arrangements is that a charge, which is opposite to the charge generated by friction while the cleaning member slides on the recording medium, is induced and generated inside the recording medium. If the area where the charge-removing member is in contact with the electrically-conductive member is small, the induced charge and the charge generated inside the recording medium during recording cannot be removed completely. Therefore, a previously-recorded image is partially developed and produced on the recording medium, i.e., a so-called ghost image is produced.
To improve the efficiency with which a charge is removed, it is possible to employ both a method for increasing the area where the charge-removing member is in contact with the electrically-conductive member of the recording medium, and a method for forcibly pressing the charge removing member against the electrically-conductive member of the recording medium. In these methods, however, while the recording medium is being driven, its load is increased because of the friction and pressing force. As a result, the capacity of the driving motor for transferring the recording medium must be increased, thus increasing operational noise and power consumption.
There are two problems with the method in which the humidity sensor measures moisture and a voltage is accordingly applied to the cleaning member. First, the humidity sensor may respond inaccurately. Second, the amount of voltage to be applied to the cleaning member is uniformly determined regardless of the electrical resistance of the surface of the recording medium. Thus an inappropriate amount of voltage may be applied. | {
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The present application is directed to apparatus and methods for minimizing the prospect for loss of control of an aircraft that has a control yoke assembly when an airbag expands to fill a space between the control yoke and an individual, thus the present application is a continuation in part of aforesaid U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/287,386.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices and processes for improving the ability of an aircraft pilot/occupant to survive a crash. More particularly, the present invention relates to safety oriented apparatus and methods for employing airbags to increase the prospect of survival of an aircraft occupant despite a serious deceleration of the aircraft.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following two U.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,902 entitled "Aircraft Airbag Protection Apparatus and Method".
U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,884 entitled "Adaptable Aircraft Airbag Protection Apparatus and Method".
Aircraft crashes often expose the occupants to serious or lethal injuries due to physical contact with instrument panel switches and instrumentation, as well as with the aircraft controls, in what could otherwise be a survivable accident. The incorporation of an airbag system in an aircraft provides a resilient protective barrier between the pilot and the instrument panel on the occasion of many common aircraft accidents. In order to provide for control of the aircraft during an unintended airbag inflation, the inflation size of the airbag in the proximity of the aircraft's control yoke must be limited.
An example of the use of an airbag in an aircraft is U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,313 wherein an airbag prevents operator contact with the sighting tube of a combat helicopter.
The use of airbags in land vehicles, such as automobiles, is well known and is exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,819,204, 4,262,931 and 4,449,204.
While prior devices such as exemplified above are generally useful for their limited intended uses, the need remains in the art for the combination of a new, unusual and unconventional aircraft airbag shape and a new and unusual aircraft impact absorption control yoke, which structural elements work together and cooperate in a new and an unusual manner as a unitary system to provide a margin of protection that is greater than the margin of protection that would be provided by either individual structural element alone. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to single acting, variable displacement fluid pressure vane pumps, such as for aircraft use, incorporating means for balancing cam bearing load, minimizing clocking forces, reducing friction and actuation loads.
Over the years, the standard of the commercial aviation gas turbine industry for main engine fuel pumps has been a single element, pressure-loaded, involute gear stage charged with a centrifugal boost stage. Such gear pumps are simple and extremely durable, although heavy and inefficient. However, such gear pumps are fixed displacement pumps which deliver uniform amounts of fluid, such as fuel, under all operating conditions. Certain operating conditions require different volumes of liquid, and it is desirable and/or necessary to vary the liquid supply, by means such as bypass systems which can cause overheating of the fuel or hydraulic fluid and which require heat transfer cooling components that add to the cost and the weight of the system.
2. State of the Art
Vane pumps and system have been developed in order to overcome some of the deficiencies of gear pumps, and reference is made to the following U.S. patents for their disclosures of several such pumps and systems: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,247,263; 4,354,809; 4,529,361 and 4,711,619. Reference is also made to copending application Ser. No. 08/114,253, filed Aug. 30, 1993, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein.
Vane pumps comprise a rotor element machined with slots supporting radially-movable vane elements, mounted within a cam member and manifold having fluid inlet and outlet ports in the cam surface through which the fluid is fed to the low pressure inlet areas or buckets of the rotor surface for rotation, compression and discharge from the high pressure outlet areas or buckets of the rotor surface as pressurized fluid.
Vane pumps that are required to operate at high speeds and pressures preferably employ hydrostatically (pressure balanced) vanes for minimizing frictional wear. Such pumps may also include rounded vane tips to reduce vane-to-cam surface stresses. Examples of vane pumps having pressure-balanced vanes which are also adapted to provide undervane pumping, may be found in the aforementioned copending application and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,711,227 and 4,354,809. The latter patent discloses a vane pump incorporating undervane pumping wherein the vanes are hydraulically balanced in not only the inlet and discharge areas but also in the seal arcs whereby the resultant pressure forces on a vane cannot displace it from engagement with a seal arc.
Variable displacement vane pumps contain a cam element which is adjustable relative to the rotor element, about a pivot point which is external to the cam chamber, in order to change the relative volumes of the inlet and outlet or discharge buckets and thereby vary the displacement capacity of the pump.
Among the problems encountered with single acting vane pumps with external cam adjustment pivots are the high actuation loads required to overcome the high friction cam sealing loads in order to move the cam member relative to the seals to adjust the displacement. Also, the external pivot support of the cam member results in high clocking loads or stresses on the cam member due to the differential bucket pressures on the externally-supported cam member. | {
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A display card is a credit card sized card with a visual display panel and control button(s). A display card may be used as a payment card in order to provide cardholders with relevant information.
The display card may be programmed with various types of functionality such as a stored-value application, a credit or debit application, a loyalty application, cardholder information, etc. Although a standard credit card-sized plastic card is generally currently used for display cards, it is contemplated that a display card may also be implemented in a smaller form factor personal device, such as key fobs, PDAs, mobile phones, etc. The below description provides an example of the possible elements of a display cards.
Depending on the functionality with which the display card is programmed, the user of the card will have the ability to receive information relating to that functionality. For example, it is known to provide a balance look-up facility in display cards having financial transaction functionality.
An example of such functionality is a card having an EMV chip. EMV is the global standard for inter-operation of integrated circuit cards (IC, or ‘smart’ cards) and smart card enabled point of sale terminals and automated teller machines (ATMs), for authenticating debit and credit card transactions.
The EMV standards define the interaction at the physical, electrical, data and application levels between IC cards and IC card processing devices for financial transactions. There are standards based on ISO/IEC 7816 for contact cards, and standards based on ISO/IEC 14443 for contactless cards. For example, ISO/IEC 7816-3 defines the transmission protocol between IC cards and their associated readers, whereby data is exchanged between the two in application protocol data units (APDUs).
In a standard EMV transaction flow, an authorization request is sent by the EMV terminal to the card Issuer, typically via Merchant, Acquirer and Trusted Network Processor (TNP) networks. The Issuer performs transaction authorization and sends an authorization response (either positive or negative) to the EMV terminal, typically via the same networks in reverse order: TNP, Acquirer and then Merchant.
With display cards, additional information flows can be included for sending information, such as updated account balance or previous transactions, for display on the card. At present, such additional information flows are processed by the Issuer alongside the authorization flow. This results in increased data traffic for the Issuer and adds a significant burden to the Issuer server.
It is an objective of the present invention to reduce the burden on the Issuer server. It is a further objective to do so using standard message flows, so as to avoid undue changes to the transaction flows. It is a yet further objective for this to be achieved so that the user is blind to the process; it is immaterial to the user by which route the displayed information has arrived at the card display, provided that its accuracy is not deleteriously affected. Another objective of the invention is to implement value added services without significantly affecting existing transaction flows.
In relation to display cards, some embodiments of information service proposition concepts are described herein with details of some embodiments of the architectures and information flows required to facilitate the provision of some embodiments of such information services.
The details of cardholder interactions with the display card (i.e. the card's user interface) and the driving of the visual display are not described in detail herein. | {
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Pipelines are used extensively in industry for the transport of gases and fluids under pressure. The integrity of these pipelines is of critical importance from an environmental, safety and economic perspective. Considerable effort and expenditures are made for the purpose of detecting and repairing leaks in these pipelines.
A prior art approach to repairing and sealing a pipeline leak makes use of a sealing gasket applied over the leaking portion of the pipe and a clamp for drawing and compressing the gasket in sealing engagement with the pipe. The gasket is relatively thin and when forced into position over the leaking hole in the pipe is generally in a highly stretched condition and is subject to rupture. The clamp used to position the gasket about the leak is generally comprised of various sections which require assembly and tightening by mechanical means before use. The assembly of the clamp delays sealing of the leak and allows for continued leakage of the gas or fluid.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,487,857 discloses a gas clamp for clamping and sealing off a leak in a gas or fluid carrying pipe. The clamp includes a pair of resilient force blocks, with one of the blocks coupled to and displaced by a hydraulic ram with a plunger. The gas clamp is hand-held and includes a hand-operated pump in combination with a hydraulic fluid accumulator for pressurizing the hydraulic ram and displacing its plunger as well as the force block to which it is coupled. This clamping device requires manual manipulation and positioning by two workers who are positioned close to the gas or fluid leak and thus may be subject to considerable hazard.
The present invention addresses the aforementioned limitations of the prior art by providing a pipe seal for covering an opening in a pipe and sealing a gas or fluid leak which allows for remote manipulation and positioning of the sealing device for increased safety and ease of handling. | {
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The invention is related to the field of energy harvesting, and in particular to improving energy harvesting efficiency of piezoelectric harvesters.
Energy harvesting is an area of growing importance to reduce the dependence of handheld, portable and implantable electronics on batteries. Harvesting ambient vibration energy through piezoelectric means is a popular energy harvesting technique which can supply 100's of μW of available power. A piezoelectric element converts mechanical energy in the form of vibrations into electrical energy and vice-versa. It can be modeled as a current source in parallel with a complex impedance.
Ambient mechanical vibrations produce an AC current in the piezoelectric element which must be rectified to get a DC voltage output. Conventional rectifiers use a full-bridge rectifier 2 or a voltage doubler 10 circuit as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The problem with a simple full-bridge strategy is that most of the available power of the harvester 4 is just wasted in charging and discharging the input capacitor.
A piezoelectric harvester is usually represented electrically as a current source in parallel with a capacitor (CP) and resistor (RP). The current source provides current proportional to the input vibration amplitude. For the sake of the following analysis, the input vibrations are assumed to be sinusoidal in nature and hence the current is represented as:IHAR=Ip sin ωt (1)Some of the prior art in extracting electrical power from piezoelectric harvesters 2, 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows a full-bridge rectifier and FIG. 2 shows a rectifier 10 which also acts as a voltage doubler. The analysis also assumes ideal diodes 6, 14. The electrical power that is extractable from the full-bridge rectifier using the circuit shown in FIG. 1 is given by:
P RECT = 2 V RECT π ( I p - V RECT ω C p ) ( 2 ) where VRECT is the rectified output voltage of the full-bridge rectifier 2. The extracted power varies with the output voltage and reaches a maximum at
V RECT , max = I p 2 ω C p ( 3 ) where the maximum power extractable is
P RECT , max = I p 2 2 π ω C p ( 4 ) For the voltage doubler case, while the maximum power extractable remains the same, the output voltage (VRECT) at which this is achieved is twice the value as given by eq. (3).
The main limitation of the full-bridge rectifier 2 is that, most of the current available from the harvester 4 does not go into the output at high voltages. This is because, the current first has to go into the capacitor Cp to charge it up to VRECT before the current can go into the output. This happens every time current changes direction from positive to negative and vice-versa. In each of those occasions, the voltage across Cp has to change from +VRECT to −VRECT or from −VRECT to +VRECT. This loss in charge due to charging and discharging of Cp limits the maximum power that can be extracted using the full-bridge rectifier.
Following the rectifier, additional DC-DC converters are required to regulate the output of the rectifier to its maximum power point and to efficiently transfer the energy obtained to the load circuits. These converters can be inductor-based to achieve high efficiency. | {
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Fluid bearings have been used for some time for the transport of heavy or extremely bulky objects. An advantage of the fluid bearing lies in the fact that it may be placed beneath an object and it can, when inflated, transport that object without the requirement of raising the object a great distance from the supporting surface or requiring specialized equipment. An object may thus be moved with little overhead clearance and it is only necessary that the object be capable of sitting upon a platform or cradle which may be supported by the fluid bearing.
One of the difficulties with fluid bearings heretofore known, lies in the fact that if the bearing is inflated to a relative high pressure with respect to the pressure within the plenum, the bearing has a tendency to hop leading to instability. Another difficulty with the air bearing lies in the fact that if the bearing is not properly inflated and the plenum is overpressurized, the bearing does not have sufficient flexibility and give to absorb the slight, irregularities of a supporting surface. Still a further difficulty with currently existing bearings lies in the fact that overpressurization of the bearing causes stress wrinkles in the fabric causing areas of excess wear and further affects the uniform flow beneath the bearing surface. An operator would tend to overinflate a bearing when using a surface having unacceptable roughness, for example unsealed concrete, in an attempt to increase the flow beneath the bearing surface.
In an effort to overcome these basic deficiencies, which are evident in the patent to Crowley, U.S. Pat. No. 3,513,936, issued May 26, 1970, an improvement was presented as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,694 issued Nov. 9, 1971 which through the use of a dam like structure, restricted the flow into the plenum until the bearing was at least partially inflated.
With the above noted problems in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fluid bearing which, because of its particular structure and because of the method of providing fluid under pressure achieves a proper and uniform inflation of the bearing independent of pressurization of the plenum.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for assuring proper pressurization of the bearing and the plenum by means of an inexpensive and simple conduit configuration.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a unique means for securing a fluid bearing to its overlying plate or pallet member.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a fluid bearing which regulates the fluid entering the bearing and diverts the majority of fluid to the plenum to provide greater separation from the operating surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing wherein the fluid flow to the plenum and the airbag is carefully controlled permitting high inflation of the plenum and without overly inflating the airbag.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide separate controls for a fluid bearing such that the relative flow to each may be carefully controlled and selectively terminated.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an air bearing including means to control the inflation such that the bearing may be successfully inflated in an unloaded condition under special circumstances. | {
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This invention relates to an apparatus for recharging a battery, comprising a compartment for accommodating the battery in a manner such that its electrical terminals are in contact with a pair of electrodes, the electrodes being connectable to corresponding poles of a controllable source of electrical energy, further comprising a strain gauge which is positioned so as to make contact with a wall of the battery when the battery is in place in the compartment, the strain gauge comprising a foil which carries a resistive element, each of the two extremities of the resistive element being connected to electrical means via a separate contact wire.
The invention also relates to a method of monitoring both the mechanical deformation and the temperature of a battery during recharging.
The term "battery" is here intended to refer to either single cells or battery packs, and refers specifically to secondary (i.e. rechargeable) batteries.
An apparatus as specified in the opening paragraph is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,638 and from laid-open Japanese Patent Applications JP 63-268445 (filed 24.04.87) and JP 5-326027 (filed 22.05.92). These documents describe how the physical dimensions of a battery can change as a result of increased internal pressure and temperature during charging. Such increase is attributable to the occurrence of certain chemical reactions within the battery, the rate and type of which are determined by the battery's charge state at any given time. In particular, at the end of a charging procedure, additional electrical energy supplied to the battery will, in general, no longer cause an increase in its internal charge, but will instead provoke a sharp rise in the battery's internal pressure and temperature, causing the battery to expand (these effects being particularly prominent in NiCd and NiMH batteries). The strain gauge is employed to monitor any such mechanical deformation of the battery, and the detection of (the onset of) sharply increasing deformation can then be used as an indication that efficient charging has been completed, and that the electrical energy source should be switched off. Such action is particularly important in the case of so-called "quick charging", where the battery can be severely damaged if the charging process is not carefully monitored and interrupted in good time. | {
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U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,153 discloses such a detecting device in the form of a testing tube. This testing tube is provided for detecting and measuring copper aerosols in air. The glass tube is frangible at its tips and a breakable glass ampule and a reaction layer are disposed one behind the other in the through-flow direction of the testing tube. The glass ampule is provided as a reagent supply vessel and the reaction layer of silica gel is provided as a carrier and is impregnated with a color indicator for copper. The ampule is filled with nitric acid and a filter layer is disposed between the ampule and the reaction layer. The filter layer holds back copper aerosols from the test quantity of air when passing the test quantity through the testing tube via suction.
After the sample has been taken, the ampule is broken and care must be taken that the entire contents of the ampule are distributed uniformly over the filter layer containing the copper aerosol as well as over the reaction layer having the color indicator.
The break of the ampule releases the reagent liquid immediately after breaking the ampule because of the way the ampule is mounted in the testing tube with the reagent fluid pouring directly onto the filter layer and the reaction layer before the residual amount is removed from the ampule. For this reason, color reactions take place before a uniform solution of the copper aerosols in the nitric acid and a uniform wetting of the reaction layer take place. This causes color changes to occur at certain locations of the reaction layer wetted with the detecting reagent; however, at other locations which are not yet wetted, the color change occurs only later. The non-uniform color change of the reaction layer resulting therefrom makes a reliable reading or comparison of the degree of color change with a color standard difficult.
In order to bring the entire contents of the ampule together with the test quantity to be investigated and the color reagent for a quantitative conversion, the content of the ampule must be driven out and applied to the reaction surface in a non-reproducible manner, for example, by means of whirling movements of the testing tube held in the hand with the open ampule. In this way, the reliability of the measurement method is essentially dependent upon the expertise of the user to manipulate the detecting device in a suitable manner. | {
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Generally, a piezoelectric body is used in an ultrasound transducer. This is because a piezoelectric body has a so-called coupling effect between an electric system and a mechanical system for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy and, conversely, electrical energy into mechanical energy. The piezoelectric body has a sheet shape, a plate shape, or a rod shape and is provided with a pair of electrodes, one electrode being fixed to a rear layer and the other electrode being in contact with a medium via an acoustic lens or a matching layer.
Many piezoelectric ultrasound transducers emit sound waves toward a medium or detect sound waves propagating through the medium in a d33 mode or an e33 mode. It is generally considered that the d33 mode is a longitudinal vibration of a column vibrator and that the e33 mode is a thickness vibration of a plate vibrator. Ferroelectrics such as PZT ceramics and PVDF, high dielectrics such as P(VDCN/VAc), and porous polymer electret piezoelectric bodies exhibit the d33 mode or the e33 mode by retaining residual polarization due to an orientation of an electric dipole by polling processing. On the other hand, with piezoelectric crystals without residual polarization, a C axis in the case of piezoelectric crystals such as ZnO, LiNbO3, and KNbO3 and the A axis in the case of quartz are respectively oriented perpendicular to an electrode surface to exhibit the d33 mode or the e33 mode in the case of quartz, a d11 mode or an e11 mode). Piezocomposite materials are dependent on what materials are used.
With a piezoelectric body constituting an ultrasound transducer, a simplest mechanical boundary condition is a case where one end is a fixed end and the other end is a free end. In theory, an acoustic impedance Z (unit: MRayl.) and a boundary condition of an object in contact have a relationship in which Z=0 represents the free end and Z=∞ represents the fixed end. However, the present specification is not as strict, and with the exception of an adhesion layer and an electrode layer, a fixed end is assumed when an impedance Z of a piezoelectric material is smaller or equal to an impedance Z of an object in contact and a free end is assumed when the impedance Z of the piezoelectric material is greater. In addition, a resonance of a longitudinal vibration or a thickness vibration of a piezoelectric body is used by an ultrasound transducer to transmit and receive waves, and a resonance frequency fr thereof is determined primarily by physical properties and dimensions of the piezoelectric body and, to a lesser degree, by a structure of the transducer and how the transducer is pressed against a medium. Therefore, in the present specification, factors which alter the resonance frequency besides than dimensions and properties of a piezoelectric body are eliminated.
First, the resonance frequency fr in the d33 mode or the e33 mode of a piezoelectric body is given using a sound velocity v and a height (thickness) h of the piezoelectric body by Expression (1) below.fr=v/4h (1)
This is generally referred to as a resonance in a λ/4 resonance mode, λ denotes a wavelength inside the piezoelectric body. There is also a λ/2 resonance mode with both ends free. A resonance frequency thereof is double the resonance frequency of the λ/4 resonance mode.
Meanwhile, the sound velocity v of the piezoelectric body is given by Expression (2) below in the case of a longitudinal vibration of a column vibrator and by Expression (3) below in the case of a thickness vibration of a plate-like thickness vibrator.v=(1/sρ)1/2 (2)v=(c/ρ)1/2 (3)where s denotes elastic compliance, c denotes elastic stiffness, and ρ denotes density.
From Expressions (1) to (3) above, it is understood that respective frequencies of wave transmission and wave reception by a transducer are primarily determined by a height (thickness) h, an elastic modulus s, and a density ρ of a piezoelectric body.
Furthermore, for ultrasound diagnostic devices used in the fields of medicine, architecture, and the like, there are demands for higher frequencies and improved wave transmitting/receiving performances in transducers for the purpose of obtaining images with higher resolutions. In regards to improving a wave transmitting/receiving performance of an ultrasound transducer using a piezoelectric body, electrical impedance matching between the transducer and an electric processing circuit is an important factor in transmitting electrical signals at a high S/N ratio. In addition, in regards to achieving a higher frequency, since wave transmitting/receiving frequencies are determined by the thickness of a piezoelectric body, the piezoelectric body must be thinned. Although thinning of a piezoelectric body causes a decline in electrical impedance and is therefore beneficial in terms of impedance matching with an electrical circuit, a magnitude of decline is, at best, no more than an inverse of a thickness ratio. Furthermore, thinning of a piezoelectric body increases the difficulty of a production process in terms of film thickness control, handling, and the like.
Therefore, in conventional art, a harmonic component of a wave transmission/reception signal of a conventional λ/4 resonant transducer is used in order to obtain a high-frequency signal. However, since a harmonic component has a lower sensitivity than a fundamental wave component and is susceptible to attenuation due to damping by the piezoelectric body or surrounding materials, it is difficult to obtain a signal with a high S/N ratio. In consideration thereof, an e33 thickness-stretch mode will be described with reference to FIG. 1 as an example of ultrasound wave transmission/reception using harmonics. FIG. 1 and the following description are presented in Non-Patent Document 1. Constants of the elements constituting an equivalent circuit shown in FIG. 1 are given in Expressions (4) to (6) below.Cn=pnkt2C0 (4)L=1/ωp12C1 (5)andpn=(1/n2)(8/π2),n=2m−1 (6)where Cn denotes a capacitance of each element, L denotes inductance, kt denotes an electromechanical coupling coefficient in the thickness-stretch mode, and ωp1 denotes resonance frequency.
By incorporating an approximation of pn≅1/n2 into Expression (6) above, Expression (4) becomes Expression (7) below.Cn/C0=k12/n2 (7)
Expression (7) indicates that an effective value of the electromechanical coupling coefficient in an n-th order harmonic decreases to 1/n, in the case of a first order mode, since n=1, Expression (7) becomes Expression (8) below.Cn=1/C0=kt2 (8)
Expression (8) is consistent with an expression when incorporating substitutions of ∈T=C0+Cn and ∈S=C0 in a relational expression (9) between kt and permittivity in the first order mode.∈T/∈S=1+kt2 (9)where ∈S denotes permittivity under a clamped condition, ∈T denotes permittivity under a free condition, and C0 and Cn denote capacitance. For the d33 mode, a similar result is obtained by replacing Expression (4) with Expression (10) below.Cn=pn(k332/1−k332)C0 (10)
In addition, an effective value of an electromechanical coupling coefficient when transmitting and receiving third order harmonics is given by Expression (7) in the case of n=3, and by letting an apparent coupling coefficient be kt′, kt′=kt/n=kt/3 is obtained. This result signifies that the apparent coupling coefficient attenuates to ⅓ when transmitting and receiving third order harmonics.
FIG. 2 is a graph showing frequency characteristics (calculated vales) of a complex permittivity of a piezoelectric body in which a first order mode of resonance in a thickness direction is represented by a frequency of 1 MHz. In FIG. 2, an abscissa represents frequency in units of MHz and an ordinate represents complex permittivity. However, kt=0.3, h/2v=2.485×10−7(s), and tan δm=0.04.
A local maximum and a local minimum of a real part (denoted by reference character α1) and a local maximum of an imaginary part (denoted by reference character α2) at 1 MHz are of the first order mode of resonance in the thickness direction. Subsequently, a third order harmonic component is observed at 3 MHz and a fifth order harmonic component is observed at 5 MHz. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 3, applying the third order harmonic component (dashed line) shown in FIG. 2 to a piezoelectric body model (solid line) with 3 MHz as a first order mode revealed that, by reducing a coupling coefficient and a piezoelectric body thickness of the piezoelectric body model to ⅓, a waveform of the piezoelectric body model becomes consistent with that of a piezoelectric body with 3 MHz as a third order mode. This result is consistent with the interpretation presented above. FIG. 3 is a graph showing frequency characteristics (calculated values) of a complex permittivity of a piezoelectric body exhibiting thickness vibration. In FIG. 3, an abscissa represents frequency in units of MHz and an ordinate represents complex permittivity. However, as described earlier, the dashed line represents kt=0.3, h/2v=2.485×10−7(s), and tan δm=0.04. On the other hand, the solid line represents k1=0.1, h/2v=3.300×10−7(s), and tan δm=0.04.
As described above, with conventional art, an apparent electromechanical coupling coefficient decreases to 1/n while a harmonic is being detected and electrical impedance is primarily determined by dimensions of a piezoelectric body.
Meanwhile, with medical ultrasound diagnostic devices, harmonic imaging (THI) diagnostics of body tissue using a harmonic signal is becoming a standard diagnostic modality due to its ability to produce diagnostic images with clarity not possible with conventional B-mode diagnostics. Harmonic imaging technology has many advantages due to the use of higher frequencies including a reduced sidelobe level, increased SiN, enhanced contrast resolution, a thinner beam width, improved lateral resolution, lower sound pressure at short distances, and a lower likelihood of an occurrence of multiple reflections due to less fluctuation in sound pressure.
In consideration thereof, in Patent Document 1, signals received by respective piezoelectric elements of an ultrasound transducer are added in a phasing adder circuit and then commonly inputted to a fundamental wave band filter and a harmonic band filter. In addition, outputs thereof are weighted by gains respectively corresponding to a depth of a diagnosis domain of a subject and then combined. Patent Document 1 proposes an ultrasound diagnostic device which accordingly interpolates an attenuation of a harmonic component in a deep diagnosis domain with a fundamental wave. In other words, when receiving harmonics, the ultrasound diagnostic device disclosed in Patent Document 1 compensates for a reduction in the electromechanical coupling coefficient using a filter and an amplifier.
Similarly, in Patent Document 2, a harmonic piezoelectric element is laminated on a fundamental wave piezoelectric element, and a transmission ultrasound wave is emitted from the fundamental wave piezoelectric element. In addition, a fundamental wave signal component received by the fundamental wave piezoelectric element and a plurality of harmonic components received by the harmonic piezoelectric element are respectively passed through band separation filters to extract desired components, separately subjected to gain adjustment, and finally added together, Patent Document 2 proposes an ultrasound diagnostic device that accordingly obtains a signal in accordance with a depth of a diagnosis domain.
However, with the conventional art described above, filters and amplifiers must be inserted to signal paths from a large number of piezoelectric elements.
Furthermore, an organic material such as PVDF is more favorably used than an inorganic material such as PZT for receiving signals with a high frequency. However, while an inorganic material has high permittivity and therefore high capacitance and low electrical impedance and, as a result, matching with a subsequent stage circuit is relatively easy, an organic material has low permittivity and therefore low capacitance and high electrical impedance and, as a result, matching with a subsequent stage circuit is difficult. Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-11004 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 4192598 Non-Patent Document 1: “Fundamentals of Piezoelectric Materials Science”, Takuro Ishida, Ohmsha, Ltd. | {
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A computer system may be implemented as a layered device, for example, including a hardware layer, a firmware and operating system layer, and an applications program layer. The hardware layer of the computer system may be referred to as a physical platform. The physical platform may include processors, chipsets, communications channels, memory, boards, and systems.
The computer system may also include a manageability engine, for example, including a microcontroller that is dedicated to allowing the computer system to be managed, e.g., remotely via a remote management console over a communications network. However, provision of a dedicated microcontroller for manageability services may be inappropriate, impractical, or otherwise not scalable in some implementations for reasons including cost, size, power consumption, heat dissipation, limited MIPS (Million Instructions Per Second), etc. | {
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Computerized networks, such as the Internet, have become increasingly popular. Such networks commonly allow computers at geographically distant locations to exchange information. For example, a computer user in the United Kingdom may be able to download software from a server located in the United States.
A disadvantage that has become apparent with such networks is, however, increased congestion, slowing down the speed at which data can be communicated at particular times. For example, a computer user downloading a multimedia video clip may experience choppy playback, or playback stoppage in the middle of a clip, due to the network (e.g., the Internet) being congested to the point where all the data transmitted thereover cannot be transmitted in a timely manner. As more and more data-intensive applications have become commonplace on the Internet, such as multimedia video streaming, congestion has only gotten worse, and does not promise to let up in the future.
Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) has been proposed as a manner by which to implement congestion avoidance, as described in K. Ramakrishnan and S. Floyd, A proposal to add Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) to IP, Request for Comments RFC 2481, Internet Engineering Task Force, January 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference. However, as has been proposed within this reference, ECN is very particular to TCP. This means that usage of a great amount of network bandwidth that relies on UDP or other non-TCP protocols is unaffected by ECN, such that congestion avoidance strategies cannot be triggered by ECN. Further, ECN as has been proposed within this reference relies on notifying only those users (e.g., channels) that are causing congestion, instead of all related users (or, channels), restricting the manner by which congestion can be alleviated.
For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention. | {
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The present invention relates generally to scheduling tasks for execution on a plurality of computers in a wide area network and, more particularly, to remote scheduling of tasks for execution on servers and workstations in the network.
In a large enterprise with many thousands of file servers and workstations, the conventional methods of running maintenance software on remote computers in a wide area network have proven to be very inefficient. Every Windows-based machine has a built in tool called the task scheduler. Scheduled tasks are created and executed based on standard security permissions. The task scheduler is fully integrated into the operating system. The task scheduler is useful for scheduling a task to run at a certain time on a machine in a Windows-based computing environment when the machine is not being utilized or when it doesn't interfere with production. However, this approach only works if the administrator can get to the server or workstation to configure the task.
There is a need for a method for remotely placing tasks (jobs) in the task schedulers of multiple workstations in the network simultaneously. The task scheduler on each server or workstation then runs the actual job at the assigned time or when a certain event occurs. | {
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A secondary battery refers to a device which converts external electric energy into the form of chemical energy and stores it therein, and then generates electricity as necessary. Such a secondary battery is also called the name of ‘rechargeable battery’ which means a battery capable of being charged many times. Typical secondary batteries include a lead storage battery, nickel cadmium (Ni—Cd) battery, nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery, lithium ion (Li-ion) battery and a lithium ion (Li-ion) polymer battery. A secondary battery provides both an economical advantage and an environmental advantage as compared to a disposable primary battery.
Currently, a secondary battery is used for some applications requiring low electric power. For example, such applications include a device that helps starting of a car, portable system, instrument and a no-brake power supply system. Recently, development of wireless communication technology leads popularization of a portable system. In addition, there is a tendency to convert many conventional systems into wireless systems. Under these circumstances, there is an exploding demand for secondary batteries. Further, hybrid cars and electric cars have been commercialized with a view to preventing environmental pollution. Such next-generation vehicles adopt secondary batteries to reduce the cost and weight and to increase the service life.
In general, secondary batteries are generally provided as cylindrical, prismatic or pouch type batteries. This is because secondary batteries are manufactured by installing an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator into a cylindrical or prismatic metal can or a pouch type case made of an aluminum laminate sheet, and then injecting an electrolyte to the electrode assembly. Therefore, a predetermined space for installing a secondary battery is required essentially. Thus, such cylindrical, prismatic or pouch-like shapes of secondary batteries undesirably function as limitations in developing various types of portable systems. As a result, there is a need for a novel type of secondary battery which allows easy deformation.
To meet such a need, a cable type secondary battery, which has a significantly larger ratio of length to sectional diameter, has been suggested. The cable type secondary battery requires a certain degree of bending characteristics to accomplish its purpose of use, and generally requires a level of 5R of bend radius.
Particularly, when applying a cable type secondary battery to electric wires for Bluetooth earphones requiring high bending characteristics, it is required to integrate an inner electrode, separator and an outer electrode in order to prevent an increase in contact resistance in the cable type secondary battery. | {
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Printed circuit board connectors for coupling daughter cards to backplanes are well known in the art. However, the electrical properties of these connectors have historically limited high-speed designs. The simultaneous requirements for robust connectivity, serviceability, and excellent electrical properties have resulted in a series of design trade-offs that delivered less than optimal signal performance, particularly in the 90-degree configurations often used to connect a backplane to a daughter card.
Prior art demonstrates that many and various constructions have been utilized in order to achieve a 90-degree signal connection with good electrical properties. These constructions fall into several broad categories:
1. Constructions using stamped or formed metal pins, leads, or contacts to propagate a signal from one board interface to another board interface. These are further broken down into various types: PA1 A. Pin-field connector. These connectors utilize an array of signal pins to provide the signal path, and count on a certain number of those pins being connected to ground in order to enable a robust path for return currents. In high speed connections, these often have problems due to the large loop areas between signals and grounds, and the fact that the dielectric material varies from plastic to air at many intervals along the connected path. In addition, the inherent inductance of the metal pin per unit length is generally poorly matched with the inherent capacitance of the dielectric per unit length. As a result, the interconnects tend to be inductively dominated, and the resulting impedance at high frequencies is different than the desired impedance. This results in degraded signal quality across the connector. Signal-to-signal crosstalk coupling is typically high in this type of interconnect, further degrading signal quality. PA1 B. Stripline and Microstrip connectors using metal leads. This family of connectors are built around a planar structure, which is generally composed of a stamped or formed metal plate. The metal signal conductors are positioned in a deterministic relationship relative to the metal plate in a manner such that a pseudo stripline or pseudo microstrip structure is formed. The electrical characteristics of this type of connector are much better than those of pin field connectors, but still fall short of the electrical properties of the printed circuit board (PCB). Causes of signal degradation in this type of connector include mixed air/plastic dielectric, point discontinuities associated with contact features, and the amount of capacitance associated with large through-hole vias. PA1 C. Pseudo-coax and pseudo-twinax constructions. These connectors emulate the physical construction of a shielded conductor cable by surrounding a stamped or formed metal lead with a complete or partial shield. The shield can be constructed of metal, or alternatively be a molded plastic assembly plated, painted, or coated with a metal conductive shield. As with the previous constructions, the metal lead is surrounded with a combination of plastic and air dielectric. These connectors offer very good electrical performance when compared to pin fields, but do not provide the level of performance found in PCBs. Causes of signal degradation in this type of connector include mixed air/plastic dielectric, point discontinuities associated with contact features, and the amount of capacitance associated with large through-hole vias. PA1 2. Constructions using flexible circuits. These connectors address signal quality requirements by producing a printed circuit construction, complete with ground planes, within the confines of the 90-degree contact. This is achieved by manufacturing flat sections of circuit material, and then bending them to 90 degrees. Various types of contacts have been used, including gold bumps, rubber elastomers pressing against gold pads, and heat-activated springs. While flexible circuit performance can help address some of the issues associated with stamped or formed metal leads, they have their own problems: PA1 A. A stripline construction requires three conductor layers, while the standard materials and processes produce two layers. As a result, microstrip constructions are often used, that have higher crosstalk and more EMI radiation than stripline. Alternatively, stripline structures are produced in a layer stackup that is more difficult to produce and more difficult to bend than non-stripline structures because of the skin structure formed by the two outer copper ground layers. PA1 B. Because of the difficulty in manufacturing multi-layer, controlled-impedance flexes with more than one stripline layer, yields are very low for interconnects offering high density. PA1 C. In order to achieve density with a low layer count, many flex interconnects are produced with extremely fine lines and close spacing between lines. Fine lines add attenuation to the signal path, and close spacing increases crosstalk. PA1 D. The flexible nature of the contact materials requires that the connector have specific and often expensive alignment hardware to ensure connectivity between flex pads and board features. PA1 3. Constructions using coax or twinax cable. Used under the most stringent performance conditions, these connectors are constructed of sections of cable materials attached to small PCBs or plastic contact carriers. (For example see Schumacher, U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,795.) While signal quality of these connectors is quite good, manufacturing costs are usually prohibitive for all but the most expensive systems.
There is a need in the art for a high-performance, easily manufacturable, connector with electrical properties matched to the system. This connector must be mechanically robust, inexpensive, and available in a wide range of sizes. | {
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An arrangement of an ultrasonic transducer with a filter element is known from European patent, EP 1 340 964 B1. This arrangement has, however, a signal radiating bending plate, whose edges feed body sound into the filter element. In this way, the ultrasonic signal is, indeed, centered in the middle, but the radiating area is very small. Additionally, a radial support of the filter element and an arrangement in a housing are not shown. | {
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The application of a magnetic field and the subsequent measurement of the magnetic resonance properties of a material is well established. When a magnetic field is applied to an atom, either the resonance pattern of the nucleus, more specifically the protons, or of the electrons can be measured. The first application has become known as nuclear resonance (NMR) while the latter is referred to as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).
NMR has been widely used in the field of imaging of the human body. In NMR imaging, a relatively high magnetic field, i.e., on the order of 1 T to 4 T, is applied which causes the previously randomly oriented protons to realign and precess at a specific frequency. This frequency is called the Larmor frequency, and it is proportional to the local strength of the magnetic field at the position of the proton. A second magnetic field or burst of energy is applied to increase the energy of the nuclear proton. Typically, the frequency of this second field is in the range of about 1 megahertz (MHz) to 10 gigahertz (GHz). When the second magnetic field or energy source is turned off, the return of the protons to the first alignment state releases energy. Sensors are provided for sensing the rate of relaxation or energy release of the protons and subsequently generating a signal in the time domain that is referred to as the free induction decay (FID) signal. This signal is then analyzed using a Fourier transform to develop a spectrum of signals in the frequency domain. Analytical means may also be provided for receiving and analyzing the signals emitted, discriminating between various peaks, comparing the amplitude or height of various peaks, and/or normalizing the analysis by reference to a standard sample.
The use of NMR has been widely accepted for imaging purposes, because of the non-invasive nature of the technique and because it does not expose the patient to potentially harmful radiation as is used in conventional radiographic imaging. However, NMR imaging apparatuses require large magnetic fields and are usually physically quite large. Additionally, NMR imaging apparatuses have relatively high electrical consumption loads. In general, NMR imaging apparatuses are expensive to both manufacture and operate, and have thus, not been used extensively in areas of diagnosis and treatment.
However, one diagnostic application of NMR has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,732 issued to Rapoport et al. on Dec. 17, 1991. This patent describes a NMR apparatus which is used for non-invasively testing body fluids for a particular constituent, such as glucose in blood. In this particular NMR apparatus, the device is adapted to receive an extremity of the patient, such as a finger, in order to test the constituents found in the blood. The extremity is exposed to a first magnetic field having a field strength of at least five to six kilogauss. A coil apparatus, comprised of either a single or multiple coil, is used to apply a second field or energy to the test sample. In this particular apparatus, a radio frequency (RF) generator is used to produce this second field or energy. This coil apparatus also functions as the sensor for detecting the energy released (i.e., the FID) until the second field or energy is removed. Analytical means (i.e., electronic circuitry) are connected to the sensor coils for receiving and analyzing the signals emitted, discriminating between various peaks, comparing the amplitude or height of the various peaks that are attributed to the various constituents such as water and glucose, and for normalizing the analysis by reference to a standard sample so as to obtain the concentration of constituents in the tested materials. In using this particular NMR apparatus, a standard sample containing predetermined amounts of the materials to be tested is placed in the device and measured. This field measurement is compared against a previously stored, known spectrum for the particular constituent in order to normalize and quantify the substance being tested in the body fluid.
As noted previously, the second type of magnetic resonance technology involves measuring the resonance properties of electrons. The measurement of electron paramagnetic resonance is usually made at frequencies in the microwave range, i.e., on the order of 1000 MHz and above. One such electron paramagnetic resonance apparatus, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,527 issued to Singer on Jun. 19, 1984. In this apparatus, a sample to be measured is placed in a waveguide cavity, which also functions to concentrate the microwaves. The sample can be in several different forms including a solid or liquid of a specific column or weight or a continuous flow of liquid through an electrically insulating conduit. Additionally, this patent teaches that the local magnetic field around the sample must be at a level for which the sample exhibits a maximum resonance absorption. For microwave frequencies, all that is stated in this patent is that this magnetic field is much higher than the magnetic field produced by the earth.
As can be observed from the above discussion, all of the known nuclear and electron magnetic resonance devices require the use of relatively strong magnetic fields, i.e., fields exhibiting at least 100 gauss, but more typically in the 2000-4000 gauss range. In contrast, the magnetic resonance device of the present invention uses a significantly smaller magnetic field, i.e., in the range of 0.5 to 7 gauss.
In addition, the magnetic resonance analyzer of the present invention measures the degree and type of response of the matter under test, and by comparison with reference matter, it assists in recognizing deviations from a desired response. This capability is enhanced by testing with resonance test patterns which relate to the significant characteristics for the particular matter under test. The basis for the magnetic resonance effects of the present invention include proton excitation, manipulation of molecular oscillation, cellular membrane oscillation, and/or electron spin alternation.
Thus, in view of the above differences, the inventive magnetic resonance analyzer offers new advantages in the field of material analysis. Because the present invention uses much lower magnetic fields, it is safer and has less side effects than the prior art devices. In addition, the present inventions have a greater range of applications than the prior art devices and can be optimized for a given task by the use of the proper resonance pattern. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet feeder for transporting sheets, an original document transport device which includes the sheet feeder, and an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a multifunction peripheral, or a facsimile machine. The present invention also relates to a sheet feeding method for the sheet feeder.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, an image forming apparatus that handles sheets, such as a copying machine, a multifunction peripheral, or a facsimile machine, is provided with a sheet feeder for receiving sheets and sending out the sheets as necessary. For example, the sheet feeder is disposed inside an original document transport device for automatically and successively feeding original documents (sheets) one by one to a reading position of an image reading part which reads the original document and generates image data. However, when sheets are stacked exceeding a sheet stacking capacity, the sheet feeder may be jammed with sheets, and hence sheet feeding operation cannot be performed appropriately. Further, the sheets may be damaged by being folded or the like. In view of this, some sheet feeders do not perform sheet feeding operation when too many sheets are stacked thereon.
For example, there is known a sheet feeder which includes: a sheet stacking part; a sheet feeding mechanism for feeding sheets one by one from the sheet stacking part; a device casing for supporting the sheet stacking part so as to be movable in a vertical direction; a driving mechanism for moving the sheet stacking part in the vertical direction; sheet stacking detection means for detecting stacking of sheets on the sheet stacking part; sheet position detection means for detecting that an uppermost sheet is positioned in a sheet feedable position, when the sheet stacking part is moved in an upward direction; and control means for determining that a sheet stacking amount is exceeded when the sheet stacking detection means and the sheet position detection means are each in a detection state before the sheet stacking part is moved in the upward direction, in which the control means prohibits operations of the sheet feeding mechanism and the driving mechanism when it is determined that the sheet stacking amount is exceeded. This configuration is intended for avoiding sheet feeding trouble.
For example, an original document transport device, which is a kind of the sheet feeder, feeds original documents as sheets. The original document transport device may include an original document feeding roller which comes into contact with an uppermost sheet of the original documents placed on the sheet placing table. The original document feeding roller is configured to be movable in a vertical direction, for example, so as not to interfere with the placement of original documents when an original document stack (sheet stack) including a large number of sheets are placed. Further, an upper limit detection sensor may be provided for detecting that the original document feeding roller has reached an upper limit position.
Here, there may be a case where, for example, an original document stack to be placed on the sheet placing table slightly exceeds a loadable thickness (maximum thickness capable of being transported without causing a non-feed jam). In such a case, the original document stack may be placed on the sheet placing table, but may be sandwiched between the original document feeding roller and the sheet placing table because the original document feeding roller is capable of moving upward. In this state, the original document feeding roller may fail to rotate, for example, and hence the original documents cannot be sent out appropriately, which leads to a non-feed jam.
In view of the above, as in the known sheet feeder, the feeding of original documents may be stopped without exception, when the upper limit detection sensor (sheet position detection means) detects that the original document feeding roller is in the upper limit position when original documents are set. When such a control is performed, the occurrence of a non-feed jam may certainly be prevented.
However, depending on the configuration and the mounting position of the upper limit sensor, the upper limit sensor may sometimes detect that the original document feeding roller is in the upper limit position even when the original document feeding roller has not reached the upper limit position completely. In other words, an allowance may be made in the detection performed by the upper limit sensor. Accordingly, even when the upper limit sensor detects that the original document feeding roller is in the upper limit position when original documents are set, a non-feed jam does not necessarily occur. That is, even when the upper limit sensor has detected that the original document feeding roller has reached the upper limit position, feeding operation of sheets or original documents may still be performed without causing a non-feed jam even when several more sheets or original documents are additionally placed thereon.
As described above, in a configuration where the sheet feeding operation is stopped without exception when the upper limit sensor has detected that the sheet feeding roller has reached the upper limit position, there arises a problem that the thickness (number of sheets or original documents) of the sheet stack or of the original document stack to be loaded at one time is reduced as compared with the thickness (number of sheets or original documents) of the sheet stack or of the original document stack that may originally be loadable in the device. | {
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The practice of acoustical well logging is well known in the oil and gas industry. One particular use of acoustic logging is to determine the points at which fluid or gas are entering or leaving the bore of a well. This information is particularly valuable when fluid or gas is entering or leaving the well through a leak in the casing. These casing leaks must often be plugged to assure proper well operations. Acoustic logging is also useful in determining whether or not there is channeling between different producing formations in a well.
One apparatus for locating leaks in casings and boreholes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,210,414, issued Aug. 6, 1940 to Kinley. Kinley discloses a sound detector suspended from a cable so that it may be lowered into and withdrawn from a borehole. The detector comprises a sound detecting mechanism, such as a microphone, which responds to sound produced by the leaking liquid.
Another apparatus for determining the location of fluid entering or exiting a well is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,361,458 issued on Oct. 31, 1944 to Converse. This patent discloses an acoustic device having a sharp response to horizontal signals. Because of this response characteristic, the apparatus may be used to very precisely determine the points of entrance of fluid into a borehole. The apparatus is characterized as being sensitive to noises originating adjacent to the apparatus, while the effect of other noises in the same acoustical range, but vertically removed from the apparatus, is substantially eliminated.
Although devices for determining the location of a leak in a well such as those described above are well known, such devices are generally directionally insensitive. These devices identify only the depth at which the noise associated with the leak is being produced, not the direction from which the noise is coming. Information as to the direction in which a subsurface noise source is located can be very useful in oil and gas well operations.
One such use for directional noise information is in blowout relief well operations. One method of correcting a blowout is to drill relief wells to the vicinity of the well in the formation which is producing fluids or gas into a blowout. Determining the location of such production and drilling a relief well with the required accuracy are difficult tasks. One common technique relies on detecting aberrations in the propagation of magnetic waves in the earth. Such aberrations may be caused by the well casing of a blowout well. Another common technique detects resistivity differences between a blowout well casing and the earth. Such techniques can often be difficult to apply and in any event are of little use when a blowout occurs below the well casing or occurs in a well having no well casing.
Directional information is also useful in operations involving wells where channeling is occurring between different formations. Channeling involves the flow of fluids behind the well casing. Channeling may involve the leakage of fluid or gas from a producing to a non-producing formation, or the leakage of non-hydrocarbons into a producing formation. Such leakage may result in an eventual decrease in production from the well. One method of correcting such leaks is to perforate the well casing and force cement into the undesired channel, thus blocking the flow of fluid or gas through the channel. Although the depth at which the perforation should be made may be determined using conventional noise logging techniques, the proper circumferential location in which to perforate the casing is difficult to determine.
There continues to be a need in the oil and gas industry for improved apparatus and methods for determining the direction of a subsurface noise source. | {
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1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a dielectric capacitor, a manufacturing method for the same, and an electronic device using the same, and more specifically to a semiconductor device in which a dielectric capacitor is driven by an active element formed on an insulating substrate, a manufacturing method for the same, and an electronic device using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, semiconductor devices for memories such as a nonvolatile memory (ferroelectric memory) using ferroelectric materials and a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) using high-dielectric materials have been actively studied, and a number of products of these have been supplied onto the market. Semiconductor devices of these ferroelectric memories and DRAMs have a switching transistor, a capacitor is connected to one diffusion layer (source region or drain region) of this switching transistor to form a memory cell, and charges are accumulated in this capacitor, whereby data is stored.
As a ferroelectric capacitor to be used as a ferroelectric memory uses ferroelectric materials such as PZT (PbZrxTi1-xO3), PLZT (Pb1-yLayZrxTi1-xO3), and SBT (SrBi2Ta2O9) as a capacitance insulating film, and by polarizing the ferroelectric materials, nonvolatile data can be stored. On the other hand, a high-dielectric capacitor to be used as a DRAM uses a high-dielectric thin film of BST (BaxSr1-xTiO) as a capacitance insulating film, and effective film thickness reduction has been promoted in accordance with required capacity increases.
For example, prior art 1 (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2002-334970) discloses a semiconductor device having a switching transistor and a capacitor. FIG. 13 is a sectional view of such a conventional semiconductor device. As shown in FIG. 13, in this semiconductor device, an MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) type switching transistor 119 is provided on the surface of a silicon single crystal substrate 101, and a dielectric capacitor 118 is provided above this switching transistor 119 via interlayer dielectric films 105, 108, and 111. The source or drain of the switching transistor 119 is connected to a lower electrode 113 of the dielectric capacitor 118 by a multilayer metal interconnection structure including interconnections 107 and 110.
In the switching transistor 119, two diffusion layers 103 that serve as a source and a drain are formed on the surface of a silicon single crystal substrate 101 sectioned by oxide films 102, and above the channel region between the diffusion layers 103, a gate electrode 104 is formed via a gate insulating film 120. An interlayer dielectric film 105 is formed so as to cover this switching transistor 109, and metal interconnections 107 are formed thereon. The metal interconnections 107 are electrically connected to the two diffusion layers 103 of the switching transistor 119 by plugs 106. The metal interconnection 107 connected to one diffusion layer 103 is used as an interconnection for connecting the dielectric capacitor 118 and the switching transistor 119. The metal interconnection 107 connected to the other diffusion layer 103 is used as a bit line.
An interlayer dielectric film 108 is formed so as to cover the interlayer dielectric film 105 and the interconnection 107, and a metal interconnection 110 is formed thereon. Furthermore, an interlayer dielectric film 111 is formed so as to cover the interlayer dielectric film 108 and the interconnection 110, and on this interlayer dielectric film 111, a dielectric capacitor 118 is provided. In this dielectric capacitor 118, a lower electrode 113, a dielectric thin film 114, and an upper electrode 115 are laminated in order. The lower electrode 113 is electrically connected to the interconnection 110 via a via hole 112.
Furthermore, an interlayer dielectric film 116 is formed so as to cover the dielectric capacitor 118 and the interlayer dielectric film 111, and on this interlayer dielectric film 116, a metal interconnection 117 is provided. This metal interconnection 117 is provided so as to fill up a contact hole formed in the interlayer dielectric film 116, and is electrically connected to the upper electrode 115. The metal interconnection 117 is used as a plate interconnection.
In these lower electrode 113 and upper electrode 115, in order to prevent deterioration of intrinsic polarization of the dielectric thin film 114 due to deficiency of oxygen, a metal having a low affinity with oxygen such as Pt, Pd, Ir, Rh, Os, Au, Ag, or Ru, or a conductive oxide film of PtOx, PdOx, IrOx, RhOx, OsOx, AuOx, AgO.x or RuOx is used. At the interface between the lower electrode 113 and the via hole 112, in order to prevent relative reaction and relative diffusion of Pt or the like of the lower electrode 113 and W or the like of the via hole 112, a barrier layer (not shown) made of a conductive nitride film of TiN or the like is formed.
The dielectric thin film 114 is a ferroelectric thin film of BaTiO3, PbTiO3, PZT, PLZT, SBT, or the like or a high-dielectric thin film of BST etc. The dielectric thin film of these is formed on the lower electrode by means of sputtering, a sol-gel method, or a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method, and is crystallized into a perovskite-like structure by annealing at a predetermined temperature. The ferroelectric thin film thus formed has a polycrystalline structure. In this annealing, according to prior art 2 (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H04-85878), it is preferable that heating is carried out in the atmosphere containing oxygen at 600° C., and one hour of annealing is necessary. In prior art 1, it is mentioned that the CVD method is used for film formation, crystallization is carried out by heating in the atmosphere of hydrogen to 300 to 500° C., and the surface of the film can be flattened by irradiation with an excimer laser.
In such a conventional semiconductor device, the structure below the lower electrode 113 of the memory cell is the same as that of an LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) that has no capacitor. Therefore, this can be manufactured by a normal LSI manufacturing process by using an existing logic circuit.
However, as described above, this conventional semiconductor nonvolatile storage device is manufactured by the same LSI manufacturing process as that for a general existing logic circuit, so that the manufacturing costs are comparatively high although the storage capacity is comparatively easily increased.
On the other hand, it is expected that not only computers but also various electronic devices including televisions and other home electric appliances will be connected to the Internet in accordance with the advent of a ubiquitous society. Accordingly, the number of addresses of electronic devices on Internet (IP addresses) will be rapidly increase due to introduction of the Internet protocol IPv6. The increase in the number of IP addresses will lead to an increase in temporary (the period of use is much shorter than that of conventional electronic devices) or disposable electronic (recognition and storage) devices such as IC tags (wireless ID tags and radio-frequency ID tags, etc.) and IC cards. Most of these electronic devices have no power source, so that nonvolatile semiconductor devices using the above-described ferroelectric thin films or high-dielectric thin films are used for recognition and storage of data. In such temporary or disposable electronic devices, manufacturing of a semiconductor device having a proper storage capacity at very low cost is demanded more than realization of large capacity. However, it is difficult to meet this demand by the above-described conventional semiconductor devices.
On the other hand, as a transistor that is manufactured at low cost and replaced with the conventional switching transistor manufactured by the LSI manufacturing process, a thin film transistor is available in which a semiconductor layer is formed on an inexpensive substrate such as a low melting point substrate containing no alkali metal (alkali-free) and used as an active layer. As this thin film transistor, one using amorphous silicon or polysilicon (polycrystalline silicon) hydride as an active layer has been made practicable, however, in a nonvolatile semiconductor device, a polysilicon thin film having higher carrier mobility and higher drive performance has been used. In a thin film transistor using this polysilicon thin film, for example, as disclosed in prior art 3 (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H09-116159) and prior art 4 (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H10-242471), a polysilicon thin film serving as a source/drain and a channel is formed on an insulating substrate, a gate insulating film and a gate electrode are formed on this polysilicon thin film, and hydrogen plasma processing is applied, whereby the polysilicon thin film is activated by hydrogen passivation.
On the other hand, it is desirable that a semiconductor storage device is used together with a higher-function semiconductor device having an operation function. Conventionally, by forming a high-function element such as a CPU formed by the LSI process on a single crystal silicon substrate and a memory element into one chip, the packaging cost was reduced. Furthermore, for the memory element, the design rules were made more detailed and the memory capacity to be formed per unit area was increased, and as a result, the costs were reduced.
On the other hand, the polysilicon thin film of the thin film transistor is formed by, for example, the CVD method, and this CVD film contains many Si dangling bonds that do not rarely exist in a silicon single crystal substrate. Si dangling bonds are dangling bonds with Si—Si bonds cut, and are bonded to contaminant atoms and deteriorate the semiconductor performance. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate such Si dangling bonds.
Therefore, for example, in prior art 3, Si dangling bonds are bonded to hydrogen by applying hydrogen plasma processing to a polysilicon film that serves as a source/drain region and a channel region formed on an insulating substrate to form Si—H bonds, whereby the dangling bonds are electrically inactivated.
However, the above-described conventional techniques have the following problems. When a switching transistor is formed by using the technique of prior art 2 and a dielectric capacitor is formed thereon, Si—H bonds are thermally unstable, and due to the heating process when forming a ferroelectric oxide film to be used for the dielectric capacitor, the Si—H bonds are cut and Si dangling bonds are generated again.
In addition, due to action of hydrogen contained in the polysilicon film as a reductant, oxygen deficiency occurs in the ferroelectric oxide film to be used for the dielectric capacitor, and this may result in lowering of the non-dielectric constant and an increase in leak current. | {
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The present invention relates generally to diagnostic imaging and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus of cardiac CT imaging with discontinuous table translation. The invention further relates to the incremental translation of a subject during CT data acquisition such that the subject is not translated to a next scan position until valid data is acquired for a current scan position. Additionally, the present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling the rotational speed of the gantry of a CT scanner during physiologically gated, step-and-shoot CT data acquisition such that the projection angle of a current half-scan and its neighboring half-scans differ within a desired range. In this regard, the present invention maintains data integrity during cardiac irregularities.
The narrowing or constriction of vessels carrying blood to the heart is a well-known cause of heart attacks and, gone untreated, can lead to sudden death. In such stenotic vessels, it is known that the region immediately downstream from the constriction is characterized by having rapid flow velocities and/or complex flow patterns. In general, narrowing of blood-carrying vessels supplying an organ will ultimately lead to compromised function of the organ in question, at best, and organ failure, at worst. Quantitative flow data can readily aid in the diagnosis and management of patients and also help in the basic understanding of disease processes. There are many techniques available for the measurement of blood flow, including imaging based methods using radiographic imaging of contrast agents, both in projection and computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, and nuclear medicine techniques. Radiographic and nuclear medicine techniques often require the use of ionizing radiation and/or contrast agents. Some methods involve making assumptions about the flow characteristics which may not necessarily be true in vivo or require knowledge about the cross-sectional area of the vessel or the flow direction.
CT is one technique of acquiring blood flow and other cardiac data. Typically, in CT imaging systems, an x-ray source emits a fan-shaped beam or cone-shaped beam toward a subject or object. Hereinafter, reference to a “subject” shall include anything capable of being imaged. The beam, after being attenuated by the subject, impinges upon an array of radiation detectors. The intensity of the attenuated beam of radiation received at the detector array is typically dependent upon the attenuation of the x-ray beam by the subject. Each detector element of the detector array produces a separate electrical signal indicative of the attenuated beam received by each detector element. The electrical signals are transmitted to a data processing system for analysis which ultimately produces an image. Generally, the x-ray source and the detector array are rotated about the gantry within an imaging plane and around the subject. X-ray sources typically include x-ray tubes, which emit the x-ray beam at a focal point. X-ray detectors typically include a collimator for collimating x-ray beams received at the detector, a scintillator for converting x-rays to light energy adjacent the collimator, and photodiodes for receiving the light energy from the adjacent scintillator and producing electrical signals therefrom. Typically, each scintillator of a scintillator array converts x-rays to light energy. Each scintillator discharges light energy to a photodiode adjacent thereto. Each photodiode detects the light energy and generates a corresponding electrical signal. The outputs of the photodiodes are then transmitted to the data processing system for image reconstruction.
Increasingly, CT imaging is being used for cardiac imaging. This increase in the implementation of CT for cardiac imaging is primarily predicated upon the relatively fast scan speeds that are now possible with CT systems and the acquisition of multi-slice data. Conventional CT systems are now capable of supporting 0.35 seconds per gantry rotation, if not faster. In fact, in the past decade, there has been nearly a three-fold improvement in temporal resolution. Multi-slice CT acquisition has also contributed to the rise of cardiac CT imaging for cardiac-related diagnoses. CT systems are now capable of significant multi-slice acquisitions.
One application of cardiac CT imaging is coronary artery imaging (CAI). The objective of CAI is to capture images and thus visualize the vasculature of the heart to detect vascular narrowing, disease, or anomalies. CAI is often used by cardiologists, radiologists, and other physicians to examine the dynamic motion of the heart muscles to detect abnormalities. To visualize the narrowing or constriction of a small vessel, the CT scan must provide high temporal resolution so as to “freeze” the cardiac motion in and around the vessel as well as provide high spatial resolution to accurately depict the size of the vessel under examination.
To improve temporal resolution, CAI studies are typically carried out with the assistance of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals acquired from the patient using an ECG monitor. An ECG monitor records the electrical activity of the heart using electrodes placed on the patient's chest, arms, and legs. An ECG monitor is commonly used to provide information regarding heart rate, heart rhythm, adequacy of blood supply to the heart, presence of a heart attack, enlargement of the heart, pericarditis, and the effects of drugs and electrolytes on the heart. ECG signals may also be used to provide cardiac phase data so as to synchronize the acquisition of CT data from the heart with the phase activity of the heart. More particular, the CT system uses the ECG signals to consistently acquire data during the same phase of the cardiac cycle during the CT scan. Doing so reduces image artifacts.
In conventional helical CAI scans, the table translates the patient continuously at a relatively slow pace, i.e. low-pitch, to ensure that the entire heart volume is properly covered. This is illustrated in FIG. 1 where detector row position as a function of time is plotted. As shown, the cardiac cycles are separated by horizontal dotted lines 2. The detector-row locations are depicted by the solid diagonal lines 4. Every point on these lines represents a single-row projection collected at a certain z location and a particular time (therefore a particular projection angle). The z-axis extends along the length of the imaging table, as shown in FIG. 2. For simplicity of illustration, a four-row system is illustrated. The shaded boxes 6 show the reconstruction windows for the cardiac images. These boxes 6, therefore, depict a unique set of time intervals and z-locations. The width of each box 6 represents the volume in z that can be covered with reconstructions corresponding to a particular cardiac cycle. The adjacent set of reconstructions takes place only after the heart reaches the same cardiac phase in the next cardiac cycle. If the combination of gantry speed and helical pitch is not properly selected, the entire heart volume will not be uniformly covered in the reconstructed images. For example, if the table travels too fast (helical pitch is too high), gaps 8 will be present between adjacent volumes. Although small gaps could be filled by image space interpolation, larger gaps will lead to discontinuities and artifacts in the volume rendered images. This is particularly problematic when considering the variation of heart rate in a typical patient.
Conventional CAI studies are typically carried out with helical pitches between 0.1 and 0.4. Such a helical pitch is commonly used to account for the worst case scenario with regards to timing, i.e. ensure complete volume coverage at specified heart rate for a given reconstruction. This translates to a higher dose to patients since regions exposed to the x-ray radiation are highly overlapped. That is, since typical helical scan x-rays are continuously projected toward the subject, these regions of overlap correspond to regions that are exposed to multiple exposures of x-ray radiation. To reduce dose to the patient during CAI studies, a number of dose reduction techniques have been developed. In one technique, the current to the x-ray tube is modulated such that the current is reduced outside the reconstruction window defined between each heartbeat. While these techniques have advantageously reduced dose, cardiac imaging remains to be one of the highest x-ray dose applications in CT.
Additionally, as is well-known, it is preferred for physiologically gated CT imaging that data acquisition be synchronized with the physiological motion of the subject from which data is being acquired. For half-scan imaging, which is a reconstruction technique that can be used in step-and-shoot acquisitions, this can be particularly problematic. That is, it is preferred that the projection angles of neighboring scans differ by π radians. However, with conventional scanners, it is not feasible to control gantry rotation to maintain a desired relationship between the projection angles of neighboring half-scans, which can lead to image artifacts.
Therefore, it would be desirable to design an apparatus and method for cardiac CT imaging that further reduces x-ray dose as well as improves temporal and spatial resolution of CT images. It would also be desirable to have a method and system that dynamically responds to cardiac irregularities, such as arrhythmia, such that data acquisition is suspended or table translation halted if invalid or unacceptable data is acquired. Additionally, it would be desirable to dynamically adjust to the variation in heart rate during data acquisition. It would also be desirable to have a system and method of controlling gantry rotation during gated CT imaging to ensure that the projection angles of neighboring half-scans differ by approximately π radians. | {
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Spherical plain bearings typically comprise an inner member or ball positioned for rotational movement in an outer member or outer ring. The outer ring defines an inner surface contoured to receive and retain the ball therein. In one type of spherical plain bearing, an integral ball is permanently held in place by forming metal around it by, for example, swaging or coining. Alternatively, a linkage apparatus such as a rod end may have an integral ball installed therein by swaging or coining. In another type of spherical bearing, the outer ring may be constructed with a slot to permit insertion of the ball and such bearings are commonly referred to as “load slot bearings.” Alternatively, a linkage apparatus such as a rod end may have an integral ball installed therein via an entry slot machined into a face of the rod end.
Bearings in which there is metal-on-metal contact are generally used in environments in which marked variations in pressure, temperature, and high frequency vibrations are experienced. However, such variations in pressure, temperature, and high frequency vibrations can result in the bearing exhibiting high levels of wear. Moreover, high-cycle metal-on-metal contact or engagement within a short range-of-motion exacerbates the high levels of wear. Also, in these environments, foreign objects can impinge on the bearings, and contaminants such as dust, dirt, water, and aerospace fluids can be encountered, all of which can contribute to bearing wear. Additionally, high temperatures and pressures can cause severe oxidation or other forms of corrosion on the metal surfaces. This may cause a condition known as galling, leading to abrasive wear and an erosion of material.
To overcome such wear, Stellite materials and cobalt materials are typically used for manufacture of the inner member. However, neither Stellite materials nor cobalt materials have a high enough capacity for elongation to prevent the inner member from cracking under stress. A bearing with both the wear resistance of Stellite materials and cobalt materials and a high enough capacity to prevent the ball from cracking under stress has long been sought in the art. By analyzing round beams in bending, for example pins and bolts as examined by Roark and Young, a certain amount of bending stress and strain is forced into the inner member or a ball 14 of the bearing 10. FIG. 24 provides an exemplary beam deflection analysis. Alloys lacking elongation (or toughness or ductility) will crack or fracture readily, such as the brittle Stellite 3 or Stellite 6 materials having only 1% elongation. If the inner member or ball 14 is not integral with the housing 112 of the head portion 114 of the rod end 104, bushings or spacers are used. These additional components increase cost and require additional inventory to be purchased and maintained. These components further pose a foreign object damage risk during assembly of the linkage apparatus 100, the clevis joint 30, or the clevis joint within exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine.
A linkage apparatus or a rod end typically includes a link body shall that terminates in a head portion that defines a housing for a bearing, such as a spherical bearing. The housing is typically defined by a cylindrical interior surface. A spherical bearing installed therein typically includes a one-piece outer member or ring swaged, coined or otherwise formed around the inner member or ball. The inner member typically includes a linking shaft axially extending therethrough or integral therewith. The outer ring of the spherical bearing often has a cylindrical exterior surface complementary to the cylindrical interior surface of the housing. Rod ends can be secured to a clevis joint via the linking shaft positioned through the bearing and press fit into bores in the clevis joint. A face or corner of the rod end of the linkage apparatus may contact the inner wall of the clevis. This may also cause galling resulting in a loss of mass and weakening the structure. The linkage apparatus may also cycle back and forth, building up kinetic energy, excited by driven vibrations, leading to impact damage when the face corner strikes the clevis.
As depicted in FIG. 1A, a typical or prior art linkage apparatus 1100 includes a link body 1110 having a first rod end 1114 extending from one end thereof a second rod end 1114′ extending from an opposing end thereof. The first rod end 1114 is secured to a double shear clevis joint having two flanges 1120A and 1120A′ via a linking shaft 1130 positioned through a bearing 1140 and press fit into bores 1122 in the clevis joint flanges 1120A and 1120A′. The second rod end 1114′ is secured to a single shear clevis having one flange 1120B via a linking shaft 1130′ positioned through a bearing 1140′ and press fit into bore 1122′ in the clevis joint flange 1120B. The bearing 1140 is positioned within a cavity 1112 of a rod end 1114 and the bearing 1140′ is positioned within a cavity 1112′ of the rod end 1114′. As further depicted in FIG. 1C, the bearing 1140 includes an inner member 1142 (e.g., a truncated ball having a spherical surface) having a bore 1141 extending therethrough and positioned within an outer member 1144. An internal surface 1143 is defined by the bore 1141. As clearance develops between the internal surface 1143 and the inner member 1144 of the bearing 1140, or vector loading causes a neutation of a link body 1110A in the direction of the arrow Q1 (see FIG. 1B) and a tilting around the inner member 1142. In this type of movement, the link body 1110 is said to misalign.
As further depicted in FIGS. 1C, 1D and 1E the link body has a longitudinal axis A1. The prior art rod ends 1114 and 1114′ have two flat opposing parallel axial faces 1116 (i.e., axial with respect to axis A6) formed (e.g., milled) thereon. Each of the axial faces 1116 is spaced apart from and aligned with respective inner surfaces 1120X and 1120X′ of the flanges 1120A and 1170A′, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1E. As shown in FIG. 1F, when the rod end 1114 and link body 1110 are rotated about the longitudinal axis, for example in the direction of the arrow R1, the rod end becomes misaligned by an angle δ1. The misalignment causes each of the axial faces 1116′ (shown in dotted lines) to accelerate and impact the respective inner surface 1120X and 1120X′ of the respective flange 1120A and 1120B of the double shear clevis. Such contact causes galling 1150 as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1F.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1G and 1H, attempts have been made to employ narrow anti-rotation lugs 1118A and/or 1118B formed on one or both axial faces 1116 of the rod end 1114. The anti-rotation lug 1118A exhibits a flat top configuration and the anti-rotation lug 1118B exhibits a sharp radius profile. In addition, the anti-rotation lugs 1118A and 1118B have a relatively narrow width W1 that is less than a width W2 of an end of the bearing 1140 and less than a width W3 extending longitudinally across the flat surface 1116. However, the prior art anti-rotation lugs 1118A and 1118 B are milled and consequently exhibit troublesome tooling lines and geometries that create stress risers leading to premature fatigue failures. | {
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When wearing a typical modern disposable absorbent article, a child may have dry skin even after one or more occurrences of urination. As a result, the child may feel little or no discomfort and often may not even be aware that he or she has urinated. However, having the child feel discomfort following urination in his or her “pants” may assist with learning and/or provide motivation to learn to voluntarily retain urine. It is possible to use cloth training pants that leave the skin wet and, due to their high breathability, promote evaporative cooling of the skin, further enhancing discomfort. However, cloth training pants have poor urine containment, often leading to wet clothing and wet surroundings, e.g., carpeting, furniture, etc.
Disposable absorbent training pants successfully address the need to prevent soiling of the wearer's clothing and surroundings. These products are particularly appealing to caregivers and are useful in the toilet training process because the pants have a very garment-like look. Children identify disposable absorbent article products with babies and often do not like being identified with or as babies. Consequently, children of toilet training age often do not want to wear baby disposable absorbent articles, and instead prefer to wear training pants that look like adult underwear. Thus, the switch from a traditional disposable absorbent article to more garment-like or underwear-like training pants can be an important step in the toilet training process.
Current training pants are typically limited to being pulled on like a pair of pants because the side seams are permanently bonded. However, in the context of toilet training, a product that can be opened and refastened at the side seams may be particularly useful because this capability permits the interior of the product to be easily inspected without having to pull the product downward. Thus, a caregiver can easily and quickly check for wetting while choosing either to describe to the child what he or she is doing in order to remind the child of the intention of toilet training or to check without interrupting the child's current activity. When choosing to involve the child and finding that the interior of the article is still dry, the caregiver can praise the child for not wetting the disposable absorbent article “like a baby” and instead behaving “like a big kid”. The caregiver can also invite the child to observe and/or to feel the interior of the article as a way of reinforcing the notion that a dry interior is desirable. In addition, if the article includes a feature that provides a wetness sensation upon urination and that is visibly highlighted in the interior of the article, the caregiver can point out the visible highlighting to the child when inspecting the interior in order to further reinforce the concept of toilet training. Thus, refastenable side seams may provide significant synergistic benefits in combination with other features related to the article's use in toilet training, particularly a wetness sensation feature and especially one that is visibly highlighted.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an article that can facilitate urinary toilet training by enhancing a wearer's awareness that urination has occurred by ensuring that the wearer feels an uncomfortable wetness sensation resulting from urination. It would also be desirable to visibly highlight the presence in the article of the feature that provides this wetness sensation to facilitate an opportunity for urinary toilet training. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a disposable absorbent article that provides the garment-like look of training pants and includes refastenable side seams to allow for easy inspection of the interior of the article without the necessity of pulling the article downward to gain access. | {
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This type of decelerator is well known, particularly in the field of industrial vehicles equipped with a combustion engine. Taking into account their high inertia, in addition to their own braking system, these vehicles require a decelerator device housed in the exhaust gas circuit, preferably between the engine and the silencer, and generally mounted on the outlet side of the turbocompressor fed by the exhaust head. It is usually controlled by a pedal activated by the driver's left foot to prevent the latter from disengaging the clutch at the same time. This decelerator device makes it possible to generate a back pressure in the exhaust circuit. This back pressure is high or low depending on the position of the shutter and its degree of reopening. It has the effect of slowing down the engine and therefore provides additional braking of the vehicle. The higher the back pressure is, the more efficient the deceleration is. However, this back pressure has to be limited to the maximum set-point pressure allowable by the exhaust head, in order to prevent the reopening of the inlet valves. This back pressure of course depends on the exhaust gas pressure exerted on the shutter which is an asymptotic function of the engine speed. Consequently, there is a level of back pressure and therefore a deceleration level which corresponds to each engine speed. What is currently being sought is to make this function constant and at most equal to the maximum allowable set-point pressure whatever the engine speed and right from the low speeds, with the aim of optimizing the deceleration.
One of the techniques proposed is described in the publication EP-A-536 284 in which an exhaust modulator device comprises two leak holes closed by spring blades with different rigidities, in a shutter. When a first level of back pressure is reached, a first spring blade opens a first leak hole and releases part of the exhaust gas. A second leak hole thus increases the exhaust gas flow rate. This device makes it possible to limit the back pressure but generates deceleration stages. It is therefore not optimum. Furthermore, the spring blades are subject to temperature constraints and to the corrosion due to the exhaust gas. As a result, the way they operate deteriorates in time, thus affecting their performance when opening and closing. Indeed, under the heat of the exhaust gas, the spring blades become less rigid and the holes will always stay open, thus reducing the back pressure and the deceleration efficiency. What is more, as the modulation system is incorporated into the shutter, it is impossible to offer it as part of the after-sales service to equip decelerator devices already in service.
Another technique is described in the publication FR-A-2 481 367 which provides for a device to balance the back pressure, which is mounted at the end of the cylinder rod and coupled to the shutter's lever by means of a ball joint. This device is therefore located outside and protrudes. It is consequently subject to the external attacks in the engine environment, i.e. splashes of water, mud, salt, oil, etc. What is more, it represents a by no means insignificant mass at the end of the rod, which causes premature wear and tear on the cylinder and a danger of the rod breaking but also generating a considerable increase in this rod's inertia, and therefore in the decelerator's opening and closing times. This device requires a part which is specifically adapted on the cylinder's rod, the latter only being guided in translation over a very small span which is able to cause a risk of blocking.
The publication U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,585 describes a technique which is similar to the one above but adapted to a slide valve, whose overall height is much greater than that of a butterfly valve. The device for balancing the back pressure comprises an opening in the shutter sealed by a plate coupled to the end of a cylinder rod which can slide in the piston against the action of a spring when the back pressure reaches a certain threshold. This plate only offers the exhaust gas a small contact surface, which reduces the decelerator's efficiency. Furthermore, this device is subject to direct attacks from the exhaust gas and can, as a result, become jammed or be damaged prematurely, which reduces the device's reliability. This device is also complex and expensive to implement. It is also subject to parasitic forces, the back pressure acting perpendicular to the movement of said plate which further reduces the device's efficiency and reliability. | {
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The invention relates to a method for controlling the power supply system of at least two power loads, in particular a power load and a firing device of a vehicle occupant protection system. The invention also relates to an emergency power supply system for a vehicle occupant protection system.
Modern vehicle occupant protection systems generally operate in such a way that one or more control units are connected to sensors that detect states that are dangerous for the vehicle occupants and trigger vehicle occupant protection devices such as airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, and other such devices in accordance with predetermined algorithms. The vehicle occupant protection devices are frequently triggered by firing devices that have an electrically fired firing cap whose firing leads to the explosive generation of propellant gas with which an airbag is inflated, a seatbelt pretensioning device tensioned, etc.
In the case of an accident, the vehicle battery can be disconnected from the vehicle occupant protection system so that an emergency power supply has to be ensured at least for a specific time period after an impact. This time period is generally referred to as the autarchy time period. In the case of a head-on impact or side impact this autarchy time period is, for example, 125 msec.
Recent vehicle occupant protection systems are also active in the case of a rollover and trigger corresponding protection devices, for example, airbags in the head region and additional seatbelt pretensioners. A rollover takes place more slowly than a head-on impact or side impact. The protection devices are therefore generally activated later than the start of the vehicle deceleration which leads to an impact. The autarchy time period for rollover protection is therefore, for example, 1 sec.
Capacitors, which are charged to a higher voltage than the battery, if appropriate using voltage boosters or step-up voltage converters, are generally used as energy reserves or energy storage devices for the emergency power supply. Such energy storage devices for maintaining the power supply of the vehicle occupant protection system using the respective expedient autarchy time are costly both in terms of space and time.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an emergency power supply system and a method for controlling the emergency power supply of at least two loads which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art apparatus and methods of this general type.
In particular, the invention is based on the object of reducing the expenditure necessary for the emergency power supply.
If during the autarchy time period the energy storage device has applied power to the power load assigned to it in order to carry out a function, the energy storage device is generally not completely discharged but rather, owing to the voltage demand of the power load, still contains a residual energy owing to ohmic line resistances, etc. This energy can be used to supply power to the other power load. If no discharge has taken place via the assigned power load, a large proportion of the stored energy is generally available at the end of the autarchy time period.
The predetermined conditions that lead to using the residual energy can be of different types. They may consist in a decision being made very early that the assigned power load is not required, that it has been activated, or simply that the autarchy time has expired.
The inventive method can be used for any emergency power supply systems in which, similarly to the vehicle occupancy protection system, power loads are supplied with different autarchy time periods and/or different voltage requirements by energy storage devices that are used for the emergency power supply. It goes without saying that the power load that is supplied with the residual energy of the energy storage device assigned to another power load generally has a longer autarchy time period and lower voltage requirements than the power load that is supplied by the energy storage device whose residual energy is used. However, power loads with higher voltage requirements can also be supplied with residual energy via suitable voltage converters.
As a result of using the available residual energy, the energy storage device or storage devices which is/are additionally supplied can be made smaller. Furthermore, less energy has to be stored for the emergency power supply.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for controlling an emergency power supply of at least two power loads. The method includes steps of: assigning an energy storage device of the power supply to one of the at least two power loads; after a failure of a power source for a predetermined autarchy time period, using the energy storage device to ensure that power is supplied to the one of the at least two power loads; and after an occurrence of at least one predetermined condition, using residual energy present in the energy storage device to supply power to another one of the at least two power loads.
In accordance with an added mode of the invention, a firing device of a vehicle occupant protection system is provided as one of the at least two power loads, and a power load of the vehicle occupant protection system is provided as one of the at least two power loads.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an emergency power supply system for a vehicle occupant protection system, that includes: at least one control unit; a firing device associated with an autarchy time period; a first energy storage device for supplying energy to the control unit; a second energy storage device for supplying energy to the firing device; and an energy source for supplying energy to the first energy storage device and to the second energy storage device. When the energy source fails, the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device supply energy to the control unit and to the firing device during predetermined autarchy time periods. The control unit is associated with an autarchy time period that is longer than the autarchy time period associated with the firing device. The emergency power supply system also includes a controllable switch for connecting the second energy storage device to the first energy storage device so that residual energy available in the second energy storage device is available for supplying power to the control unit.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the switch is controlled to close after an expiration of the autarchy time period associated with the firing device.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the switch is controlled to close after the firing device is fired.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the control unit controls the switch and the firing device.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the firing device is configured for triggering a first safety device in an event of a head-on impact; and the control unit is configured to control a triggering of a second safety device in an event of a rollover.
In accordance with a further added feature of the invention, the firing device includes a firing cap and two electronic switches connected in series with the firing cap; and the switches are switched to a conductive state in order to fire the firing cap.
In accordance with a further additional feature of the invention, there is provided, a voltage booster having an output connected to the second energy storage device. A third energy storage device provides energy to the control unit. The third energy storage device is connected downstream of the energy source. A voltage reducer has an input connected to the output of the voltage booster. The voltage reducer has an output connected to the third energy storage device.
In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the second energy storage device is connected to the switch via the voltage reducer and the voltage booster.
In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, there is provided, a voltage booster having an output connected to the second energy storage device; and voltage reducer having an input connected to the output of the voltage booster. The voltage reducer has an output connected to the second energy storage device. The voltage booster has an input connected to the second energy storage device by the switch.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method for controlling the emergency power supply and the emergency power supply system, in particular for a vehicle occupant protection system, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. | {
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Compressed data is often read or received as a continuous stream, with discrete segments that must be decompressed as they are read. Under many compression schemes, the segments have variable lengths. Each segment begins with a control word indicating the length of the segment or the number of data bytes or elements that follow the control word.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a data stream 10 having multiple discrete segments 11, referred to as segments A through N. Each segment has a control word or element 12, followed by a variable number of data elements 13. In the example, the control elements are labeled "CONTROL A" through "CONTROL N". The data elements are similarly labeled to correspond to their control elements. For example, the data elements corresponding to control element CONTROL A are labeled "DATA A1" through "DATA A2".
Each control word contains a value indicating, among other things, the number and/or length of the following data elements within the segment. The next control word is located after the indicated number of data elements.
There are various different types of compression schemes that utilize control elements followed by a variable number of data elements. Two specific examples are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,060,286 and 5,452,405, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Note that the control elements might indicate various things about the following data elements in addition to their length, such as for example an offset relative to previous data values.
One characteristic of compressed data streams as shown in FIG. 1 is that they must be read in their normal, forward order, in which control elements precede data elements. Reading the data stream in reverse order is impossible. Suppose, for example, that reading was to begin at the end of data stream 10, at the data element labeled DATA N2. The problem with this is that there would be no way to know the number of data elements preceding the control element labeled 15. Thus, it would be impossible to locate the control element or to differentiate it from data elements.
In spite of the difficulties, it is sometimes required to consume a compressed data stream in reverse order. Bi-directional raster-type printers illustrate the need for such reverse consumption. In printers such as this, multiple printhead passes over a single raster row are often required. The data corresponding to the raster row is needed first in its original order for a first pass of the printhead in a forward direction, and then in reverse order for a second pass of the printhead in a reverse direction.
There are two primary solutions to this problem. The first solution is to modify the compression scheme by placing a similar control element both before and after the data elements of a particular segment. The disadvantage of this solution is that it doubles the number of required control words, thereby reducing the efficiency of the compression scheme.
The second primary solution is to create and hold a copy of the decompressed data during a first, forward decompression of the data stream, and subsequently refer to the decompressed data rather than to the original compressed data stream. The disadvantage of this solution is that it requires significant amounts of memory to store the decompressed data.
The inventors have developed a way to consume compressed data bi-directionally, without decreasing compression efficiency, and without requiring added memory. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the field of photovoltaics (PV) technology that converts solar energy directly into electrical energy. The field of the invention is specifically directed to minimization of resistive loss of solar panels in order to achieve maximum solar energy conversion efficiency, extracting more electrical power from available solar irradiance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Practical solar cells have a number of limits including reflection, contact shadowing, series resistance, incomplete collection of photogenerated carriers, absorption in the inactive window layers, nonradiative recombination, etc. that can affect energy conversion efficiency. Among them, energy losses arising from ohmic resistance of the metal grid of the back contact of solar cells and of the electrical connections between the cells installed on a solar module may cause significant decrease in solar conversion efficiency and less power extraction than it should be. The primary sources of the electrical resistances that may contribute to energy losses include metallization, shadowing, as well as electrical wiring.
The resistance of the metallization is very critical to the conversion efficiency of a solar cell. Usually, the sheet resistivity ρs of the diffused surface layer dominates the resistivity losses for current flowing in the surface of the cell. The sheet loss resulted from the fingers of a metal grid on a cell surface is given byPs=S2ρsJo2, (1)where S is the spacing between parallel fingers that form a metal grid on the surface of a solar cell, Jo is the current density. This is valid generally when the spacing between the parallel fingers of a metal grid on a solar cell is large comparing to their width.
The resistance of the metal grids that are in direct contact with the surfaces of solar cells may affect conversion efficiency drastically. The resistive loss from a rectangular metal finger of resistivity ρm is proportional to its length to the power of three as given by (H. B. Serreze, Proc. 13th IEEE Photovoltaic Spec. Conf. (IEEE, New York, 1978), p. 609):Pm=WL3SρmJo2/3D, (2)Where W is the width of a rectangular cell, L is the finger length on the cell, and D is the width of the finger.
The shadowing loss due to the metal grid on the surface of a solar cell is, in addition to the geometrical parameters of the metal fingers on a cell, proportional to the maximum power voltagePs=WLJoVmpD/S. (3)
The optimum finger width can be derived from minimizing the sum of Pm and Ps,Do=LSJo(ρm/3Vmp)1/2, (4)and for which the total power loss isPT=2WL2(ρmJo3Vmp/3)1/2. (5)
These extrinsic sources of energy loss, in principle, can be minimized, if not eliminated. The back contact structure developed in the past that has put both polarities of contacts on the backside of a solar cell (FIG. 1) gets rid of the front metal grid therefore completely eliminates the shadowing loss. It also reduces the series resistance of metal grid because the contacts can be very broad covering almost entire back surface. These structures are generally called back-contact solar cells are disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,879 and Van Kerschaver et al. (Back-contact Solar Cells: A Review. Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 2006, 14:107-123).
Since the resistance of metal fingers is proportional to L/D, there is still a relatively large resistance that may cause considerably energy loss because the connection bus for both electrical polarities of a back-contact solar cell is at the opposite edges. Energy loss is inevitable when current flows through those narrow and thin fingers across almost entire length of the cell. It is obvious that shortening the length of metal fingers on the surface of solar cells or increasing the thickness of the fingers may further reduce the energy loss due to series resistance can definitely reduce such a loss. However, it is rather difficult to realize all these on the cell level due to various constrains associated with materials properties and related to production process and manufacturing cost issues. | {
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Conventionally, in international standard video encoding methods, such as MPEG and ITU-T H.26x, each input: video frame is subjected to a compression process with the video frame being divided into macro blocks each of which consists of 16×16 pixel blocks.
On the other hand, in recent years, a technique of compression-encoding a high-definition high-quality video having a video format, such as a 4K×2K-pixel video format having a space resolution which is four times as high as that of HDTV (High Definition Television, 1920×1080 pixels), a 8K×4K-pixel video format having a space resolution which is further increased to four times as high as that of the 4K×2K-pixel video format, or a 4:4:4 video signal format of increasing the number of sampled chrominance signals, thereby improving the color reproduction nature, has been desired. When compression-encoding such a high-definition high-quality video, it is impossible to perform an encoding process toy using an linage signal correlation in a 16×16 pixel macro block to a sufficient degree, and it is therefore difficult to provide a high compression ratio. In order to deal with this problem, for example, a technique of extending the size of each conventional 16×16 pixel macro block to a 32×32 pixel block, as disclosed in nonpatent reference 1, and increasing the unit to which a motion vector is allocated, thereby reducing the amount of encoded parameters required for prediction, or a technique of increasing the block size for the conversion encoding of a prediction error signal, thereby removing a correlation between pixels of the prediction error signal effectively, have been proposed.
FIG. 21 is a block diagram, showing the structure of an encoding device disclosed in nonpatent reference 1. In encoding disclosed in nonpatent reference 1, a block dividing unit 1002 divides an inputted video signal 1001 which is a target to be encoded into macro blocks (rectangular blocks of a luminance signal each having 32 pixels×32 lines), and is inputted to a predicting unit 1004 as an encoded video signal 1003.
The predicting unit 1004 predicts an image signal of each color component in each macro block within each frame and between frames to acquire a prediction error signal 1005. Especially, when performing a motion-compensated prediction between frames, the predicting unit searches for a motion vector for each macro block itself or each of sub-blocks into which each macro block is further divided, creates a motion-compensated prediction image according to the motion vector, and acquires a prediction error signal 1005 by calculating the difference between the motion-compensated prediction image and the encoded video signal 1003.
After performing a DCT (discrete cosine transform) process on the prediction error signal 1005 to remove a signal correlation from the prediction error signal 1005 while changing the block size according to the size of a unit area to which the motion vector is allocated, a compressing unit 1006 quantizes the prediction error signal to acquire compressed data 1007. While the compressed data 1007 is entropy-encoded and outputted as a bit stream 1009 by a variable length encoding unit 1008, the compressed data is also sent to a local decoding unit 1010 and a decoded prediction error signal 1011 is acquired by this local decoding unit.
This decoded prediction error signal 1011 is added to a prediction signal 1012 which is used to create the prediction error signal 1005 to create a decoded signal 1013, and this decoded signal is inputted co a loop filter 1014. The decoded signal 1013 is stored in a memory 1016 as a reference linage signal 1015 for creating a subsequent prediction signal 1012 after the decoded signal is subjected to a process of removing a block distortion by the loop filter 1014. A parameter 1017 used for the creation of the prediction signal, which is determined by the predicting unit 1004 in order to acquire the prediction signal 1012, is sent to the variable length encoding unit 1008, and is multiplexed into a bit stream 1009 and this bit stream is outputted. Information, such as intra prediction mode information showing how to perform a space prediction within each frame, and a motion vector showing an amount of inter-frame movement, is included in the parameter 1017 used for the creation of the prediction signal, for example.
While a conventional international standard video encoding method, such as MPEG or ITU-T H.26x, uses 16×16 pixels as the macro block size, the encoding device disclosed in nonpatent reference 1 uses 32×32 pixels as the macro block size (super macro block: SMB). FIG. 22 shows the shapes of divided regions to each of which a motion vector is allocated at the time of performing a motion-compensated prediction for each M×M pixel macro block, and FIG. 22(a) shores each SMB disclosed in nonpatent reference 1 and FIG. 22(b) shows each macro block based on conventional MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (refer to nonpatent reference 2). While each SMB has a large area for each motion prediction region which is covered by a single motion vector with the number of pixels M=32, each conventional macro block uses the number of pixels M/2=16. As a result, because in the case of SMBs the amount of information of the motion vector which is needed for the entire screen decreases compared with the case of conventional macro blocks having the number of pixels M/2=16, the amount of motion vector code which should be transmitted as a bit stream can be reduced. | {
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Polyolefins have acquired a global status for itself in every field. The demand for polymers based on olefins has increased whether it is commodity or niche products. Ziegler-Natta catalyst is used, for example, in the synthesis of polymers of 1-alkenes (α-olefins).
Ziegler-Natta catalyst system typically consists of transition metal halide normally titanium halide supported on metal compound which is typically magnesium dihalide. Along with transition metal, also there is organic component known as internal electron donor, which has a typical role to play during catalyst synthesis and polymerization. The organic electron donors (Lewis base) that are being used as internal donors are organic compounds having oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous and/or silicon components which may be in the form of acids, alcohols, esters, anhydrides, ketones etc. The current state of the art internal donors are organic compounds such as esters of phthalates, alkyl benzoate, succinates and 1,3-diethers which impart certain characteristics due to their chemical and electronic environment that enhances catalyst activity while imparting improved product properties like high melt flow index, good bulk density, narrow/broad molecular weight distributions and high isotacticity.
The role of internal donors in Ziegler-Natta catalyst is to stabilize the primary crystallites of magnesium dihalide which is generated in-situ. Apart from this, the internal donor also being better Lewis base have preferred coordination with the higher acidity coordination sites on magnesium dihalide matrix which in turn avoid the coordination of titanium and hence prevents the formation of inactive sites. They also increase the activity of low active sites.
The Ziegler-Natta catalyst system has gone through continual improvement in terms of better catalyst activity in olefin polymerization and at the same time production of polymer products having desirable properties with more simple and cleaner manner.
Production of polyolefins having desired properties like narrow MWD for non woven or broad MWD for pipe, blow molding and films, high isotacticity, better comonomer incorporation are always in demand. As there is a craving for better olefin product continual improvement in Ziegler-Natta catalyst system as well as polymerization processes is required. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a boost circuit and an operation method for the boost circuit. In particular, the present invention relates to a boost circuit that performs a boost operation by using a charge pump, and an operation method for the boost circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
A charge pump-type boost circuit is one of basic circuits used for various devices. For example, the charge pump-type boost circuit is installed in a liquid crystal display panel drive IC (Integrated Circuit) for a cellular phone. The boost circuit boosts a supply voltage supplied from a power supply such as a battery to generate a panel-driving voltage for driving the liquid crystal display panel.
The boost circuit is required to provide a desired output voltage stably even if the supply voltage is greatly varied. A configuration of the boost circuit that satisfies such a requirement is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication JP-2008-245500A. According to this related technique, the boost circuit monitors a sum of the supply voltage and a voltage of a boost capacitor during a period when the boost capacitor is charged and controls the charging of the boost capacitor depending on the sum. According to the control, the voltage charged to the boost capacitor is adjusted in response to the supply voltage, and thus a desired output voltage can be stably obtained for a wide range of the supply voltage. | {
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This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a crystallized thin film formed by ferroelectric substance, such as Pb (Zr, Ti) O3 (PZT) by the use of a sol-gel method.
When a ferroelectric thin film is used as a capacitor insulating film of a non-volatile memory, it is indispensable to reduce an area of a memory cell in order to improve the integration of the memory.
To this end, it is necessary to directly form the ferroelectric thin film capacitor on a conductive plug which is recently applied to a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) having high integration.
In this event, when a thermal treatment is performed during a production of the ferroelectric thin film capacitor, the conductive plug and a diffusion barrier layer attached thereto (for example, TiN/Ti) are oxidized. Consequently, the conductivity is often and inevitably lost.
Therefore, it is required that a temperature during the production of the ferroelectric thin film is reduced to 500xc2x0 C. or less, more preferably 450xc2x0 C. or less, to avoid such oxidation.
Meanwhile, it is well known that Pb base ferroelectric substance, in particular, Pb (Zr, Ti) O3 (hereinafter, abbreviated as PZT) and material added slight of additive such as La and Nb into PZT is suitable as ferroelectric thin film material for the non-volatile memory. This is because the Pb base ferroelectric substance has a large residual polarization, and can be produced at about 600xc2x0 C.
As the production method of the ferroelectric thin film, the sol-gel method is desirable because it has such advantage that an excellent thin film can be obtained with superior repeatability using a cheaper equipment. In such a sol-gel method, an organic metal material is dissolved into desired solvent, and is applied and baked.
For example, it has been reported that PZT of Zr/Ti=53/47 becomes a single perovskite phase by using a buffer layer of PbTiO3 (hereinafter, abbreviated as PT) by the sol-gel method at 500xc2x0 C. written in Journal of material research 1993, Vol. 8. Page 339 (C. K. K wok et al., J. Mater. Res. 8, 339 (1993)).
In this case, the production process of the PZT thin film is illustrated in FIG. 1, and the PT layer is crystallized before applying PZT. In this paper, although a sapphire substrate is used, the electrical characteristic such as ferroelectric characteristic is not reported at all.
Further, disclosure has been made about such a fact that PZT is produced using a PT buffer layer by the sol-gel method at 450xc2x0 C. in Japanese Journal of Appl. Phys, 1996, Vol. 35, page 4896 (H. Suzuki et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 35, 4896 (1996)).
Although the single perovskite phase is formed 450xc2x0 C. ,as illustrated in FIG. 4 in this paper, the paper does not disclose or teach the ferroelectric characteristic.
Moreover, the dielectric constant is 30 or less at about 0.2 xcexcm, as shown in FIG. 5 in this paper, and the characteristic is not enough to be practically used.
The process for producing the PZT thin film disclosed in this paper is illustrated in FIG. 2, and the PT layer is decomposed by an organic thermal process at 350xc2x0 C. before applying PZT.
As mentioned above, the Pb base ferroelectric substance, in particular, the PZT based ferroelectric thin film (the film thickness of 300 nm or less) having excellent composition at 500xc2x0 C. or less, more desirably 450xc2x0 C. or less has not been realized by the use of the sol-gel method
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a method of manufacturing a thin film and a capacitor using excellent PZT base ferroelectric material at a low temperature by the use of the sol-gel method.
In a method of manufacturing a thin film according to this invention, a buffer layer is formed on a substrate. Thereafter, a ferroelectric thin film material is applied thereto before thermally decomposing the buffer layer.
Subsequently, the buffer layer and the ferroelectric thin film are decomposed together. Finally, a crystallized thermal process is performed.
In this event, the buffer layer is provided so as to proceed the crystallization of the thin film on the buffer layer, and may be referred to as a seed forming layer.
The deposition temperature due to the sol-gel method can be lowered by forming the thin film using such a method.
When this method is applied to the PZT thin film, a buffer layer containing PbTiO3 as main component is formed on the substrate.
Thereafter, a thin film material containing PZT as main component is applied before decomposing the buffer layer by a thermal organic process.
After the buffer layer and the thin film are decomposed together by the thermal organic process, a crystallized thermal process is performed.
More specifically, after the buffer layer containing PbTiO3 as main component is formed on the substrate, the buffer layer is baked at a temperature at which organic thermal decomposition does not occur.
Subsequently, a thin film material containing PZT as main component is applied on the buffer layer.
After the PZT thin film is baked at a temperature at which the organic thermal decomposition does not occur, the buffer layer and the thin film are decomposed together by the thermal organic process. Finally, the crystallized thermal process is performed.
In this case, the application step of the thin film containing PZT as main component through the crystallized thermal step may be repeated after the crystallized thermal process such that the PZT thin film has the preselected film thickness.
In this event, the duration of the final crystallized thermal process may be longer than that of the previous crystallization thermal process.
This reason will be explained hereinbelow. Namely, when the crystallization is carried out at such a low temperature, as thermal process duration is longer, the characteristic such as the ferroelectric characteristic is more improved.
If the crystallization thermal process is performed for long duration at every application layers, the final crystallization thermal process is unnecessary.
However, long duration is required to manufacture the thin film when the application number is particularly increased. In consequence, the throughput is degraded.
In the meantime, the layer, which is initially applied, is subjected to the thermal process having the longest duration. Consequently, the crystallized thermal process durations are variable for the respective application layers, and the thin film may be formed such that each application layer has not a uniform characteristic.
To this end, it is preferable that the final crystallization thermal process, which is entirely performed, is carried out for longer duration.
Further, in a method of manufacturing a PZT thin film according to this invention, a buffer layer containing PbTiO3 as main component is formed on the substrate.
Thereafter, the buffer layer is baked at a temperature at which the organic thermal decomposition does not occur.
Subsequently, the thin film material containing PZT as main component is applied on the buffer layer.
After the PZT thin film is baked at a temperature at which the organic thermal decomposition does not occur, the buffer layer and the thin film are decomposed together by the thermal organic process. Finally, the crystallized thermal process is entirely performed.
In this case, the application step of the thin film containing PZT as main component through the thermal decomposition step may be repeated after the crystallized thermal process such that the PZT thin film has the preselected film thickness.
Further, RTA (Rapid Thermal Annealing) decomposition may be performed after decomposing by the organic thermal process.
Alternatively, the RTA decomposition may be carried out instead of the organic thermal decomposition.
The general organic thermal decomposition is carried out within the temperature range between 300xc2x0 C. and 400xc2x0 C. for process duration of about 10 minutes in the oxygen atmosphere (in oxygen gas or in H2O/O2 atmosphere).
However, the RTA decomposition is conducted at a slightly higher temperature although the process atmosphere is not changed.
Namely, the RTA is carried out within the temperature range between 430xc2x0 C. and 450xc2x0 C. during several seconds to several minutes, more specifically, for about 15 seconds to about 2 minutes.
In case that the crystallization is carried out after performing the PZT application for several times, carbon in the film is not sufficiently decomposed and may be remained in the film as impurity when the application is performed again after conducting only the general organic thermal decomposition.
Therefore, it is preferable to combine the RTA decomposition after the general organic thermal decomposition.
When the crystallization thermal process temperature exceeds 500xc2x0 C. in the above-mentioned manufacturing method of the PZT thin film, the crystallization of the perovskite phase starts without the PT buffer layer, and the effect of the PT buffer layer is reduced. Therefore, the temperature range between about 430xc2x0 C. and 450xc2x0 C. is desirable.
The thermal process temperature is variable in dependence upon the composition ratio between Zr and Ti in PZT. As the ratio of Ti is higher, the perovskite phase is readily generated at the lower temperature.
As the crystallization thermal process temperature is lower, the pyrochlore phase, which does not represent the ferrroelectric characteristic, is more easily generated. This phenomenon is well known in the art.
However, it is possible to obtain the crystallized phase of the perovskite phase at the temperature of 430xc2x0 C. or higher according to this invention.
Further, the baking process is prepared in addition to the crystallization or the organic thermal decomposition. The baking process is carried out to dry solvent, and can dry the thin film by performing the thermal process in the desired atmosphere without the organic thermal decomposing within the temperature range between about 100xc2x0 C. and 250xc2x0 C. for about 10 minutes although a slight change occurs in accordance with the kind of the solvent.
Moreover, this invention is applicable as a method of manufacturing a capacitor using the PZT thin film. In this case, an upper electrode may be formed after crystallizing the PZT thin film.
Preferably, it is possible to obtain the ferroelectric thin film superior in performance by crystallizing the PT thin film with the PZT thin film together after forming the upper portion electrode.
Further, it is preferable that the film thickness of the buffer layer containing PbTiO3 as main component is thinner taking the performance of the obtained capacitor into account. However, it is permitted that the thickness is 10% or less of the film thickness of the layer containing PZT as main component.
In FIG. 3A, the upper electrode is formed after crystallizing the PZT thin film.
Although the pervskite phase serving as the ferroelectric phase is crystallized at 450xc2x0 C. or less in PT, PT itself is not suitable as the capacitor for the memory because anti-electric field is large and the repeating operation resistance is also small.
However, PT has such a characteristic that the crystallization is carried out at the lower temperature and the PT is similar with PZT in the crystal structure and the lattice constant.
With this characteristic, the energy for crystallizing PZT can be reduced by using it as the buffer layer during the deposition of PZT.
Such an effect results in the following mechanism. Namely, when the laminated PT layer and PZT layer in the non-crystallized state are subjected to the thermal process, the PT layer having small energy for crystallizing is first crystallized, and the PZT layer is successively crystallized.
Such continuous crystallization readily proceeds when the interface between the PT layer and the PZT layer has a certain degree of slope by mutual diffusion.
Therefore, the reduction effect of the PZT crystallization temperature of the PT buffer layer is most effectively obtained when a certain degree of mutual diffusion occurs at the interface between PZT and PT at the stage before crystallization of PZ, and PZT and PT in the non-crystallized state are crystallized together.
To obtain such a state, it is effective to apply the PZT layer before performing the organic thermal decomposition of the PT buffer layer and conducting the organic thermal decomposition for the both together in the sol-gel method. This is because the entire organic thermal deposition process causes the mutual diffusion of the interface of PZT/PT.
The continuous crystallization from the buffer layer side proceeds by performing the crystallized thermal process in this state, and the crystallization of PZT becomes possible at the low temperature between about 430xc2x0 C. and 450xc2x0 C.
In FIG. 3B, the PT thin film and the PZT thin film are crystallized after forming the upper electrode. In this method, it is possible to improve the polarization switching characteristic of the ferroelectric thin film capacitor formed at the low temperature between about 430xc2x0 C. and 450xc2x0 C. at low electric field.
The upper electrode is formed before the crystallized thermal process. Thereby, the stress inside the PZT thin film generated during the crystallization is reduced by clamping the upper interface of the PZT thin film before the crystallization.
Further, defects generated at the interface is reduced by thermally processing the interface between PZT and the upper electrode at the same time as the PZT crystallization.
As a result, the polarization conversion characteristic of the PZT thin film capacitor formed under the low temperature can be improved at the low electric field. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to display elements in which light emission is controlled by the amount of current flowing through an electro-optical element, such as an organic EL element or an inorganic EL element, as well as to display devices including such display elements.
2. Description of the Related Art
To date, there are display devices whose light emission sources are electro-optical elements whose optical characteristics are changed by applying electricity, such as organic EL (electroluminescent) elements, inorganic EL elements or light emitting diodes. In such display devices, a plurality of display elements each including an electro-optical element are arranged in a matrix, and the current necessary for lighting the electro-optical elements is supplied to the electro-optical elements from a power source supplying a predetermined current. These electro-optical elements are controlled to a predetermined luminance by applying a predetermined data signal voltage (or current).
Ordinarily, a display element includes a plurality of TFT (thin film transistor) elements, an electro-optical element, an auxiliary capacitance, a data signal line for applying data signals, a scanning signal line for applying scanning signals, and a power source line for supplying current from the power source. Here, the size (occupied surface area) of the electro-optical element in the display element is determined by the size (occupied surface area) of conductors and the elements other than the electro-optical element. For example, in order to make the numerical aperture of the pixels as large as possible, the size of the elements other than the electro-optical element should be made small and also the size of the conductors, in other words the width of the electrodes, should be small. If that is the case, then the numerical aperture can be made large, and the light emission efficiency of the electro-optical element increases, so that it is possible to drive with a comparatively low voltage. As a result, also the power consumption becomes relatively low.
However, the larger one tries to make the numerical aperture, the thinner the electrode width of the power source line needs to be made, so that the resistance of the power source line electrode increases. Consequently, when current is supplied from the power source line electrode to the display elements, the voltage drop at the display elements further away from the current supplying power source increases the greater the numerical aperture is made. This means that there are variations in the drop of the voltage applied by the current supplying power source to each of the display elements. When the voltage applied to the electro-optical element becomes small due to this voltage drop, then also the emitted luminance of the electro-optical element decreases. Therefore, the larger one tries to make the numerical aperture, the bigger are the variations that occur in the luminance of the pixels of the display device. Ordinarily, electro-optical elements such as organic EL elements have diode characteristics, so that the current flowing through the electro-optical element changes exponentially with changes in voltage. Thus, since the luminance of the electro-optical element is lowered exponentially due to the above-described voltage drop, the display device suffers from conspicuous variations or irregularities in luminance, lowering the display quality.
Conventionally, display devices address this problem by suppressing luminance variations on the display screen with the following configurations. For example, there are display devices that are provided with a memory for storing data expressing the image to be displayed and a memory for storing current correction data, which has been set in advance, for correcting the luminance variations, and image data that is corrected in accordance with the current correction data is applied to the display elements (see for example JP H11-344949A). With this configuration, luminance variations can be corrected. Moreover, there are display devices in which the conductors leading from a predetermined driving circuit to the display elements are provided with a predetermined resistance distribution (see for example JP 2001-83934A). This resistance distribution is set such that voltage drops due to the resistance of the conductors are suppressed. Thus, it is possible to reduce luminance variations due to voltage drops.
However, in the configuration disclosed in JP H11-344949A, a new correction circuit including a memory for storing the current correction data becomes necessary. When this correction circuit is provided in a driver portion incorporated in the display panel, the scale of the circuitry increases, which is undesirable. When the scale of the circuitry increases, there are disadvantages with regard to the manufacturing yield, for example. Moreover, with the configuration disclosed in JP 2001-83934A, the resistance distribution of the conductors must be set such that voltage drops due to the resistance of the conductors are suppressed, so that complex design and layout of the conductors becomes necessary.
To do so, the electrode width of the power source line should be increased in order to suppress luminance variations, but in this case, the numerical aperture is decreased, as mentioned above, worsening the light emission efficiency of the electro-optical elements. This causes the problems that the element lifetime is shortened, and the power consumption is increased.
Moreover, in conventional display devices, one pixel is configured by a plurality of sub-pixels, such as three sub-pixels for displaying the three colors for RGB display. In this case, the current for generating the necessary luminance depends on the (light emitting material of the) display elements forming the sub-pixels, so that when the luminance of the various colors deviates from the desired values when displaying white light for example, then a colored hue may be perceived on the display screen. | {
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With increasing frequency, physicians need to gain access to the uterine cavity for such procedures as therapeutic abortion, insertion of intrauterine devices, and evaluation of the endometrium. Entry into the uterine cavity is via the uterine cervix, a fibromuscular organ intercalated between the vaginal vault and the uterus.
In its usual state, the cervical canal has a diameter of approximately 2-4 millimeters (mm.) which is too narrow to allow sufficient access. Traditionally, the cervical canal has been mechanically expanded with a series of sequentially graded metal rods. Although effective, the rods have several drawbacks including:
(1) considerable skill and experience are required for safe use;
(2) overly rapid dilation can lead to significant tissue trauma; and
(3) they are painful, often requiring anesthesia prior to use.
The development of hygroscopic dilators has significantly reduced the need for rapid mechanical dilation of the cervical canal. An early example of a hygroscopic dilator was the Laminaria tent. This device is formed as a dry piece of seaweed root (Laminaria japonica) shaped generally like a large toothpick. When exposed to moisture, it gradually swells to several times its original diameter. This atraumatically and painlessly dilates the cervical canal.
More recently, a variation of such hygroscopic dilators was developed in the form of a dilator formed from a synthetic material such as a hydrogen exhibiting the necessary hygroscopic characteristics and available under the trade name "DILAPAN" from Gynotech, Inc., Lebanon, N.J. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,642 issued Nov. 6, 1984. Such synthetic dilators exhibited several advantages over Laminaria tents, including:
(1) the Laminaria tent inherently included small surface crevices rendering them incapable of complete sterilization; by contrast, synthetic dilators are entirely synthetic, allowing them to be completely sterilized;
(2) Laminaria tents inherently have rough surfaces which may cause tissue tearing upon insertion or removal; by contrast, synthetic dilators have smooth surfaces which reduce the risk of tissue tearing;
(3) the supply and price of organic raw materials from which Laminaria tents are produced fluctuate due to environmental factors; by contrast, synthetic dilators are produced by a synthetic process, leading to a stable supply and price;
(4) as Laminaria tents are hand crafted from a natural material, their initial diameter varies; by contrast, synthetic dilators are produced with close tolerances;
(5) Laminaria tents have a less uniform and relatively slower rate of swelling as compared to synthetic dilators.
Use of both types of hygroscopic dilators has become widespread throughout the United States. Because of the earlier availability of the Laminaria tent, it became more widely used. However, synthetic dilators are becoming more competitive with Laminaria tents for comparative reasons set forth above.
Both types of dilators are cylindrical. In contrast, the usual instruments employed in the past for insertion and removal of the dilators, for example, Bozeman uterine packing forceps and ring sponge clamps, have flat grasping surfaces. As a result, these instruments are unable to securely grasp the dilators. The resulting lack of control over the dilators by the manipulating forceps or the like may lead to several adverse consequences, including:
(1) an increased risk of perforation of the cervical or uterine tissue; and
(2) the dilator must be discarded if it is accidentally dropped or contaminated, for example, by touching the vaginal walls, either occurrence tending to increase the expense of the dilators and associated procedures.
With the earlier developed Laminaria tent, forceps were developed for specifically facilitating insertion of the Laminaria tent into the uterine cervix, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,192,313 issued Mar. 11, 1980 to Ogami. The Ogami forceps were in the form of interconnected members having fore ends of the members including a plurality of elongated grooves forming edges for clamping onto the Laminaria tent to facilitate its insertion into the uterine cervix.
The Ogami forceps were superior to previously employed devices such as the Bozeman uterine packing forceps and ring sponge clamps because the inwardly tapered grooved surfaces of the Ogami forceps permitted improved clamping on the Laminaria tents. However, there was found to remain a need for further improvements in such forceps to further facilitate their use in inserting hygroscopic dilators into the cervical canal and preferably for also retracting the dilators when necessary. | {
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The need to provide environmentally correct and cost effective solutions for the refuse generated in the Unites States became apparent in the late 1960's. At that time, refuse disposal was mainly by land filling and to a lesser extent incineration. That situation changed as landfill space became recognized as a finite resource and that refuse could be used as a fuel source which could displace other, more costly, fuel sources in the generation of process steam and electricity. Refuse-to-energy plants became a common source of energy.
A common refuse-to-energy facility, generally indicated by reference numeral 2, is shown in FIGS. 1-2. In operation, a crane or a front end loader, not shown, picks up a quantity of refuse from a refuse storage area and deposits it into charging hopper 4. Charging hopper 4 has a large plan area to facilitate this operation and acts as a funnel to feed the refuse to feed chute 6. Refuse travels down feed chute 6 by gravity until it reaches ram table 8 at the bottom of feed chute 6. Ram feeder 10 pushes refuse from ram table 8 horizontally onto furnace grate system 12 for incineration in combustion zone 14 of furnace 16. As refuse is being burned on grate system 12, flames and intense heat are given off. The heat given off from the burning of refuse in combustion zone 14 is recovered by water carrying boiler tubes 20 which line the walls 18 of furnace 16. Boiler tubes 20 are connected to adjacent boiler tubes by tube joining members 22.
A prior art reciprocating grate system 12 is illustrated in detail in FIG. 3. Grate system 12 is a forward moving reciprocating-type with rows of grate blocks inclined at an angle from the horizontal, e.g., 18.degree., as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The grate blocks are grouped into rows perpendicular to the direction of refuse flow. The rows of the grate blocks consist of alternating rows of stationary grate blocks 24 and reciprocating grate blocks 26. Each row of grate blocks overlaps the row ahead of it to provide the grate system surface.
Stationary grate block rows 24 are attached to supports 28. The bottom of supports 28 are affixed to a table 30 which forms a part of the fixed undergrate structure 32. Movable grate block rows 26 are supported by and attached to a common linearly movable carriage 34, via supports 33. Attachment of grate blocks 24 and 26 to supports 28 and 33 is made at the back part of the grate blocks which is located below the prior overlapping block.
Forward and rearward guide units 36a and 36b guide carriage 34 for reciprocatory motion with respect to fixed undergrate structure 32. Each guide unit 36 includes a ramp 38 fixedly mounted to fixed undergrate structure 32, and a wheel 40 mounted to carriage 34. Each wheel 40 is attached to carriage 34 via carriage mounting plate 42 for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the direction of refuse flow. Each wheel 40 includes an axle and a greased bearing arrangement, and is supported by a respective ramp 38 to permit the reciprocating motion of carriage 34 and reciprocating grate blocks 26. Further, supports 33 extend through, and travel within, longitudinal slots located in table 30 during the reciprocating motion of reciprocating grate blocks 26.
A cylinder actuator 44 is attached at one end 46 to fixed undergrate substructure 32 and to movable carriage 34 at the other end 48. Cylinder actuator 44 provides the necessary force to reciprocate carriage 34 and movable rows of grate blocks 26 with respect to fixed undergrate substructure 32 and stationary rows of grate blocks 24. In operation, refuse is pushed onto the grate surface and the movable rows of grate blocks 26 push refuse along the grate surface at a speed dictated by cylinder actuator 44. Air is forced through air holes in fixed table 30 and through holes in the front edge of grate blocks 24 and 26, to control the combustion of the refuse on the grate.
However, there are many potential areas of failure which exist in this "wheel and ramp guide arrangement". First, trash siftings can fall down between the grate block rows and through the air holes and slots in table 30. These trash siftings can fall on one or more ramps 38 and act as a chock to interfere with the ability of wheels 40 to properly roll therealong. Even the binding of one wheel 40 has been known to cause misalignment of the grate blocks and damage the entire grating system 12.
Further, the wheel and ramp guide arrangement includes wheel bearings and axles. The bearings and axles can be expensive as they must be capable to withstand high temperatures for a prolonged period of time and also withstand high temperature differentials when the unit is being brought on and off-line. Additionally, the wheel bearings require periodic greasing. Greasing the wheel bearings is time consuming and requires the plant to be brought off-line because wheels 40 cannot be accessed while the plant is operating. Further, the grease itself can be expensive as it must be specially formulated to withstand the high temperatures and high temperature differentials around the grate.
The wheel and ramp guide arrangement may also be deficient as wheels 40 do not laterally restrain the movement of the carriage 34. Therefore, the grate system requires special lateral side plate restraints to inhibit significant lateral misalignment. However, these plate restraints wear out over time and need to be periodically replaced. As they are not easily accessible, they are expensive to replace. Further, if a side plate restraint is excessively worn and ceases to effectively restrain lateral movement of the carriage, misalignment of the grate blocks and damage the entire grating system 12 will likely occur.
Additionally, the wheel and ramp guide arrangement may also be deficient because it does not include levelling devices. Tolerances and warping of carriage 34 and fixed undergrate structure 32 make it highly unlikely that all the ramp surfaces will be level with respect to each other and level with respect to their respective wheel. This increases the likelihood that some wheels and ramps will wear faster and less evenly than the others, causing uneven wear of the wheels and ramps. When the wheel and ramp surfaces wear unevenly, the possibility of carriage misalignment significantly increases.
In another prior art guide arrangement for reciprocating grate systems, the movable carriage and the fixed undergrate structure are each provided with a flat slide surface. The flat slide surfaces interface to permit the reciprocating motion of the carriage and reciprocating grate blocks with respect to the fixed grate substructure and the stationary grate blocks. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,651,770 and 3,871,287 illustrate different embodiments of such a "slide surface guide arrangement". However, this flat slide surface guide arrangement also has many deficiencies.
First, the flat slide surfaces do not laterally restrain the movement of the carriage. The system thus requires special lateral side plate restraints to inhibit significant lateral misalignment. As previously described, these plate restraints wear out over time, need to be periodically replaced at a high cost. Further, worn plate restraints can potentially cause grate block misalignment.
Additionally, this fiat slide surface guide arrangement is also deficient because it is highly susceptible to uneven wear of the slide surface members. As the guide arrangement does not include levelling devices, some slide surface members will likely wear faster and less evenly than others. As the surface members wear unevenly, the possibility of carriage misalignment increases. Further, the slide surface members do not appear to easily replaceable. The replacement of the slide surface members would therefore apparently include significant manhours.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a guide system for a reciprocating grate system that would be able to resist the temperatures conditions found in the grating area. Further, it would be desirable to have a guide system for a reciprocating grate system which eliminates the need for wheels, axles, bearings, and side plate restraints, and the aforementioned disadvantages associated therewith. In addition, it would be desirable to have a guide system for a reciprocating grate system which can compensate for tolerances and warping in the carriage and in the fixed undergrate structure to assure even wear on the guide units. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention pertains to an improvement in or relating to a fishing reel and more specifically, to a foldable handle of a spinning reel.
As a quick folding handle system with one touch operation for easily carrying and packaging a spinning reel, there has been known a system in which the handle is folded inwardly and orthogonally with respect to a plane including the handle and a handle shaft to accommodate the handle more compactly. An example of such prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,618.
In accordance with this prior art system, bifurcated portions at the tip of the handle C are pivoted to a tenon B formed integrally at the end of the handle shaft A, and an engaging plate F of a handle stopper or trigger E is slidably fitted to an engaging recess D formed on the tenon B in the wedge arrangement so as to permit folding of the handle, as depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10. According to this construction, when the handle is fitted or raised, the engaging plate F of the handle stopper or trigger E fits into the engaging recess D of the tenon of the handle shaft A like a wedge, thereby integrally fixing the handle stopper or trigger E and the handle shaft A. However, this handle stopper or trigger E is slidably fitted into a split groove hole of the handle, and a micro-small gap G exists between these members due to the error in accuracy during production or for other reasons. Similarly, a micro-small gap H exists between the end face of the bifurcated portions of the handle C and the end face of the handle shaft A. Consequently, the handle C is likely to shake on the handle shaft A when the handle is fitted or raised, so that rotation of the handle can not be carried out smoothly. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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While the need to protect human skin from ultraviolet radiation has been well documented during the past two decades, infrared radiation has received much less attention with respect to its cutaneous effects. Infrared photons (appreciated by the average human as a sensation of heat) are of relatively low energy. Hence, it has been stated that the inability to start photochemical reactions mitigates infrared's possible contributions to cutaneous carcinogenesis. Only recently has it been suggested that this old view might be fallacious since biochemical reactions are heat-dependent;
-DG.degree.=RT in K (where DG is the standard free energy, R is the gas constant and K is the equilibrium constant).
It is now believed that the infrared/heat axis may contribute to aging and carcinogenesis by amplifying ultraviolet injury, altering the vasculature, producing diffusible mediators, changing histone binding properties, and/or damaging DNA repair processes. (See: Kaidbey, et al, Arch. Dermatol., 1982; 118 (5): 315-318.)
Present sunscreens protect against ultraviolet UVB and UVA. Unfortunately, they are no more effective than most types of glass at absorbing radiation. (see: O'Brien, J. P., Austral J. Dermatol., 1980; 21: 1-9.) Infrared rays penetrate deeper than UV rays, and, once absorbed, propagate heat further by conduction and convection. (See: O'Brien, J. P., Arch. Dermatol., 1975; 111: 460-466.) Therefore, present sunscreens leave the skin naked to the atmospherically transmitted infrared radiation. Absorbance and reflectance data have been generated for human skin both white and black, over the 0.4 to 1.6 m (micron) range. The reflectance curves above 1.2 m for differently pigmented persons are practically identical and reflect primarily the absorption spectrum of water. In the spectral range <0.4 m, the reflectance is usually between 50%-70% (the absorbance decreasing as the reflectance increases, indicating relative translucency). Between 0.7 and 2.6 m, water causes prominent absorption bands. This results in reflectance of only 10% from 1.4 m out to 2.6 m. These values are pertinent, especially in high atmospheric transmission wavelengths. (See: Jaquez, J. A. et al., J. Appl. Physiol., 1955; 8: 297-299; and Kuppenheim, H. F. et al., J. Appl. Physiol., 1955; 9: 75-78.)
Principal consideration for selecting effective sunscreens include burning, tanning, and chronic charges such as, cancer, elastosis, wrinkling, telangiectasias and pigmentary mottling. When considering the need for infrared protection, however, little information is available.
Some conditions exist which appear to be associated "purely" with heat or infrared radiation, such as, cutis laxa, that is, wizened skin of certain glass blowers, kitchen workers, bakers working with space heating devices (whose biopsies show elastosis); "Glass makers" cataract; Kang cancer of northern China (induced by sleeping or hot bricks); Kangri cancer of India (induced by wearing coal burning pots); Kairo cancer of Japan (from wearing benzene burning flasks); Peak fire cancer of Irish women; and basal cell tumors of cheeks induced by the solar focusing of rimless glasses.
Other diseases associated with infrared exposure include temporal arteritis and acitinic granuloma. (See: O'Brien, op cit; and Shabrad, P. et al., Br. J. Dermatol., 1977; 97: 179-186.) in many of these entities, the cutaneous malignancies were found among the clinical changes of erythema ab igne. According to Kligman "whether heat reaches the skin by conduction (i.e., hot bricks, heating pads) or by radiation (i.e., open fires, space heaters), the changes are quite similar. Cancers and erythema ab igne can be produced by either route. (See: "Reflections on Heat", Br. J. Dermatol, 1984, 119: 369-355.) The possibility of erythema ab igne being a marker for infrared damage and a predictor for later skin cancers is recognized.
Histologically, smilarities between chronic actinic damage and erythema ab igne from non-burning infrared include: early elastic fiber proliferation; increased dermal mast cells; telangiectasia; epidermal dysplasia and atypia; and irregular melanin distribution. Dissimilarities include greater dermal melanin or hemosiderin deposition and less end-stage degenerative elastosis found in erythema ab igne. The mild upper dermal elastosis of erythema ab igne is superficial. This elastotic material histochemically approximates hyaluronic acid. Epidermal changes of erythema ab igne include atypia amounting to preneoplastic change and basal cell vacuolization. These effects may possibly be caused by infrared radiation, since heat has been shown to cause: cellular respiratory inhibition; decreased DNA, RNA, and protein macromolecular synthesis; increased cellular membrane permeability; decreased nucleolar-cytoplasmic transport of ribosomal RNA; and G.sub.2 cell cycle phase accumulations.
Actinic elastosis has been claimed "the chief component if not the basis of aging in sun exposed skin. Also, elastosis is more prominent in biopsy than is clinically apparent." Since elastosis may be unsightly (yellow, wrinkles), preventing infrared or ultraviolet induced elastosis would be a major benefit.
At present, no direct clinical studies adquately separate solar elastosis into ultraviolet versus infrared components, and their respective proportions in humans. Finlayson's work on erythema ab igne indicates only that infrared radiation can cause elastosis in humans. (See: "Erythema ab igne: A histopathological study". J. Invest. Dermatol., 1966; 46: 104-108.) Kligman showed, using guinea pigs, that ultraviolet radiation, alone, produced more numerous, thicker, twisted elastic fibers. Physiologic range infrared radiation, alone, produced numerous fine, feather-like fibers. Infrared and ultraviolet radiations simultaneously produced dense mat-like fibers and increased ground substance that exceeded the sole product of either radiation alone.
The argument has been made that actinic elastosis can be minimized by the use of present ultraviolet sunscreens. An opposing opinion was presented by Pearse, who implied that ultraviolet protection does not insure against chronic sun damage. Some believe that solar elastosis is the result of damaged fibroblasts secreting defective proteins. Infrared radiation has been shown to alter some cellular proteins (enzymes). Further studies are required to determine if infrared radiation (I.R.) affects enzymes or other proteins necessary to the manufacture of elastin.
A dramatic example of solar elastosis is the effect of I.R. on the temporal arteries. A study by O'Brien (op. cit.) reported that the outermost side of temporal arteries possesses the actinic damage similar in severity to exposed skin. Theoretically, only infrared radiation should penetrate to this depth.
Perhaps a better way to separate ultraviolet and infrared effects is through study of the black patient. The black individual, in comparison with the white, is relatively ultraviolet A and B resistant. Black skin, however has greater infrared and visible radiation absorption. Kligman and Kligman believe that "much of the elastosis in blacks is due to infrared radiation alone." This should be tempered by the fact that, of all racial groups, blacks have the least (highest resistance to) elastosis.
A unique line of reasoning implicates infrared radiation as the cause of actinic granuloma. Nigerians have a 1.7% prevalence of extremely rare granuloma multiforme, the Nigerian equivalent of actinic granuloma. Allegedly, these Nigerians differ from other blacks because they are exposed to much domestic fire radiation. Therefore, fire exposure, providing infrared radiation and convection heat, is implicated as a cause of actinic granuloma, an elastolytic condition.
The study of the individual effects of infrared or ultraviolet radiation alone may have scholarly merit; but the combination of ultraviolet and infrared radiation may have the greatest effects. Again, heat has been shown to decrease DNA repair after ionizing radiation.
In a more applicable vein, ultraviolet and heat have been shown to synergistically denature human squamous buccal mucosal DNA. This work was carried out at 24.degree. C., 32.degree. C. (representing the temperature of indoor surface skin), and 42.degree. C. (representing the surface skin temperature in bright sunlight at 26.degree. North latitude). (See: Roth and London, J. Invest. Dermatol., 1977; 69; 368-372; 1977). Roth et al showed a positive linear relationship between DNA denaturation and irradiation temperature.
In a classic study, Freeman and Knox (See: Archives of Dermatology; 1964, 89, 858-64; 1964) showed that acute, as well as chronic, combined ultraviolet and infrared exposures may have deleterious effects on mouse skin. The mouse acute-ultraviolet-burn-death rate rose with temperature. The greatest percentages of mouse cutaneous tumors resulted from ultraviolet exposure and continuous heat as opposed to all other groups to be mentioned. Heat, delivered for three hours following a daily ultraviolet dose, resulted in a greater tumor yield than heat delivered in the intermediate three hours prior to the ultraviolet treatment. All of the aforementioned tumor yields were greater than in mice given ultraviolet therapy without exogenous heat.
While more studies may be considered necessary such as, for example, the monitoring of subjects located in variable latitudes and isolation, for both ultraviolet and infrared in regard to chronic deleterious solar effects, and biopsied, assessing one variable (i.e., infrared or ultraviolet) while holding the others constant to assess relative effects, there is sufficient evidence to give reasonable men concern that infrared is the source of deleterious cutaneous effects in man and to inspire efforts toward the development of topical preparations which can provide more than a modicum of protection of the human animal, irrespective of race or pigmentation. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a floor panel.
More particularly, it relates to a floor panel which, at least at two opposite sides, comprises coupling parts, in the form of a male coupling part and a female coupling part, respectively, which allow that two of such floor panels can be connected to each other at said sides by providing one of these floor panels with the pertaining male part, by means of a downward movement, in the female part of the other floor panel, such that therein at least a locking in horizontal direction is obtained.
2. Related Art
Couplings, which allow coupling two floor panels with each other by providing one of these floor panels in the other by a downward movement, in practice are divided into two types, namely, a first type wherein the coupling parts provide exclusively for a horizontal locking without any locking in vertical direction, and a second type wherein both a horizontal and a vertical locking are provided.
The couplings of the first kind are also known as so-called “drop-in” systems. Floor panels equipped therewith at two opposite sides are known, amongst others, from CA 991,373 and JP 07-300979. As is evident from these patent documents, such “drop-in” systems often are applied at a first pair of opposite sides of the floor panels only, whereas then at the second pair of opposite sides coupling parts are applied which, in the coupled condition of two floor panels, provide for a vertical as well as a horizontal locking and which allow that two of such floor panels can be coupled to each other by means of a turning movement. Floor panels with such combination of coupling parts offer the advantage that they can easily be installed successively in rows, simply by coupling each new floor panel to be installed to the preceding row of floor panels by means of the turning movement and, when turning them downward, providing for that such floor panel simultaneously also engages in an already installed previous floor panel of the same row. Thus, the installation of such floor panel only requires a turning and putting down movement, which is a particularly user-friendly installation technique.
A disadvantage of floor panels with such coupling parts consists in that, due to the fact that there is no locking in vertical direction, height differences between the coupled floor panels may occur at the upper surface. For example, such floor panels in a first or last row of a floor covering can turn back upward if they are not held down by a skirting board or the like. Even when such floor panels are provided with a “drop-in” system at only one pair of sides, whereas at their other pair of sides, they are locked in horizontal as well as in vertical direction in respect to adjacent floor panels, height differences may occur between adjacent floor panels at the sides coupled by the “drop-in” system, amongst others, when two adjacent floor panels are stressed differently, or when one floor panel would warp and bend somewhat in respect to the other.
Couplings of the aforementioned second type, also called “push-lock” systems, try to remedy the aforementioned disadvantage by also providing a vertical locking. Such “push-lock” systems can be divided in two different categories, namely, one-piece embodiments and embodiments comprising a separate locking element, which is made as an insertion piece or forms part of such insertion piece, wherein this insertion piece may or may not be fixedly attached to the actual floor panel.
One-piece embodiments are known, amongst others, from the patent documents DE 29924454, DE 20008708, DE 20112474, DE 102004001363, DE 102004055951, EP 1.282.752 and EP 1.350.904. The known one-piece embodiments have the disadvantage that they work relatively unwieldy and that a well-working joining of two floor panels can not always be guaranteed.
Embodiments comprising a separate locking element, which assists in a vertical and possibly also horizontal locking between two coupled floor panels, are known, amongst others, from the patent documents DE 202007000310, DE 102004001363, DE 102005002297, EP 1.159.497, EP 1.415.056B1, EP 1.818.478, WO 2004/079130, WO 2005/054599, WO 2006/043893, WO 2006/104436, WO 2007/008139, WO 2007/079845, SE 515324 and DE 202008008597. Utilizing a separate locking element offers the advantage that the material thereof is independent from the actual floor panel and thus may be chosen optimally in function of the application thereof. In this manner, such insertion pieces, for example, may be realized of synthetic material or metal, which enables realizing strong, however, still easily movable locking portions, which can take up relatively large forces with a minimum contact surface.
From WO 2004/079130, embodiments of “push-lock” systems are known which comprise a separate locking element, which only assists in the horizontal locking between two coupled floor panels.
The present invention relates to various aspects. According to a number of these aspects, namely, each hereinafter mentioned “first” to “sixteenth” aspect, as well as the eighteenth and nineteenth aspect, the invention relates to floor panels which are equipped with a “push-lock” system of the last-mentioned category, in other words, which comprise a, whether or not fixedly attached, however, separately realized insertion piece. In these aspects, the aim of this invention consists of effecting a further optimization of these “push-lock” systems in floor panels. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Various cleaning articles have been created for dusting and light cleaning. For example, cloth rags and paper towels used dry or wetted with polishing and cleaning compositions have been used on relatively flat surfaces. But, rags and paper towels are problematic for reasons such as hygiene (the user's hand may touch chemicals, dirt or the surface during cleaning), reach (it may be difficult to insert the user's hand with the rag or paper towel into hard-to-reach places) and inconvenience (cleaning between closely-spaced articles typically requires moving the articles).
To overcome the problems associated with using rags and paper towels, various dust gathering devices having feathers, lamb's wool, and synthetic fiber brushes have been utilized for more than a century, as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 823,725 issued in 1906 to Hayden. Such dust gathering devices can be expensive to manufacture, and as such are designed to be cleaned and reused. One problem associated with a reusable dust gathering device is that such dust gathering devices may not hold or trap dust very well. Soiled, reusable devices are typically cleaned via shaking or through other mechanical agitation. This process is not entirely satisfactory as it requires an extra step during, interrupting and/or following the cleaning process. Furthermore, the attempted restoration of the device may not be successful, allowing redeposition of the previously collected dust.
To address the problems experienced with reusable dust gathering devices, disposable cleaning articles have been developed which have limited re-usability. The cleaning article may be used for one job (several square meters of surface) and discarded as being disposable, or may be restored and re-used for more jobs, then discarded. Traditional cleaning articles including feather dusters, cloths, string mops, strip mops and the like, are not disposable for purposes of this invention.
These disposable cleaning articles may include brush portions made of synthetic fiber bundles, called tow fibers, attached to a sheet as shown in Publication 2010/0319152. The tow fibers and sheets in such articles may be bonded together as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,712,578; U.S. Pat. No. 7,566,671; U.S. Pat. No. 7,779,502; U.S. Pat. No. 7,788,759; U.S. Pat. No. 7,937,797; U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,001 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,245,349. Or the tow fibers may be attached to a plate as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,787. The cleaning articles may be manufactured using the processes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,743,392 and/or 7,003,856.
Such cleaning articles may be made, for example, according to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,813,801; 6,968,591; 6,984,615; 7,228,587; 7,231,685; 7,234,193; 7,234,914; 7,237,296; 7,237,297; 7,243,391; 7302729; 7,302,730; and/or 7,334,287 (having a common related application). The patents in this linage have a common feature—strips laterally extending from both sides of a generally planar article. U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,784 teaches strips extending not only from both sides of the article, but also from the front. Other geometries include U.S. Pat. No. 7,566,671 which does not use laterally extending strips but cleans only from one side of the implement and U.S. Pat. No. 7,251,851 which teaches a duster having a spiral configuration when disposed on the handle. Dusters which advantageously do not require gather strips are shown in commonly assigned publications: 2013/0232710A1, having differential overhang between the sheet and fibers; 2013/0232711A1, having a sheet with apertures; 2013/0232714A1, having an elastically contracted sheet; and 2013/0232706A1, having an elastically contracted upstanding panel, all filed Mar. 9, 2012. Optionally the cleaning article 10 may further comprise a non-planar structure, as disclosed in commonly assigned US publication 2011/0131746A1, filed Dec. 4, 2009 or wetting as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,803,726.
All such cleaning articles are typically packaged in a flat state. A plurality of these articles may be stacked together in a common cardboard box. Such stacking increases the planarity of these articles conserving packaging and handling costs, but potentially leading to diminished cleaning performance.
To get optimum performance, a user should pre-fluff the cleaning article prior to use. Fluffing, as defined herein, is the process of increasing the apparent volume of the cleaning article. The volume may be increased if the tow fibers and optionally any sheet layers extend out of the plane. In a particular embodiment, the tow fibers extend radially outwardly approximately 360 degrees from the longitudinal axis. A desirably fluffed cleaning article has no, or only minimal, apparent planarity.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,151,402 teaches the importance of fluffing, but relies upon unusual and complex manufacturing to achieve the fluffing. But this attempt does not provide fluffing without extraneous steps by the manufacturer or user.
Even with instructions, many users simply do not correctly perform the fluffing step. Some users do not read the instructions and entirely skip this step. Fluffing can be frustrated if the gather strips are partially joined together due to improper cutting during manufacture, making the fluffing insufficient or more difficult. The user may tire of the fluffing steps and not fully complete this process. Accordingly, a system which fluffs but does not require extra steps by the user is needed.
Thus, there is a need for a cleaning article which does not require the user to perform a separate, but optional, fluffing step at the point of use. Such cleaning article may be fluffed during dispensing and provide ready-to-use performance without the need for a separate fluffing step. | {
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This invention relates to air-source heat pumps. More particularly, this invention relates to a new and improved air source heat pump especially suitable for use in normally colder climates.
The air-source heat pump system is the most prevalent type of heat pump used in the world today. This is the case whether one is discussing room units, residential central type, ductless splits, or rooftop commercial systems.
Although the air-source concept in general has a high application potential worldwide, its popularity in the United States and elsewhere has been greatest in mild climate areas. This is because the compressor-derived heating capacity of conventional units declines rapidly as the outdoor ambient falls, due, in the most part, to the large increase in specific volume (i.e., decrease in density) of the outdoor coil generated refrigerant vapor as ambient (outdoor) temperature falls (see FIG. 2). This fall in compressor-derived heating capacity is obviously opposite to the heating requirement, which generally increases in proportion to the fall in outdoor ambient temperature. This problem is illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows a plot of heating requirements vs. outdoor ambient temperature and the heating performance of a 3 Ton Lennox HP 22-411 fixed speed scroll compressor heat pump system. As shown in FIG. 1, the heating requirements (line 2) increase as ambient temperature decreases, going from zero (0) BTU/hr at 65.degree. F. to 72,000 BTU/hr at 5.degree. F. outdoor ambient temperature. The compressor derived heating capacity is shown at line 4.
When a typical prior art heat pump operates below its balance point, (about 40.degree. F. in FIG. 1), supplemental heating is required. The most prevalent form of supplemental heat used is electric resistance. In other than mild climates, this use of supplemental electric resistance heat puts the air-source heat pump at an economic disadvantage to a consumer as compared with other forms of heating, because of the high cost of electric resistance heating. Electric utilities are also concerned because of the associated high peak power demand during cold weather.
One of the areas for improvement of air source heat pump systems lies in the efficient recovery of the low grade heat energy remaining in the condensed refrigerant liquid leaving the system condenser. If this remaining energy is recovered and then returned to the heating side of the system, rather than being further thermally degraded and sent to the system evaporator (as is now the case), very significant increases in overall compressor-derived heating capacity can be made.
The basic problem here is that after the refrigerant has been fully liquified in the condenser, there is still a large amount of energy left in the warm liquid. This remaining energy serves to evaporate a large portion of the liquid itself during the normal pressure reduction process that occurs across the system expansion device. Depending on the refrigerant utilized, and the temperatures existing between the evaporator and the condenser, as much as one-half, or even more, of this liquid can be evaporated during the normal pressure reduction process across the system expansion device. Obviously if liquid has already evaporated, it cannot be again evaporated in the system evaporator, and thus cannot absorb energy from the outside air. However, the net resulting vapor must pass through the system evaporator anyway, creating additional pressure drop along its way, and then must be fully compressed to the condensing level by the compressor. If the compressor must induct this useless vapor, it can only induct a smaller amount of useful vapor. However, compressor power must be expended to compress the total amount of vapor that has been inducted into the compressor. This is not a reasonable process for air-source heat pumps operating in other than the milder ambient temperatures.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the required heat input to an occupied space (line 2) increases in direct proportion to the fall in outdoor ambient temperature whereas the compressor derived heating capacity (line 4) declines rapidly. This is because the heat output of any heat pump is essentially proportional to the weight flow of refrigerant vapor entering the system condenser. FIG. 2 shows what happens to the specific volume of evaporator generated refrigerant vapor as the evaporating temperature falls. At a 50.degree. F. outdoor ambient supporting a 40.degree. F. evaporating temperature, the specific volume is about 0.46 cubic feet per pound of generated vapor whereas at 0.degree. F. outdoor ambient with an evaporating temperature of -25.degree. F., the specific volume is 1.6 cubic feet per pound of generated vapor. This is 3.5 times the volume of vapor per pound compared to the 50.degree. F. ambient level. Further to this, more than 4 times the amount of heat is required at 0.degree. F. as is required at 50.degree. F. This means that a dramatic increase of refrigerant vapor is required at 0.degree. F. ambient as compared to 50.degree. F. ambient in order to adequately match the heat energy requirement.
In addition, if the entire space heating requirement at 0.degree. F. outdoor ambient is to be supplied by compressor derived heating capacity, the air flow across the heating coil of the condenser must be such that the indoor delivered air temperature will be at least 110.degree. F. in order to provide adequate freedom from a sensation of cool drafts. This in turn will cause the system condensing temperature to rise to about 140.degree. F. considering a reasonably sized indoor coil surface. The end result of all this is to cause overall system operating compression ratios to rise to the point where it becomes unrealistic to even consider the use of present day technology for such an application.
The various factors presented above clearly show that present day air source heat pumps do not even come close to doing the job that is required for efficient heating in cold climates. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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As integrated circuit operating frequencies (f) increase, there is a commensurate increase in the required capacitor quality factor (Q) of capacitors used in the integrated circuit. Capacitor “Q” represents the energy efficiency of a capacitor, and can be determined by Q=Xc/Rc, where “Xc” is capacitive reactance of the capacitor and “Rc” is the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the capacitor. The “Xc” of the capacitor is determined by Xc=½πfC, where C=capacitance. Thus, when capacitance is constant, as “f” goes up, “Xc” goes down and “Q” goes down. Increasing “f” also leads to losing energy by heating of the integrated circuit, which in turn leads to an increase in thermal noise in the high-frequency integrated circuit.
Conventional metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors located near a through-glass via (TGV) have rectangular-shaped dielectrics that are space-inefficient. Further, the rectangular-shaped dielectrics of the conventional MIM capacitors limit the maximum “Q” of the conventional MIM capacitors. Thus, there is a need for MIM capacitors located near a TGV that are space-efficient, energy efficient, and have a higher “Q” when compared to conventional devices.
Accordingly, there are long-felt industry needs for methods and apparatus that improve upon conventional methods and apparatus, including the improved methods and apparatus provided hereby. | {
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The present invention pertains generally to the field of packet data networks and, more particularly, to system architectures and methods for regulating and managing the flow of data packets in a packet data router.
In a typical packet data router, packets originating from various source locations are received via a plurality of communication interfaces. Each packet contains routing information, such as a destination address, which is associated with a respective communication interface of the router, e.g., by a routing table or packet forwarding protocol. The router reads the routing information of each received packet and, if it recognizes the information, forwards the packet to the appropriate communication interface for further transmission to its destination. Packets without known destination address or forwarding protocol information are typically dropped.
Due to normal ebbs and flows in packet data traffic patterns and volume, a packet data router may be unable to immediately route newly received packets to respective designated communication interfaces. In particular, packet data traffic tends to have bursts of high activity, which is followed by lulls. Thus, a packet data router may be characterized as having a sustained data rate and a burst data rate. When receiving a burst of packet traffic, the router will temporarily store the received packets in an associated memory until t has the processing capacity available to process and forward the packets to their respective outgoing communication interface. When the sustained or burst data rates of a router are exceeded for a certain period of time, it is inevitable that further incoming packets will be dropped. Of course, while sometimes unavoidable, dropping unprocessed packets is undesirable because the source will then retransmit the dropped packet as part of its recovery procedure, which tends to prolong the congested state of the packet router and cause further unprocessed packets to be dropped.
Packet data network users often share either a single router, or router system, from a service provider. Multiple different internet users, for example, may connect via respective data modems or primary rate interface (xe2x80x9cPRIxe2x80x9d) lines to a single internet protocol (xe2x80x9cIPxe2x80x9d) router, or IP router system, operated by an internet service provider (xe2x80x9cISPxe2x80x9d). These end users may be single customers themselves, or there may be multiple (e.g., networked) users combined as a single customer account by the ISP. Each customer account may be allocated a respective level of service priority and packet throughput bandwidth by the ISP, depending on the type and level of service connectivity that is contracted for.
For purposes of clarification, as referred to herein, a xe2x80x9crouterxe2x80x9d is defined as a physical (as opposed to logical) entity having a defined number of physical communication interfaces (e.g., modems) under the control of one or more processors collectively executing a single control function. Typically, a single physical router operates under a single routing domainxe2x80x94i.e., wherein a packet received on any communication interface may be forwarded only to the same, or any other communication interface of the router. As referred to herein, a xe2x80x9crouter systemxe2x80x9d is defined as two or more independent routers, with an external controller for selectively directing common (incoming) packet data traffic to respective routers within the system.
It is known to implement within a single router one or more virtual router instances (xe2x80x9cVRIsxe2x80x9d). Each VRI has its own subset of communication interfaces, or logical circuits on a shared communication interface, and its own routing domain, but still under the control of a common control function with the other packet traffic handled by the router. In particular, a VRI exists as a collection of processes performed by the router, which correspond roughly to the layers in the TCP/IP protocol model. For example, a private network can be configured as a VRI, so that packet data may only be exchanged between end users on the same network. It has also been proposed to have a single VRI span multiple routers in a router system. For example, one suggested implementation is to have a dedicated interface link bridging respective communication interfaces of multiple routers having a common VRI.
Because of varying and often unpredictable growth rates, as well as other economic factors, a packet router, or packet router system, will not necessarily have the processing or memory capacity to simultaneously provide the contracted for bandwidth allocation for every user or VRI it services. Further, various users will connect to the IP router at different, often unpredictable, times and with varying rates and bandwidth needs.
An IP router is typically controlled with a real time operating system (xe2x80x9cRTOSxe2x80x9d), which allows multiple processes of different priorities to co-exist under the control of a common control function (e.g., within a single central processing unit). For example, the RTOS may have sensors that provide feedback information regarding current usage characteristics for a given user, which is used to adjust the RTOS operating parameters in response to changes in demand. Common applications for the RTOS are process control, motion control and, in certain applications, command and control.
The problem is that these operating systems often fail to effectively accommodate the different priority and bandwidth requirements contracted for by the end user customers of the ISP. In a motion control system, for example, the flow of information from sensors is into the system, and the flow of control signals is out of the system. There may be a lot of sensors, and there may be a lot of subsystems being controlled, but the input information does not circulate through the system and become the output. This has the effect of making the inherent control feature of the RTOS process/task priority ineffectual for controlling the system.
A typical IP router is a xe2x80x9cpacket drivenxe2x80x9d system. The more data packet it receives, the greater the load, and that load traverses the whole system such that the input is (for all practical purposes) the output. Thus, users whose connection to the router is handling the most packets will tend to monopolize the system resources.
For example, consider a router that is divided into two different VRIs, with each VRI having roughly the same number of end users and paying an ISP for the same quality of service (xe2x80x9cQOSxe2x80x9d), including identical priority and bandwidth requirements. Thus, the router should be able to provide the end users of each VRI with the same number of bits-per-second (xe2x80x9cBPSxe2x80x9d) system throughput at any given time. Suppose, however, that the router processing capability is barely adequate to handle the peak load of even one of the VRIs without dropping unprocessed packets. If users of the first VRI have, in effect, tied up the router throughput processing capabilities, the users of the second VRI will not receive the service priority and bandwidth they are otherwise entitled to.
Thus, there is a need for methods and system architectures for more fairly regulating the processing of data packets through a packet data router, or router system, whereby the quality of service is balanced for each user and/or VRI, and wherein the system is kept stable, even when heavy loads occur.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a method is provided for controlling the processing of data packets in a packet data router by dynamically adjusting the rate at which packets held in a respective ingress data queue are processed based on current operating conditions of the router.
In a preferred embodiment, the ingress data queue has a data queue head structure including a packets-to-be-processed field and a sustained-data-rate field. The packets-to-be-processed field stores a value indicating a number of packets held in the ingress data queue that are to be processed by the router during a given processing interval. In this manner, the packet flow rate of the ingress data queue may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the value of the packets-to-be-processed field based on current operating conditions of the router, such as, e.g., such as processor or memory utilization. The sustained-data-rate field stores a value indicating a target (e.g., maximum) data processing rate, in bits-per-second, for the ingress data queue. The value of the packets-to-be-processed field is normally based on the sustained-data-rate of the ingress data queue.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a method of dynamically adjusting the packet flow rate of an ingress data queue includes detecting whether a burst of data packets has been (or is being) received on the queue. In a preferred embodiment, the data queue head structure includes both a burst-data-rate field and a burst-duration field. The burst-data-rate field stores a value indicating a selected rate for processing data packets held in the ingress data queue if a received burst of data packets has been detectedxe2x80x94i.e., which is greater than the sustained-data rate. When a data burst is detected, the packets-to-be-processed field is recalculated based on the burst-data-rate, instead of the sustained-data-rate. The burst-duration field stores a value indicating a time period for sustaining the processing rate of the ingress data queue based on the burst-data-rate. In this manner, the packet flow rate of the ingress data queue may be further controlled by increasing or decreasing the values of the burst-data-rate field or of the burst-duration field.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, the data queue head structure of an ingress data queue is also provided with a queue-depth field, which stores a value indicating the current amount of router memory allocated to store data packets in the ingress data queue. Once this limit is reached, any further packets directed to the ingress data queue will be dropped. Depending on current operating conditions of the router, the queue-depth field may be increased or decreased in order to adjust the memory utilization of the routerxe2x80x94i.e., by limiting the number of packets that may be held in the router memory for processing at any given interval.
In accordance with a yet another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for controlling the processing of data packets in a packet data router by dynamically adjusting the rate at which packets held in a plurality of ingress data queues are processed based on current operating conditions of the router.
In a preferred embodiment, the packet flow rate of each ingress data queue is adjusted independently of the packet flow of the other ingress data queues, thereby allowing for flexible management and control on an ingress data queue level. The method preferably also includes detecting whether a burst of data has been received on at least one of the plurality of ingress data queues. For example, the packet-flow rate of a first ingress data queue may be increased, while simultaneously decreasing the packet flow rate of a second ingress data queue, in order to accommodate processing of a burst of packets received on the first queue without jeopardizing the overall system throughput and operational stability of the router.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, the data queue head structure of each of a plurality of ingress data queues is provided with a queue-depth field, which stores a value indicating the current amount of memory allocated to store data packets in the respective ingress data queue. In a preferred embodiment, the queue-depth fields of each ingress data queue are independently increased or decreased in order to control memory utilizationxe2x80x94i.e., by limiting the number of packets that may be held in the router memory for processing at any given interval on any given ingress data queue. In a preferred embodiment, memory utilization is also be controlled by adjusting the packet flow rate(s) of one or more ingress data queue(s).
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, other and further aspects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinafter. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to a battery-powered radio communication apparatus and, more particularly, to a battery-powered radio communication apparatus with an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit at the power amplifier stage.
Portable battery-powered radio communication apparatus normally operates at a battery voltage which is higher than a preset voltage. When the battery voltage drops below the preset voltage, the radio communication apparatus of forced to be out of normal operation, which, in turn, results in interruption of communication. An AGC circuit, if provided at the stage of the power amplifier, works to keep the output power of the apparatus constant and, therefore, a drop in battery voltage causes an increase in current consumption. Accordingly, when beginning to drop, the battery voltage falls rapidly, as the case may be, below the preset voltage, with consequent interruption of communication. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to stringing of wire rope or cable.
2. Description of Prior Art
Customarily, one or more inactive cables have been strung along with the active lines in electrical power transmission networks for the purpose of lightning protection. The inactive cables were formed from helically wound steel wires and were often called wire ropes.
The cables were installed by a process known as being strung. While being strung, the cables were spooled from a reel and passed over stringing blocks or pulleys on distribution towers or poles. Due to their helically wound construction, the wires in these cables had an inherent tendency to rotate or twist in response to uncoiling forces as they were being spooled from the reel during stringing.
Fiberoptic rods clad in protective metal tubes have been included in the core along the central axis of these inactive cables for telemetry and relaying purposes. The tendency of the outer wires in the cable to uncoil while being strung caused problems with the fiberoptic rods. If the outer portions of the cable twisted more than a certain amount, the fiberoptic rods would break due to the twisting forces. It was felt that there was a limit, of no more than two or so 360.degree. rotations of the cable in one mile of cable, beyond which the integrity of the fiberoptic rod would be unreliable. Twisting problems were particularly compounded when the cable was being strung over an angular or irregular course where corners or turns were present. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Conventional optical couplers are used to combine or divide optical signal, for example an optic signal in a fiber optic cable. Conventional optical couplers are comprised of a plurality of fiber optic cables. Where an optical signal is to be split, the number of cables outputting a signal is greater than the number of cables inputting the signal. Similarly, where an optic signal is to be combined, the number of cables outputting a signal is less than the number of cables inputting the signal.
In order to form a conventional optic coupler, several fiber optic cables are fused together. In order to fuse the fibers, the fibers are typically placed in contact with each other, and heated and placed under tension. As the fibers are heated and drawn, the fibers fuse. To obtain a different number of input fibers than output fibers, a portion of each of a predetermined number of fibers is removed.
An important property of an optical coupler is reliability. For example, the Bellcore standard for fiber optic components provides several standards for optical coupler reliability, including temperature cycling, impact, and vibration standards. The impact, or mechanical shock standard, requires that optical couplers be capable of withstanding eight drops on each of three mutually perpendicular axes from a height of 1.8 meters (six feet). An optical coupler should be able to withstand having this impact test repeated five times. Similarly, optical couplers should pass a vibration test to meet Bellcore vibration standards. The vibration test provides a sinusoidal vibration having a frequency of ten Hertz to two thousand Hertz with an amplitude of 20G (or 1.52 millimeters or 0.0060 inches double amplitude). The frequency is swept from ten Hertz to two thousand Hertz and back within 20 minutes. This sweep cycle is repeated twelve times for in each of three mutually perpendicular directions to complete the test. An optical coupler should meet these standards.
Impact and vibration standards specify the impact and vibrations an optical coupler must withstand before failure. For example, when optical couplers are shipped to consumers, the couplers may be dropped. If the optical coupler cannot withstand the fall, it will fail. Similarly, the vibrations an optical coupler can withstand prior to failure affect its reliability.
Conventional optical couplers are able to withstand only a relatively small impact or small vibrations prior to failure. Thus, the reliability of typical optical couplers is greatly reduced by impacts or vibrations.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for providing an optical coupler with increased resistance to failure due to impacts and vibrations and, therefore, greater reliability. The present invention addresses such a need. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
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