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With the advent of microprocessor-based data distribution systems, the use of electronic voice and computerized information systems has proliferated, especially in the business sector. For instance, in the money commodity dealing field, it is common to provide trading rooms with a plurality of work stations, each station typically including a variety of data and communication equipment, such as computer keyboards, computer display screens in the form of cathode ray tubes, a telephone turret with a specified number of direct lines and telephone line monitoring units and other peripheral devices. To ensure optimum interaction between traders during trading periods and/or to make maximum unitization of space, the work stations are oftentimes ganged together to form a cluster of work stations. Such clusters can be formed by arranging several double work stations (i.e., two work stations arranged in back-to-back or tandem fashion) side-by-side, the resulting cluster comprising two rows of back-to-back work stations.
In providing work stations in trading rooms, there are several special considerations that need to be addressed. One consideration relates to the provision of clear sight lines over work stations for various purposes (e.g. promoting efficient communication between traders in the trading room). Another consideration relates to the provision of work stations adapted for quick and efficient assembly, disassembly and reconfiguration due to the advent of 24 hour global trading practices and the consequences resulting therefrom (e.g., the need to complete services, removal, upgrade and/or reconfiguration of work stations within the limited time period of off-hours). In addition, because of the proliferation of the local area network and desk top computer technology, there are numerous user-preferred combinations of computer-related equipment varying from work station to work station. As a result, the work stations need to be adapted for adjustability and retrofittability in accordance with user preference.
Computer work stations have been developed in the past (see, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 251,666; Des. 275,284; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,316,082; 4,345,803 and 4,449,762). While some of these work stations have a modular construction (see, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,313,112 and 4,458,961) and others are adapted to be ganged together (see, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 251,592), they are not specifically designed to be arranged in back-to-back or side-by-side fashion due to their absence of a common, unobstructed raceway core and/or double faced center spline slat wall partition. Thus, these work stations are not especially suitable for the formation of clusters which comprise two rows of work stations arranged back-to-back. As a result, such clusters have in the past been formed by arranging conventional desks in back-to-back fashion (see, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,886,766 and 2,694,614).
One problem encountered when gaging together the conventional desks or computer work stations described above involves providing adequate room for and access to the necessary telephone, data and electrical service lines and accessory equipment. Without adequate room for technicians to gain access to such service lines and accessory equipment, field installation and maintenance can be made difficult.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,619,486 and 4,883,330 disclose a spine assembly adapted to support a pair of desk tops in back-to-back fashion. A plurality of spine assemblies may be joined end-to-end to create an interconnected network of desk assemblies. While each spine assembly is adapted to house utility and communication lines, no provision is made to mount electronic equipment, such as computer control processing units and monitors, from or in the spine assembly.
Frame-type desks have also been developed (see, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,402). However, these frame-type desks lack adjustability and retrofittability.
The desk system disclosed in LaCour '423 patent has been a commercial success since its introduction to the marketplace. The desk system continues to have utility in installations where user needs and requirements are unlikely to change significantly during the lifetime of the desk system.
Applicant's copending application Ser. No. 08/542,170 filed Oct. 12, 1995 and application Ser. No. 08/939,176 filed Sep. 29, 1997, the specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose a desk system adapted for field adjustability and retrofittability. More particularly, the desk system has a raceway core, a pair of work tops, which extend outwardly from opposing sides of the raceway core, and a slat wall structure suspended above the raceway core between the work tops. The raceway includes a raceway sized and shaped to receive data and communication equipment therein, while the slat wall structure has slats on each side thereof for supporting platforms therefrom. While this desk system addresses the various considerations and/or problems mentioned above, it does so without compartmentalizing its raceway into compartments or equipment bays. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hinge and an electronic device with the same, especially to a hinge that is rotatable by 180 degrees both clockwise and anticlockwise.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
Conventional electronic devices such as notebook computers, cell phones and the like comprise a cover, a base and a conventional hinge. The conventional hinge is mounted between the cover and the base to allow the cover to be tilted and rotated relative to the base. To protect internal electrical wires, the conventional hinge has a limiting structure to prevent the cover from over rotating. The limiting structure comprises a stationary limit and a rotating limit respectively connected to the base and the cover. So when the cover is rotated about a longitudinal axis to adjust a viewing angle of a screen, the rotating limit abuts the stationary limit to limit the rotation of the cover.
Conventionally, both the rotating limit and the stationary limit have certain, tangible sizes, and are firmly provided on the cover and base respectively so that those elements, though they prevent the wires from damage, also prevent the cover from being rotated clockwise and anticlockwise by 180 degrees relative to the base. There are several ways to overcome the shortcomings, but most require complicated designs so are costly to implement and may not be as reliable in use.
Therefore, the present invention provides a hinge and an electronic device with the hinge to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. | {
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The present invention relates generally to plug and socket connection systems, and more particularly to a plug and socket connection system for an electronic unit, preferably an encased electronic unit having a box shape. The plug and socket connection system consists of a connection plug for the coupling connecting lines and a socket to receive the connection plug.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,847, which is incorporated herein by reference (which is equivalent to EP 0 165 434 B1) discloses a device in which a front plug is provided with a swing joint on one end, to permit the front plug to swing inward and, with a screw for fastening the front plug on the other end. This type of attachment is still not entirely optimal since in the case of a swing plug the contact blades of the plug must be arranged in the plane of swing. As a result, the swing ;plug becomes large and unwieldy. In addition, it is not possible in the case of a swing plug to design an inexpensive method for fastening the plug to the unit in such a manner that, on the one hand, forces from fastening the plug and socket system are net transferred to the unit and, on the other hand, the plug is not yet in final contact with the unit.
The present invention is directed to the problem of developing a plug and socket connection system which permits a space-saving arrangement of the contact blades, and thus a compact plug, while, on the other hand, allows the plug to be fastened to the unit before the final mounting of the plug. | {
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1. Field
The following description relates to subsurface survey, and more particularly, to a technique for imaging a subsurface through signal processing using waveform inversion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Waveform inversion is a technique of estimating a velocity model of the subsurface using prestack seismic data.
The waveform inversion means a series of processes for obtaining a subsurface structure model close to the actual subsurface structure of an area of interest by creating an initial model for the area of interest, obtaining observed wavefield on the area of interest, and iteratively updating the initial model using the observed wavefield. The processes are carried out by calculating modeled wavefield from an arbitrary subsurface using a computer and iteratively updating parameters representing the physical characteristics of the subsurface such that the differences of the theoretical values and data obtained through actual field exploration are minimized.
Waveform inversion is one method of analyzing the subsurface structure of an area, which is one of the goals of geophysical exploration, and various mathematical methods are suggested. One of representative mathematical methods for waveform inversion is an ‘iterative least-squares method’. Generally, a unique solution does not exist in waveform inversion. Thus, a method of obtaining an optimal solution by adding a particular condition is used in waveform inversion. In this case, it is optional whether to give weight to convergence or to obtain a more accurate solution from a given measured data. Since an inverse model must be simplified and often requires extreme assumptions, it is important in waveform inversion to make the most of prior geological information related to geophysical characteristics.
One of the most important geological and physical characteristics for accurate subsurface imaging is the seismic propagation velocity of the subsurface medium. Recently, studies into a technique of artificially exploding a source wavelet into a target area, measuring a seismic wave against the target area and performing waveform inversion in a time domain or frequency domain on seismic data, i.e., data on a seismic wave reflected or refracted by the target area to obtain a seismic propagation velocity with respect to the subsurface medium are actively going on. | {
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Apparatus comprising bendable portions are known. Such apparatus may be electronic devices. In such apparatus it is beneficial to protect sensitive components such as displays or other electronic components from damage which may be caused by the bending of the apparatus. | {
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It is often found that it is necessary to bore through an impervious stratum to reach an aquifer lying below it ("the lower aquifer"). This may occur because an aquifer lying above the impervious stratum ("the upper aquifer") has become polluted or depleted or both. The drilling operations carried out to access the lower aquifer are often in themselves a source of pollution because of oil, grease, drilling mud and bacteriological contamination. In addition, polluted water may seep into the lower aquifer via the annulus created between the sides of a bore hole and a bore tube inserted therein. It is normal practice to fill this annulus with grouting based on quick-setting cement, but it has been frequently observed that, very soon after drilling, the lower aquifer becomes polluted because the grouting currently used is often not completely water-tight. The perforation of an overlying impervious stratum thus risks polluting an aquifer lying beneath it.
This risk is increased when the bore hole is decommissioned, in which, conventionally, the top part of the bore tubing is pulled out and the bore hole is filled with non-watertight material, such as light concrete, gravel, and earth. At the present time, this practice is not strictly regulated. | {
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The invention relates to a new process for preparing the (E)-N-methyl-N-(1-naphthylmethyl)-6,6-dimethylhept-2-ene-4-ynyl-1-amine of formula (I) and the acid addition salts thereof.
The compound of formula (I)xe2x80x94international nonproprietary (INN) name: terbinafinexe2x80x94was first disclosed in the European Patent Specification No. 24587 (priority: 22.08.1979) as a good antifungal agent used preferably against mycosis caused by dermathophytons on the skin and on the nail. Example 16 of this patent specification describes the specific compound and mentions that it is a trans isomer. According to the patent specification the terbinafine was prepared in three different chemical ways. It can be seen from the specification that the compound was always obtained in base formxe2x80x94namely as the mixture of cis(Z) and trans(E) isomers. The separation was achieved by column chromatography which is a procedure preferably not employed in an industrial large scale production.
In a later publication (see J. Med. Chem. 27, 1539-1543 (1984)) the hydrochloride salt of the trans isomer was obtained from the mixture of the base by way of column chromatography on silica-gel, and salt formation with hydrochloric acid in ethanol followed by re-crystallization. After the success of terbinafine on the market more processes were published. Thus the process described in Swiss Patent Specification No. 678 537 or in its Hungarian equivalent Pat. No. 209 284 used as starting material the hydrochloride salt of N-methyl-1-naphthalenemethylamine of formula (II) and the geometric isomeric (E:Z) mixture of 3:1 of 1-bromo-6,6-dimethyl-hept-2-ene-4-yne of formula (IIIa).
The essence of the procedure is that the secondary amine was alkylated with the bromo-compound of formula (IIIa),xe2x80x94a crude product and mixture of geometric isomersxe2x80x94in the presence of aqueous sodium-hydroxide. The terbinafine base was formed as the mixture of trans- and cis-isomers in form of an oily substance. The crude terbinafine (still a mixture of isomers) was obtained by extraction with toluene and by evaporation of toluene, and had the same ratio of isomers as the compound of formula (IIIa). The crude terbinafine was then dissolved in ethyl acetate and hydrochloric acid gas was introduced into the solution. After stirring for a long time (4-15 hours) the precipitated hydrochloride salt of trans-terbinafine product of formula (I) was centrifuged, washed with ethyl acetate and dried.
The disadvantages of the process are the necessity to work with the offensive and unstable bromo-compound of formula (IIIa) and with the poisonous, aromatic solvent (extraction and evaporation of toluene), and that the preparation of the hydrochloride salt of terbinafine product requires dry hydrochloric acid gas and anhydrous ethyl acetate as solvent.
The compound of formula (IIIb) is an analogue of the known bromo-compound of formula (IIIa) (see European Patent Specification No. 341 048). It was prepared from known 3-hydroxy-6,6-dimethyl-hept-1-ene-4-yne of formula (IV), but no characteristic data of the chloro-compound of formula (IIIb) were described. (IIIb) was reacted directly, in form of a residue obtained by evaporation, with N-hydroxy-phthalimide. It is important to note that the chloro-compound of formula (IIIb) was not described elsewhere in the literature.
A different synthetic principle was applied in the preparation of terbinafine described in the Canadian Patent Specification No. 2 185 599. Here the epoxide of formula (V) was obtained from the secondary amine of formula (II) with an excess of epichlorohydrin, and (V) was converted into the secondary alcohol of formula (VI). Dehydration of the secondary alcohol of formula (VI) yielded a mostly undefined geometric isomeric mixture of (I).
According to another process, the aldehyde derivative of formula (VII), obtained from the secondary amine of formula (II), was reacted with the phosphorus-compounds of formula (VIII) in a Wittig-type reaction. This process also resulted in an undefined isomeric mixture of the compound (I).
The two processes above have several disadvantages:
a large excess of reagents (epichlorohydrin, 3,3-dimethyl-butyne) were required;
occasionally, undefined amounts and ratios of reagents were used;
complicated isolations by column chromatography were necessary;
the product was obtained in form of a very disadvantageous (and eventually undefined) geometric isomeric mixture (E:Z 1:9xe2x86x9211).
The object of this invention is a process which does not have the disadvantages of the known processes and which is applicable for large scale production.
During our experiments it was surprisingly found that the acid addition salt of terbinafine may be prepared, without isolating the base form of compound of formula (I), by reacting the known secondary amine of formula (II) and the secondary alcohol of formula (IV) in a specific solvent.
This observation led to further unexpected results:
a) Reaction of the secondary alcohol of formula (IV) and cc. hydrochloric acid yields the chloro-derivative of formula (IIIb) quantitatively, whereas, in accordance with the procedure disclosed in the European Patent Specification No. 341 048 which employs thionyl chloride, this compound could only be obtained in a crude yield of 88%.
b) The quantitative formation of the compound of formula (IIIb) is surprising because the aqueous hydrogen chloride which is used for the preparation of (IIIb) is less reactive than the hydrobromic acid which is used for the preparation of the compound of formula (IIIa).
c) In the reaction with HCl instead of HBr, the less space requiring Cl-atom attaches to the end of the molecule. The trans:cis isomeric ratio obtained is not getting worse at all, it is even a little better (3:1xe2x86x923.4:1).
d) It is also surprising that the reactivity of the chloro-compound of formula (IIIb) is similar, or even a little better than, the reactivity of the known bromo-analogue. Namely, the alkylation of the amine of formula (II) generated the product of formula (I) in a good yield.
e) The use of aliphatic ketones as a type of solvent gave an unexpected and surprising result. This solvent type is excellent for the extraction of the alkylating agent of formula (IIIb) and proved to be an effective solvent for the preparation of the compound of formula (I). Furthermore, when an aliphatic ketone, especially methyl isobutyl ketone, is used as a solvent, the hydrochloride salt of the end-product surprisingly precipitates after acidification with hydrogen chloride while the undesired hydrochloride salt of the cis-isomer and the other chemical impurities of the end-product remain in the solution and can be removed easily.
Table 1 summarizes the cis-isomer content of end-products obtained in different solvents. The results demonstrate that our surprising recognition, namely the advantageous use of an aliphatic ketone, especially methyl isobutyl ketone, afforded an especially low percentage of cis-isomer impurity.
Terbinafine base as a mixture of isomers of 75 w % trans and 25 w % cis was used as starting material.
Therefore, on the basis of the above goals, the invention is a new process for the preparation of the amine of formula (I) and acid addition salts thereof. This may be carried out as follows: the chloro-compound of formula (IIIb)xe2x80x94containing the E and Z isomers in a weight-ratio of 3.3-3.4:1xe2x80x94is prepared by reacting the secondary alcohol of formula (IV) with hydrogen chloride in a solvent. Then (IIIb) is reacted with the secondary amine of formula (II) in an aliphatic ketone-type solvent in the presence of a base and optionally a iodide salt catalyst. The compound of formula (I) is obtained in base form and in an isomeric ratio of 3.3-3.4:1. The base is converted directly into the hydrochloride salt by adding aqueous hydrogen chloride. The E-isomer-hydrochloride precipitates and is separated. Optionally the base can be liberated and can be convertedxe2x80x94in a known wayxe2x80x94into an acid addition salt with another pharmaceutically acceptable acid.
In a preferable embodiment of the process according to the invention 3-7 mole of the secondary alcohol of formula (IV) are reacted with preferably 5.0-5.5 mole, preferably ice cooled, cc. hydrochloric acid. Conveniently, the reaction mixture is stirred overnight.
The chloro-compound of formula (IIIb) is obtained as a geometric isomeric mixturexe2x80x94the weight-ratio of trans:cis (E:Z) is 3.3-3.4:1-, and is extracted with an aliphatic ketone-type solvent, preferably methyl isobutyl ketone. Then the chloro-compound of formula (IIIb) extract is diluted with methyl isobutyl ketone and is reacted with the amine of formula (II). This alkylation reaction is carried out in the presence of an amine-base at 20-80xc2x0 C. for 1-16 hours, preferably in the presence of equimolar N,N-diisopropylethylamine and 5-7 mole % iodide-salt catalyst for 3-5 hours.
The base form of the compound of formula (I) is obtained in solution in the phase of methyl isobutyl ketone, and is converted into a hydrogen-chloride salt by adding aqueous hydrochloric acid. The pH of the mixed two-phase system is adjusted to 1.0-3.0, preferably to 1.5-2.0. Then the two-phase system is cooled with stirring. The precipitated solid is filtered off, washed with water and with methyl isobutyl ketone and dried. The obtained hydrochloride saltxe2x80x94containing the desired E isomerxe2x80x94is treated with a base, e.g. ammonium-hydroxide, under mild conditions.
The base of formula (I) obtained this way is converted into an acid addition salt by treatment with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid.
One of the starting materials of the process according to our invention, the secondary alcohol of formula (IV), is a known compound. This compound may be prepared e.g. according to the EP 24 587 Patent Specification using 3,3-dimethyl-1-butyne and acrolein. (See J. Med. Chem. 27, 1539-42 (1984))
The other starting material of the process according to our inventionxe2x80x94the secondary amine of formula (II)xe2x80x94was described as a hydrochloride salt in Beilstein 12, II. 740, III. 3097, and IV. 2192.
Summarized, the process according to our invention has the following advantages:
1) The secondary alcohol of formula (IV) is converted into the alkylating chloro-compound of formula (IIIb) in a simple way by using cc. aqueous hydrogen chloride.
2) The compound of formula (IIIb) is obtained quantitatively from the reaction mixture by a single extraction with aliphatic ketone and can be reacted further in the same medium. The hydrochloride of the end-product of formula (I) simply precipitates from the aqueous-ketone, two-phase reaction mixture in the final acidification with hydrochloric acid.
3) The ketone, preferably methyl isobutyl ketone, used by us in the reaction steps has three functions in the process: it is an extracting agent, a solvent and finally a cosolvent, keeping the apolar, hardly water soluble impurities of the end-product in solution.
4) Compared to the processes of the prior art, our process is simple and suitable for large scale operations. The secondary alcohol of formula (IV) may be added to the apparatus and the hydrochloride of the compound of formula (I)xe2x80x94as the pure (E) trans isomerxe2x80x94is obtained at the end of the process.
5) While the processes of the prior art use hydrochloric acid gas for converting compound of formula (I), our process uses the more suitable aqueous hydrochloric acid.
6) In our process the hydrochloride salt of the end-product precipitates from a heterogeneous, two-phase (upper ketone, lower acid-aqueous) system. This provides for the high purity of the product obtained by the process according to the invention. The total impurity of the product (see Example 1, where it is 0.19%) is less, than the level of impurity obtained in the processes of the prior art (0.3%). Moreover the end-product does not containxe2x80x94because it can notxe2x80x94bromide impurity.
7) Our process does not require expensive, anhydrous solvents. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method for manufacturing a field effect transistor, and more particularly, to a method for manufacturing a field effect transistor employed in a semiconductor memory device or the like which is directed toward high integration density.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of structure of a general RAM (Random Access Memory). In FIG. 1, a memory cell array 101 has a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines arranged intersecting with each other, a memory cell being provided at each of intersections of the word lines and the bit lines. The memory cell is selected on the basis of an intersection of one word line selected by an X address buffer decoder 102 and one bit line selected by a Y address buffer decoder 103. Data is written to the selected memory cell or data stored in the memory cell is read out. The writing/reading of data is designated in response to a read/write control signal (R/W) applied to an R/W control circuit 104. At the time of writing data, input data (Din) is inputted to the selected memory cell through the R/W control circuit 104. On the other hand, at the time of reading out data, the data stored in the selected memory cell is detected and then, amplified by a sense amplifier 105, to be outputted to the exterior through a data output buffer 106 as output data (Dout).
FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a dynamic memory cell shown for explaining a read/write operation of the memory cell.
In FIG. 2, the dynamic memory cell comprises a set of a field effect transistor 108 and a capacitor 109. A gate electrode of the field effect transistor 108 is connected to a word line 110, and source and drain electrodes are connected to the capacitor 109 and to a bit line 107, respectively. At the time of writing data, a predetermined potential is applied to the word line 110 so that the field effect transistor 108 is rendered conductive, whereby charges applied to the bit line 107 is stored in the capacitor 109. On the other hand, at the time of reading out data, a predetermined potential is applied to the word line 110 so that the field effect transistor 108 is rendered conductive, whereby the charges stored in the capacitor 109 is extracted through the bit line 107.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of the memory cell array shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along a line IV--IV shown in FIG. 3.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the structure thereof will be described. A cell isolation region is formed on a semiconductor substrate 1, the cell isolation region comprising an ion diffused layer 2 of the same conductivity type as that of the substrate 1 and a thick oxide film 3. In addition, a capacitor region is formed, the capacitor region comprising an ion diffused layer 4 of a conductivity type opposite to that of the semiconductor substrate 1 for forming a direct contact, a storage node 5 formed of polysilicon (polycrystalline silicon) material or the like for storing charges and a cell plate electrode 6 formed of the polysilicon material or the like.
In addition, a transfer gate transistor region is formed, the transfer gate transistor region comprising a transfer gate electrode 7 comprising a polysilicon single layer, two-layer structure of polysilicon and refractory metal silicide or a refractory metal single layer and ion diffused layers 8 (8a, 8b, 8c) of the conductivity type opposite to that of the semiconductor substrate 1 for forming source and drain regions. An interlayer insulating film 14 of an oxide film is formed to cover the capacitor region and the transfer gate transistor region. A contact hole 9 is formed in the interlayer insulating film 14 to make contract with the ion diffused layer 8b. A bit line 10 comprising the two-layer structure of polysilicon and refractory metal or the refractory metal is formed on the interlayer insulating film 14 so as to be connected to the ion diffused layer 8b through the contact hole 9. A thin insulating film 11 comprising multilayer structure of an oxide film and a nitride film is formed between the storage node 5 and the cell plate electrode 6, and an insulating film 12 of an oxide film is formed under the transfer gate electrode 7.
Such a memory cell is generally manufactured in the order of the cell isolation region, the memory capacitor region, the transfer gate transistor region and the bit line or in the order of the cell isolation region, the transfer gate transistor region, the memory capacitor region and the bit line.
Referring now to cross sectional views of FIGS. 5A to 5C, description is made on manufacturing processes of the transfer gate transistor region.
An oxide film 12 is formed on a semiconductor substrate 1 by thermal oxidation, and a transfer gate electrode material 7m is deposited on the oxide film 12. In addition, exposure L is applied to a resist 13m on the electrode material through a photomask 15 by a photolithographic technique, as shown in FIG. 5A. Consequently, a patterned resist 13 is formed on the electrode material 7m , as shown in FIG. 5B. The exposed transfer gate electrode material 7m is etched utilizing the resist 13 as a mask, so that a transfer gate electrode 7 is formed, as shown in FIG. 5C.
Ions I of a conductivity type opposite to that of the semiconductor substrate 1 are implanted utilizing the transfer gate electrode 7 as a mask, and ion diffused layers 8 of the conductivity type opposite to that of the semiconductor substrate 1 serving as a drain and a source are formed by heat treatment, as shown in FIG. 5D. In the foregoing processes, a transfer gate transistor is manufactured.
The above described method for manufacturing the transfer gate transistor in the conventional memory cell has the following problem.
The ions of the conductivity type opposite to that of the semiconductor substrate 1 are implanted utilizing the transfer gate electrode 7 as a mask, and the ion diffused layers 8 of the conductivity type opposite to that of the semiconductor substrate 1 serving as a drain and a source are formed by heat treatment.
However, the direction of diffusion of ions implanted into the semiconductor substrate 1 at the time of heat treatment includes not only the direction perpendicular to the surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 but also the direction parallel thereto. Thus, the implanted ions are naturally diffused under the transfer gate electrode 7.
As a result, a channel region under the transfer gate electrode 7 becomes narrow, so that an effective gate length (a channel length represented by L) of a transfer gate is decreased. On the other hand, as integration density of the semiconductor device is increased, the length of the transfer gate is decreased, so that a short channel effect such as the drop in threshold voltage, the drop in breakdown voltage between the source and the drain, and degradation of characteristics of the transfer gate transistor caused by a hot carrier effect becomes a serious problem. In such a background of the semiconductor device which is being made fine, the decrease in the effective gate length in the conventional method for manufacturing the transfer gate enhances the above described short channel effect, which is undesirable.
In order to avoid the above described problem, a method of previously calculating the length of the ion diffused layer 8 expanding below the gate electrode 7 and forming the gate electrode 7 having a length including the calculated length is considered. However, this method presents the following new problem.
As shown in FIG. 4, the gate electrode 7 must be formed not to come into contact with the storage node 5 and the contact hole 9. However, the position where the gate electrode 7 is formed depends on the position where the resist 13 is formed, i.e., the position where the photomask 15 is located, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Thus, in consideration of an error of mask alignment (represented by S) based on the mechanical attachment precision, there is provided margin for the dimension of the position where the gate electrode 7 or the like is formed. Consequently, formation of the gate electrode 7 which is larger than necessary leads to the decrease in this margin. On the other hand, if it is desired to ensure the margin without any decrease, the distance between the central position of the gate electrode 7 and the storage node 5 or the like is increased, which is disadvantageous to a high integration density of the device. | {
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This invention relates generally to air seeders for planting seeds in the ground in an agricultural environment and, more specifically, to a nurse system cooperable with a planter mechanism to feed seed or other particulate material to a planting mechanism for insertion of that material into the ground.
As the size of agricultural implements continues to grow, the versatility of such implements becomes more significant. Large air seeders have become increasingly popular for the planting of seeds, fertilizer and other product without strict regard for the exact placement of the seeds particles. For crop planting operations that require seed singulation, nurse systems are used to feed seed or other particles from larger hoppers into smaller reservoirs located at the singulators. A nurse system enables an air cart typically used for dryland farming, (cereal crops, etc.), to be adapted for use in row crop planting applications, such as, for example, corn and soybean. A nurse inductor system can be used to enable a farmer to singulate on-row, with one central hopper filling location, and to plant more acres before having to stop to fill the central hopper again, resulting in quicker planting and less labor, while maintaining the precision spacing available by on-row singulation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,473, a nurse system is disclosed which works off a specialized cart. The air comes into the seed delivery area coaxial with the seed tube that takes the air and seed to the row units. With this system substantial energy is used to nurse the seed since the air changes direction abruptly. This particular nurse system provides a dedicated fan to feed the 12 rows to be planted from the nurse system. This system requires the adding or removing of shims to obtain adjustment for different seeds, which is difficult and inconvenient to accomplish. U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,102 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,181 teach other nurse embodiments. | {
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Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and equipment for applying crusting agents to particulate materials for transport, and more particularly relates to methods and equipment for treating a load of coal to reduce loss of coal dust during transport thereof. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to implantable prostheses and in particular to a spinal implant strip including a selectively applied bone growth promoting agent.
2. Description of Related Art
Spinal fusion implants have been previously proposed. In some cases, spinal fusion implants are embedded between adjacent vertebrae, partially or fully replacing the tissue disposed between the vertebrae.
One type of spinal fusion implant is the threaded spinal implant (commonly referred to as a spinal cage). This type of prosthesis is disclosed in Michelson (U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,656), the entirety of which is incorporated by reference. The threaded spinal implant is inserted between two adjacent vertebrae and is incorporated into the fusion of the bone along this portion of the spine.
Brantigan (U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,757) discloses plugs, used as spinal fusion implants, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference. The plugs are rectangular with tapered front ends and tool receiving rear ends. Generally, the plugs may be used in a similar manner to the spinal cages of Michelson. As with the spinal cages, the plugs may be inserted between adjacent vertebrae. The plugs may include nubs that behave like teeth, countering any tendency for the plugs to slip between the vertebrae. Generally, the spinal fusion implants disclosed require invasive surgery for implantation. Furthermore, these spinal fusion implants rigidly fix two adjacent bones together and do not allow for any motion. There is a need in the art for a type of spinal fusion implant that may be implanted through a minimally invasive procedure. There is also a need for fusion implants that can potentially accommodate motion. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Nuclear transfer involves insertion of a nucleus or whole nuclear donor cell (karyoplast) into an enucleated oocyte (cytoplast or recipient cell) followed by fusion of the karyoplast and cytoplast to form a single cell nuclear transfer (NT) embryo. Fusion results in the reprogramming of the donor nucleus by the recipient cytoplasm. Upon suitable activation cleavage division and development may be initiated. Accordingly, an activated single cell NT embryo is a viable embryo, capable of cell division to give a multicellular activated embryo, which is competent to develop in culture to a blastocyst stage.
Activated nuclear transfer embryos may be introduced into the uterus of a synchronised recipient animal, for example, after culture to the blastocyst stage, to give cloned animals.
Nuclear transfer or cloning using somatic cells has been successfully performed in a variety of animals such as cattle (Cibelli et al 1998 Science 280:1256) and sheep (Wilmut et al (1997) Nature 385:810).
A number of standard nuclear transfer techniques employed in species such as cattle and sheep involve electrofusion. When employed in porcine cells, utilizing standard fusion media, such a technique often results in concurrent activation of the recipient cytoplast. Such activation is undesirable at such stage of the procedure. For example, activation induces a large decrease in the levels of maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity in oocytes, high levels of which are generally associated with reprogramming the donor nucleus following fusion. Accordingly, premature activation may interfere with the ability of the cytoplast to reprogramme the donor nucleus leading to decreased developmental competence of the embryo. Premature activation may also trigger other cellular events, such as (pro)nucleus formation, before reprogramming of the donor nucleus was complete.
It is considered that avoiding simultaneous fusion and activation of nuclear transfer embryos may have the advantage of providing the nuclear transfer procedure with flexibility in the type of activation treatment that may subsequently be utilised.
The inventors of the present invention have identified that if electrofusion is conducted using media substantially free of calcium the problem of simultaneous fusion and activation of at least porcine derived NT embryos may be overcome.
Further the inventors of the present invention have surprisingly discovered that in certain cases holding or incubating couplets in media substantially free of calcium for a period prior to electrofusion and NT embryos in a media substantially free of calcium for a period following electrofusion may further help overcome the problem of premature activation of at least porcine derived NT embryos. The inventor's have found this to be particularly applicable where in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes are utilised as cytoplasts.
Accordingly, the invention described herein provides an efficient means of producing at least porcine authentic nuclear transfer embryos. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The invention relates to apparatus for determining the color composition of printing light in photographic enlarging apparatus.
Prior forms of such measuring apparatus have a measuring probe which contains at least one photo-electric transducer, and which is introduced into the printing light ray path immediately below the objective of the enlarging apparatus during the measuring operation. The measuring probe is connected by way of an electrical lead to an evaluating apparatus containing a measuring circuit and an indicator unit. One form of measuring apparatus is miniaturised to such an extent that the measuring probe and evaluating apparatus form one unit which can be pivoted into the path of rays immediately below the objective of the enlarging apparatus for the measuring operation.
The introduction of a measuring probe or a measuring apparatus into the path of rays leads to rather complicated manipulation, since the objective which is covered over by the measuring probe during measuring must be free during the printing operation in order that the printing light can reach the projection surface. This disadvantage is particularly noticeable when the filter determination for which the measuring apparatus is used takes place before the printing operation for each individual original, since frequent introduction and removal of the measuring probe is then necessary.
The light which passes through the objective is influenced not only by the original which is situated in the enlarging apparatus during the measuring operation, but generally also by a variable aperture diaphragm. If each color component of the printing light is measured on its own rather than being compared to another color component, care must be taken to insure that the same diaphragm value is set during each measurement. Measurements are normally carried out with the diaphragm fully open, since the maximum measuring light is then available. Measurements are normally also carried out with a fully open diaphragm in the case of measuring apparatuses with which the relationship between individual color components is measured, since it may be that only in this state is there sufficient light available for the photo-electric transducer arranged in the measuring probe. It therefore becomes necessary for the operator of the enlarging apparatus to adjust the objective diaphragm before and after the measuring operation, since printing is not carried out with a fully open diaphragm in most cases.
Enlarging apparatuses are known which allow prints to be made in daylight or with lighting similar to daylight, being provided for this purpose with a lightproof closed screening arrangement between the objective and the projection surface. Apparatuses of this type suffer from the disadvantage that the introduction of a measuring probe below the objective is very complicated, since the screening arrangement must be removed for this purpose and fitted again for the printing operation. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to magnetic resonance imaging apparatuses, and more particularly to bed devices to feed subjects into imaging spaces and table tops of the bed devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
A table top to feed a subject into an imaging space for example of a MRI apparatus is required to be nonmagnetic and nonconductive to prevent observing a magnetic resonance phenomenon in the subject. Therefore, the table top is conventionally composed of a wood material. Recently, to be craft friendly or for weight saving, it has become common for the table top to be composed of glass fiber reinforced plastic (G-FRP) (see Jpn. Pat. App. KOKAI Publication No. 2008-006200).
However, recently it is necessary for an MRI apparatus to scan a wide range with one search for a screening scan etc. Therefore, a range of movement for the bed device has widened. A wider range of the bed device improves a maximum overhang length from the bed device to the table top. Meanwhile, a magnetic gantry that generates static magnetic control that tends to shorten an axis and consequently the length of a projecting part of the table top in the direction of backward of the magnetic gantry (opposite side of the bed device) has had to be lengthened. Therefore, the table top is being required to support a greater load.
From the above facts, sometimes wood and G-FRP do not provide all the properties currently being required from the bed device. In addition, although G-FRP gives a certain level of strength of the bed device by heightening to a filling fraction of a glass fiber in the G-FRP, the more the filling fraction of the glass fiber in G-FRP is increased, the greater a strain in molding the G-FRP and the heavier the G-FRP. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to transflective liquid crystal display devices, more particularly, to an art which is effective in applying the transflective liquid crystal display device to an IPS (In Plane Switching) mode.
(2) Description of the Related Art
A transflective liquid crystal display device which has a transmissive unit and a reflective unit in one sub-pixel is used as a display for portable devices.
The transflective liquid crystal display device employs a vertical electric field system in which electric field is impressed to a liquid crystal interposed between a pair of substrates, in the direction perpendicular to the substrate plane of the pair of substrates, thereby driving the liquid crystal. In this case, in order to match the property of the transmissive unit to the property of the reflective unit, a level difference is prepared between the transmissive unit and the reflective unit, and furthermore a retardation film is prepared between a polarizing plate and the liquid crystal layer.
On the other hand, as one of liquid crystal display devices, an in-plane-switching (IPS)-mode liquid crystal display device is well known. In the IPS-mode liquid crystal display device, a pixel electrode (PIX) and an opposed electrode (CT) are formed on the same substrate, and electric field is impressed between the electrodes to rotate the liquid crystal in the substrate plane, thereby performing light and dark control. Therefore, there is a feature that the lightness and darkness of a display image is not reversed even when the screen is seen from at an oblique angle. In order to efficiently use this feature, composing a transflective liquid crystal display device by employing the IPS-mode liquid crystal display device is proposed, for example, by Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-344837 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-338256.
As a method of composing the transflective liquid crystal display device with the IPS mode, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-344837, a half-wave plate is prepared in a transmissive area and a reflective area, and the transmissive area is driven by a lateral electric field and the reflective area is driven by a vertical electric field. On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-338256, a half-wave plate is prepared only in the reflective area, and the transmissive area and the reflective area are both driven by a lateral electric field. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Emission control apparatus which automatically regulates the fuel-air ratio of an internal combustion engine to the stoichiometric ratio under all conditions of operation is presently known.sup.1. Control is on the basis of an EMF developed by an oxygen concentration cell which provides a sharp voltage change at the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. The cell includes a solid electrolyte having zero open porosity, and capable of conducting oxygen ions between an interior portion of the solid electrolyte which is in contact with ambient air and an exterior portion thereof which is in contact with exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine. An EMF is developed between suitable electrodes, one on the interior of the solid electrolyte and one on the exterior thereof; the magnitude of this EMF is monitored, and the air-fuel ratio is controlled to maintain the magnitude of the monitored EMF at the one which indicates the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. FNT .sup.1 See H. Dueker, K. H. Friese and W. D. Haeker, Paper 750223 presented at S.A.E. Automotive Engineering Congress and Exposition, Detroit, 1975 and cited references, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,960,692 and 3,960,693.
Stabilized.sup.2 zirconia ceramics have been suggested for use as a solid electrolytes in oxygen sensors of the type in question. To be suitable for use as a solid electrolyte, a ceramic must be impervious because, otherwise, diffusion of gaseous oxygen through the ceramic will cause polarization of an associated electrode and, consequently, a reduced EMF. Several sintering aids have been suggested for use in stabilized zirconia ceramics to enable the production of impervious bodies at reasonable firing temperatures. Examples of such sintering aids.sup.3 include alumina, titania, silica, combinations of alumina and titania, combinations of alumina and silica in which alumina is not more than 50 percent of the weight of the sintering aid and a glass containing CaO, MgO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and SiO.sub.2 in certain proportions. FNT .sup.2 A zirconium oxide ceramic, like a hafnium oxide ceramic, if not stabilized, undergoes a destructive tetragonal to monoclinic inversion. Yttrium oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide and rare earth oxides have been suggested as stabilizers for zirconia ceramics. FNT .sup.3 See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,565,645, 3,607,323 and 3,843,400, as well as British Patent No. 1,385,464
It has been found.sup.4 that yttria, calcium oxide and magnesium oxide can be used to transfer hafnium oxide into a cubic crystal structure which is not subject to destructive transformation, and that strong gas-tight tubes can be prepared by a slip casting technique.sup.5 from an aqueous slurry containing HfO.sub.2, CaO, ammonium alginate, formaldehyde and bentonite. FNT .sup.4 See, for example, D. W. Stacy and D. R. Wilder, "The Yttria-Hafnia System", Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Vol. 58, No. b 7-8, pp. 285-288 (1975) and J. D. Schieltz, J. W. Patterson and D. R. Wilder, "Electrolytic Behavior of Yttria-Stabilized Hafnia", J. Electrochem, Soc.: Electrochemical Science, Vol. 118, No. 8, pp. 1257-1261 (1971). FNT .sup.5 U.S. Pat. No. 3,287,143 | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a metal oxide-containing film-forming composition for forming a metal oxide-containing film to be used in a multi-layer resist process used for fine processing in a manufacturing process of semiconductor devices and the like; a metal oxide-containing film-formed substrate; and a patterning process using the composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
With highly integrated LSI's providing highly increased speeds, finer pattern rules are being rapidly promoted. Commensurately with the fineness, the lithography technique has attained formation of fine patterns, by virtue of light sources of shorter wavelengths and resist compositions appropriately selected therefor. The main role thereof was played by positive photoresist compositions to be each used as a monolayer. The monolayer positive photoresist composition is configured to possess, in a resist resin, a frame having an etching resistance against dry etching by chlorine-based or fluorine-based gas plasma, and to possess such a resist mechanism that an exposed portion is made dissolvable, so that the exposed portion is dissolved to thereby form a pattern, and the remaining resist pattern is used as an etching mask to dry etch a processing substrate coated with the resist composition.
However, when a pattern is made finer, i.e., pattern rules are further narrowed while keeping a thickness of a used photoresist film as it is, the photoresist film is deteriorated in resolution performance. Further, when the resist film is to be developed by a developer to form a pattern, a so-called aspect ratio thereof is made excessively large, thereby resultingly causing a pattern collapse. Thus, the fineness has been accompanied by decrease in photoresist film thickness.
Meanwhile, although for processing of a processing substrate, there is typically used a method for processing the processing substrate by dry etching by adopting a patterned photoresist film as an etching mask, practically no dry etching methods exist to exhibit a complete etching selectivity between a photoresist film and a processing substrate, so that the resist film is also damaged during processing of the processing substrate and the resist film is collapsed, thereby failing to accurately transfer a resist pattern onto the processing substrate. Thus, with finer patterns, resist compositions have been required to have higher dry etching resistances.
Further, since shortened wavelengths of exposure have demanded that resins having lower light absorption at exposure wavelengths are used for resist compositions, such resins have been subjected to a transitional history from a novolak resin, through polyhydroxystyrene, and to a resin having an aliphatic polycyclic frame, commensurately with a transitional history from i-beam, through KrF, and to ArF. However, etching speeds under the dry etching condition have been practically made higher, so that recent photoresist compositions having higher resolutions practically tend to be rather lowered in etching resistance.
This obliges a processing substrate to be dry etched by a photoresist film which is inevitably thinner and weaker in etching resistance, thereby making it urgent to ensure a material and a process in this processing state.
As one method to solve such a problem, multi-layer resist process have been used. The methods are configured to: interpose a resist intermediate film having an etching selectivity different from that of a photoresist film, i.e., a resist upper layer film, between the resist upper layer film and a processing substrate; obtain a pattern in the resist upper layer film; thereafter transfer the pattern to the resist intermediate film by dry etching by using the obtained resist upper layer film pattern as a dry etching mask; and further transfer the pattern onto the processing substrate by dry etching by using the obtained pattern of the intermediate film as a dry etching mask.
In a bilayer resist process as one of the multi-layer resist processes, a silicon-containing resin is used as a resist composition of a upper layer film, and a novolak resin is used as an intermediate film (Japanese Patent Laid-Open (kokai) No. H6-95385, for example). The silicon resin exhibits an excellent etching resistance against reactive dry etching by oxygen plasma, but is easily etched and removed by using fluorine-based gas plasma. In turn, the novolak resin is easily etched and removed by reactive dry etching by oxygen gas plasma, but exhibits an excellent etching resistance against dry etching by fluorine-based gas plasma, chlorine-based gas plasma, or the like. Thus, a novolak resin film as a resist intermediate film is formed on a processing substrate, and a resist upper layer film adopting a silicon-containing resin is formed thereon. Next, the silicon-containing resist film is subjected to pattern formation by a post treatment such as irradiation of energy beam, development, and the like, and the formed pattern is used as a dry etching mask in a manner to remove a novolak resin by reactive dry etching based on oxygen plasma at those portions of the novolak resin where the resist pattern material has been developedly removed, to thereby transfer the pattern to the novolak film. Further, the pattern transferred to the novolak film is used as a dry etching mask, thereby enabling pattern transference to the processing substrate by etching based on fluorine-based gas plasma, chlorine-based gas plasma, or the like.
Since such a pattern transference based on dry etching leads to obtainment of a transferred pattern in a relatively excellent profile when an etching resistance of the etching mask is sufficient, problems are scarcely caused such as pattern collapse due to friction or the like by a developer upon development of a resist, thereby allowing for obtainment of a pattern having a relatively large aspect ratio. Thus, even for a fine pattern which has not been directly formed due to pattern collapse upon development or the like due to a problem of aspect ratio when a resist film exemplarily adopting a novolak resin has been made to have a thickness corresponding to that of the aforementioned intermediate film, the above-described bilayer resist process allows for obtainment of such a novolak resin pattern having a sufficient thickness as a dry etching mask of a processing substrate.
The multi-layer resist process further include a three-layer resist process which can be performed by using a typical resist composition used in a monolayered resist process. For example, this method is configured to form: an organic film as a resist lower layer film based on novolak or the like on a processing substrate; a silicon-containing film as a resist intermediate film, thereon; and a typical organic photoresist film as a resist upper layer film, thereon. Since the organic resist upper layer film exhibits an excellent etching selectivity ratio relative to the silicon-containing resist intermediate film for dry etching by fluorine-based gas plasma, the resist pattern is transferred to the silicon-containing resist intermediate film by means of dry etching based on fluorine-based gas plasma. According to this method, patterns of novolak films having sufficient dry etching resistances for processing can be obtained similarly to the bilayer resist process insofar as patterns can be transferred to silicon-containing films, even by adopting: a resist composition which is difficult to be formed with a pattern having a sufficient film thickness for direct processing of a processing substrate; and a resist composition having an insufficient dry etching resistance for processing of a substrate.
Examples of silicon-containing resist intermediate films to be used in the above-described three-layer resist process include silicon-containing inorganic films by CVD, such as SiO2 films (Japanese Patent Laid-Open (kokai) No. H7-183194, for example) and SiON films (Japanese Patent Laid-Open (kokai) No. H7-181688, for example); and films obtained by spin coating, such as SOG (spin-on-glass) films (Japanese Patent Laid-Open (kokai) No. H5-291208, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., Vol. 88, 636-640 (2003), for example), and crosslinkable silsesquioxane films (Japanese translation of PCT international application No. 2005-520354, for example); and polysilane films (Japanese Patent Laid-Open (kokai) No. H11-60735, for example) would also be usable. Although the SiO2 films and SiON films have excellent performances as a dry etching mask upon dry etching of an underlying organic film, a specific equipment is required for film-formation. Contrary, the SOG films, crosslinkable silsesquioxane films, and polysilane films can be formed by only spin coating and heating, and are thus considered to be high in process efficiency.
The applicability of the multi-layer resist process is not restricted to an attempt to enhance a resolution limit of resist film. In a via-first method which is one of substrate processing methods where a processing intermediate substrate has large height differences, an attempt to form a pattern with a single resist film encounters a problem such as inaccurate focusing during resist exposure due to a substantial difference in resist film thickness. In such a case, the height differences are filled by a sacrificial film and flattened thereby, then a resist film is formed thereon and a resist pattern is formed, and this situation inevitably entails usage of the aforementioned multi-layer resist process (Japanese Patent Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2004-349572, for example).
Silicon-containing films having been conventionally used in such a multi-layer resist process have several problems. For example, it is well known that when a resist pattern is intended be formed by photolithography, exposure light is reflected by a substrate and interferes with incident light, to cause a problem of so-called standing waves, and it is required to interposingly provide an antireflective film as an intermediate film so as to obtain a fine pattern which is free of edge roughness of photoresist film. Particularly, reflection control is indispensable, under the most-advanced high NA exposure conditions.
Then, it becomes necessary to interpose an organic antireflective film between a silicon-containing film and a photoresist film to be formed on the silicon-containing film, in a process for forming the silicon-containing film as a resist intermediate film, particularly by CVD in a multi-layer resist process. However, when such an organic antireflective film is to be additionally interposed, it becomes necessary to pattern the organic antireflective film by using the photoresist film as a dry etching mask, such that transference to processing of the silicon-containing film is allowed after dry etching of the organic antireflective film by using the photoresist film as the mask upon dry etching. As such, the overlying photoresist film is subjected to an additional burden of dry etching to an extent the processing of the organic antireflective film. Particularly, most-advanced photoresist films have been made small in thickness, so that such dry etching burden is not negligible. Thus, attention has been directed to a three-layer resist process utilizing a light-absorbing silicon-containing film as a resist intermediate film which is free of occurrence of the aforementioned etching burden.
Known as such a light-absorbing silicon-containing film to be utilized as a resist intermediate film, is a spin coating type of light-absorbing silicon-containing film. Exemplarily disclosed is a technique for causing the film to have an aromatic structure as a light-absorbing structure (Japanese Patent Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2005-15779).
However, since the aromatic ring structure for effective light absorption has a function to lower a dry etching speed in case of dry etching by fluorine-based gas plasma, this is a disadvantageous way to conduct dry etching of a resist intermediate film without burdening a photoresist film. Then, since addition of a large amount of such light-absorbing substitutional groups is undesirable, it is required to restrict the addition amount to a minimum.
Further, the dry etching speed for reactive dry etching by typically used oxygen gas plasma upon processing of a resist lower layer film while using a resist intermediate film as a dry etching mask, is to be preferably low so as to increase an etching selectivity ratio between the resist intermediate film and the resist lower layer film, so that such a resist intermediate film is desired which has a possibly higher silicon content exhibiting a higher reactivity with a fluorine-based etching gas so as to obtain such a dry etching characteristic. As noted above, those films are preferable having higher contents of silicon which is a component having a higher reactivity with a fluorine gas, in view of the requirement from the processing conditions of both the overlying photoresist film and the underlying organic film.
Actual silicon-containing intermediate film-forming compositions of spin coating type contain organic substitutional groups so that a silicon-containing compound is made dissolvable in an organic solvent. There is disclosed a composition for forming a SOG film among known silicon-containing films as resist intermediate films in lithography using KrF excimer laser light in the J. Appl. Polym. Sci., Vol. 88, 636-640 (2003).
However, since no descriptions are found concerning a light-absorbing group for the disclosed composition, it is supposed that a silicon-containing film to be obtained from the composition fails to have an antireflective function.
This fails to prevent reflection upon exposure in lithography using a most-advanced high-NA exposure system, thereby possibly failing to obtain a finer resist pattern profile.
Moreover, since photoresist films have been further decreased in thickness in a most-advanced semiconductor process using the above-described high-NA exposure system, it is predicted that a pattern transference to a silicon-containing intermediate film is made difficult in case of etching the intermediate film by using a photoresist film as an etching mask, when a silicon content of the silicon-containing intermediate film is merely increased while possessing an antireflective function. As such, materials having faster etching speeds are expected.
As described above, resist intermediate films to be used in multi-layer resist process are required to realize: excellent dry etching characteristics relative to resist upper layer films and resist lower layer films; and highly fine resist pattern profile.
Particular concern in a composition for forming a resist intermediate film having a higher silicon content rate, is a storage stability of the composition. Silanol groups present in silicon-containing compounds included in the compositions sometimes condense, so that molecular weights of silicon-containing film-forming compositions are changed.
Typically, when a hydrolyzable silicon compound is affected by water in the presence of an acid catalyst, a hydrolyzable substitutional group(s) is/are subjected to hydrolysis, to form a silanol group(s). The silanol group is further subjected to a condensation reaction with another silanol group or an unreacted hydrolyzable group, to form a siloxane bond. This reaction is successively and repetitively caused, to resultingly form a silicon-containing compound, so-called an oligomer, polymer, or a sol as the case may be. At this time, the condensation reaction is progressed sequentially from the silanol group having the highest reactivity among those silanol groups derived from monomers, oligomers, polymers, and the like produced by hydrolysis reaction in the system, in a manner to consume silanol groups belonging to the monomers, oligomers, polymers, and the like, thereby forming a silicon-containing compound. Moreover, such a condensation reaction occasionally progresses endlessly, to an extent that the silicon-containing compound solution is eventually gelated. In such a condition, film thickness fluctuation, lithography performance fluctuation, and the like are observed. Since fluctuation of lithography performance is particularly delicate, such a fluctuation is inevitably observed as a change of finer pattern profile even when condensation of silanol groups in molecules is not observable as a film thickness increase or a molecular weight change.
It has been conventionally described that such a highly reactivity silanol group can be relatively stabilized when the same is preserved in an acidic state, in a C. J. Brinker and G. W. Scherer, “Sol-Gel Science: The Physics and Chemistry of Sol-Gel Processing”, Academic Press, San Diego, p. 120 (1990) and the like.
Further, there has been disclosed addition of water so as to improve a storage stability, in the J. Appl. Polym. Sci., Vol. 88, 636-640 (2003), Japanese Patent Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2004-157469, Japanese Patent Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2004-191386, and the like.
However, even when such countermeasures are taken for silicon-containing compounds in silicon-containing film-forming compositions produced in the above methods, it is actually impossible to completely stop condensation reactions of silanol groups, so that the silicon-containing compounds slowly change over time, and natures of silicon-containing films to be obtained from the thus changed silicon-containing film-forming compositions are also changed. As such, it has been necessary to preserve them by refrigerating or freezing until just before usage thereof, and to bring them back to a service temperature (typically 23° C.) upon usage in a manner to swiftly use them up.
Meanwhile, in an actual manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, defects are occasionally caused in coated films formed on the substrate, and re-processing is thus to be performed. Conventional SOG films have compositions substantially equivalent to SiO2. Thus, to remove the films, dry delamination or the like based on hydrofluoric acid or fluorine gas has been conducted, but such a removal technique has brought about a serious damage against the substrate.
Against such a problem, there has been sought for a silicon-containing film-forming composition which can be subjected to wet delamination for utilizing a sulfuric acid-hydrogen peroxide-water mixture or ammonia-hydrogen peroxide-water mixture typically used in a conventional semiconductor device production process. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved cooking and heating receptacle for food in which the flow of heat from the resistor or electrical heating conductors to the food is controlled by a thin flexible polymeric heating element or laminate. The thermal charasteristics of the laminate controls the rate of heat transferred from the resistor into the food elminating hot spots along the path of the resistors (normally encountered in conventional heating elements) and thereby retaining the temperature levels of the food below its scorching temperature without the necessity of metallic or liquid heat diffusers, mixing the food during heating, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Considerable prior art has been directed to various means for evenly distributing or transferring heat in cooking vessels from the heat source into the food. Many prior artisans have used metal as the means for diffusing the heat.
For example, U.S. Patent No. 2,603,740 issued July 15, 1952 to E. Del Buttero shows a thick walled heating pan with an integral resistor. The thick metal walls of the pan serve as the means for diffusing heat. However, thick metal walls are not sufficient to evenly distribute the heat. Food in heating pans of this nature needs constant attention such as mixing or stirring to prevent the food from scorching or burning. This is a basic problem with most all prior art devices as there is a lack of proper heat distribution at the interface of the pan and food.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,875,370 issued Apr. 1, 1975 to L. G. Williams, shows a bar or aluminum 11 encased in a resin jacket and disposed below the surface of the cooking dish for the purpose of serving as a heat distributor. A heating element 29 may be embedded in the aluminum distributor.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,010,006 issued Nov. 21, 1961 to F. C. Schwaneke, shows a metallic heating receptacle with a metal heat distributing member 28 interfaced directly with the heating pan or receptacle 10.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,415 issued Mar. 19, 1974 to E. M. Graham, discloses an aluminum diffuser 6 of varying thickness for the purpose of diffusing or distributing heat along the bottom of a thin walled pan. Other teachings such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,969,452 issued Jan. 24, 1961 to T. L. Geller et al use a liquid such as silicone oil which may be placed in a chamber 16 adjacent to or under the cooking receptacle per se. See particularly FIG. 3 of Geller.
Other artisans have directed their attention to embedding heating elements in laminated structures. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,533 issued Aug. 27, 1957 to M. Nathanson discloses a heating element embedded in a polymeric lamina. The heating element can be adapted to devices such as space heaters or heaters for heating solids or liquids. It contains a conducting wire 5 held to mat 2 which in turn is encased in insulating mats 3 and 4.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,938,990 issued May 31, 1960 to H. Levine, shows a calrod type of heating element 6 encased in insulating material which in turn is placed in a metallic sheath 8 brazed to the wall of the cooking receptacle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,591 issued Aug. 3, 1971 to David L. Van Derlip shows an electrical conductor 14 of fiberglass and aluminum particles sandwiched or encased between Teflon insulation layers 12 and 13. See FIG. 4.
Another integral laminated heating element is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 3,909,591 issued Sept. 30, 1975 to John B. Ulam. This patent illustrates an arcuate heating element 40 laminated to the bottom of the heating receptacle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,191,004 issued June 22, 1965 to J. P. Hocker also shows a laminated heating element. In this reference an RTV adhesive is vulcanized to the heating receptacle with the heating element per se laminated between silicone rubber sheets 28 and 30.
Other artisans have used thin polymeric heating elements in connection with cookware but have controlled the distribution of heat by utilizing heating elements with different power intensities. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,869,596 issued Mar. 4, 1975 to John R. Howie wherein the heating element illustrated in FIG. 4 is divided into three general areas each with different power densities to provide for the requisite amount of heat to be transferred to different areas of the cooking vessel and the food therein.
A good deal of prior art has been directed to utilizing thermostats to control the outer parameters of heat to be generated and transferred from the heating receptacle into the food. An exemplary patent is U.S. Pat. No. 2,480,337 issued Aug. 30, 1949 to G. C. Pearce which shows a bimetallic thermostat 52 connected directly to the bottom of the receptacle which contains the food to be heated.
Additionally, thermostats have been used to control the initial generation of heat and once a predetermined level of heat is attained, retain such level by "hold-heating", i.e. by de-energizing a portion of the resistor. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,678,885 issued July 31, 1928 to I. G. Thomas shows a heating device with a series of heating elements 17-21. All of the elements are energized to initially heat the material to predetermined levels and then thermostat 24 is opened to cut out part of the resistors leaving resistors 18 and 19 energized for continuous or "hold-heating" at a lower level.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,645 issued Apr. 3, 1973 to Thomas S. Shevlin, shows a cooking dish similar to that disclosed in the instant invention. However, Shevlin teaches the introduction of heat in pulses so that the heat (ranging from 211 to 223 B.T.U. in 10-20 minutes) introduced into the food is absorbed during intermittent periods when energy is not applied to the heating element. For this reason the surface of the low heat capacity dish supporting the food does not transfer heat to the food at temperature levels that would scorch the food. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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People use pillows to ease their bodies while sleeping or resting. Nevertheless, people are usually accustomed to pillows of various thickness which meet their needs under different circumstances so more than one pillow is in personal use for most people, and as a result, more space is needed for placing and storing them. A pillow whose height is adjustable is thus desirable as all pillows conventionally used are of nonadjustable type. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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When coke is produced in a coke oven, it is progressively removed in batches one after another from a battery of retorts. Each retort yields a large incandescent mass that is pushed from the retort at a temperature of the order of 2000.degree.F. Being a combustible material comprised principally of carbon, it will readily burn if exposed to the air. Consequently, it must be protected from burning and cooled below an ignition temperature.
Generally, this has been done by quenching it with large quantities of water with the resulting steam being removed as saturated steam, quenching taking place of course from the outside toward the center of the mass. Water is a highly effective coolant, both because of its considerable specific heat but, more importantly, because of the large amount of latent heat, or heat of vaporization, which is required to convert water from a liquid to a gaseous state. However, contacting the incandescent coke with quantities of water results in the conversion of water to steam with explosive rapidity, resulting in fragmentation of the coke and the production of an undesirable quantity of fines. Both the steam and the fines give rise to pollution problems of such magnitude that the problem of protecting the surrounding air imposes tremendous expense.
Other processes have been perfected for the continuous cooling of coke wherein successive charges are discharged into the top of shaft type cooling units through which inert gas is circulated from the lower end toward the top of the cooler. This inert gas is removed from the upper end of the shaft at high temperature and circulated through a waste heat boiler to generate steam and partially cool the gases, which, however, may then require further cooling in a heat exchange unit of some type to be effectively cooler than the coke in the lower portion of the column. Thereafter, the cooled gases are recirculated to the shaft cooler.
This process requires that the coke be cooled generally to a temperature of around 400.degree.F, that is below a temperature where the coke will burn upon being discharged from the cooler into the atmosphere. The disadvantage of this method, however, is that the cooler the coke becomes, the lower the temperature of the inert gas must be in order to effectively cool it, and, even then, large volumes of inert gas are required to be circulated, adding both to initial plant cost and to subsequent operation.
Attempts to continuously cool with water involve more expensive and different procedures. It is obvious that an attempt to use steam in place of inert gas in a shaft cooler would result in the generation of water gas or producer gas because superheated steam in contact with incandescent carbon in an enclosure results in the dissocation of H.sub.2 O, resulting then in CO + H.sub.2. Hence, after the specific heat and the latent heat cooling effect of water have been used, the steam, unlike inert gas, cannot be used to remove more heat.
According to the present invention, coke is continuously cooled in a shaft cooler where the temperature differential between an inert gas and the coke results in a rapid removal of heat, but, as the coke reaches a temperature of 600.degree.F to 800.degree.F, it is discharged from the lower end of the shaft. It leaves the lower end of the shaft and moves through a chute to a quenching bin, both enclosed. As the coke moves down the chute to the bin, it is sprayed with water. At this lower temperature a relatively small volume of water at perhaps tap water temperature, or even warmer, requiring considerable heat to raise it to the boiling point and its high latent heat factor, or heat of vaporization, somewhere over 900 B.T.U. per pound, will cool the 600.degree. or 800.degree. coke below its ignition temperature. Moreover, the quenching will be far less violent.
An important incidental advantage is that the inert gas need not be cooled to nearly as low a temperature to be effectively recirculated and the volume of inert gas will be reduced.
With this combination, inert gas is used in the area of cooling the coke where it is most advantageous, i.e., where the temperature differentials are the greatest and convective cooling is the most effective while water is used in the range where its cooling capacity, depending as it does primarily on the transfer of heat energy as latent heat, is greatest and the least amount of water is required.
To assure that the coke will be sufficiently cool to be discharged from the quenching bin to the conveyor on which it is carried to a point of storage, more water may be sprayed on it in the quenching bin, this being preferably so regulated that the coke leaving the bin will even feel damp to the touch.
It is, of course, important that the application of water to the coke be effected after its removal from the bottom of the shaft in order to assure that no steam from the quenching will enter the shaft where, mixed with the inert gas, it would react with the high temperature coke, as above described. | {
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According to a general form of controlling an actuator for driving loads, a controller transmits a driving command to a driver corresponding to the actuator and the driver controls the driving of the actuator according to the command. However, in such an actuator driving form, controllers are disposed in respective actuators, and a control program for the actuator is set in each controller. Thus, the more the number of actuators to be driven, the larger the labor paid to establishment of the control system.
Thus, a technique for establishing a system for controlling the driving of a plurality of actuators has been developed. For example, in a system disclosed in Patent Document 1, intelligent motors (controller-integrated motors) are connected in series, and an uppermost intelligent motor is connected to a control unit that can connect to an external network. The system is configured such that the uppermost intelligent motor serves as a master motor to receive control information on the subject motor and the other motors from the control unit, and the control information can be transmitted to the other motors via series-connected signal lines. This system includes a “unit control mode” in which the control unit directly controls the master motor and indirectly controls the other motors with the aid of the master motor and a “self-control mode” in which the respective motors other than the master motor is operated by the master motor in a state where the control unit is separated from the master motor. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a system and method for analyzing financial risk data. More particularly, the present invention relates to system and method for determining a value at risk of a financial portfolio.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern markets are filled with pitfalls for unwary investment institutions and lenders. A value at risk ("VAR") of a particular financial portfolio is an important consideration for any financial institution engaged in investment and/or lending operations. The VAR of a portfolio indicates the portfolio's market risk. In other words, the VAR is the greatest possible loss that the institution may expect in the portfolio in question with a certain given degree of probability during a certain future period of time. Typically, a financial institution will put aside a certain percentage of the VAR as a contingency amount to cover possible losses in the portfolio in a predetermined upcoming time period. Thus, the accuracy of VAR estimation is of utmost importance since the funds set aside to cover the VAR are not generating any income for the institution. Furthermore, if the estimation of VAR is too low, the institution may expose itself to a highly undesirable situation where it does not have enough funds set aside to cover a portfolio loss.
As a result, two major approaches have been developed to provide an accurate estimation of VAR for a portfolio. For both approaches, a predetermined number of financial data samples are generated using appropriate simulation methods, e.g. Monte Carlo, Historical simulation, etc. The samples are then ordered from largest gain/smallest loss to largest loss or vice versa. First, a certain predetermined probability percentage called confidence level ("CL") is selected by an analyst to define a desired confidence level for VAR estimation. Typically CL is approximately 95% or higher. Then, the set of samples is analyzed to estimate the VAR value. It is assumed that probability CL future losses will not exceed this value with probability CL.
The first approach is called the percentile method. This approach assumes that VAR is equal to the lowest loss of (100-CL) % of highest losses in the set of samples. For example, assuming that CL is set to 95% and there are 100 samples in a set sorted from the smallest loss to the largest loss, and 6 largest losses (in millions) are 65, 65, 95, 95, 97, and 1000. Then, VAR will be $65 million, because there are less than 5% of samples with value of loss that is higher than 65 million. While this approach has the advantage of relative simplicity it is flawed because the VAR value is based on the only one sample value that happened to be on the border of (100-CL) % of samples in the set analyzed. If for example, in the set under consideration only one sample has changed its value and 6 largest losses (in millions) are 65, 88, 95, 95, 97, and 1000, then for the same portfolio, VAR would still be $65 million.
The second approach is similar to the percentile approach except that the losses in the (100-CL) percentile are averaged to obtain the VAR. This approach is also problematic because if even one unusually high loss happened to be among the losses, the value of VAR will be skewed to an undesirably high value because the unusually high loss will affect the average. For example, in the set above, use of this VAR estimation method returns VAR of an unreasonable high value of 256 million.
It would thus be desirable to provide a system and method for accurately determining a VAR for a financial portfolio that is not adversely affected by uneven or skewed distribution of loss samples. It would further be desirable to provide estimation of limits of possible values of VAR so that an analyst or an additional financial data analysis system may estimate the accuracy of VAR value calculated. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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When treating certain medical conditions, it is sometimes desirable to expand a frame or other radially expandable member in an orifice or conduit of a patient's body. For example, expandable tubes called stents are commonly inserted into a natural conduit of a patient's body and expanded inside the conduit to hold the conduit in an open position. Such expandable stents can be used to expand, widen, or otherwise provide structural support to various conduits of the human body, including, for example, arteries, veins, bile ducts, the esophagus, and the colon. In other treatment procedures, prosthetic heart valves that include a frame member are implanted into the body at a treatment site (e.g., a heart valve annulus). These prosthetic heart valves can be positioned in the heart valve annulus by expanding the frame member to roughly the size of the valve annulus.
Such frames or stents can be self-expanding or expanded using an expansion balloon. One conventional method involves positioning a frame on a balloon of a balloon catheter, maneuvering the balloon and frame to the treatment site, and inflating the balloon with a fluid to expand the frame or stent to the desired size. Such an approach, however, can have drawbacks. For example, during the expansion of the balloon the orifice or conduit is usually at least partially, if not completely, occluded, which can cause certain undesirable effects. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods and delivery systems that eliminate or reduce these and other potential drawbacks. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Backpacks are commonly used by students and others who carry even moderately heavy books, papers and other items. Backpacks are also favored by many who transport relatively light loads but prefer to do so in a hands free or relatively unobstructed manner. Backpacks are also favored by individuals who may be required to sit for relatively long periods of time without the benefit of a comfortable chair and at times without even a bench or clean and dry surface to sit on.
In view of the increased popularity of backpacks and the need for creature comfort by a large number of students and others who are frequently forced to sit on uncomfortable wood or metal chairs, there have been a number of attempts to combine the benefits of a backpack with a built-in ground cloth or padded cushion.
For example, a U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,570 of Zirbel discloses a combination backpack and seat device which includes a frame separable into two members. The first member generally supports the backpack of the disclosure and also provides a back rest for a seated user. The second member stores easily within the pouch of the backpack and can be attached to form an L-shaped structure. Once the second member of the frame is connected to the first member, a cushion can be lowered to form a low profile seat which can be used for sitting. The disclosure also provides for comfort and ease in assembly, as well as a lightweight unit which can be easily transported.
A further approach to a combination backpack and seat cushion is disclosed by a U.S. patent of Brougher, U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,481. As described therein, a seat cushion comprises a large pad with a plurality of pocketed flaps attached thereto and foldable on the pad perimeter over the pad for carrying or away from the pad availing the pad as an unobstructed seat cushion. The flap pockets are directed inward toward the pad such that when the pad is in use as a cushion on a hard chair, such as a student's desk, the pockets are directed toward the user for convenient access. The most outside flap shares a zipper with the pad and when closed defines a cavity within in which the other flaps are secured, folded alternately over the pad. The cushion is transported on the user's back in the normal manner of a backpack by two arm loops through which the user may place his arm and shoulders, respectively, thus bringing the pad against the user's back as a cushion.
A more recent approach to a combination backpack and cushion device is disclosed in a U.S. Patent Application Publication of Gillespie, No. 2007/0084891. The Gillespie Publication discloses a combination backpack and seat cushion including cushion operatively connected to a pair of functional backpack sections. The cushion is sandwiched between the backpack sections at a first configuration and further separates the backpack sections into a more linear configuration at a second configuration. The backpack sections include compartments for carrying books or other articles. The invention may be carried as a traditional backpack at the first configuration. At the second configuration, the cushion may be placed on a chair seat and back rest while the connected backpack sections may be strapped out of the way below and behind the chair.
Notwithstanding the above it is presently believed that there is a need and a potential commercial market for a multi-functional backpack with a pleated cushion attached thereto in accordance with the present invention. It is believed that there is a need and a potential market for these improved backpacks and cushion assemblies because they are multi-functional, applicable for chairs of various designs, chase lounges, usefulness on the ground and applicable as an umbrella which is relatively unaffected by wind, rain, sleet and hail. In addition, the backpack and pleated cushion assemblies in accordance with the present invention are rugged, durable, compact and relatively easy to securely attach to a chair or the like and to manufacture at a competitive cost.
Further, it is presently believed that the backpack and pleated cushions in accordance with the present invention are applicable to buses and bus station seating, trains and train station seats, restaurant seating, shopping center seating, school desks and chairs, folding metal chairs, hospital seating, stadium seating, seats on the ground or benches, seating on the floor or seating on the grass, on plastic chairs, cement and the like. The backpack and pleated cushions also protect a user from wet, dirty, cold, hot, hard and uncomfortable surfaces. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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A multitude of various streaming media devices, such as webcams, microphones, broadcast receivers and camcorders are available to the consumer. Streaming media devices are hardware, software, firmware and/or a combination thereof configured to send external multimedia data into a computing device such as a PC. These streaming media devices are referred to herein as “capture” devices. Multimedia includes audio, video, audio/video, and related control service streams, such as broadcast television Vertical Blanking Interval VBI services. Examples of external multimedia can include both “live” (captured by microphone and camera) and “recorded” (previously recorded multimedia data). Sending the external multimedia into the computing device can increase the functionality available to the consumer. For example coupling a capture device to a PC may allow a consumer to display images, edit, store media, and copy media from the capture device, among others.
When consumers couple a capture device or devices with a computer they expect the system to perform as expected. Some standards exist for establishing protocols for specific classes of capture devices. However these protocols fall short of addressing the combined system of a computer and one or more capture devices and interoperability of devices within the system where the computer is simultaneously running multiple applications. Testing the capture devices both for compliance with existing standards and for testing various user scenarios can detect erroneous device behavior, which can then be corrected, such as with an improved device/driver. This testing and feedback for multiple scenarios allows device developers the means to build a device which meets both industry standards (where they exist) and consumer expectations. | {
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British patent specification No. 2,111,478 relates to tumor inhibiting indole derivatives of the formula ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen, a hydroxy group or a C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkanoyloxy group, R.sub.2 is hydrogen, a hydroxy group, a C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkanoyloxy group or a halogen atom, R.sub.3 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, R.sub.4 is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, R.sub.5 is a hydroxy group or a C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkanoyloxy group, R.sub.6 is hydrogen or a halogen atom and R.sub.7 is hydrogen or a halogen atom.
Furthermore, tumor inhibiting ethylene diamine-platinum (II) complexes are known, wherein a CH.sub.2 group of the ethylene diamine is substituted by a benzyl radical, phenylethyl radical, thienylmethyl radical, indolylmethyl radical or imidazolylmethyl radical (German patent specification DE-OS No. 36 05 191) or wherein both CH.sub.2 groups of the ethylene diamine contain a phenyl radical or a substituted phenyl radical (German patent specifications Nos. DE-OS No. 34 05 611; DE-OS No. 36 04 866). | {
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Railroads carry large amounts of aggregate lading such as coal, stone, ores and the like in open top hopper cars having gravity discharge openings in the car body bottom which are closed by openable doors or gates. Such doors were originally opened manually but, to reduce costs and speed lading discharge, various systems were developed to open the doors by mechanical means of different types. These discharge systems usually required that the car be stationary before the doors were opened. While such systems are highly useful for many shippers, they are still undesirably slow for unloading unit trains, such as trains of one hundred coal-loaded hopper cars. The unloading of trains of that magnitude is best effected by discharging the lading by opening the doors of a car in car-by-car sequence as the train continuously moves past the unloading site. The unloading of hopper cars in this manner requires that the door operating mechanism be safe and reliable and respond quickly to suitable signals to which the door operating mechanism responds. To prevent the door operating mechanism from opening accidentally a secondary lock is generally included. Such secondary locks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,710,729 and 4,132,177. Also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,596,608 and 3,596,609 disclose door-actuating mechanisms.
Although the previously available apparatus for operating the hopper doors is useful for the intended purpose, alternative apparatus which operates the doors quickly and reliably and provides easy adjustment so that all doors can be tightly closed is desirable, as well as an improved secondary lock mechanism. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates generally to apparatus for supporting and guiding a flexible line for movement along a path having a substantially straight portion and having a downwardly concave portion located at one end of the straight portion. While the apparatus of the invention can be employed in numerous applications, it is especially adapted for use with a device for sanitizing trash or laundry chutes.
A typical chute sanitizer is disclosed in Boyd U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,560 and is adapted for use with a chute which is housed in the wall of a building. Such a sanitizer includes a spray head suspended from the end of a flexible line or hose which extends outwardly through the chute and the wall adjacent the upper end of the chute. The hose is wound around a power-driven reel and communicates with a source of cleaning solution. When the reel is rotated first in one direction and then the other, the spray head is moved downwardly and upwardly within the chute and sprays the solution against the chute to clean the latter.
Typically, a pulley is mounted within the chute adjacent the upper end thereof and serves to guide and support the hose. The hose usually extends horizontally from the reel, through the wall and into the chute, curves downwardly around the pulley and then depends vertically into the chute. The pulley guides the hose to curve gradually from horizontal to vertical and serves as a low friction support for the hose. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a polymerization catalyst. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a catalyst useful in the polymerization of at least one alpha-olefin.
2. Background of the Prior Art
There is probably no subdivision of catalysis that has been as thoroughly developed as the catalytic polymerization of olefin polymers. Catalysts employed in the polymerization of olefins, especially alpha-olefins, more particularly, ethylene, have been the subject of innumerable patents and technical articles. In recent years, a particularly active sector of this technology has focused upon the catalytic formation of so-called "linear low density polyethylene" (LLDPE).
LLDPE, although employed in similar applications as earlier developed low density polyethylene (LDPE), represents an advance in the art in that the polymerization of LLDPE is far less difficult than is the polymerization of LDPE. That is, whereas LDPE is polymerized under very high pressure, with all the complications attendant therewith, more recently developed LLDPE is polymerized at far lower pressure, simplifying and easing the costs and complications of this reaction. Because LDPE and LLDPE, although chemically distinct, can be utilized in the same applications, this new polymer has rapidly grown in commercial importance.
The development of LLDPE has spurred a parallel development of catalysts useful in its polymerization. Two major goals have been focused upon in evaluating a catalyst useful in the polymerization of LLDPE. The first of these factors is the effect of the catalyst on higher alpha-olefin comonomer incorporation in the LLDPE. As those skilled in the art are aware, LLDPE is a copolymer of ethylene and a higher alpha-olefin, usually a C.sub.4 to C.sub.10 alpha-olefin. A common problem associated with the catalysts of the prior art employed to polymerize LLDPE has been the poor incorporation of the higher alpha-olefin in the final copolymer.
A LLDPE typically incorporates up to about 10 weight percent of a higher alpha-olefin, based on the total weight of the ethylene-higher alpha-olefin copolymer. Although only up to about 10 weight percent of the higher alpha-olefin is included in the copolymer, unfortunately, a much higher concentration of the higher alpha-olefin must be reacted to produce this result. This, of course, results in higher processing expense in that the higher alpha-olefin must be heated and pressurized although it is not polymerized. Thus, an aim of LLDPE catalyst designers continues to be the development of a catalyst which more efficiently incorporates the higher alpha-olefin monomer charged in the polymerization reactor into the copolymer product.
The second major goal by which a catalyst is judged in the polymerization of LLDPE is its hydrogen response. That is, hydrogen is charged into ethylene polymerization reactors to modify the polymer's degree of polymerization. This degree of polymerization is manifested, in the case of an ethylene polymer, by its melt index. If the degree of polymerization is too high, its viscosity is excessive, as defined by a very low melt index. Thus, hydrogen is incorporated in the polymerization reaction to ensure that the degree of polymerization is not excessive. That is, hydrogen is added to guarantee that the LLDPE melt index is sufficiently high. As in the case of higher alpha-olefin incorporation, increasing inclusion of hydrogen increases the cost of polymerization. That is, greater concentrations of unreacted hydrogen result in greater thermodynamic costs of heating and pressurization. Thus, the lesser amounts of hydrogen necessary to produce reasonable melt index LLDPE products result in more attractive polymerization. This result is a function of the polymerization catalyst. Thus, a critical property of a LLDPE catalyst is its so-called "hydrogen response," the ability of the catalyst to efficiently utilize the hydrogen present to modify the degree of polymerization of the LLDPE product.
The development of LLDPE polymerization catalysts has not, in the prior art, reached a point where these desirable properties have been optimized. There are, however, a multiplicity of known catalysts which will be recognized as being similar, in their method of formation, to the catalyst of the present invention.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,670 describes an olefin polymerization catalyst formed by treating a magnesium hydrocarbyl, or a complex or mixture of a magnesium hydrocarbyl compound and an aluminum hydrocarbyl compound, with at least one halogenating agent; reacting this product with a Lewis Base, which may be an ether, an ester, a ketone, an alcohol, a thioether, a thioester, a thioketone, a thiol, a sulfone, a sulfonamide or the like; and then reacting the thus formed reaction product with titanium tetrachloride.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,660 describes a catalyst for the polymerization of olefins which is initially the reaction product of a hydrocarbyl magnesium compound or a bonded mixture of a hydrocarbyl magnesium and a hydrocarbyl aluminum, zinc or boron, and an oxygen-containing and/or nitrogen-containing compound, such as an alcohol or an amine. This initial reaction product is reacted with a halide source, a halide-containing aluminum, silicon, tin, phosphorus, sulfur, germanium, carboxy, hydrogen, hydrocarbyl or Group IV-B metal, Group V-B metal, Group VI-B metal compound or mixtures thereof. This product, in turn, is reacted with a transition metal compound, which may be titanium tetrachloride, and with a reducing agent, a boron, aluminum, zinc or magnesium organic compound, to form the catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,992 describes an olefin polymerization catalyst formed by the reaction of an aliphatic alcohol with a mixture of an dialkylmagnesium compound and a silicon tetrahalide. This product is then treated with an organic titanium compound, such as titanium tetrachloride, and, finally, with a suitable reducing agent, such as diethylaluminum chloride.
Although the above discussed prior art disclosures advance the art involving the catalytic polymerization of alpha-olefins, none of them, nor any other of innumerable other prior art references, are particularly useful in the polymerization of LLDPE. That is, no polymerization catalyst has been identified which both polymerizes ethylene and is characterized by excellent hydrogen response as well as higher alpha-olefin copolymer incorporation capability. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the formation of device grade quantum well structures. More particularly this invention relates to dopant segregation barrier layers in quantum well structures.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Recently there has been much interest generated in the study of III-V materials for future high-speed and lower power computation applications. III-V materials in general have 50-100 times higher electron mobility than Si, and III-V quantum well field effect transistors (QWFETs) pose attractive merits over scaled Si MOSFETs. Researchers have already begun investigating the performance advantages of QWFETs fabricated from extreme high mobility materials such as, but not limited to indium antimonide (InSb), gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium gallium arsenide (InxGa1-xAs: x>0.53) and indium arsenide (InAs). InSb in particular shows great promise as an ultra-fast, very low power digital logic technology as it has the highest electron mobility and saturation velocity of any known semiconductor.
Conventional quantum well devices are characterized by employing a narrower band gap quantum well layer sandwiched between two wider band gap barrier layers. The wider band gap barrier layers serve to confine carriers in the quantum well layer, and to reduce junction leakage and transistor off-state leakage current IOFF reduction. Electrons and holes are free to move in the direction perpendicular to the crystal growth direction, but not in the direction of crystal growth, hence, are 2-dimensionally “confined” and display characteristics distinctly different than in the “open” 3-dimensional crystal.
While III-V materials generally have higher carrier mobility than Si, one disadvantage is that III-V materials generally have a lower charge carrier density than Si. Accordingly, conventional quantum well devices often include modulation doping or delta doping in a region near the quantum well channel layer such that the modulation or delta doping contributes carriers to the quantum well channel layer. However, segregation and desorption of dopants during formation of the barrier layers leads to broadening of the doping profile, thereby deteriorating the characteristics of the device. Thus, what is needed is a structure and a method for reducing segregation and desorption of dopants.
Another disadvantage with the growth of III-V materials on silicon are the crystal defects generated by lattice mismatch, polar-on-nonpolar mismatch and thermal mismatch between a III-V epitaxial layer and the substrate. When the lattice mismatch between the epitaxial layer and substrate exceeds a few percent, the strain induced by the mismatch becomes too large and defects are generated in the epitaxial layer when the epitaxial film relaxes the strain. Once the film thickness is greater than the critical thickness (film is strained below this thickness and relaxed above this thickness), the strain is relaxed by creating misfit dislocations at the film and substrate interface as well as in the epitaxial film. The epitaxial crystal defects are typically in the form of threading dislocations, stacking faults and twins (periodicity breaks where one portion of the lattice is a mirror image of another). Many defects, particularly threading dislocations and twins, tend to propagate into the quantum well structure where the semiconductor device is fabricated.
Generally, the severity of defect generation correlates to the amount of lattice mismatch between the III-V semiconductor and the substrate. For these reasons, the large lattice mismatch (approximately 19.2% between the exemplary indium antimonide (InSb) and silicon (Si) combination) typically results in an epitaxial InSb device layer having a high defect density, on the order of 1×109 cm−2 to 1×1010 cm−2. The high defect density reduces the carrier mobility theoretically possible in bulk InSb, eliminating many of the technical advantages of “InSb-on-silicon” integration for high-speed and low-power logic applications. For example the electron mobility in bulk InSb films is estimated to be approximately 76,000 cm2/Vs. However, to date, the best reported electron mobility of an InSb film formed over a silicon substrate is significantly lower, approximately 40,000-50,000 cm2/Vs.
Various buffer layers have been used in attempts to relieve the strain induced by the lattice mismatch between a substrate and the III-V device layer and thereby reduce the detrimental defect density of the device layer. For example as shown in apparatus 100 of FIG. 1A, a material forms a buffer layer 170 between a silicon substrate 110 and a III-V device layer 180. A semiconductor device 190 is then fabricated in or upon device layer 180. Various materials have been utilized as the buffer layer 170. For example, both aluminum antimonide (AlSb) and strontium titanate (SrTiO3) have been suggested as a buffer layer 170 between a silicon substrate 110 and a III-V device layer 180. In practice however, as depicted in FIG. 1B, these buffer layers are unable to prevent twins 171, threading dislocations 173 and stacking faults 175 from propagating into the III-V device layer 180 as Sins 181, threading dislocations 183, and stacking faults 185. Thus, there also remains a need for a buffer layer architecture that enables lower defect density III-V semiconductor device layers formed upon silicon substrates. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Interferon-alphas are members of the diverse helical-bundle superfamily of cytokine genes (Sprang, S. R. et al. (1993) Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 3:815-827). The human interferon-alphas are encoded by a family of over 20 tandemly duplicated nonallelic genes and psuedogenes that share 85-98% sequence identity at the amino acid level (Henco, K. et al. (1985) J. Mol. Biol. 185:227-260). Genes which express active interferon-alpha proteins have been grouped into 13 families according to genetic loci. Known expressed human interferon-alpha proteins and their allelic variations are tabulated in Allen G. and Diaz M. O. (1996) J. Interferon and Cytokine Res. 16:181-184.
Interferon-alphas have been shown to inhibit various types of cellular proliferation, and are especially useful for the treatment of a variety of cellular proliferation disorders frequently associated with cancer, particularly hematologic malignancies such as leukemias. These proteins have shown antiproliferative activity against multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, low-grade lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, chronic myelogenous leukemia, renal-cell carcinoma, urinary bladder tumors and ovarian cancers (Bonnem, E. M. et al. (1984) J. Biol. Response Modifiers 3:580; Oldham, R. K. (1985) Hospital Practice 20:71).
Interferon-alphas are also useful against various types of viral infections (Finter, N. B. et al. (1991) Drugs 42(5):749). Interferon-alphas have activity against human papillomavirus infection, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C infections (Finter, N. B. et al., 1991, supra; Kashima, H. et al. (1988) Laryngoscope 98:334; Dusheiko, G. M. et al. (1986) J. Hematology 3 (Supple. 2):S199; Davis, G L et al. (1989) N. England J. Med. 321:1501). The role of interferons and interferon receptors in the pathogenesis of certain autoimmune and inflammatory diseases has also been investigated (Benoit, P. et al. (1993) J. Immunol. 150(3):707).
Although these proteins possess therapeutic value in the treatment of a number of diseases, they have not been optimized for use as pharmaceuticals. For example, dose-limiting toxicity, receptor cross-reactivity, and short serum half-lives significantly reduce the clinical utility of many of these cytokines (Dusheiko, G. (1997) Hepatology 26:112S-121S; Vial, T. and Descotes, J. (1994) Drug Experience 10:115-150; Funke, I. et al. (1994) Ann. Hematol. 68:49-52; Schomburg, A. et al. (1993) J. Cancer Res. Clin. Oncol. 119:745-755). Diverse and severe side effect profiles which accompany interferon administration include flu-like symptoms, fatigue, hallucination, fever, hepatic enzyme elevation, and leukopenia (Pontzer, C. H. et al. (1991) Cancer Res. 51:5304; Oldham, 1985, supra).
Hepatitis-C virus (HCV) is a nonhost integrated RNA virus with a very high rate of replication and is therefore associated with a large degree of genetic diversity. At least six genotypes and more than thirty subtypes of HCV RNA have been identified. HCV genotype has been shown to be a predictor of response to IFN-alpha therapy. Patients infected with HCV genotypes 2 and 3 have been found to generally respond well to interferon therapy. Patients infected with genotypes 4, 5 and 6 tend to respond less well. Patients infected with HCV genotype 1 tend to respond very poorly to interferon therapy, with about 50% of Genotype 1 patients classified as “nonresponders” towards IFN-alpha therapy. Genotype 1 is currently the most prevalent form of Hepatitis C, infecting approximately 70% of patients in the US and 50% of patients in Europe. Clearly, there is a pressing need for more effective therapies for HCV infection, particularly of the Genotype 1 variety.
There is genetic and biochemical evidence that Genotype 1 HCV (and other subtypes) actively attenuate the IFN-alpha signaling pathway by inhibiting key IFN responsive proteins such as the dsRNA-activated serine/threonine protein kinase PKR (Katze M. G., et al. (2002) Nat. Rev. Immunol. 2(9):675-687). As a likely consequence of this genetic diversity and active inhibition of the antiviral response, HCV (particularly Genotype 1) has the ability to escape the host's immune surveillance, leading to a high rate of chronic infection. The extensive genetic heterogeneity of HCV has important diagnostic and clinical implications, potentially accounting for variations in clinical course, difficulties in vaccine development, and lack of response to therapy.
The present invention addresses the need for interferon-alpha molecules which exhibit enhanced antiviral and/or immunomodulatory efficacy. The invention provides novel interferon-alpha polypeptides and polypeptide conjugates, nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides, and methods of using such molecules. Such molecules would be of beneficial use in a variety of applications, including, e.g., therapeutic and prophylactic treatments, particularly for viral infections and diseases and conditions associated with viral infections. The present invention fulfills these and other needs. | {
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Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) occurs extensively in a number of subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs under anaerobic conditions. The presence of hydrogen sulfide is highly corrosive to casing, tubing, and other metallic and polymeric tools, an effect that is considerably accelerated by low pH and the presence of carbon dioxide. This has a significant impact on the overall hydrocarbon recovery processes, during which materials selection and corrosion control are of great importance. Additionally, H2S is hazardous to humans even at minute concentration levels (for example, about 100 ppm).
The H2S content of reservoir fluids can be determined from samples collected by fluid sampling tools such as wireline fluid sampling tools or other sampling tools. Fluid samples are usually collected in metal containers, which are able to maintain the pressures at which the samples were collected. However, a problem associated with sampling fluids containing hydrogen sulfide is partial loss of the gas by reaction of the metal components, particularly those made from iron-based metals. The hydrogen sulfide gas readily forms non-volatile and insoluble metal sulfides by reaction with many metals and metal oxides, and analysis of the fluid samples can therefore give an underestimate of the true sulfide content.
Moreover, determining H2S concentration in downhole has also been difficult especially at low concentrations due to H2S scavenging occurring during the time when the samples are taken and brought for analysis. Thus, it is critically important for oil companies to assess the sulfur content of the reservoir fluid before they make a large investment to the field development. However, detecting sulfur in the early stage of the exploration is not easy or straightforward. It is noted, H2S is almost always underestimated due to scavenging by a formation sampling tool and sampling bottle, as noted above. Detecting sulfur content in heavy crude compounds is done by elemental analysis in a laboratory. While scavenging is not generally an issue for sulfurs in heavy compounds, the long lead-time, at least a month, more often much longer, is not suited for quick decision making. Therefore, in-situ, real time gas detection, particularly hydrogen sulfide is important for downhole fluid analysis
As a result, the in situ detection and measurement of hydrogen sulfide is widely regarded as a critical parameter needed for well completion and production strategies. Due to the high chemical reactivity of sulfide species, various detection strategies including spectroscopy, electrochemistry, chromatography and combinations thereof have been proposed. For example, see Wardencki, W. J. “Problems with the determination of environmental sulphur compounds by gas chromatography” Journal of Chromatography A, Vol 793, 1 (1998). U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,717B2 describes feasible electrochemical and optical methodologies and embodiments aimed at downhole detection of hydrogen sulfide. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resist composition and a method for producing a resist pattern.
2. Background Information
A resist composition which contains a resin including a polymer having a structural unit (u-A) and a structural unit (u-B), and a polymer having a structural unit (u-B), a structural unit (u-C) and a structural unit (u-D), and an acid generator, is described in Patent document of JP-2010-197413A.
However, with the conventional resist composition, the exposure margin (EL) at producing a resist pattern may be not always satisfied with. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for examining biological material. In particular, the invention relates to the calibration of optical readers or scanners for detecting emissions from biological probe arrays having small features that may be arranged in high densities on the arrays.
2. Related Art
Synthesized nucleic acid probe arrays, such as Affymetrix® GeneChip® probe arrays, and spotted probe arrays, have been used to generate unprecedented amounts of information about biological systems. For example, the GeneChip® Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 probe array available from Affymetrix, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., is comprised of a single microarray containing over 1,000,000 unique oligonucleotide features covering more than 47,000 transcripts that represent more than 33,000 human genes. Analysis of expression data from such microarrays may lead to the development of new drugs and new diagnostic tools. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a plastic (synthetic) component of the type having a metal layer applied to the surface for electrical contacting of electrical elements by a thermal attachment method, particularly a soldering method, having a layer of a duroplastic synthetic, a highly heat-resistant thermoplastic synthetic, on which the metal layer is applied, applied on the component carrier that is also made of a thermoplastic synthetic, at least in the region of the contacting point or points.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In different applications it is sometimes necessary to attach one or more further electrical elements on a plastic component provided with a metal layer applied on its surface and, via the metal layer, to contact further elements therewith. This electrical contacting normally ensues in a soldering method, meaning that the components to be connected with the metal layer are thermally soldered either manually or automatically. An application example for this is a housing component of a sheath wave barrier for a magnetic resonance system, the housing component being formed of plastic with diverse elements arranged therein. These diverse elements are contacted with the surface metallization located on an external housing component side and are contacted via this metallization with the elements to be soldered on the surface.
Upon soldering, temporary temperatures around approximately 300° act on the surface metallization and also on the plastic component itself. This high temperature load, although brief, normally leads to the polymer substance being damaged. Thermoplastic polymers that soften due to the temperature stress in the limit temperature range are typically used to form such plastic components. This local softening generally leads to an impairment of the bonding of the surface metallization, up to the detachment thereof. This inevitably leads to the situation that the electrical contact of the soldered element also either fails to be accomplished at all, or is accomplished in a sub-standard manner.
In order to prevent a detachment and achieve a good adhesion of the surface metallization with the plastic material, in such cases highly heat-resistant plastics are used, but such plastics require a relatively large effort to produce. Moreover, such special plastics have high material costs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,126 discloses a structural component having an economical thermoplastic material as the carrier. A highly heat-resistant thermoplastic material on which metallic layers can be soldered is wholly or partially molded on the carrier. Printed circuit boards are primarily described.
An elastic composite material is disclosed in DE 695 10 786 T2. This has a continuous carrier layer and at least one protective layer applied on the carrier layer, whereby at least one of the protective layers is formed by a thermo-resistant resin which is applied in flakes on the surface of the carrier. The composite material should be thermally and elastically insulating and also moisture-sealed, and it can serve as a printed circuit board. | {
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A large number of liquid crystal devices have been used as a screen display device for a computer device, and are expected to also be used more in the future for TVs. However, currently widely-available liquid crystal display devices are those in TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, having a narrow viewing angle and an insufficient response rate. This causes problems, such as reduction in contrast due to parallax and blurs in moving pictures, posing a large problem about the display capability in TN mode for TVs.
In recent years, studies have been directed to the OCB mode instead of the TN mode. The OCB mode is a scheme with a wide viewing angle and a high-speed response compared with the TN mode. Therefore, the OCB mode is a display mode more suitable for nature motion picture display.
Hereinafter described are a liquid crystal display device and a method of driving the same that adopt the OCB mode.
FIG. 1 illustrates the construction of a conventional liquid crystal display device. In FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device includes gate lines GL1 through GLn, source lines SL1 through SLm, a plurality of thin-film transistors (hereinafter referred to as TFTs) 103 as switching devices, etc. FIG. 2 illustrates a picture element section thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a drain electrode of the TFT 103 is connected to a picture-element electrode in a picture element 104. The picture element 104 is structured by the picture-element electrode, a common electrode 201, a liquid crystal 202 held between both of these electrodes, and a storage capacitor 203 formed between the picture-element electrode and the common electrode 201. The common electrode 201 is driven by a voltage supplied by a common driving section 105 illustrated in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 1, the gate driver 101 applies a voltage to the gate lines GL1 through GLn for turning the TFTs 103 ON or OFF. In synchronization with data supply to the source lines SL1 through SLm, the gate driver 101 sequentially applies an ON potential to the gate lines GL1 through GLn.
The source driver 102 applies a voltage to the source lines SL1 through SLm to supply the voltage to the respective picture elements 104. A difference between the voltage supplied to the common electrode 201 and the voltage supplied to each of the source lines SL1 through SLm to be applied to the picture element 104 is a voltage between both ends of the liquid crystal 202 in the picture element 104. This voltage determines the transmittance of the picture element 104.
The above driving scheme is applied not only to OCB cells, but also to a case where TN-type cells are used. When the OCB cells are used, however, an activation step of starting video display requires unique driving, which is not required when the TN-type cells are used.
An OCB cell has a bend configuration enabling image display or a spray configuration disabling imaged display. To cause transition from the spray configuration to the bend configuration (hereinafter referred to as transition), the unique driving is required, such as applying a high voltage for a predetermined time. Note that the driving associated with transition is not directly related to the present invention, and therefore is not further described herein.
This OCB cell has a problem that, even once transition is made to the bend configuration by the above unique driving, if a voltage over a predetermined level has not been applied for over a predetermined time, the bend configuration cannot be maintained and is back to the spray configuration. This phenomenon is hereinafter called “back transition”.
To suppress the occurrence of back transition, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-109921 and Japanese Liquid Crystal Society Journal, Apr. 25, 1999 (Vol. 3, No. 2) P. 99 (17) through P. 106 (24), it is known that a high voltage is regularly applied to the OCB cells. Hereinafter, driving for periodically applying a high potential in order to suppress back transition is called “anti-back transition driving”.
FIG. 3 illustrates potential-transmittance curves observed in general OCB.
A curve 301 is a potential-transmittance curve at normal driving, not at anti-back transition driving, and a curve 302 is a potential-transmittance curve at anti-back transition driving. A potential 303 indicates a critical potential Vth at which back transition occurs at normal driving. A potential 304 is a potential when the transmittance is at the highest (white potential), and a potential 305 is a potential when the transmittance is at the lowest (black potential).
At normal driving (that is, when no prevention of back transmission is carried out), the configuration of the OCB cell is back to the spray configuration when the potential becomes Vth or lower, and therefore an appropriate transmittance cannot be obtained. Thus, driving is always made with a potential not lower than Vth. In such case, however, as illustrated in FIG. 3, sufficient luminance cannot be obtained. For this reason, the OCB requires anti-back transition driving to be carried out.
As is well known, liquid crystals typified by OCB and TN require so-called alternating driving to be carried out. However, the above-described Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-109921 and Japanese Liquid Crystal Society Journal do not disclose any specific construction of a liquid crystal display device in OCB mode. Therefore, both of the documents do not help specify which type of alternate inversion should be carried out. Therefore, hereinafter described is a virtual example of anti-back transition driving when the most general alternating driving (that is, a combination of line-by-line inversion and frame-by-frame inversion) is carried out.
FIG. 4 is an illustration showing the construction of a liquid crystal display device as the virtual example. In FIG. 4, the liquid crystal display device includes a signal converting section 401, a driving pulse generating section 402, a source driver 403, a gate driver 404, and a liquid crystal panel 405. The signal converting section 401 doubles the speed of an input image signal line by line, converting it into a double-speed signal composed of a double-speed image signal and a double-speed non-image signal. The driving pulse generating section 402 generates pulses for driving the respective drivers 403 and 404. To facilitate understanding of the description, assume for convenience sake that the number of source lines of the liquid crystal panel 405 is ten (SL1 through SL10), the number of gate lines is ten (GL1 through GL10), and one frame period is composed of ten horizontal periods.
Described next is an operation of anti-back transition driving to be carried out by this liquid crystal display device. An input image signal is doubled in speed line by line in the signal converting section 401, and is then supplied to the source driver 403.
FIG. 5 illustrates a specific construction of the signal converting section 401. Also, FIG. 6 illustrates timing of a converting operation. The control signal generating section 501 generates various control signals, such as a clock, from a synchronizing signal synchronized with the input image signal. The input image signal is written in a line memory 502 in synchronization with a write clock from a control signal generating section 501. The image signal written in the line memory 502 is read from the line memory 502 in synchronization with a read clock (having a frequency twice as much as that of the write clock) from the control signal generating section 501, and this reading is carried out during a period half of that of writing. While the image signal is being read from the line memory 502, the output signal selecting section 504 selects this image signal as an output and, during the remaining period, selects a non-image signal outputted from the non-image signal generating section 503 as an output. Consequently, as illustrated in FIG. 6, in one horizontal period of the input signal, the double-speed non-image signal and image signal are outputted in time sequence. The non-image signal is a signal for applying a predetermined high potential to the OCB cells with predetermined periodicity.
In FIG. 4, the source driver 403 alternately inverts the output signal (double-speed signal) from the signal converting section 401 for supply to the source lines (SL1 through SL10) of the liquid crystal panel 405. FIG. 7 is an illustration showing timing of a polarity control signal and driver driving pulses when line-by-line inversion and frame-by-frame inversion are combined as described above. The polarity control signal, which is to switch alternating polarity, is a signal obtained by XORing a frame inverting signal (A) and a line inverting signal (B), and is generated by the driving pulse generating section 402 illustrated in FIG. 4.
An input-output characteristic of the source driver 403 is illustrated in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, signal outputs higher with respect to a reference potential are illustrated as having a positive polarity, and those lower with respect thereto as having a negative polarity. Also, in FIG. 7, this polarity is represented as “+” or “−” in each gate-selected period. For example, “+” is indicated on a gate pulse P1 at a location corresponding to a period T0_1 during which the gate pulse P1 is selected. This indicates that a voltage supplied by the source driver 403 during the period T0_1 has a positive polarity. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the source driver 403 supplies a positive voltage when the polarity control signal is HI, and supplies a negative voltage when LOW.
In FIG. 7, gate pulses P1 through P10 are pulses for selecting ten gate lines (GL1 through GL10), respectively, on the liquid crystal panel 405 during their HI periods. The gate pulses P1 through P10 are driven in the following manner in accordance with timing of the double-speed signal inputted to the source driver 403.
During the period T0_1 illustrated in FIG. 7, the gate pulse P1 becomes HI, and a positive image signal S1 is written in picture elements on the gate line GL1. During the following period T0_2, the gate pulse P7 becomes HI, and a negative non-image signal is written in picture elements on the gate line GL7. During a period T0_3, the gate pulse P2 becomes HI, and a negative image signal S2 is written in picture elements on the gate line GL2. During the following period T0_4, the gate pulse P8 becomes HI, and a positive non-image signal is written in picture elements on the gate line GL8. Thereafter, signals are sequentially written in accordance with the polarity of the polarity control signal.
In this way, each of the gate lines (GL1 through GL10) on the liquid crystal panel 405 is selected twice during one frame period. In the picture elements on each gate line, an image signal and a non-image signal are written once.
During a period T1_1 of a second frame coming next, the gate pulse P1 becomes HI, and a negative image signal S′1, which is opposite in polarity of the signal in the first frame, is written in the picture elements on the gate line GL1. During the following period T1_2, the gate pulse P7 becomes HI, and a positive non-image signal, which is opposite in polarity of the signal in the first frame, is written on the gate line GL7. Thereafter, similarly, signals opposite in polarity to those in the first frame are sequentially written.
As such, the image signal is made opposite in polarity to that in the previous frame so as to avoid sticking caused on the liquid crystal panel when signals of the same polarity are retained for a long time.
With the above-described operation, it is possible to write image signals as well as to periodically write non-image signals. By giving voltages of the non-image signals as appropriate, back transition can be prevented.
In FIG. 7, however, when changes in polarity of the signals (image signal and non-image signal) written in each line are noted, as to the first line through the fifth line, after an image signal is written, a non-image signal (B) opposite in polarity to this image signal is always written. Furthermore, after the non-image signal is written, an image signal equal in polarity to the non-image signal is always written. On the other hand, as to the sixth line through the tenth line, after an image signal is written, a non-image signal equal in polarity to the image signal is always written. Furthermore, after the non-image signal is written, an image signal opposite in polarity to the non-image signal is always written. That is, the phase relation is changed between the first line through fifth line and the sixth line through the tenth line.
Such change in the polarity inversion relation at a certain line will affect charging to the liquid crystal and, consequently, become a cause of impairing evenness in image quality. Especially in recent years, liquid crystal panels have become upsized and capable of displaying with higher definition. Accordingly, wiring resistance in a glass substrate becomes increased, and also a time allocated for recharging each picture element tends to be shorter. Therefore, influences caused by the change in the phase relation on recharging the picture elements are not negligible, despite technologies for improving the capability of a picture element transistor, etc. Therefore, in the above virtual example, a difference in luminance is disadvantageously recognized between the fifth line and the sixth line.
Furthermore, compared with normal driving where non-image signals are not inserted, the driving frequency in the above virtual example becomes double. Therefore, the time allocated for writing the image signal to each picture element is shortened by half compared with normal driving. Consequently, writing of data to the picture elements may not sufficiently be carried out.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device and a method of driving the same that can suppress the occurrence of back transition without causing the above problems when OCB cells are used and, as a result, can display a good image. | {
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My invention relates to a procedure for preparation of a new phenylacetic acid derivative or, to be more specific, a zinc compound of 2-(2,6-dichloroaniline)-phenylacetic acid. This new compound is represented by the formula(I) ##STR2##
The compound, 2-(2,6-dichloroaniline phenylacetic acid, is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic properties and is generally administered in the form of its sodium salt, which enables it to be dissolved, since the acid as such is practically insoluble in water.
On the other hand zinc is known as a trace element which can be used both for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers and for protection of the corresponding mucous membranes against aggressive agents and also in rheumatoid arthritis (European Patent No. 88500109.9 and Spanish Patent No. 488,563).
However, there have been no reports to date of derivative compounds which would permit the administration of both zinc and 2-(2,6-dichloroaniline)-phenylacetic acid in a single dose with beneficial results. This would, moreover, avoid the administration of other ions which are either unnecessary for reaching the required therapeutic activity or may have some other kind of undesired activity. | {
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1. Technical Field
The invention described herein relates generally to material testing devices, and, in particular, to a material testing device which provides very high rates of axial and radial loadings simultaneously on a specimen being tested.
2. Background Art
The mechanical properties of a material specimen may vary under various combinations of axial and radial loads in tension, compression, and/or shear, depending on the particular type and combination of loads and the rate at which these loads are applied to the material specimen.
The rate of applied loads is usually dealt with by designers on a relatively simplistic basis. It is known that dynamics of loadings affects the stress in a given item and various techniques exist for approximating corrective factors in stress calculations for these differences. For example, the well known Barth equation .sigma..alpha.=.sigma.1200/(1200+v), where .sigma..alpha. is the design stress of a gear tooth at a pitch velocity v and .sigma. is a safe static stress for that tooth, is based on an English rule published in 1869. Likewise, the equation for the shock factor b, b=(1+(1+h/y).LAMBDA.(0.5)), where h is the height to produce a given velocity of impact and y is the formation produced by a static load of equal magnitude, shows that for an impact, h=0, a factor of 2 is determined to be multiplied to the static load.
These calculations do not include any correction for the response of a given material to dynamic loading. This is partially due to the insensitivity of most material properties to relatively small changes in rates of loading. However, at a very high rate of loading such as that experienced in the field of ballistics a material's response to loading can be quite different from loads of the same magnitude applied at a lower rate or applied for a different duration. Nylon, used in rotating bands for various artillery shells should not work according to the material properties provided by the handbooks, which has data based on static loading. That these bands do work indicates that nylon must behave differently at the high rates of loading in the ballistic application, at least for the duration to which they are subjected to these loads. The properties of nylon have not been documented at these rates of loading.
Also, it is well known that combinations of loads create a so called effective stress which can be quite different from any of the individual applied stresses. Various theories are available to estimate this effective stress for cases with combined loading. Most are conservative which leads to inefficient designing.
Maximum normal stress theory states states that failure occurs when the largest principal stress equals the yield strength, .sigma.=-s.sub.y.
Maximum shear stress is used for ductile material only and states that yielding occurs in shear loading at a magnitude of half the yield stress in tension.
The Von Mises-Hincky theory evolved from observation that when ductile materials were stress hydrostatically their yield strengths were much higher than their yield strengths in simple tension tests. The theory states that the Von-Mises stress .sigma. is related in a quadradic manner to the principal stresses .sigma..sub.1, .sigma..sub.2, .sigma.=(.sigma..sub.1.sup.2 -.sigma..sub.1 .sigma..sub.2 +.sigma..sub.2.sup.2).LAMBDA.(0.5).
The ability to characterize material properties for specific combinations of loads at ballistic rates of loading would greatly enhance the designer's ability to generate effective and efficient designs.
There are many material testing devices known to the art. However, none of the known devices for hydrostatically loading test samples provide rates of loading which are required for dynamic characterization. Also, none of the known high rate axial loading devices provide the biaxial and hydrodynamic information required for a complete material characterization. | {
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Some vehicles, including many Jeep Grand Cherokees from the 2004 to 2011 model years, and Jeep Commanders from the 2006 model year to the present, appear to have a weak area in the interior door handles, and many of the handles in these vehicles have broken over time. Unfortunately, the interior door handles on some of these vehicles are integrated into the door panel and are generally not serviceable by themselves, instead, the entire interior door panel has to be replaced in order to replace the door handle. For example, the interior door handle housing on the aforementioned Jeep vehicles is not attached with screws but is plastic welded into the door panel. On many other types of vehicles, the interior door handles are serviceable by themselves, which makes the repair much less expensive.
The foregoing information reflects the current state of the art of which the present inventor is aware. Reference to, and discussion of, this information is intended to aid in discharging Applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be relevant to the examination of claims to the present invention. However, it is respectfully submitted that none of the above-indicated information discloses, teaches, suggests, shows, or otherwise renders obvious, either singly or when considered in combination, the invention described and claimed herein. | {
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The present invention relates to an oil pump rotor used in an oil pump which intakes and expels a fluid according to changes in the capacity of a plurality of cells which are formed between inner and outer rotors.
Conventional oil pump rotors are provided with an inner rotor on which n (n being a natural number) outer teeth are formed, an outer rotor on which n+1 inner teeth are formed for engaging with the outer teeth, and a casing in which an intake port for taking in fluid and an expulsion port for expelling fluid are formed. In this oil pump, the inner rotor is rotated, causing the outer teeth to engage the inner teeth and thereby rotate the outer rotor. Fluid is then taken in or expelled due to changes in the capacity of the plurality of cells which are formed between the rotors.
Individual cells are partitioned due to contact between the respective outer teeth of the inner rotor and the inner teeth of the outer rotor at the front and rear of the direction of rotation, and by the presence of the casing of the oil pump which exactly covers either side of the inner and outer rotors. Thus, independent fluid carrier chambers are formed as a result. Once the capacity of a cell has fallen to a minimum value during the process of engagement between the outer teeth of the inner rotor and inner teeth of the outer rotor, the cell next proceeds along an intake port where its capacity is expanded, causing fluid to be taken in. After the cell's capacity reaches a maximum value, the cell next proceeds along an expulsion port where its capacity is decreased, causing the fluid to be expelled.
In this type of oil pump rotor, a sliding contact is always present between the casing and each edge surface of the inner and outer rotors, and between the outer periphery of the outer rotor and the casing. Further, a sliding contact is also always present between the outer teeth of the inner rotor and the inner teeth of the outer rotor at the front and rear of each cell. While this is extremely important for maintaining the liquid-tight character of the cells which are carrying the fluid, when the resistance generated by each of the sliding parts becomes large, then this sliding contact may cause a significant increase in mechanical loss in the oil pump. Accordingly, reducing the resistance generated by the various sliding parts in an oil pump has been a problem in this field. | {
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The present invention relates to systems and methods for managing heat generated by electronic equipment, such as a switch, in an electronic equipment enclosure, such as a network cabinet. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for managing heat generated by electronic equipment in an electronic equipment enclosure that separate heated air exiting the electronic equipment from cooled air entering the electronic equipment and that accommodate a variety of electronic equipment and electronic equipment enclosures.
Typically, electronic equipment generates heat. In order to dissipate the heat, cooled air is provided to the electronic equipment. The cooled air enters the electronic equipment and the heat, in the form of heated air, exits the electronic equipment. However, when the electronic equipment is enclosed, for example, in an electronic equipment enclosure, it is possible for the heated air to mix with the cooled air, elevating its temperature, and thereby, reducing its effectiveness, potentially damaging the electronic equipment or increasing the cost of operating it without the risk of damage. Therefore, there is a need for systems and methods for managing heat generated by electronic equipment in an electronic equipment enclosure that separate heated air exiting the electronic equipment from cooled air entering the electronic equipment.
Additionally, a variety of electronic equipment and electronic equipment enclosures are available. Therefore, there is a need for systems and methods for managing heat generated by electronic equipment in an electronic equipment enclosure that accommodate a variety of electronic equipment and electronic equipment enclosures. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel mesomorphic complexes of anionic polyelectrolytes, cationic polyelectrolytes and/or polyampholytes and cationic, anionic, nonionic and/or amphoteric surfactants. The invention further relates to methods for preparing them and to films, sheets, fibers, moldings and coatings therefrom.
2. Discussion of the Background
It is known that polyelectrolyte complexes form spontaneously between polyelectrolytes and oppositely charged surfactants. The formation of complexes between polyelectrolytes and nonionic surfactants has likewise been described. Most of the relevant publications deal with aqueous solutions of these complexes, whereas but little is known about the properties and the structure of such polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes as solids.
EP-A 492 188 (1) describes solid, amorphous complexes of polyelectrolytes and oppositely charged surface-active agents which can be used as sorbents for treating water contaminated with organic compounds. Herein the complexes are obtained as precipitates by means of the polyelectrolyte and the surfactant being mixed in a solvent or by the polyelectrolyte being prepared in a solution of the surfactant via polymerization.
DD-A 270 012 (2) describes the preparation of membranes composed of a polyelectrolyte complex comprising cellulose sulfate and a cationic surfactant The membranes are prepared by a film of cellulose sulfate being precipitated with an aqueous solution of the cationic surfactant to produce an amorphous polyelectrolyte complex. | {
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Airports, aerodromes, and airfields today can be very congested spaces and must often support ground operations of a larger number of aircraft than the facility was originally designed to handle. Directing all of this ground traffic efficiently and safely requires effective communication between an aircraft's cockpit crew, ground control, and ground operations personnel. In most airports, multiple landing aircraft must be safely directed from touch down locations along and across runways and taxiways to a gate or other parking location while multiple departing aircraft are simultaneously pushed back and directed to takeoff locations, often along and across the same runways. The operation of airlines and airports today focuses on achieving maximum efficiency to keep operating costs as low as possible while continuing to provide travelers with a safe and economical mode of travel. It is desired to keep the time an aircraft spends on the ground at an airport between arrival at and departure from the gate to the minimum required to unload arriving passengers and cargo, service the aircraft, and load departing passengers and cargo. Minimizing this turnaround time not only reduces delays in airline flight schedules, but also increases the possibility that an airline can schedule additional flights, providing travelers with more options and improving airline profits. Increased aircraft ground traffic, however, may be accompanied by an increased risk of ground incidents involving aircraft, ground vehicles, and even passengers and ground personnel. Consequently, reducing aircraft turnaround time should not be at the expense of increased ground safety risks.
Establishing and maintaining communications between an aircraft flight crew and ground operations personnel is particularly important in an airport ramp area. The ramp entry or exit area, which is the area adjacent to a taxiway and leading to or from an airport's gates or terminal is, according to some studies, the location of most ground incidents. At this location, taxi lines leading into and out of the gate area converge, and an aircraft is less likely to be in communication with air traffic or other controllers. Flight crew are more likely at this point to be relying on an airline's ramp control procedure or ground personnel input for guidance. The largest percentage of incidents in one study occurred within 20 feet of the nose wheel parking line, within the gate stop area, when the flight crew is typically relying entirely on ground personnel guidance and signals for clearance from obstacles and for final taxi instructions. Ramp congestion caused by increasing numbers of flights, stringent aircraft scheduling requirements, and efforts to squeeze large jets into gates originally designed for much smaller aircraft contributes to traffic jams and reduced maneuvering space in the ramp area. Current requirements for the pushback tugs and tow vehicles needed to move departing aircraft away from gates, as well as requirements for other ground vehicles, add to ramp congestion. Increased ramp congestion may be exacerbated by poor communication and inadequate numbers of ground personnel, leading to the likelihood of increased ramp incidents. Establishing and maintaining effective communication between an aircraft's cockpit crew and ground personnel operating tugs and ground service vehicles is essential if airport ground operations are to be conducted efficiently and safely.
One study found that more incidents occur during aircraft arrival than during departure. One possible explanation for this is that there may be more obstacles for an aircraft to encounter when entering the congested area next to gates and terminal buildings. Another reason may be related to the large number of pushback, power-out, and power-turn procedures that are currently conducted during departure operations while arriving aircraft are entering the ramp area. Communication between an aircraft's flight crew and ground personnel may not have been as clearly established as it should have been. It has been estimated that ramp incidents and injuries cost airlines about US$10 billion each year.
Ramp safety, and airport ground safety generally, can be significantly compromised by the potential hazards associated with the operation of an aircraft's engines to move an aircraft on the ground, especially from jet blast and engine ingestion when aircraft engines are kept in operation, even at idle speeds. The attachment and subsequent detachment of pushback tugs or tow vehicles from departing aircraft can also impact ground safety. Incidents resulting from these potential hazards can be completely avoided, and communication between an aircraft's flight crew and ground operations personnel can be clearest and most effective, only when the aircraft engines are shut down and remain off. Maintaining effective communications between an aircraft's flight crew and ground personnel in a ramp area is critical for safe aircraft ramp operations.
The use of a drive means, such as a motor structure, mounted with a wheel to rotate the wheel an aircraft and move the aircraft on the ground without operation of the aircraft's main engines has been proposed. U.S. Pat. No. 7,445,178 to McCoskey et al, for example, describes electric nose wheel drive motors intended to drive aircraft during taxi. U.S. Pat. No. 7,469,858 to Edelson; U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,609 to Cox; U.S. Pat. No. 7,975,960 to Cox; U.S. Pat. No. 8,109,463 to Cox et al; and British Patent No. 2457144, owned in common with the present invention, describe aircraft drive systems that use electric drive motors to power aircraft wheels and move an aircraft on the ground without reliance on aircraft main engines or external tow vehicles. While eliminating the use of an aircraft's engines to move an aircraft into and out of a ramp area should avoid the aforementioned hazards and improve the safety of ramp operations, the foregoing art does not suggest the additional improvements in safety and efficiency of ground operations that can be achieved by equipping an aircraft with a drive wheel drive system for autonomous ground movement and an effective wireless onboard to ground communication system useful to assist in guiding the aircraft as it moves without engines or tow vehicles.
Communications systems to enable ground personnel to direct the travel of incoming and outgoing aircraft in the ramp area are available. Such systems range from hand signals used by ground personnel, including wing walkers and others, to voice communications transmitted between ground personnel and an aircraft's flight crew. An airport ramp where aircraft use their engines to power movement into and out of the ramp area can be a very noisy environment, and voice communications transmissions can be difficult to hear, even with headphones and other equipment intended to block out background noise. The potential for miscommunication of important information can be significant. While advances in communication technology have produced some improvements, as long as aircraft engines are operating, there will be a high level of noise in the ramp area.
One currently available communication system, supplied by Flightcom Corp. of Portland, Oreg., is a wireless pushback communication system that includes the aircraft's Interphone and is designed to enable and control communication among ground personnel, an aircraft's flight crew, and a pushback tug or tractor operator during the pushback process. A portable communications module is provided for use in the aircraft cockpit to connect wireless, Interphone, and a pushback tug or tractor operator during the pushback process. When the pushback process has been completed, the module is removed from the aircraft. The communication module is not intended to remain on the aircraft and specifically includes alerts that communicate to an aircraft flight crew that the module has been left onboard and should be removed. There is no suggestion, moreover, that this communication system could be part of a substantially permanent onboard to ground operations wireless communication system installed in an aircraft and designed to interface universally with ground communications systems to increase ground travel efficiency in aircraft equipped with drive wheel drive systems for autonomous ground operations, including taxi and pushback.
A need exists for a permanent onboard to ground operations wireless communications system installed in an aircraft that is designed to interface universally with virtually all airport, aerodrome, and airfield ground operations communications systems to establish and maintain effective communication between an aircraft's pilot or flight crew and ground personnel during ground operations. Such a communications system is needed to improve efficiency of taxi, parking near a terminal, and pushback in any airport, aerodrome, or airfield where an aircraft equipped with both an onboard to ground wireless communications system and a pilot-controlled drive wheel drive system for autonomous ground movement lands. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
One embodiment of the present invention belongs to a technical field of display devices, and relates to a driver circuit of a display device and a method for driving a display device, for example. Note that the technical field shown here is an example, and a technical field to which one embodiment of the present invention can be applied is not limited to the above.
2. Description of the Related Art
To meet demand for multiple gray levels, higher definition, and the like of an active-matrix display device, a dedicated IC (a driver IC) is used as a driver circuit of an active-matrix display device, particularly as a source driver for generating a data signal from a video signal. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a driver IC for a liquid crystal display device, and Patent Document 2 discloses a driver IC for an electroluminescent (EL) display device.
A hybrid display device where a liquid crystal element and a light-emitting element are provided in one subpixel has been suggested (e.g., see Patent Documents 3 to 5). | {
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Within a signaling system 7 (SS7) network, the signaling connection control part (SCCP) protocol is used for accessing databases and other entities within the network. The SCCP protocol also provides an advanced addressing capability where a subsystem is represented as an array of digits known as a global title address. By utilizing global title address translation, the SS7 point code (PC) and subsystem number (SSN) of a final destination are not required to be known by the message originator. All the originator is required to know is the called party dialed digits and the address of a node that can perform the global title translation. Global title translation is commonly employed to locate databases that provide 800 number toll free and caller ID services within telecommunications networks. Depending on network topology, global title translation processing is typically performed at a signal transfer point (STP), a signaling gateway (SG), or a service control point (SCP) where one network makes an inter-connection to an adjacent network.
The addressing information used to facilitate message routing at the SCCP level commonly includes a destination point code, a subsystem number, and optionally a global title. If a destination PC and SSN are not specified in the SCCP portion of an SS7 message, global title translation may be used to resolve a global title address contained in the message to a destination point code and subsystem number or optionally another global title address. In an SCCP message, the called party address field contains a routing indicator to instruct network routing entities, such as STPs, to route on either point code and subsystem number or global title address. If the routing indicator identifies the message as requiring routing based on a global title address, the called party address is submitted for global title translation to produce a new destination address, which may be the local node or a different node in the network. In the case of an intermediate GTT, the receiving node may translate the global title address information in the message again.
Currently, there are two forms of GTT, intermediate and final GTT. Intermediate GTT involves performing GTT processing on a message at a first network node, such as an STP, and routing the translated message from the STP with the routing indicator set to route-on-gt for further GTT processing by a second network node. Final GTT involves performing GTT processing on an SCCP message at a first network node, such as an STP, and routing the translated message based upon point code-ssn to the appropriate destination or terminating network node, such as a database application. In both GT translation scenarios, there is a need to better discriminate both intermediate and final GTT based upon who is sending the message. Accordingly, there exists a long-felt need for improved methods and systems for global title translation in telecommunications networks. | {
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1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of configuring and provisioning additional computing resources, and more particularly to an improved conversion from single computer directory service to a distributed directory service.
2. Description of Related Art
X.500 directory model is a distributed collection of independent systems which cooperate to provide a logical data base of information to provide a global Directory Service. Directory information about a particular organization is maintained locally in a Directory System Agent (DSA) or directory server. This information is structured within specified standards. Adherence to these standards makes the distributed model possible. It is possible for one organization to keep information about other organizations, and it is possible for an organization to operate independently from the global model as a stand alone system. DSAs that operate within the global model have the ability to exchange information with other DSAs by means of the X.500 protocol.
DSAs that are interconnected form the Directory Information Tree (DIT). The DIT is a virtual hierarchical data structure. An X.500 pilot using QUIPU software introduced the concept of a “root” DSA which represents the world; below which “countries” are defined. Defined under the countries are “organizations”. The organizations further define “organizational units” and/or “people”.
The lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) is a streamlined version of the x.500 directory service. It eliminates the ISO protocol stack, defining, instead, a protocol based on the IP protocol suite. LDAP also simplifies the data encoding and command set of X.500 and defines a standard API for directory access. LDAP has undergone several revisions and may be revised again. For example, some versions of LDAP incorporate various measures that improve security.
LDAP and the X.500 standard define the information model used in the directory service. All information in the directory is stored in “entries”, each of which belongs to at least one “object class”. As an example, in a White Pages application of X.500, object classes are defined as country, organization, organizational unit and person.
The object classes to which an entry belongs defines the attributes associated with a particular entry. Some attributes are mandatory others are optional. System administrators may define their own attributes and register these with regulating authorities, which will in turn make these attributes available on a large scale.
Every entry has a Relative Distinguished Name (RDN), which uniquely identifies the entry. A RDN is made up of the DIT information and the actual entry.
Deploying a distributed directory has been problematic in the past for a variety of reasons. First, the configuration of each backend server can be complicated, especially as the number of backend servers increases. This often means additional configuration file entries, replication agreements or referral objects which must be added to each backend server by the administrator.
Second, the data must be transferred from one main server or LDAP Data Interchange Format (LDIF) file to each backend server. This is often done through a proxy server or servers after the empty distributed directory servers are configured. Loading data into the empty directory is often very slow, as each entry was loaded through the proxy server one by one. Such loading failed to take advantage of the parallelism offered by the incipient distributed directory. Loading would benefit greatly if some parallel copying and loading could be done.
Thus, although a running distributed directory rapidly responds to client requests, such a distributed directory is cumbersome to migrate to from the typical single server configured directory support. | {
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The invention relates to an extraordinarily efficient method of inactivating lipid-enveloped viruses such as herpes or retroviruses in biological or biotechnologicalxe2x80x94particularly pharmaceuticalxe2x80x94products, as well as in cell cultures by adding a cyclic lipopeptide or a mixture of lipopeptides or salts or esters thereof at specific concentrations. Lipopeptides were found to have a surprisingly high inactivation potential for lipid-enveloped viruses and in addition, they offer the advantage of an exceedingly low in vivo toxicity, so that the step of removing the inactivating agent from pharmaceutical products or cell cultures can be omitted. The invention is also directed to new antiviral lipopeptides which belong to the surfactins.
At the latest, the AIDS epidemic has brought the realization into the mind of the general public that not only HI viruses but rather, a variety of agents pathogenic for humans may be transmitted, for example, via blood transfusions, pharmaceuticals, transplantations, etc.. In general, it is obligatory today that each pharmaceutical agent prepared from biological material or having come in contact with same is rated as potentially contaminated by microbes or viruses, and that infection-related safety is verified. As a result of the development of molecular-biological methods for manufacturing pharmaceutical agents, the risk of infection by various microbial contaminants has increased further. Animal or human cell lines are frequently used in the biotechnological production of pharmaceuticals. In these cells, in particular, virus infections by endogenous viruses, latent virus infections, or contaminations cannot be excluded completely. The infection-related safety of biotechnological pharmaceuticals, e.g., vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, hormones, or recombinant proteins therefore necessitates removal of any infectious, undesirable particles, which, in principle, may be associated with a considerable loss of research time and means, or productivity. Virus safety of blood and blood products can only be guaranteed by testing and selecting the blood donations, in combination with evaluating and prophylactically using efficient and reliable methods of virus inactivation and elimination.
To inactivate and eliminate viruses from pharmaceutical products, various methods are employed alone or in combination. Chromatographic methods, pH shift, extraction, and fractionation using various organic solvents, salt precipitation, heat treatment, and filtration techniques are employed in case of structurally simple and stable products [Rabenau and Doerr (1990), xe2x80x9cDie Infektionssicherheit biotechnologischer Pharmazeutika aus virologischer Sichtxe2x80x9d, p. 58, GIT VERLAG GmbH, Darmstadt]. Where sensitive or complex biological materials are involved, substances having an antiviral effect are frequently used. Inter alia, the following methods are employed:
the combined use of solvents (e.g., extraction with ether) and synthetic detergents (e.g., Triton X-100) [B. Horowitz et al. (1985), Transfusion 25, 516-522];
the use of xcex2-propiolactone in combination with UV light, as well as methylene blue in combination with photoactivation [W. Stephan (1989) pp. 122-127, in J.-J. Morgenthaler (Ed.); Virus Inactivation in Plasma Products; Curr. Stud. Hematol. Blood Transfus. No. 56, Karger, Basel];
pasteurization of liquid material [T. Nowak (1992), Biologicals 20, 83-85];
heating of lyophilized material [D. Piszkiewicz et al. (1989), pp. 44-54, in J.-J. Morgenthaler (Ed.), Virus Inactivation in Plasma Products., Curr. Stud. Hematol. Blood Transfus. No. 56, Karger, Basel];
irradiation with gamma rays (e.g., cobalt-60) [B. Horowitz et al. (1988), Transfusion 25, 523-527].
The literature describes a number of virus inactivation methods for blood products, particularly human blood plasma. Thus, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,505, A. M. Prince discloses an inactivation method for hepatitis B virus wherein the blood products are added with alcohol and either a non-ionic detergent or an ether or a mixture of both as virus-inactivating agent. Polyoxyethylene derivatives or sulfobetains are used as non-ionic detergents.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,023 and in Vox-Sang. 54, 14-20 (1988), S. Karger A G, Basel, B. Horowitz describes the inactivation of lipid-containing viruses in blood products by fatty acids, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,501 by C1-C4 alkyl oleic acid.
In EP 0,050,061 E. Shanbrom discloses a method of reducing undesirable effects such as pyrogenicity, hepatitis infectiousness, and aggregation in biological and pharmaceutical products, particularly blood products as well, using a treatment with non-denaturing amphiphilics such as non-ionic surfactants (e.g., Tween 80).
The inactivation and elimination of viruses from cell cultures is effected using antiviral substances which normally inhibit virus replication.
None of the inactivation methods used up to now can safely inactivate or eliminate all viruses which may occur in biological material. Methods such as pasteurization or heat treatment normally require the use of stabilizers, and in addition, there is the problem of protein denaturation. To date, the use of solvents and synthetic surfactants considered as suitable for inactivating lipid-enveloped viruses could not be assessed as entirely safe due to deviating results in inactivation kinetics or lacking systematic investigations as a result of high toxicity of the substances in cell cultures. Owing to their structure or stability, a variety of biotechnological products cannot be subjected to expensive purification or inactivation using product-damaging or cytotoxic antiviral substances such as solvents.
It was therefore the object of the invention to provide a mild method of inactivating lipid-enveloped viruses in biological or biotechnological products and cell cultures, which method enables to render these products or cell cultures free of viruses in an exceedingly rapid and effective fashion, with no denaturing of products or impairing the cell cultures in their productivity. Also, said method should allow the treatment of heat-labile products and avoid substances having in vivo toxicity.
The object of the invention is accomplished by using cyclic peptides containing xcex2-hydroxyfatty acids and xcex2-aminofatty acids (lipopeptides). These lipopeptides were found to have a surprisingly high inactivation potential for lipid-enveloped viruses, and thus, they are excellent for use in accomplishing the object of the invention. Part of these lipopeptides were found to be substantially more effective compared to synthetic surfactants used in virus inactivation up to now. In addition, they readily undergo biological degradation and have a substantially lower in vivo toxicity than synthetic surfactants. Compared to conventional antiviral substances, the lipopeptides used according to the invention have the advantage of thermal stability and good water-solubility.
From the literature, two [Ile7] and [Leu7] surfactins which belong to the lipopeptides, are known to exhibit moderate anti-HIV-1 activity (H. Itokawa et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull. 42, 604-607 (1994)). In Journal of Antibiotics, Japan XLIII 267-280 (1989), N. Naruse et al. describe pumilacidins as antivirally effective against herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). Neither of these papers indicates the considerable inactivation potential of these substances, allowing extensive inactivation of lipid-enveloped viruses at low concentrations within an exceedingly short time.
Thus, the inactivation method according to the invention is characterized in that the biological or biotechnological products are added with a lipopeptide or a salt or ester thereof, or a mixture of lipopeptides or salts or esters thereof at an overall concentration of 1-100 xcexcM, preferably 1-80 xcexcM, and that the inactivation is performed at room temperature within from 30 min to 2 hours at maximum, with about 99% of the viruses already being inactivated after 30 min. As a result of the exceedingly low in vivo toxicity of the lipopeptides used according to the invention, these inactivating substances may also be allowed to remain in the pharmaceutical products at the above-mentioned concentrations. Following inactivation, the lipopeptides employed may also be removed from the products by reversed phase HPLC on a C18 column, or by adsorption chromatography on a silica gel column.
As the lipopeptides employed according to the invention are thermally stable, the inactivation process may also be performed at elevated temperatures, preferably at 30-60xc2x0 C., depending on the thermal stability of the products to be treated. The inactivation efficiency was found to have a linear temperature dependence. Thus, a temperature increase of about 10xc2x0 C. already results in an increase of the inactivation rate by a factor of about 2.4, so that virus inactivation is possible even within 5-30 min at 30-60xc2x0 C. at and the above-mentioned concentrations. In general, the viruses may also be inactivated at temperatures as low as 0xc2x0 C. Depending on the particular species, however, this may take longer than 2 hours.
According to the invention, the virus inactivation in cell cultures is characterized in that the serum-free culture medium is added with a lipopeptide or a salt or ester thereof, or a mixture of lipopeptides or salts or esters thereof at an overall concentration of 1-65 xcexcM, preferably 1-50 xcexcM. When using a culture medium containing serum up to 5 vol.-%, e.g., FCS, the lipopeptide concentration required for complete inactivation is 10-100 xcexcM, preferably 30-90 xcexcM.
The inactivation process of the invention may be carried out within a broad pH range of 4-9, preferably 5.5-8.
Naturally occurring, chemically synthesized cyclic lipopeptides, as well as those produced and modified by genetic engineering may be used in the inactivation process of the invention.
The cyclic lipopeptides used according to the invention can readily be prepared according to previously described methods well-known to those skilled in the art. The Bacillus subtilis microorganism, among others, forms numerous lipopeptides in vivo which undergo secretion into the surrounding medium at high concentrations, from which they may be isolated.
Predominantly, viruses which can be inactivated by means of the method of the invention are herpes viruses preferably HSV-1, HSV-2, BHV-1, SHV-1, immunodeficiency viruses, preferably HIV-1, HIV-2, SIVagm, the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), and the Semliki-Forest virus (SFV). According to the invention, however, other lipid-enveloped viruses may also be inactivated effectively.
According to the invention, lipoheptapeptides of general formula I,
also referred to as surfactins, the salts, esters or mixtures thereof are preferably used in the inactivation, in which formula I X and Y represent the amino acids Leu, Ile or Val, Z represents the amino acids Val or Ala, and C10-12 represents a linear or branched, saturated alkyl chain. According to the invention, the surfactins of general formula I, with X being Val or Ile, and the esters thereof are new compounds which are also subject of the present invention.
For example, the surfactin mixture produced by the strain Bacillus subtilis ATCC 21332 and the more productive strain Bacillus subtilis OKB 105 was found to be highly suitable in the virus inactivation according to the invention. The surfactin from these Bacillus subtilis strains is a mixture of isoforms, i.e., compounds of general formula I differing in the chain length of the fatty acid, the branching of the fatty acid, and the amino acids X, Y and Z, as illustrated above.
Individual compounds of general formula I, e.g., surfactin isoforms having a fatty acid residue of C14 alkyl or C15 alkyl (i.e., C11 or C12 alkyl in general formula I) which, for example, may be isolated from the surfactin mixture obtained by fermentation of the above-mentioned strains or synthesized by chemical means, likewise exhibit a high inactivation potential. Thus, it has been determined that, e.g., surfactins of general formula I having C15 alkyl as fatty acid residue inactivate vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) even more rapidly compared to the surfactin mixture. Surfactins having C14 alkyl as fatty acid residue were found to be effective compounds in the inactivation of porcine herpes virus (SHV-1).
Pumilacidins of general formula I in the form of individual components or mixtures, such as described in Journal of Antibiotics, Japan XLIII 267-280 (1989), pp. 267-280, for example, as well as the salts or esters thereof may also be used according to the invention.
In one specific embodiment, compounds of general formula I wherein the amino acids Glu and/or Asp are esterified are employed in the process of the invention. The monoesters of the compounds of general formula I, wherein just one of the above-mentioned amino acids is esterified, exhibit quite specific effects. Thus, the C14 alkyl monoester of general formula I, for example, was found to inactivate the porcine herpes virus within 20 minutes at a concentration of 40 xcexcM by a factor of less than 104. The C15 alkyl monoesters of general formula I were also capable of inactivating the Semliki-Forest virus (SFV) within 20 minutes at a concentration of 40 xcexcM by a factor of greater than 104. The inactivation of SFV using C14 or C15 alkyl monoesters is exemplified in Table 1 below:
In the meaning of the invention, biological products represent products isolated from mammals, such as blood products, products isolated from blood, such as vaccines and plasma derivatives. Biotechnological pharmaceutical products are understood to be active substances produced by biotechnological means, such as human proteins (hGH, TNF, t-PA, EPO), or coagulation factors (e.g., factor VIII); however, the invention is not limited to the above-mentioned products from cell cultures.
With reference to the embodiments, the invention will be illustrated in more detail below. | {
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The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Agastache, given the name, ‘TNAGAPO’. Agastache is in the family Lamiaceae. This new variety is one of several selections of new Agastache using hardy and dwarf Agastache species in the breeding lines to provide hardiness and compactness. The new cultivar is a selection from the cross between the proprietary, unpatented seedlings Agastache 227-3, as the seed parent, and Agastache 205-3, as the pollen parent. The new cultivar was selected for its compact habit, hardiness, and orange flowers.
The trademark designation for the claimed plant is ‘Poquito™ Orange’.
Compared to the seed parent, Agastache 227-3 the new cultivar is shorter and hardier with orange flowers rather than yellow.
Compared to the pollen parent, Agastache 205-3, the new cultivar is a more compact habit, with orange flowers rather than red.
Compared to Agastache ‘Kudos Gold’, (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,410) the new cultivar is shorter with orange flowers rather than gold.
This plant exhibits the following characteristics that make it unique: 1. clear orange flowers on numerous inflorescences, 2. hardy and long lived, 3. a long bloom time, 4. a dense, bushy habit, and 5. excellent vigor.
The new variety has been reproduced only by asexual propagation (stem cuttings and micropropagation using apical buds and nodes). Each of the progeny exhibits identical characteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings and micropropagation using apical buds and nodes as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved composition comprising a mixture of toasted soybean flakes and potato flakes, for making a highly soy protein enriched and soy oil containing mashed potato product exhibiting excellent nutritional, taste and texture properties. The toasted soybean flakes are prepared from full fat, enzyme active soybean flakes, which are made from dehulled soybeans. The toasted soybean flakes are made by heating the full fat, enzyme active soybean flakes in hot fluidizing gas at a temperature and for a time sufficient to substantially eliminate beany or other off-flavors, without significant denaturing of the soybean protein. The invention further relates to method for making said highly soy protein enriched mashed potato product from said composition; and to said mashed potato product per se. The toasted soybean flakes used in the present invention permit use of soybeans varieties other than the null varieties, especially triple null, which are expensive and generally believed necessary to avoid undesirable beany flavors associated with untoasted flakes.
2. Background and Description of Related Art
Soybeans have long been a staple of the Asian diet in multiple food forms including tofu and soymilk, among many other soy based and fermented foods. Soybeans are excellent sources of protein. Enzyme active soy protein, i.e., soy protein which has not been denatured, has a desirable amino acid profile for nutritional purposes, and includes other health promoting elements such as phytoestrogens. In recent years, demand for soy foods has grown dramatically in the United States and other western countries, principally in the form of meat analogues, nutrition bars and powdered nutrition beverages prepared from soy protein isolates and concentrates. Chemically fractionated soy ingredients and soymilk are prepared by modernized methods to reduce much of the traditional “beany” flavor favored in the East, but severely objected to in the West. Demand for natural and organic foods has grown at an extraordinary rate. Foods designated “natural” and/or “organic” generally cannot utilize chemically processed materials. The soy ingredients commonly used today are not full fat or oil, having been treated with solvents such as hexane to remove fats or oils. The terms “fat” and “oil” are used interchangeably with respect to soybeans in the prior art and in this application. The defatted concentrates or isolates do not qualify as natural or organic, as has been increasingly popular in today's market. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,495,140 and 6,426,111, for example, illustrate preparation of soy fractionates and/or isolates using solvent extraction.
The soybean flakes useful for making the toasted soybean flakes used in the present invention are made from full fat, enzyme active, dehulled soybeans, such as by the method recited in U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,730. This patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference, and is assigned to MicroSoy Corporation, 300 East MicroSoy Drive, Jefferson, Iowa 50129. Soybean flakes made from full fat, enzyme active, dehulled soybeans, by the method of the '730 patent are called MicroSoy Flakes® and are denoted herein as “MSF” in the COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES and as “MX” in TABLE 1. The soybean flakes used in the present invention qualify as “natural”; and when prepared from soybeans qualifying as organically grown, also qualify as organic foodstuffs.
Full fat, enzyme active (i.e., wherein the proteins are undenatured), dehulled soybeans are excellent sources of elements necessary for good health, and supply outstanding nutritional and nutraceutical benefits. Undenatured soybeans and soybean flakes are excellent sources of protein, iron, vitamin-B, calcium, lecithin and isoflavones. In particular, the lecithin content is from about 2.7 to 3.1 percent. Soybeans also contain essential minerals including phosphorus, which is an essential element used by the body for building bones. Soy isoflavones are now considered helpful in reducing risks for cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Pure soya contains about 38-42% protein, 18-22% fat or oil (of this lecithin is 2.7-3.1%), 25-35% carbohydrate, 1.5-2.5% minerals, 3-5% fiber, and 5-6% water. Full soya flour furnishes about 89 grams of protein per 1000 calories, i.e., about 132 grams of protein and 44 grams oil per 1000 grams. By contrast potatoes contain only about 21 grams of protein per 1,000 calories. In addition, since soybeans do not contain particular glutens, products containing substantial amounts of soybeans offer an alternative for people suffering from celiac disease and/or gluten allergies. Full soya flour contains about three times the grams of protein per 1000 grams as lean beef. A “typical analysis of soy flour and soy grits appears in “The Soybean Digest”, Vol. 19, No. 8, June 1959, pages 8 to 9, as follows:
FullHighLowfat/oilfat/oilfat/oilDefattedProtein, %40.045.048.052.0Fat, %20.015.05.00.5Fiber, %2.52.53.03.0Ash, %5.05.05.56.5Moisture, %8.08.08.08.0MicroSoy® full fat, enzyme active soybean flakes contain 40-48% protein, 19.0% fat/oil, 2.1% fiber, 4.79% ash, 8.08% moisture, and 27.59% carbohydrate.
There exists in the prior art need for soy protein enriched products, while maintaining good taste, texture, and processibility in standard food processing equipment. The present inventors and the prior art faced the problem that unfortunately products containing large amounts of soybeans tend to exhibit undesirable taste and/or texture properties. They also faced the problem that amounts of soybean flakes which could be used in various compositions was limited by beany and other objectionable flavors incurred at higher soybean flake concentrations; thus, requiring at higher concentrations the use of expensive triple null variety soybeans. This was especially true of soybean flakes-potato flakes compositions, such as disclosed in parent patent application Ser. No. 10-382,697, where the amount of soybean flakes was limited to 45%, by the occurrence of beany flavors at higher amounts.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10-382,697 was filed Mar. 6, 2003 in the names of inventors Itaru Tanaka, Safir Moizuddin, and Bruce Liu; and titled COMPOSITION CONTAINING SOYBEAN FLAKES AND POTATO FLAKES, METHOD FOR MAKING A FOOD PRODUCT THEREFROM, AND SAID FOOD PRODUCT; now pending. This patent application is, of course, incorporated herein by reference.
The present inventors faced the problem that null variety soybeans, especially the expensive triple null, were required at higher soybean flakes concentrations to avoid beany flavors. There was clearly a need for soybean flakes which could be made with a wide range of soybean varieties without incurring objectionable beany flavors. Products containing large amounts of soy materials, in addition to beany flavors, also exhibit unpleasant characteristics including beany flavors, chalkiness and/or mouth dryness, grittiness, grassy flavor, bitter flavor, salty flavor, and astringency. Moreover, the present inventors and the prior art faced the problem that soybeans do not contain certain proteins, such as prolamins, gliadin or glutenin, nor sufficient starches, that provide elasticity, cohesiveness and binding during processing.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/793,238, has been filed on even date herewith in the name of inventors Itaru Tanaka and Safir Moizuddin, and is titled TOASTED SOYBEAN FLAKES AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,169,432. This application is hereby incorporated herein by reference; and will be referred to hereinafter as the “copending ‘TOASTED SOYBEAN FLAKES . . . ’ application”.
The present inventors discovered, as disclosed in detail in the copending “TOASTED SOYBEAN FLAKES . . . ” application, a method of preparing toasted soybean flakes which significantly reduces and/or eliminates the beany or off-flavors associated with soy materials, while minimizing denaturing of soy proteins. The inventive toasted flakes are made by heating, in a hot fluidizing gas, fill fat, enzyme active soybean flakes, prepared from dehulled soybeans, to a temperature and for a time sufficient to substantially eliminate objectionable beany and off-flavors, while avoiding denaturing of the soy protein.
The present inventors have discovered that unexpectedly higher amounts of the inventive toasted soybean flakes can be incorporated into soybean flakes-potato flakes compositions useful for making highly soy protein enriched and soy oil containing mashed potato products, while maintaining excellent taste and texture and avoiding objectionable beany flavors. Soybean flakes-potato flake compositions are disclosed in parent U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10-382,697, as limited to a maximum soybean flake content of 45%, without incurring objectionable beany flavors. Use of toasted soybean flakes unexpectedly permits, contrary to the maximum of 45% soybean flakes taught in the '697 application, inclusion of up to 60% toasted soybean flakes, while avoiding beany flavors and retaining excellent flavor and texture. The '697 application teaches that amounts higher than 45%, even with soybean flakes made from triple null soybean varieties, result in undesirable beany flavors and other changes in taste and texture. The inventive toasted soybean flakes permit use of soybeans varieties other than the null varieties, especially triple null, which are expensive and usually thought to be required to avoid undesirable beany flavors associated with use of untoasted flakes.
Moreover, as discussed in the '697 application, the average serving of potato (one medium potato or about 148 grams) contains only 3 grams of protein. There is a need for a mashed potato product having significantly increased protein content, without negatively affecting the consumer acceptance thereof, and to make the health claim of providing a minimum of 6.25 grams of soy protein per serving. Additionally, potato products, such as mashed potatoes containing 100% potatoes, are known in the art to exhibit a bland starchy taste and pasty feel. This is due in part to the fact that potatoes contain large amounts of starch, and little or no fat or oil. Moreover, potato is in the nightshade family and suspect in certain arthritic maladies. Soybean flakes-potato flakes compositions made possible by the present invention contain significantly reduced amounts of potato and higher amounts of soybean flakes than previously thought possible.
The present inventors have discovered that toasting full fat, enzyme active soybean flakes made from mechanically dehulled soybeans permits unexpectedly high amounts of up to about 60% toasted soybean flakes to be incorporated into soybean flakes-potato flakes compositions, with excellent flavor and texture retention. The toasted soybean flakes-potato flakes products made from the present inventive compositions avoid the expected problems of undesirable beany flavors, and other objectionable changes in taste and texture. Use of toasted soybean flakes unexpectedly results in a soy protein enriched and soy oil containing mashed potato products, which are not beany flavored and have excellent nutritional, taste and texture properties.
Prior Art Relating to Soy-potato Mixtures:
Addition of small amounts of soya flour to mashed potatoes was mentioned as early as 1941 (The Soybean Digest, Vol. 2, No. 9, December 1941, pages 2 to 5).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,139 illustrates dehydrated potato solids in the form of flakes, granules and/powder, and containing various additives, binders, fillers, gums, and texturizing agents, in which the potato portion constitutes at least 50% of the mixture. The dehydrated potato solids are disclosed to be formed into slurry or dough, and used subsequently for preparing products suitable for deep frying.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,353 illustrates dehydrated potato flakes prepared from potato slices, slivers and/or nubbins, which flakes are used to prepare more cohesive, non-sticking, machinable dough compositions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,235,333 illustrates a sheetable dough composition useful for making fried snack pieces. The sheetable dough composition is disclosed to comprise about 50% to about 70% of a starch-based material, wherein said starch-based material comprises from about 25% to about 100% dehydrated potato flakes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,235,333 further indicates that the starch-based material may contain other ingredients including potato flour, tapioca flour, peanut flour, wheat flower, oat flour, rice flour, corn flour, soy meal, corn meal, potato starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, oat starch, cassava starch and mixtures thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,622 similarly discloses 30-60% “other starch” such as soy meal. U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,142 illustrates a ready-to-eat snack type wafer made by dry mixing potato flakes and various ingredients including soy protein, blending with water, followed by sheeting or extruding, and then baking or frying.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,550 shows making a fried tofu product by forming a kneaded soy dough, which may contain potato starch, into a desired shape, and deep frying the shaped material in two successive stages.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,479,089 illustrates a cohesive soy based machinable dough comprising soy grits and potato starch as one of the additional ingredients.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,177,116 discloses a dough composition useful for preparing fried chips, which composition is a starched-based material comprising from about 40% to about 90% combined potato flakes and granules, and from about 10% to about 60% of other starch containing ingredients selected from potato flour, tapioca flour, peanut flour, wheat flour, oat flour, rice flour, corn flour, soy meal, corn meal, potato starch, tapioca starch, cornstarch, oat starch, cassava starch, and mixtures thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,009 teaches making chips or crackers using soy flour and potato flour. U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,192 discloses preparation of an edible material containing soybean walls purported to have a good taste and mouthfeel, and useful similarly to soybean jam or mashed potato.
Japanese Patent document #53-133657, dated Nov. 28, 1978, illustrates a method comprising kneading with water a dry potato powder mixture, containing added gluten powder, optionally together with 1% or more soybean protein powder, dry egg white powder, polysaccharide and starch; followed by molding the obtained dough into suitable form, and frying it in suitable oil.
Japanese Patent document 44-11594 (1969) illustrates a method of producing soybean paste powder that can be suitably crushed and treated, characterized by adding 3% to 25% steamed potato or dried mashed potato flake to uncooked soybean paste and drying using a single drum dryer.
Japanese Patent Publication #07-227239, published Aug. 29, 1995, shows imitation potato made by gelling a mixture of potato flakes and vegetable fibers (e.g., the vegetable fibers of soybean flour), to which a gelling agent has been added.
Prior Art Relating To Heat Treating Soy Materials:
Roasting of soy materials to reduce beany or off-flavors has been generally known in the prior art, as illustrated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,936,069 and 3,971,856 (see second paragraph of Description). However, the prior art roasting procedures have generally been carried out, not on full fat, enzyme active soybean flakes made from dehulled soybeans, but on defatted or chemically treated or otherwise prepared soy materials. Furthermore, the roasting processes of the prior art have generally been carried out by heating methods other than used in making the toasted soybean flakes of the present invention, and at temperatures and conditions causing significant denaturing of the soy proteins. Moreover, the toasted soybean flakes used in the present invention differ variously from the prior art in that the starting soybean flakes are not defatted or chemically treated, or steam heated, or made from soybean meal or flour. The reduction of the soybean material in the prior art to meal or flour significantly increases its exposure to oxidation and results in generation of off-flavors and denaturizaton of the soy proteins.
In the present invention, the toasted soybean flakes are prepared from the full fat, enzyme active soybean flakes made from dehulled soybeans. The soybean flakes used to prepare the toasted soybean flakes of the present invention are preferably made by the method shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,730, which patent is incorporated herein by reference. The toasted flakes are prepared by subjecting the full fat, enzyme active soybean flakes quickly to blown fluidizing dry air heat while moving on and/or above a vibrating surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,391,374 is teaches pretoasting defatted soy flakes to reduce the bittery or beany off-flavors of the soybean due to lipid peroxidation catalyzed by lipoxygenase.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,856 illustrates subjecting dehulled, cracked soybeans to water at 180° F. to a maximum of 212° F. to eliminate any toasting of the soybeans.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,513 shows making full fat soybeans flakes from raw soybeans with hulls intact, including the step of drying the flakes in a forced air drier by alternating application of superheated air.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,187 illustrates heating tenderized soybean cotyledons sufficiently, such as in an air drier at 200° F. for five minutes, to deactivate the lipoxygenase enzymes.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,890 illustrates making soy milk including cooking soybeans in a microwave oven for a time sufficient to destroy the trypsin inhibitor and eliminate any unpleasant beany taste, but for a time insufficient to roast the material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,034 illustrates preparing dried flaked textured vegetable protein from defatted or full-fat soybean flour, which has been dried at temperatures which assure partial or substantial deembitterment without scorching. The '034 Patent discusses toasting carried out preferably between 180 and 200° F. for preferably between 1.5 and 2.5 hours, using hot dry air (page 12).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,365 teaches heat treating de-oiled (defatted) soybean flakes to denature the protein therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,038 illustrates subjecting whole or dehulled and split soybeans to live steam or water for a time sufficient to avoid green, painty or raw flavors developing and short enough such that beany or bitter flavors do not develop.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,256 shows making soymilk involving comminuting whole soybeans having the hulls on, forming a slurry and simultaneously heating by an infusion of live steam initiating inactivation of trypsin inhibitor and lipoxygenase without fixing or substantially denaturing the soybean protein.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,216 shows flame roasting cereal grains including soybeans to destroy toxic enzymes in the raw soybeans which interfere with digestion and growth in animals, and to sterilize the grain.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,710 shows roasting deskinned and split soybean halves which have been soaked for swelling and then dewatered. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to a polymeric resin which is the reaction product of the polymerization reaction between dicyclopentadiene and beta-pinene. Use of the polymeric resins of the present invention in a rubber tread stock improves the traction and handling of the tire.
The present invention relates to rubber compositions containing a polymeric dicyclopentadiene/beta-pinene resin. The polymeric resins of the present invention have a softening point ranging from about 100xc2x0 C. to about 170xc2x0 C., and a molecular weight distribution ranging from about 550 to about 55,000.
There is disclosed a rubber stock comprising (1) a rubber selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, rubber derived from a diene monomer or mixtures thereof, and (2) a polymeric resin composition which contains from 35 to 65 percent by weight of polymeric units derived from dicyclopentadiene and from 65 to 35 percent by weight of polymeric units derived from beta-pinene.
In addition, there is disclosed a pneumatic tire having a tread comprised of a rubber stock comprising (1) a rubber selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, rubber derived from a diene monomer or mixtures thereof, and (2) a polymeric resin composition consisting essentially of the reaction product of the polymerization reaction between dicyclopentadiene and beta-pinene; said resin having a softening point ranging from about 50 to about 220xc2x0 C. and a molecular weight ranging from about 500 to about 42,000.
The terms xe2x80x9cpolymeric compoundxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cpolymerxe2x80x9d when used to describe the resins of the present invention are intended to only include those molecules which contain a monomeric unit derived from dicyclopentadiene and/or beta-pinene and where at least one of the monomeric units derived from the dicyclopentadiene or beta-pinene is repeated. Therefore, the compounds formed by the reaction of a single dicyclopentadiene molecule and a single beta-pinene are not polymeric as the term is used herein. The term monomeric unit means a structure that occurs in a polymeric compound and which differs from the structure of dicyclopentadiene or beta-pinene due to changes resulting from molecular reorientation during the linking to the adjacent structure. These changes may include addition to a double bond or the addition or removal of a hydrogen atom from the dicyclopentadiene or beta-pinene.
The resin for use in the present invention contains from 35 to 65 percent by weight of polymeric units derived from dicyclopentadiene and from 65 to 35 percent by weight of polymeric units derived from beta-pinene. Preferably, from 45 to 55 percent by weight of the polymeric units are derived from dicyclopentadiene and from 45 to 55 percent by weight of the polymeric units are derived from beta-pinene.
As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, commercially available hydrocarbon streams are rarely pure, but rather contain many isomers or derivatives. Therefore, it is contemplated herein that from 0 to 20 weight percent of the polymeric resin may be derived from a monomer other than dicyclopentadiene or beta-pinene. Preferably, from 0 to 10 weight percent of the polymeric resin may be derived from a monomer other than dicyclopentadiene or beta-pinene. Representative examples of such monomers include alpha-pinene, methyldicyclopentadiene and the like.
The molar ratio of the dicyclopentadiene to beta-pinene in the polymerization reaction may vary, depending on the desired properties of the final polymeric product. For example, the molar ratio of the dicyclopentadiene to beta-pinene as starting material may range from about 1:2 to about 2:1. The preferred molar ratio of dicyclopentadiene to beta-pinene may range from about 1:1 to 2:1 as starting material. The most preferred ratio ranges from about 1.1:1 to 1:1.1. As to the final product, the molar ratio of polymeric units derived from the dicyclopentadiene to beta-pinene may range from about 1:2 to 2:1 with a range of from about 1.1:1 to 1:1.1 being preferred.
The polymerization reaction between the dicyclopentadiene and the beta-pinene may be a thermal (no catalyst) polymerization, or catalyzed, i.e. , conducted in the presence of an acid catalyst. Examples of acid catalysts that may be used include Bronsted acid and Lewis acid-type catalysts. Such known acid catalysts include H2SO4, HCl, H3PO4; metal halides such as BF3, BCl3, AlCl3, AlBr3, SnCl4, ZnCl2, SbCl3 and their etherates. The choice of a particular catalyst is dependent upon factors including the melting or boiling points of the reactants, desired rate of reaction, solvent, and pressure and temperature limitation of the production equipment, etc. When higher yields are desired, the metal halides or their etherates may be utilized. The preferred acid catalysts are BF3 and AlCl3. The most preferred catalyst is AlCl3.
In the catalyzed polymerization process, the amount of catalyst may range from about 0.1 to about 20weight percent of catalyst based on the total weight of reactants to be polymerized. Preferably, a range of from about 3 to about 5 weight percent of catalyst is preferred. The optimum concentration of catalyst depends on the nature of the solvent, if any, which affects the solubility of the catalyst as well as on the stirring efficiency inside the polymerization reactor. High catalyst concentration reduces the resin molecular weight distribution and, therefore, limits the amount of feed additive required for controlling the resin molecular weight.
The polymerization reaction may be carried out neat (without solvent) at or above the melting points of the reactants, or can be carried out in the presence of a solvent. The solvent may be an aliphatic C6-C12 hydrocarbon, an aromatic or haloaromatic (C6-C9) hydrocarbon, or a C6-C9 aliphatic halohydrocarbon. Examples of suitable solvents include hexane, heptane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, xylene, and chlorobenzene. The preferred solvents are hexane and cyclohexane.
The polymerization reaction may be conducted under a variety of operating conditions. The reaction pressure may vary and range from about one atmosphere to about 100 atmospheres with a pressure of from about two atmospheres to about ten atmospheres being preferred. The reaction temperature may range from about 0 to 100xc2x0 C. with a preferred range being from about 30 to 50xc2x0 C.
Depending on the reactivity of the reactants, amount of catalyst, reaction pressure and reaction temperature, the reaction time may vary. Generally speaking, the reaction time varies from about 1 to about 8 hours.
The molecular weight distribution of the polymeric resin of the present invention may range from about 550 to about 55,000. Preferably, the molecular weight distribution of the polymeric resin ranges from about 550 to about 52,500.
The polymeric resin composition has a softening point ranging from about 100 to about 170xc2x0 C. For the purposes of the present invention, the term xe2x80x9csoftening pointxe2x80x9d is used to describe the temperature range from when wetting occurs in a capillary melting point tube to where the resin is completely liquid. Representative of suitable equipment to determine the relative softening point is a Thomas-Hoover Melting Point apparatus equipped with a silicone oil bath. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the polymeric resin composition has a softening point ranging from about 130 to about 160xc2x0 C.
Rubber stocks containing natural rubber or rubbers derived from a diene monomer may be modified with the resin compositions of the present invention. Examples of rubbers derived from a diene monomer include substituted and unsubstituted, saturated and unsaturated, synthetic polymers. The natural polymers include natural rubber in its various forms, e.g. , pale crepe and smoked sheet, and balata and gutta percha. The synthetic polymers include those prepared from a single monomer (homopolymer) or a mixture of two or more copolymerizable monomers (copolymer) when the monomers are combined in the random distribution or block form. In addition to the diene monomers, other monomers may be used. Of all the monomers that may be used, the monomers may be substituted or unsubstituted and may possess one or more double bonds, for example, diene monomers, both conjugated and nonconjugated, and monoolefins, including cyclic and acyclic monoolefins, especially vinyl and vinylidene monomers. Examples of conjugated dienes are 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, chloroprene, 2-ethyl-1,3-butadiene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene and piperylene. Examples of nonconjugated dienes are 1,4-pentadiene, 1,4-hexadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, dicyclopentadiene, 1,5-cyclooctadiene and ethylidene norbornene. Examples of acyclic monoolefins are ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, isobutylene, 1-pentene and 1-hexene. Examples of cyclic monoolefins are cyclopentene, cyclohexene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene and 4-methyl-cyclooctene. Examples of vinyl monomers are styrene, acrylonitrile, acrylic acid, ethylacrylate, vinyl chloride, butylacrylate, methyl vinyl ether, vinyl acetate and vinyl pyridine. Examples of vinylidene monomers are alpha-methylstyrene, methacrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, itaconic acid, ethyl methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate and vinylidene chloride. Representative examples of the synthetic polymers used in the practice of this invention are polychloroprene, homopolymers of a conjugated 1,3-diene such as isoprene and butadiene, and in particular, polyisoprenes and polybutadienes having essentially all of their repeat units combined in a cis-1,4-structure; and copolymers of a conjugated 1,3-diene such as isoprene and butadiene with up to 50 percent by weight of at least one copolymerizable monomer, including ethylenically unsaturated monomers such as styrene or acrylonitrile; and butyl rubber, which is a polymerization product of a major proportion of a monoolefin and a minor proportion of a diolefin such as butadiene or isoprene.
The rubber compounds which may be modified by the resins of the present invention are preferably cis-1,4-polyisoprene (natural or synthetic), polybutadiene, polychloroprene and the copolymers of isoprene and butadiene, copolymers of acrylonitrile and butadiene, copolymers of acrylonitrile and isoprene, copolymers of styrene, butadiene and isoprene, copolymers of styrene and butadiene and blends thereof.
The amount of polymeric resins that may be used with the diene containing polymers may vary and depend on the polymer to be modified, the particular polymeric resin, the desired degree of modification and the like. Generally speaking, the polymeric resin is used in amounts ranging from about 5 to about 50 parts per hundred (phr) of diene polymer. Preferably, the polymeric resin is used in amounts of from about 5 to about 25 phr, with a range of from about 10 to about 25 phr being particularly preferred.
The polymeric resins may be incorporated in the diene containing polymer by conventional mixing procedures, for example, by adding them in a banbury mixer or by adding them to the rubber on a mill. Preferably, when the polymeric resins have higher molecular weights, it is recommended that they be ground to a fine powder to insure adequate dispersion. Such powders may be treated to suppress dust, for example, by the addition of oil, or they can be mixed with a binder, for example, a polymer latex, to produce granules or pellets containing up to 5 percent by weight of a binder. They can also be formulated as pre-dispersions or masterbatched in a diene rubber stock, which pre-dispersions may contain, for example, from 15 to 50 percent by weight of the polymeric resin.
In one embodiment, the rubber composition in the tread contains a sufficient amount of filler to contribute a reasonably high modulus and high resistance to tear. The filler may be added in amounts ranging from 10 to 250 phr. When the filler is silica, the silica is generally present in an amount ranging from 10 to 80 phr. Preferably, the silica is present in an amount ranging from 15 to 70 phr. When the filler is carbon black, the amount of carbon black will vary from 0 to 150 phr. Preferably, the amount of carbon black will range from 0 to 110 phr.
The commonly employed particulate precipitated silica used in rubber compounding applications can be used as the silica in this invention. These precipitated silicas include, for example, those obtained by the acidification of a soluble silicate; e.g. , sodium silicate.
Such silicas might be characterized, for example, by having a BET surface area, as measured using nitrogen gas, preferably in the range of about 40 to about 600, and more usually in a range of about 50 to about 300 square meters per gram. The BET method of measuring surface area is described in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, Volume 60, page 304 (1930)
The silica may also be typically characterized by having a dibutylphthalate (DBP) absorption value in a range of about 100 to about 400, and more usually about 150 to about 300.
The silica might be expected to have an average ultimate particle size, for example, in the range of 0.01 to 0.05 micron as determined by the electron microscope, although the silica particles may be even smaller, or possibly larger, in size.
Various commercially available silicas may be considered for use in this invention such as, only for example herein, and without limitation, silicas commercially available from PPG Industries under the Hi-Sil trademark with designations 210, 243, etc; silicas available from Rhone-Poulenc, with, for example, designations of Z1165MP and Z1165GR and silicas available from Degussa AG with, for example, designations VN2 and VN3, etc.
The processing of the sulfur vulcanizable rubber may be conducted in the presence of a sulfur containing organosilicon compound. Examples of suitable sulfur containing organosilicon compounds are of the formula:
Z-Alk-Sn-Alk-Zxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(I)
in which Z is selected from the group consisting of
where R1 is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, cyclohexyl or phenyl;
R2 is alkoxy of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or cycloalkoxy of 5 to 8 carbon atoms;
Alk is a divalent hydrocarbon of 1 to 18 carbon atoms and n is an integer of 2 to 8.
Specific examples of sulfur containing organosilicon compounds which may be used in accordance with the present invention include: 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (trimethoxysilylpropyl) disulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (triethoxysilylpropyl) octasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (trimethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, 2,2xe2x80x2-bis (triethoxysilylethyl) tetrasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (trimethoxysilylpropyl) trisulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (triethoxysilylpropyl) trisulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (tributoxysilylpropyl) disulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (trimethoxysilylpropyl) hexasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (trimethoxysilylpropyl) octasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (trioctoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis bis(trihexoxysilylpropyl) disulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (tri-2xe2x80x3-ethylhexoxysilylpropyl) trisulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (triisooctoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (tri-t-butoxysilylpropyl) disulfide, 2,2xe2x80x2-bis (methoxy diethoxy silyl ethyl) tetrasulfide, 2,2xe2x80x2-bis (tripropoxysilylethyl) pentasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (tricyclohexoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis (tricyclopentoxysilylpropyl) trisulfide, 2,2xe2x80x2-bis (tri-2xe2x80x3-methylcyclohexoxysilylethyl) tetrasulfide, (trimethoxysilylmethyl) tetrasulfide, 3-methoxy ethoxy propoxysilyl 3xe2x80x2-diethoxybutoxy-silylpropyltetrasulfide, 2,2xe2x80x2-bis(dimethyl methoxysilylethyl) disulfide, 2,2xe2x80x2-bis(dimethyl sec.butoxysilylethyl) trisulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(methyl butylethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(di t-butylmethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, 2,2xe2x80x2-bis(phenyl methyl methoxysilylethyl) trisulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(diphenyl isopropoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(diphenyl cyclohexoxysilylpropyl) disulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(dimethyl ethylmercaptosilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, 2,2xe2x80x2-bis(methyl dimethoxysilylethyl) trisulfide, 2,2xe2x80x2-bis(methyl ethoxypropoxysilylethyl) tetrasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(diethyl methoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(ethyl di-sec. butoxysilylpropyl) disulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(propyl diethoxysilylpropyl) disulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(butyl dimethoxysilylpropyl) trisulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(phenyl dimethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide, 3-phenyl ethoxybutoxysilyl 3xe2x80x2-trimethoxysilylpropyl tetrasulfide, 4,4xe2x80x2-bis(trimethoxysilylbutyl) tetrasulfide, 6,6xe2x80x2-bis(triethoxysilylhexyl) tetrasulfide, 12,12xe2x80x2-bis(triisopropoxysilyl dodecyl) disulfide, 18,18xe2x80x2-bis(trimethoxysilyloctadecyl) tetrasulfide, 18,18xe2x80x2-bis(tripropoxysilyloctadecenyl) tetrasulfide, 4,4xe2x80x2-bis(trimethoxysilyl-buten-2-yl) tetrasulfide, 4,4xe2x80x2-bis(trimethoxysilylcyclohexylene) tetrasulfide, 5,5xe2x80x2-bis(dimethoxymethylsilylpentyl) trisulfide, 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(trimethoxysilyl-2-methylpropyl) tetrasulfide, 3,3-bis(dimethoxyphenylsilyl-2-methylpropyl) disulfide.
The preferred sulfur containing organosilicon compounds are the 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(trimethoxy or triethoxy silylpropyl) sulfides. The most preferred compound is 3,3xe2x80x2-bis(triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide. Therefore, as to Formula I, preferably Z is
where R2 is an alkoxy of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, with 2 carbon atoms being particularly preferred; Alk is a divalent hydrocarbon of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, with 3 carbon atoms being particularly preferred; and n is an integer of from 3 to 5, with 4 being particularly preferred.
The amount of the sulfur containing organosilicon compound of Formula I in a rubber composition will vary depending on the level of silica that is used. Generally speaking, the amount of the compound of Formula I, if used, will range from 0.01 to 1.0 parts by weight per part by weight of the silica. Preferably, the amount will range from 0.05 to 0.4 parts by weight per part by weight of the silica.
The rubber compositions of the present invention may contain a methylene donor and a methylene acceptor. The term xe2x80x9cmethylene donorxe2x80x9d is intended to mean a compound capable of reacting with a methylene acceptor (such as resorcinol or its equivalent containing a present hydroxyl group) and generate the resin in-situ. Examples of methylene donors which are suitable for use in the present invention include hexamethylenetetramine, hexaethoxymethylmelamine, hexamethoxymethylmelamine, lauryloxymethylpyridinium chloride, ethoxymethylpyridinium chloride, trioxan hexamethoxymethylmelamine, the hydroxy groups of which may be esterified or partly esterified, and polymers of formaldehyde such as paraformaldehyde. In addition, the methylene donors may be N-substituted oxymethylmelamines, of the general formula:
wherein X is an alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and the group xe2x80x94CH2OX. Specific methylene donors include hexakis-(methoxymethyl) melamine, N,Nxe2x80x2,Nxe2x80x3-trimethyl/N,Nxe2x80x2,Nxe2x80x3-trimethylolmelamine, hexamethylolmelamine, N,Nxe2x80x2,Nxe2x80x3-dimethylolmelamine, N-methylolmelamine, N,Nxe2x80x2-dimethylolmelamine, N,Nxe2x80x2,Nxe2x80x3-tris(methoxymethyl)melamine and N,Nxe2x80x2Nxe2x80x3-tributyl-N,Nxe2x80x2,Nxe2x80x3-trimethylol-melamine. The N-methylol derivatives of melamine are prepared by known methods.
The amount of methylene donor and methylene acceptor that is present in the rubber stock may vary. Typically, the amount of methylene donor and methylene acceptor that are present will range from about 0.1 phr to 10.0 phr. Preferably, the amount of methylene donor and methylene acceptor ranges from about 2.0 phr to 5.0 phr for each.
The weight ratio of methylene donor to the methylene acceptor may vary. Generally speaking, the weight ratio will range from about 1:10 to about 10:1. Preferably, the weight ratio ranges from about 1:3 to 3:1.
Similar to vulcanizing conventional rubber stocks, the rubber stocks containing the polymeric resins need a sulfur vulcanizing agent. Examples of suitable sulfur vulcanizing agents include elemental sulfur (free sulfur) or sulfur donating vulcanizing agents, for example, an amine disulfide, polymeric polysulfide or sulfur olefin adducts. Preferably, the sulfur vulcanizing agent is elemental sulfur. The amount of sulfur vulcanizing agent will vary depending on the components of the rubber stock and the particular type of sulfur vulcanizing agent that is used. Generally speaking, the amount of sulfur vulcanizing agent ranges from about 0.1 to about 8 phr with a range of from about 1.5 to about 6 being preferred.
In addition to the above, conventional rubber additives may be incorporated in the rubber stock of the present invention. The additives commonly used in rubber stocks include plasticizers, curatives, processing oils, retarders, antiozonants, antioxidants and the like. Plasticizers, oils or mixtures thereof are conventionally used in amounts ranging from about 2 to about 150 phr with a range of about 5 to about 130 phr being preferred. The amount of plasticizer used will depend upon the softening effect desired. Examples of suitable plasticizers include aromatic extract oils, petroleum softeners including asphaltenes, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons and nitrogen bases, coal tar products, coumarone indene resins and esters such as dibutylphthalate and tricresyl phosphate. Examples of oils are commonly known as highly aromatic process oil, process soybean oil and highly paraffinic process oil. Materials used in compounding which function as an accelerator-activator includes metal oxides such as zinc oxide, magnesium oxide and litharge which are used in conjunction with acidic materials such as fatty acid, for example, stearic acid, oleic acid, myristic acid, and the like. The amount of the metal oxide may range from about 1 to about 10 phr with a range of from about 2 to about 8 phr being preferred. The amount of fatty acid which may be used may range from about 0.25 phr to about 5.0 phr with a range of from about 0.5 phr to about 2 phr being preferred.
Accelerators may be used to control the time and/or temperature required for vulcanization of the rubber stock. As known to those skilled in the art, a single accelerator may be used which is present in amounts ranging from about 0.2 to about 3.0 phr. In the alternative, combinations of two or more accelerators may be used which consist of a primary accelerator which is generally used in a larger amount (0.3 to about 3.0 phr), and a secondary accelerator which is generally used in smaller amounts (0.05 to about 1.50 phr) in order to activate and improve the properties of the rubber stock. Combinations of these accelerators have been known to produce synergistic effects on the final properties and are somewhat better than those produced by use of either accelerator alone. Delayed action accelerators also are known to be used which are not affected by normal processing temperatures and produce satisfactory cures at ordinary vulcanization temperatures. Suitable types of accelerators include amines, disulfides, guanidines, thioureas, thiazoles, thiurams, sulfenamides, dithiocarbamates and the xanthates. Examples of specific compounds which are suitable include zinc diethyl-dithiocarbamate, 4,4xe2x80x2-dithiodimorpholine, N,N-di-methyl-S-tert-butylsulfenyldithiocarbamate, tetramethylthiuram disulfide, 2,2xe2x80x2-dibenzothiazyl disulfide, butyraldehydeaniline mercaptobenzothiazole, N-oxydiethylene-2-benzothiazolesulfenamide. Preferably, the accelerator is a sulfenamide.
A class of compounding materials known as scorch retarders are commonly used. Phthalic anhydride, salicyclic acid, sodium acetate and N-cyclohexyl thiophthalimide are known retarders. Retarders are generally used in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to 0.5 phr.
Conventionally, antioxidants and some times antiozonants, hereinafter referred to as antidegradants, are added to rubber stocks. Representative antidegradants include monophenols, bisphenols, thiobisphenols, polyphenols, hydroquinone derivatives, phosphites, thioesters, naphthyl amines, diphenyl-p-phenylenediamines, diphenylamines and other diaryl amine derivatives, para-phenylenediamines, quinolines and mixtures thereof. Specific examples of such antidegradants are disclosed in The Vanderbilt Rubber Handbook (1990), pages 282-286. Antidegradants are generally used in amounts from about 0.25 to about 5.0 phr with a range of from about 1.0 to about 3.0 phr being preferred.
The mixing of the rubber composition can be accomplished by methods known to those having skill in the rubber mixing art. For example, the ingredients are typically mixed in at least two stages; namely, at least one non-productive stage followed by a productive mix stage. The final curatives including sulfur vulcanizing agents are typically mixed in the final stage which is conventionally called the xe2x80x9cproductivexe2x80x9d mix stage in which the mixing typically occurs at a temperature, or ultimate temperature, lower than the mix temperaturels) than the preceding non-productive mix stage(s). The rubber and polymeric resin are mixed in one or more non-productive mix stages. The terms xe2x80x9cnon-productivexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cproductivexe2x80x9d mix stages are well known to those having skill in the rubber mixing art.
Vulcanization of the pneumatic tire of the present invention is generally carried out at conventional temperatures ranging from about 100xc2x0 C. to 200xc2x0 C. Preferably, the vulcanization is conducted at temperatures ranging from about 110xc2x0 C. to 180xc2x0 C. Any of the usual vulcanization processes may be used such as heating in a press or mold, heating with is superheated steam or hot air or in a salt bath.
The following examples are presented in order to illustrate but not limit the present invention.
In the following examples, the Flexsys Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA) 2000 was used to determine dynamic mechanical rheological properties. The curing conditions were 160xc2x0 C., 1.67 Hz, 15.8 minutes and 0.7 percent strain. A description of the RPA 2000, its capability, sample preparation, tests and subtests can be found in these references. H A Pawlowski and J S Dick, Rubber World, June 1992; J S Dick and H A Pawlowski, Rubber World, January 1997; and J S Dick and J A Pawlowski, Rubber and Plastics News, Apr. 26 and May 10, 1993.
The compounded rubber sample is placed on the bottom die. When the dies are brought together, the sample is in a pressurized cavity where it will be subjected to a sinusoidal oscillating shearing action of the bottom die. A torque transducer connected to the upper die measures the amount of torque transmitted through the sample as a result of the oscillations. Torque is translated into the shear modulus, G, by correcting for the die form factor and the strain. The RPA 2000 is capable of testing uncured or cured rubber with a high degree of repeatability and reproducibility. The tests and subtests available include frequency sweeps at constant temperature and strain, curing at constant temperature and frequency, strain sweeps at constant temperature and frequency and temperature sweeps at constant strain and frequency. The accuracy and precision of the instrument allows reproducible detection of changes in the compounded sample.
The values reported for the storage modulus, (Gxe2x80x2), loss compliance (Jxe2x80x3) and tan delta are obtained from a strain sweep at 100xc2x0 C. and 11 Hz following the cure test. These properties represent the viscoelastic response of a test sample to shear deformation at a constant temperature and frequency. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to drain covers for swimming pools and spas, and more particularly to an apparatus for applying an exposed aggregate or plaster finish to the top surface of drain covers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Drain openings are typically formed on the bottom of most conventional swimming pools so that water can be removed from the pool and circulated through a filtration system. The openings generally extend through the floor of the pool and are connected to drain pipes that are configured to transport water from the pool to a filtering device. Furthermore, a recirculation pump is typically used to remove water from the pool through the drains, down the drain pipes, and into the filtration system wherein the water is filtered and cleaned before being transported back into the pool through the return lines.
Disadvantageously, however, the drain openings are generally unsightly and can pose as a safety hazard for swimmers. In particular, the suction created by the large volume of water passing through the drains is known to cause a whirlpool vortex wherein the force of the vortex can be strong enough to pull down and trap swimmers near the drains. Furthermore, it can be appreciated that a swimming pool tends to lose some of its aesthetic appeal when the floor of the pool is dotted with numerous drain openings. To address these problems, various anti-vortex drains and covers have been developed to reduce the suction around the drains while at the same time enhance the aesthetic appeal of the pool.
In particular, the standard drain cover currently used for most swimming pools is a circular anti-vortex drain cover. The cover is adapted to be positioned over a generally circular drain opening and comprises a top surface that is relatively flat and a plurality of side openings that serve as passage ways for water to flow from the pool into the drain opening. Furthermore, the cover is made from plastic material and is generally available only in a limited number of colors such as black, white, and shades of gray.
Consequently, the standard drain covers often do not match the surface finish of the swimming pool as the surface finish of the pools can be made from a wide variety of colors and textures. In particular, the standard drain covers will appear conspicuously out of place when set against the surface finish of swimming pools having a plaster or exposed aggregate finish wherein the color of the surface is custom blended to the taste of the pool owner. Likewise, the standard drain covers also appear undesirably conspicuous when they are positioned over drain openings formed on the bottom of spas that are decorated with a colored plaster or exposed aggregate finish.
To address this problem, drain cover assemblies have been created that are designed with the intent of making the cover less conspicuous and more uniform with the surface finish of the pool or spa. In particular, there are existing covers made from a clear plastic material wherein the transparency of the plastic is likely to make the cover less noticeable and allow the cover to blend in with the surface finish of the pool or spa. Disadvantageously, however, the transparent covers do not properly conceal the drain pipes underneath the covers and therefore leave the unsightly pipes exposed to plain view. It can be appreciated that visible drain pipes on the bottom of a swimming pool or spa are sometimes even more unappealing than drain covers that do not match the color and texture of the surface finish of the pool.
Hence, from the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there is a need for a drain cover for swimming pools or spas that is less conspicuous. To this end, there is a particular need for an apparatus or a method for matching a drain cover to the surrounding surface. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to electrode structures useful in electrochemical cells and, more particularly, this invention relates to a perimeter seal for consumable reactive metal anodes.
3. Description of the Prior Art
Electrochemical cells utilizing consumable, reactive metal anodes are well known. Typically, the anode comprises an alkali metal, such as lithium, in elemental, compound or complex form, in conjunction with a cathode and an aqueous or non-aqueous electrolyte. In a preferred form, the anode is lithium, and the electrolyte comprises an aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide.
Such cells are described in detail in numerous patents and publications, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,791,871 (Rowley); 3,976,509 (Tsai et al); 4,007,057 (Littauer et al); and 4,188,462 (Klootwyk), the respective disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The anode typically is in the form of a disc, plate, or other structure having at least one surface which contacts the electrolyte during operation, and another surface or edge which perimetrically surrounds at least a portion of the electrolyte-contacting surface of the anode. Due to the well-known reaction of the anodic metal with the electrolyte, which results in the consumption of the anode, a seal around the perimetric surface is necessary for useful operation of the anode. If such sealing is not adequate, the anode wears unevenly about the perimeter, resulting in significantly decreased battery power and energy output, while proportionately increasing the cell's heat and hydrogen gas output rate.
Prior attempts to provide effective seals for reactive metal anodes have met with only limited success. Prior anode edge seals have been standard solid gasket materials or, alternatively, a coating of heavy rubber paint. Solid gaskets are inadequate in that they involve considerable weight, volume and complexity. Such gaskets invariably leak and, therefore, are only partially effective.
Heavy rubber paint coatings are inadequate in that the anode face which contacts the electrolyte is consumed and thus recedes during normal cell operation, leaving intact the rubber edge coating, which greatly disturbs electrolyte flow patterns, especially in multi-cell structures. Also, the rubber flap which remains after partial consumption of the anode face obstructs the anode, lowering power and energy output while increasing hydrogen gas and heat production rates. | {
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Technical Field
The present technique relates to the field of data processing. More particularly it relates to selecting requests to be serviced in a data processing apparatus.
Technical Background
A data processing apparatus may have resources which can be requested by one or more devices within the apparatus. For example, the requested resource may be the use of a particular hardware unit for a processing operation, or access to data from a given memory address. There may be a limited number of requests that can be processed simultaneously and so arbitration may select which of several candidate requests is serviced. On the other hand, hazard detection may also be performed to check whether servicing a particular request would cause a hazard condition, which could lead to incorrect processing for example. Hence, a device for selecting requests to be serviced within a data processing apparatus may perform both arbitration and hazard detection. The present technique seeks to provide an improved technique for combining arbitration with hazard detection. | {
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Dies are used for discharging molten polymers, fluids, slurries, or other substances. Dies deliver at least one lane and at least one layer of a substance by forcing the substance out of a reservoir through a die outlet. The substance is then fed to a roll stack, a substrate, or other receiving element.
To produce multiple lanes of different substances being discharged from the die, multiple channels are formed within the die. In conventional systems, multiple channels are formed by using multi-manifold dies that include three or more die bodies. For example, in a two lane die, one channel is formed between an upper die body and a center die body, and another channel is formed between the center die body and a lower die body. Multi-manifold dies are expensive to manufacture, can be time consuming to assemble, difficult to use, and can be large in size.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved multi-lane die having a more compact design that saves cost and to increases ease of use. | {
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The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.
Internal combustion engines typically include an arrangement of pistons and cylinders located within an engine block. In a four stroke engine, each cylinder has at least two valves. These valves control the flow of air to the combustion cylinders and allow for venting of combustion exhaust gasses. A simple valve arrangement includes an intake valve and an exhaust valve, each actuated by a valve train. The valve train typically includes a camshaft with cam followers that actuate respective pushrods and rocker assemblies. The rocker assemblies in turn actuate respective intake and exhaust valves.
With the introduction of more than one intake or exhaust valve per cylinder, rocker assemblies have been developed to actuate more than one valve. An exemplary rocker assembly and valve train for a two valve arrangement is disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,589, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully disclosed herein. While useful for its intended purpose, there is room in the art for an improved rocker assembly having an adjustable swivel foot to assist in compensating for variations in the valve train. | {
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This invention relates to a belt conveyor, and particularly to a belt conveyor usable for removing a blank formed in a blanking die.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,959, issued to me on Apr. 3, 1990, discloses a belt conveyor extending into the opening between a vertically-movable upper die and a stationary die for removing a blank formed out of a steel sheet during the downstroke of the upper die. The upper die is equipped with an array of suction cups that lift the steel blank into engagement with the lower run of the belt conveyor. An electromagnet means located above the lower run of the belt conveyor holds the steel blank against the belt lower surface as the belt moves the blank out of the opening between the upper and lower dies. When the blank is approximately half way out of the opening between the upper and lower dies, a permanent magnet means takes over from the electro-magnet means to hold the steel blank against the belt lower surface until the steel blank is transferred onto an external conveyor.
The present invention relates to an improvement on the belt conveyor disclosed in my U. S. Pat. No. 4,912,959. In the present invention the suction cups and electromagnet means are replaced with a permanent magnet means, to reduce the initial equipment cost and subsequent maintenance expense. The belt conveyor means is mounted for vertical synchronized motion with the upper die, so that while the upper die is cutting through the steel sheet (to form the steel blank), the permanent magnet means comes into close proximity to the steel blank. As the upper die begins its upstroke, the permanent magnet means lifts the steel blank into facial engagement with the lower surface of the conveyor belt.
When the lower run of the conveyor belt is spaced a suitable distance above the lower die, the motor for the conveyor is energized to enable the conveyor to transport the steel blank out of the opening between the upper and lower dies. During this operation, the permanent magnet means hold the steel blank in facial engagement with the lower run of the conveyor belt.
The invention is advantageous in that the initial equipment cost is relatively modest. In addition, maintenance costs are somewhat decreased due to the overall design simplicity of the equipment.
Specific features of the invention will be apparent from the attached drawings and description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. | {
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This invention concerns the operation of digital computers, and is particularly directed to the processing of branch instructions in a digital computer.
Branch instructions can reduce the speed and efficiency of instruction processing in a computer. This performance penalty is especially severe in computers which perform pipelined instruction processing and is worse still in computers which have multiple pipelined functional units. Branch prediction schemes have been proposed to reduce the performance penalty caused by branch instruction execution. One such scheme involves dynamic prediction of branch outcomes by tagging branch instructions in a cache with predictive information regarding their outcomes. See, for example, the article by J. E. Smith entitled "A Study of Branch Prediction Strategies," in the March 1981 Proceedings of the Eight Annual Symposium on Computer Architecture, and application Ser. No. 07/687,309. Typically, the predictive information is in the form of bits which record the execution history of the associated branch instructions. A single prediction bit is used to record whether the branch was taken or not taken on its most recent execution. When the branch instruction is fetched for execution again, the branch is predicted to take the direction it did last time. If the prediction turns out to be incorrect, the history bit is updated to reflect the actual branch outcome. Multiple prediction bits may be used to facilitate more elaborate prediction schemes. Several multiple bit prediction algorithms are described in the article by J. K. F. Lee and A. J. Smith, entitled "Branch Prediction Strategies in Branch Target Buffer Design," in the January, 1984 issue of IEEE Computer.
Once the history of a branch instruction is established, i.e., after it has been executed at least one time, the outcome of the branch on its next execution can be predicted with a high degree of accuracy. Establishing the initial state of the prediction bits poses a problem, however, since no history information is available when a line is brought into the cache. The simplest solution is to initialize the bits to some arbitrary value, for example, to a value that will cause a "not taken" branch prediction to be made for all branch instructions in the line. Unfortunately, for truly conditional branches, this is seldom more than 50% accurate. Accuracy improves dramatically when actual branch history can be recorded and used for subsequent predictions. It is therefore desirable to retain branch history bits indefinitely, i.e., as long as there is a chance that the associated branch instruction will be executed again. This, however, conflicts with the finite nature of cache storage: a line or block of data, typically data least recently used, may be displaced to make room for a new line of data requested by the processor. For a cache having branch instructions tagged with branch history bits, not only are the cache data discarded but the branch history bits are discarded as well. If the line is ever fetched from memory again and brought back into the cache, the branch history bits must be initialized arbitrarily as described, resulting in decreased instruction processing performance because of decreased branch prediction accuracy. | {
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Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a light emitting diode (LED) illumination apparatus, and more particularly, to an LED illumination apparatus which may realize wide light distribution by increasing the angular range of radiation and achieve uniform intensity of light and a variety of light distribution patterns to reduce the loss of light that is generated by a light source and is radiated to the outside.
Discussion of the Background
Incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps are widely used for indoor or outdoor lighting. The incandescent lamps or fluorescent lamps have a problem in that they should be frequently replaced due to their short lifespan.
In order to solve this problem, an illumination apparatus using LEDs has been developed. LEDs, when applied to illumination apparatus, have excellent characteristics, such as good controllability, rapid response, high electricity-to-light conversion efficiency, long lifetime, low power consumption, and high luminance.
In particular, the LED has an advantage in that it consumes little power due to high electricity-to-light conversion efficiency. In addition, the LED has a rapid on-off because since no preheating time is necessary, attributable to the fact that its light emission is neither thermal light emission nor discharge light emission.
Furthermore, the LED has advantages in that it is resistant to and safe from impact since neither gas nor a filament is disposed therein, in that it consumes little electrical power, operates at high repetition and high pulses, decreases optic nerve fatigue, has a lifespan so long that it can be considered semi-permanent, and realizes illumination in various colors due to the use of a stable direct lighting mode, and in that it can be miniaturized since a small light source is used.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view that illustrates a typical LED illumination apparatus. In the LED illumination apparatus, a plurality of LED devices 11 is disposed on a substrate 12, which is disposed on a heat sink 13 such that the heat that is generated when the LED devices 11 emit light can be dissipated to the outside. Heat dissipation fins 14 protrude from the outer surface of the heat sink 13 so as to increase the area of heat dissipation. A socket 15 is connected to an external power source, and a transparent cover 16 protects the LED devices 11 from the external environment.
However, since the LED device 11 defines an angular range of radiation from 120° to 130° when emitting light, an LED illumination apparatus, which is realized using the LED devices 11, exhibits a light distribution, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, which is focused substantially in the forward direction but not in the backward direction.
Accordingly, the light distribution characteristic of the LED illumination apparatus is not as good as that of an incandescent lamp, that is, light distribution in which light is directed backward, as illustrated in FIG. 9A. This causes a problem in that a sufficient intensity of illumination is not guaranteed in indoor or outdoor spaces. | {
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The present invention relates to the anionic polymerization of generally olefinic-type polymers and the termination thereof with an amine end group. More specifically, the present invention relates to the formation of amine terminated, anionically polymerizable polymers which are stable and yet can be reacted with amine reactive compounds such as monomers or polymers to form block copolymers. Such block copolymers are generally easily processed in a manner typical of the anionically produced polymers such as elastomers but yet, upon cure, generally exhibit properties typical of the other constituent. A specific aspect of the present invention therefore relates to the formation of an epoxy block copolymer. In another specific aspect, the present invention relates to the formation of a urea-formaldehyde graft copolymer. In yet another specific aspect, the present invention relates to the formation of an acetalized polyvinyl alcohol graft copolymer. In yet another specific aspect, the present invention relates to the formation of a phenol-formaldehyde graft copolymer. In yet another specific aspect, the present invention relates to the formation of a nylon block copolymer. In yet another specific aspect, the present invention relates to the formation of a urea block copolymer. In yet another specific aspect, the present invention relates to the formation of a urethane-urea block copolymer. In yet another specific aspect, the present invention relates to the formation of a urethane block copolymer. In yet another specific aspect, the present invention relates to the formation of an imide block copolymer.
The polymerization of conjugated dienes and/or vinyl substituted aromatic compounds with organo alkali metal initiators is well known in the art. The resulting alkali metal terminated polymers are often reacted with polyfunctional compounds to couple the polymers, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,135,716; 3,468,972; 3,225,119 and 3,281,383. However, none of these patents disclose the preparation of anionically polymerized polymers which contain a terminal amine. Moreover, anionic polymers used in the preparation of block copolymers having a constituent other than the initial constituent is not disclosed.
Various inventions exist which utilize amines for various purposes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,017,392 relates to the formation of linear polyamides by the polymerization of lactams. The polymerization is carried out in the presence of a tertiary-nitrogen atom-containing compound and a molecular weight-regulating concentration of a primary or secondary amine. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,028,369, a polymerization of lactams is enhanced by the addition of an organic isocyanate used as an initiator or promoter. In an article by Mottus, Hendrick and Butler, Polymer Preprints, 9(1), 390(1968), it is stated that the initial polymerization of caprolactam can be controlled with use of amine modifiers to give products over a wide range of molecular weights. Primary amines are effective as modifiers with secondary amines showing less modifying action and tertiary amines being inactive. The control is hypothesized to involve chain termination and acyl transfer. However, none of these patents suggests the amine termination of an anionically polymerized polymer which may be utilized in the formation of block copolymers.
In U.S. Ser. No. 219,161, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,108, there is disclosed the formation of various block copolymers. However, the block copolymers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,108, generally had to be made in one continuous process since the anionically polymerized polymer with isocyanate or polyisocyanate end caps tended to be unstable and could not be stored for any appreciable period of time. That is, moisture or active hydrogen-containing impurities would react with the highly reactive isocyanate and prevent the formation of the desired block copolymer. Moreover, in the absence of active hydrogen compounds, trimerization or dimerization of the isocyanate or isothiocyanate may occur. The requirement of a continuous polymerization is at times uneconomical and impractical, especially when tailor-made products are desired. Moreover, another disadvantage of the continous formation of the block copolymer is that due to various parameters involved, the precise percentage of a polyolefin-type polymer end capped by an isothiocyanate or isocyanate would vary from time to time and generally was very difficult to control or to determine immediately. Such variation tended to produce block copolymers of less than optimum and sometimes undesirable properties in situations wherein a precise stoichiometric amount of monomer or polymer was required as in the formation of a polyimide block copolymer.
Moreover, many patents have disclosed the combination of phenolic resins with rubber stocks for use as tire cord dips and/or adhesives. These patents generally depend upon the reaction of the phenolic hydroxyl for joining the two materials, for example, British Pat. Nos. 1,137,046 and 1,131,549, or use phenolic compounds which contain polymeric or oligomeric substituents, for example, Netherlands Pat. No. 6,612,301. Moreover, unusual or exotic-type catalysts are required such as a metallic cocatalyst as in British Pat. No. 1,137,046 or BF.sub.3 as in Netherlands Pat. No. 6,612,301. The present invention does not require any catalyst or precautions beyond that known to the preparation of phenolic resins. Rather, the present invention generally relates to the preparation of block copolymers which are capable of being cured to give thermosetting resins which can be used as adhesives and, when mineral filled and compounded, show good flexural strength (greater than 11,000 psi) and good flexural modulus (greater than 990,000 psi), coupled with high heat distortion (230.degree. C. at 264 psi). The graft copolymers are prepared by reacting phenol-aldehyde materials with amine terminated polymers to form the graft copolymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,331,730 relates to the preparation of phenolic resins esterified with unsaturated monocarboxylic acids and laminates therefrom. Once again, a polymer is prepared through reaction of the phenolic hydroxyl groups and results in a completely different polymer. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electro-photographic type developing apparatus and method. More particularly, the invention relates to a hybrid type developing apparatus and method which uses a magnetic carrier and a nonmagnetic toner.
2. Description of the Related Art
Developing methods for image forming apparatuses are known using electro-photography such as copying machines, printers, facsimiles and multi-function apparatuses. One method is a dual component developing method using a toner and a carrier. A mono component developing method uses an insulation toner or a conductive toner. A hybrid developing method uses nonmagnetic toner that is charged by rubbing with magnetic carrier, and only charged toner is attached onto a development roller. In each method, the toner is supplied to an electrostatic latent image, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image.
The dual component developing method has advantages of excellent charging of the toner, durability, realization of uniform beta images, and so on. However, the dual component developing method requires a bigger and more complicated apparatus, scattering of the toner to allow a carrier to attach to a latent image, which results in image-quality deterioration due to a lack of durability of the carrier, and so forth.
The mono component developing method is advantageous since a compact developing apparatus can be used and excellent dot reproduction can be obtained. This method has the disadvantages of lower durability due to the deterioration of a development roller and a charging roller, higher costs due to the need to exchange the developing apparatus itself when toner is exhausted, occurrence of selective development, and so on. Selective development occurs when only the toner having a desired weight and charge is moved to the latent images from the developing roller. If the selective development occurs, because toner having a lower weight than the desired weight and a smaller charge than the desired charge can not be used for development, usage ratio may decrease.
The hybrid developing method has advantages of excellent dot reproduction, durability, and high speed image formation. However, development ghosts occur if the toner supplied to the development roller is insufficient or toner on the development roller is not fully removed after development. The occurrence of development ghosts will now be briefly explained with reference to FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, a toner layer formed on the surface of the development roller has an area Ai facing an image portion of an image receptor which is developed on the image receptor by a development bias. An area Ab facing a non-image portion remains on the development roller without being developed. At this time, the amount of toner developed from the area Ai on the image receptor is denoted as Ma. New toner is supplied to the development roller for subsequent development. If the amount of toner supplied to the development roller is less than Ma, the thickness of the toner layer formed on the surface of the development roller becomes non-uniform, and a development ghost in which a latent image of an earlier development process remains in a subsequent development process occurs. Such a development ghost more easily occurs in continuous printing.
To solve these problems, a DC bias (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-72733) superposed on a DC bias or an AC bias (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 6-67546 and 7-92804) is applied to a magnetic roller. The polarity of the DC bias applied to the magnetic roller is switched when image formation is complete at regular intervals to provide an electric field in a proper direction for recovering toner from the development roller to the magnetic roller. Since a lot of time is required to form a toner layer having proper thickness on the development roller in subsequent development, such a method is unsuitable for high speed printing.
When an electrode is installed between the development roller and a photo conductor, a non-uniform development arises due to vibration of a wire tighten by an electrical bias or stripe traces are formed on the development roller due to dust instantly attached to the electrode. An example of a development roller in which an electrode is covered so as to prevent such phenomena is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-250294. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory including a ferroelectric capacitor and a method for driving the same.
A semiconductor memory including a ferroelectric capacitor is expected to work as a nonvolatile memory capable of providing a limitless read number.
A conventional semiconductor memory including a ferroelectric capacitor will now be described with reference to FIG. 8.
As shown in FIG. 8, a source region 2 and a drain region 3 are formed in surface portions of a silicon substrate 1. On a region of the silicon substrate 1 sandwiched between the source region 2 and the drain region 3, a silicon oxide film 4, a ferroelectric film 5 of a metal oxide such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT) or bismuth tantalate strontium (SBT) and a gate electrode 6 are successively formed, so as to together form a ferroelectric FET.
In this structure, the polarization direction of the ferroelectric film 5 can be set to the upward direction or the downward direction, and the depth of surface potential of a region of the silicon substrate 1 below the gate electrode 6 can be set to two different states respectively corresponding to the two polarization states (namely, the upward polarization and the downward polarization). Since the depth of the surface potential corresponds to the resistance between the source and the drain of the ferroelectric FET, the resistance between the source and the drain is set to either a high value or a low value depending upon the polarization direction of the ferroelectric film 5. Since the upward polarization or the downward polarization is kept (stored) as far as the polarization of the ferroelectric film 5 is kept, the ferroelectric FET can be used as a nonvolatile memory.
In the ferroelectric FET having this structure, a state where the ferroelectric film 5 has the downward polarization is allowed to correspond to, for example, a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d and a state where it has the upward polarization is allowed to correspond to a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d. For example, when a ground potential is applied to the lower face of the silicon substrate 1 with a large positive voltage applied to the gate electrode 6, the polarization of the ferroelectric film 5 can be set to the downward polarization. Alternatively, when a ground potential is applied to the lower face of the silicon substrate 1 with a large negative voltage applied to the gate electrode 6, the polarization of the ferroelectric film 5 can be set to the upward polarization. After setting the polarization of the ferroelectric film 5 to the downward or upward polarization, the potential of the gate electrode 6 is restored to the ground potential.
FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are energy band diagrams obtained when the silicon substrate 1 has p-type conductivity and the source region 2 and the drain region 3 have n-type conductivity. FIG. 9A shows the energy band obtained when the polarization is downward (namely, a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d is stored), FIG. 9B shows the energy band obtained when the polarization is upward (namely, a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d is stored) and FIG. 9C shows the thermal equilibrium energy state. In FIGS. 9A through 9C, a reference numeral 11 denotes the conduction band of the gate electrode 6, a reference numeral 12 denotes the energy band of the ferroelectric film 5, a reference numeral 13 denotes the energy band of the silicon oxide film 4, a reference numeral 14 denotes the energy band of the silicon substrate 1 and a reference numeral 15 denotes the energy band of a depletion layer formed in the vicinity of the surface of the silicon substrate 1. Also, a void arrow denotes the polarization direction of the ferroelectric film 5.
In the case of the downward polarization (corresponding to a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d), the negatively ionized depletion layer 15 extends to a deep region of the silicon substrate 1 as shown in FIG. 9A, and hence, the surface potential of the silicon substrate 1 becomes lower than the ground potential.
In the case of the upward polarization (corresponding to a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d), no depletion layer is formed in the silicon substrate 1 because holes, that is, p-type carriers, are stored on the surface of silicon substrate 1 as shown in FIG. 9B, and hence, the surface potential of the silicon substrate 1 accords with the ground potential.
Since the surface potential of the region of the silicon substrate 1 below the gate electrode 6 thus depends upon the polarization direction, when a potential difference is caused between the drain and the source, a current flowing between the drain and the source is different depending upon the polarization direction. Specifically, when the surface potential of the silicon substrate 1 is lower than the ground potential (namely, when a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d is stored), the resistance between the drain and the source is low (namely, the FET is in an ON state), and hence, a large current flows between the drain and the source. On the other hand, when the surface potential of the silicon substrate 1 accords with the ground potential (namely, when a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d is stored), the resistance between the drain and the source is high (namely, the FET is in an OFF state), and hence, substantially no current flows between the drain and the source. When a current value between the drain and the source is detected, it can be found whether the ferroelectric FET is in the state corresponding to a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d or in the state corresponding to a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d.
Since whether the ferroelectric FET is in the state corresponding to a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d or in the state corresponding to a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d can be thus found, the polarization of the ferroelectric film 5 is not reversed in reading a data from the ferroelectric FET. Thus, what is called a non-destructive read-out system is realized. In other words, there is no need to carry out an operation for recovering the direction or the magnitude of the polarization, namely, a rewrite operation, after data read.
In this manner, a ferroelectric FET is capable of a non-destructive read operation, and therefore, a problem of polarization fatigue of a ferroelectric film, which is caused in a destructive read operation accompanying polarization reversal, can be avoided. Accordingly, the ferroelectric FET is expected to work as a nonvolatile memory capable of providing a limitless read number.
However, the ferroelectric film 5 of the ferroelectric FET is generally a semiconductor having a large number of defective levels, and hence, electrons and holes can easily move within the ferroelectric film 5.
Therefore, when the ferroelectric FET is in an ON state as shown in FIG. 9A, since electrons are injected from the conduction band 11 of the gate electrode 6 into the ferroelectric film 5, charge at the head of the polarization is neutralized and hence the bottom of the potential in a V shape is gradually elevated, resulting in the thermal equilibrium energy state shown in FIG. 9C.
On the other hand, when the ferroelectric FET is in an OFF state as shown in FIG. 9B, since holes are injected from the conduction band 11 of the gate electrode 6 into the ferroelectric film 5, charge at the head of the polarization is neutralized and hence the apex of the potential in a reverse V shape is gradually lowered, also resulting in the thermal equilibrium energy state shown in FIG. 9C.
As a result, since the surface potential of the silicon substrate 1 becomes the same level in spite of the different polarization directions, namely, the upward polarization and the downward polarization, it is difficult to distinguish the two states depending upon a current flowing between the drain and the source.
This problem can be explained by using a hysteresis curve 20 of the ferroelectric capacitor and a gate capacitance load line 21 of the ferroelectric FET drawn on a polarizationxe2x80x94voltage (Q-V) plane shown in FIG. 10. The structure of the ferroelectric FET of FIG. 8 can be regarded as a series circuit of the ferroelectric capacitor and a metalxe2x80x94oxide filmxe2x80x94silicon (MOS) capacitor when a virtual electrode is disposed between the ferroelectric film 5 and the silicon oxide film 4.
In this series circuit, in the case of the downward polarization (namely, the state of storing a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d corresponding to the energy band diagram of FIG. 8A), the polarization is positioned in a point 22 immediately after data write, and a negative bias voltage corresponding to a distance from the origin O to the point 22 is applied to the ferroelectric film 5. This bias voltage causes electron injection into the ferroelectric film 5, and therefore, the polarization moves from the point 22 to the origin O.
On the other hand, in the case of the upward polarization (namely, the state of storing a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d corresponding to the energy band diagram of FIG. 8B), the polarization is positioned in a point 23 immediately after data write, and a positive bias voltage corresponding to a distance from the origin O to the point 23 is applied to the ferroelectric film 5. This bias voltage causes hole injection into the ferroelectric film 5, and therefore, the polarization moves from the point 23 to the origin O.
Thus, in the conventional ferroelectric FET, a difference between a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d and a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d is distinguished by using a potential difference induced between the ferroelectric film 5 and the silicon oxide film 4 depending upon the polarization direction. However, the potential difference induced between the ferroelectric film 5 and the silicon oxide film 4 works as a driving force for injecting electrons or holes for eliminating the induced potential difference. In other words, there is a problem that the voltage is unavoidably eliminated through the electron or hole injection into the ferroelectric film 5.
In consideration of the aforementioned conventional problems, an object of the invention is reading a data stored in a ferroelectric capacitor even when a potential difference caused in the ferroelectric capacitor is eliminated through electron or hole injection.
In order to achieve the object, the first semiconductor memory of this invention comprises a ferroelectric capacitor formed on a semiconductor substrate and including a ferroelectric film, a first electrode formed on the ferroelectric film and a second electrode formed under the ferroelectric film; data writing means for causing a first state in which the ferroelectric film has polarization in a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode or in a direction from the second electrode to the first electrode and has a substantially saturated polarization value or causing a second state in which the ferroelectric film has polarization in the same direction as in the first state and has a substantially zero polarization value, whereby writing a data corresponding to the first state or the second state in the ferroelectric capacitor; and data reading means for reading a data stored in the ferroelectric capacitor by detecting whether the ferroelectric capacitor is in the first state or in the second state.
In the first semiconductor memory, two different states of the ferroelectric capacitor storing different data (such as a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d and a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d) are distinguished from each other by the two states in which the polarization of the ferroelectric film is in the same direction, namely, the first state in which the ferroelectric film has the substantially saturated polarization value (corresponding to, for example, a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d) and the second state in which the ferroelectric film has the substantially zero polarization value (corresponding to, for example, a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d). Accordingly, even when a potential difference caused in the ferroelectric capacitor is eliminated through electron or hole injection, a data stored in the ferroelectric capacitor can be read.
In the first semiconductor memory, the data writing means preferably causes the first state or the second state in the ferroelectric capacitor by applying a voltage between a first signal line connected to the first electrode and a second signal line connected to the second electrode.
Thus, an operation for writing a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d or a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d in the ferroelectric capacitor by causing the first state or the second state in the ferroelectric capacitor can be easily and directly carried out.
In the first semiconductor memory, the data reading means preferably includes means for generating, between the first electrode and the second electrode, a voltage for inducing, in the ferroelectric film, an electric field in the same direction as the direction of the polarization of the ferroelectric film.
Thus, the direction of the polarization of the ferroelectric film is not changed even when a reading voltage is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor, and therefore, the ferroelectric capacitor can keep on storing a data. As a result, the polarization fatigue of the ferroelectric film can be reduced.
In the first semiconductor memory, the data reading means preferably includes a load capacitor serially connected to the ferroelectric capacitor and means for applying a reading voltage to both ends of a series circuit composed of the ferroelectric capacitor and the load capacitor, and detects whether the ferroelectric capacitor is in the first state or in the second state by detecting a voltage induced in the load capacitor resulting from dividing the reading voltage in accordance with a ratio between capacitance of the ferroelectric capacitor and capacitance of the load capacitor.
Thus, a read operation can be eased because a data stored in the ferroelectric capacitor can be read by detecting the voltage induced in the load capacitor in applying the reading voltage to the both ends of the series circuit of the ferroelectric capacitor and the load capacitor.
In the first semiconductor memory, the data reading means preferably includes a field effect transistor formed on the semiconductor substrate and connected to the second electrode at a gate electrode thereof and means for applying a reading voltage between the first electrode and the semiconductor substrate or a source electrode of the field effect transistor, and detects whether the ferroelectric capacitor is in the first state or in the second state by detecting a change of channel conductance of the field effect transistor caused by a voltage induced in the gate electrode resulting from dividing the reading voltage in accordance with a ratio between capacitance of the ferroelectric capacitor and gate capacitance of the field effect transistor.
Thus, a read operation can be eased because change of the voltage induced in the gate electrode of the field effect transistor in applying the reading voltage between the first electrode and the semiconductor substrate or the source electrode of the field effect transistor can be detected as change of the channel conductance of the field effect transistor.
In the first semiconductor memory, the data reading means can include a bit line connected to the second electrode and means for applying a reading voltage between the first electrode and the bit line, and detect whether the ferroelectric capacitor is in the first state or in the second state by detecting a voltage induced in the bit line resulting from dividing the reading voltage in accordance with a ratio between capacitance of the ferroelectric capacitor and capacitance of the bit line.
The second semiconductor memory of this invention comprises a memory cell block of a plurality of successively connected memory cells each including a ferroelectric capacitor having a ferroelectric film, a first electrode formed on the ferroelectric film and a second electrode formed under the ferroelectric film and a cell selecting transistor serially connected to the ferroelectric capacitor; data writing means for causing a first state in which the ferroelectric film of a selected ferroelectric capacitor selected by the cell selecting transistor from the plurality of ferroelectric capacitors has polarization in a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode or in a direction from the second electrode to the first electrode and has a substantially saturated polarization value or causing a second state in which the ferroelectric film of the selected ferroelectric capacitor has polarization in the same direction as in the first state and has a substantially zero polarization value by applying a writing voltage between a control line connected to a first common node out of two common nodes included in the memory cell block and a second common node out of the two common nodes, whereby writing a data corresponding to the first state or the second state in the selected ferroelectric capacitor; and data reading means, including a load capacitor connected to the first common node and means for applying a reading voltage between the second common node and the load capacitor, for detecting whether a selected ferroelectric capacitor selected by the cell selecting transistor from the plurality of ferroelectric capacitors is in the first state or in the second state by detecting a voltage induced in the load capacitor resulting from dividing the reading voltage in accordance with a ratio between capacitance of the selected ferroelectric capacitor and capacitance of the load capacitor, whereby reading a data stored in the selected ferroelectric capacitor.
In the second semiconductor memory, two different states of the ferroelectric capacitor storing different data (such as a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d and a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d) are distinguished from each other by the two states in which the polarization of the ferroelectric film is in the same direction, namely, the first state in which the ferroelectric film has the substantially saturated polarization value (corresponding to, for example, a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d) and the second state in which the ferroelectric film has the substantially zero polarization value (corresponding to, for example, a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d). Accordingly, it is possible to realize a memory cell array in which a data stored in the ferroelectric capacitor can be read even when a potential difference caused in the ferroelectric capacitor is eliminated through electron or hole injection.
The first method for driving a semiconductor memory of this invention comprises the steps of writing a data in a ferroelectric capacitor formed on a semiconductor substrate and including a ferroelectric film, a first electrode formed on the ferroelectric film and a second electrode formed under the ferroelectric film; and reading a data stored in the ferroelectric capacitor, and the step of writing a data includes a sub-step of causing a first state in which the ferroelectric film has polarization in a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode or in a direction from the second electrode to the first electrode and has a substantially saturated polarization value or causing a second state in which the ferroelectric film has polarization in the same direction as in the first state and has a substantially zero polarization value, whereby writing a data corresponding to the first state or the second state in the ferroelectric capacitor, and the step of reading a data includes a sub-step of detecting whether the ferroelectric capacitor is in the first state or in the second state, whereby reading a data stored in the ferroelectric capacitor.
In the first method for driving a semiconductor memory, two different states of the ferroelectric capacitor storing different data (such as a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d and a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d) are distinguished from each other by the two states in which the polarization of the ferroelectric film is in the same direction, namely, the first state in which the ferroelectric film has the substantially saturated polarization value (corresponding to, for example, a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d) and the second state in which the ferroelectric film has the substantially zero polarization value (corresponding to, for example, a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d). Accordingly, even when a potential difference caused in the ferroelectric capacitor is eliminated through electron or hole injection, a data stored in the ferroelectric capacitor can be read, and polarization fatigue of the ferroelectric film can be reduced.
In the first method for driving a semiconductor memory, the step of writing a data preferably includes a sub-step of causing the first state or the second state in the ferroelectric capacitor by applying a voltage between a first signal line connected to the first electrode and a second signal line connected to the second electrode.
Thus, an operation for writing a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d or a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d in the ferroelectric capacitor by causing the first state or the second state in the ferroelectric capacitor can be easily and directly carried out.
In the first method for driving a semiconductor memory, the step of reading a data preferably includes a sub-step of reading a data stored in the ferroelectric capacitor by detecting whether the ferroelectric capacitor is in the first state or in the second state after setting a potential of the second signal line to a ground potential and placing the second electrode in a floating state by disconnecting the second electrode from the second signal line.
When the potential of the second signal line is thus once set to the ground potential, the potential of the second electrode can be defined. Therefore, unnecessary charge stored in the second electrode during a write operation or a read operation conducted before this read operation can be removed. Furthermore, when the reading voltage is applied after placing the second electrode in the floating state by disconnecting the second electrode from the second signal line, it can be definitely detected whether the ferroelectric capacitor is in the first state or in the second state.
In the first method for driving a semiconductor memory, the step of reading a data preferably includes a sub-step of generating, between the first electrode and the second electrode, a voltage for inducing, in the ferroelectric film, an electric field in the same direction as the direction of the polarization of the ferroelectric film.
Thus, the direction of the polarization of the ferroelectric film is not changed even when the reading voltage is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor, and hence, the ferroelectric capacitor can keep on storing a data.
In the first method for driving a semiconductor memory, the step of reading a data preferably includes a sub-step of applying a reading voltage to both ends of a series circuit composed of the ferroelectric capacitor and a load capacitor serially connected to the ferroelectric capacitor, and detecting a voltage induced in the load capacitor resulting from dividing the reading voltage in accordance with a ratio between capacitance of the ferroelectric capacitor and capacitance of the load capacitor, whereby detecting whether the ferroelectric capacitor is in the first state or in the second state.
Thus, a read operation can be eased because a data stored in the ferroelectric capacitor can be read by detecting the voltage induced in the load capacitor in applying the reading voltage to the both ends of the series circuit of the ferroelectric capacitor and the load capacitor.
In the first method for driving a semiconductor memory, the step of reading a data preferably includes a sub-step of applying a reading voltage between the first electrode and the semiconductor substrate or a source electrode of a field effect transistor formed on the semiconductor substrate and connected to the second electrode at a gate electrode thereof, and detecting change of channel conductance of the field effect transistor caused by a voltage induced in the gate electrode resulting from dividing the reading voltage in accordance with a ratio between capacitance of the ferroelectric capacitor and gate capacitance of the field effect transistor, whereby detecting whether the ferroelectric capacitor is in the first state or in the second state.
Thus, a read operation can be easily and definitely carried out because the voltage induced in the gate electrode of the field effect transistor in applying the reading voltage between the first electrode and the semiconductor substrate or the source electrode of the field effect transistor can be detected by detecting change of the channel conductance of the field effect transistor.
In the first method for driving a semiconductor memory, the step of reading a data can include a sub-step of applying a reading voltage between the first electrode and a bit line connected to the second electrode, and detecting a voltage induced in the bit line resulting from dividing the reading voltage in accordance with a ratio between capacitance of the ferroelectric capacitor and capacitance of the bit line, whereby detecting whether the ferroelectric capacitor is in the first state or in the second state.
The first method for driving a semiconductor memory preferably further comprises, at least in the case where the ferroelectric capacitor is in the second state, a step of setting a potential of the second electrode to a ground potential after removing the reading voltage applied to the first electrode in the step of reading a data.
Thus, the polarization of the ferroelectric film is restored to the state before data read, and therefore, even when the ferroelectric capacitor is in the second state, the data read operation can be repeatedly carried out.
The second method for driving a semiconductor memory of this invention comprises the steps of writing, in a memory cell block of a plurality of successively connected memory cells each including a ferroelectric capacitor having a ferroelectric film, a first electrode formed on the ferroelectric film and a second electrode formed under the ferroelectric film and a cell selecting transistor serially connected to the ferroelectric capacitor, a data in a selected ferroelectric capacitor selected by the cell selecting transistor from the plurality of ferroelectric capacitors; and reading a data stored in a selected ferroelectric capacitor selected by the cell selecting transistor from the plurality of ferroelectric capacitors, and the step of writing a data includes a sub-step of applying a writing voltage between a control line connected to a first common node out of two common nodes included in the memory cell block and a second common node out of the two common nodes, and causing a first state in which the ferroelectric film of the selected ferroelectric capacitor has polarization in a direction from the first electrode to the second electrode or in a direction from the second electrode to the first electrode and has a substantially saturated polarization value or causing a second state in which the ferroelectric film of the selected ferroelectric capacitor has polarization in the same direction as in the first state and has a substantially zero polarization value, whereby writing a data corresponding to the first state or the second state in the selected ferroelectric capacitor, and the step of reading a data includes a sub-step of applying a reading voltage between the second common node and a load capacitor connected to the first common node, and detecting whether the selected ferroelectric capacitor is in the first state or in the second state by detecting a voltage induced in the load capacitor resulting from dividing the reading voltage in accordance with a ratio between capacitance of the selected ferroelectric capacitor and capacitance of the load capacitor, whereby reading a data stored in the selected ferroelectric capacitor.
In the second method for driving a semiconductor memory, two different states of the ferroelectric capacitor storing different data (such as a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d and a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d) are distinguished from each other by the two states in which the polarization of the ferroelectric film is in the same direction, namely, the first state in which the ferroelectric film has the substantially saturated polarization value (corresponding to, for example, a data xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d) and the second state in which the ferroelectric film has the substantially zero polarization value (corresponding to, for example, a data xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d). Accordingly, even when a potential difference caused in the selected ferroelectric capacitor is eliminated through electron or hole injection, a data stored in the ferroelectric capacitor selected in a memory cell array can be read. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a soil conditioner which prevents agricultural and forest soil-borne diseases and nematode diseases caused by plant-parasitic filamentous fungi and plant-parasitic nematodes, with fungivorous nematodes, i.e., Aphelenchus avenae, more particularly, mass production of the fungivorous nematodes with solid media comprising industrial vegetable wastes or artificial liquid media, and long-term preservation and uses thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is undisputable that chemical pesticides that farming crops have hitherto been depending upon, though they have caused much environmental pollution, are still the main stream of agricultural production means. On the other hand, efforts have been made to spread sustainable agriculture as a task of the 21st century, wherein beneficial viruses, bacteria, fungi, entomopathogenic nematodes, natural enemy insects and so forth have been assiduously studied. However, there is no almighty in the biological means, and those which can control insect pests relatively over a wide range are only entomopathogenic nematodes and BT agents (bacteria). It is furthermore difficult to treat diseases, as no biological materials or means for controlling concurrently more than 2.about.3 pathogens have been available. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to testing apparatuses and methods for making functional verification of semiconductor devices, measurement of alternating current characteristics and direct current characteristics of the devices, and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to pin electronics for making electrical connection to pin terminals of a semiconductor device, applying a test signal to the semiconductor device, receiving output signals from the device, making a comparison between outputs and expected values, measuring signal characteristics, and the like.
2. Description of the Background Art
Semiconductor devices undergo various tests in respect of reliabilities. There are two types of tests for the semiconductor devices: a DC/AC characteristic test for measuring direct current (DC) characteristics such as currents or voltages of respective terminals and alternate current (AC) characteristics such as operation frequency and operation timing of the devices; and a functional test (verification) for determining whether or not the semiconductor devices function as designed.
In the DC characteristic test, such characteristics as inputs, outputs, input-to-output transmission, a total current and power consumption are measured. In the AC characteristic test, rising times and falling times of waveforms of input signals and output signals, a delay time in propagation between input and output terminals, a set-up time, a hold time, a minimum clock pulse width, an operation frequency and the like are measured.
The functional test is a test for checking if semiconductor devices operate without indicating any abnormality in its function, when the semiconductor devices have prescribed operating conditions imposed thereon. The functional test is usually carried out by comparing and checking a pattern applied to an output terminal with an expected pattern when a test pattern is applied to an input terminal.
FIG. 1 is a conceptional diagram of functional test of a semiconductor device, particularly a semiconductor integrated circuit device. Referring to FIG. 1, a testing apparatus includes a pattern generator 500 for generating a test pattern, a test pattern applying apparatus 501 for receiving the test pattern from pattern generator 500, to convert the received test pattern into logic signals of logical one or logical zero and apply the signals to an input terminal 510 of a device 502 under test, an output pattern discriminating circuit 504 for receiving an output signal from device 502 under test to convert the received output signal into a logic signal, an expected pattern storing circuit 505 for storing therein expected values of an output pattern corresponding to an input test pattern generated by pattern generator 500, a comparison circuit 506 for making a comparison between an output of output pattern discriminating circuit 504 and an output of expected pattern storing circuit 505, and a determining circuit 507 for determining whether device 502 operates normally, in response to an output of comparison circuit 506.
A power supply pin terminal of device 502 is supplied with a predetermined operating supply voltage from a power supply 503, and a ground terminal of device 502 is connected to a ground potential GND. Various methods for realizing such functional test of semiconductor device have been considered. With regard to generation of a test pattern also, a method for most efficiently creating a test pattern having higher test coverage is considered.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing one example of a conventional testing method of a semiconductor device and conceptionally showing a test pattern storing method. Referring to FIG. 2, a testing system includes a test pattern generator 550 comprised such as of a logic simulator, and a testing apparatus 551 for receiving an input test pattern and an expected output pattern from test pattern generator 550, applying the input test pattern to a device 560 under measurement and comparing an output response pattern from device 560 with the received expected output pattern, thereby determining pass/fail of device 560.
Testing apparatus 551 includes a memory 555 for storing the input test pattern therein, a memory 556 for storing the expected output pattern from test pattern generator 550, and a comparator 557 for making a comparison between the output response pattern from device 560 and the expected output pattern of memory 556.
In the testing method called the test pattern storing method, an input test pattern and an expected output pattern are created in advance by test pattern generator 550. These input test pattern and expected output pattern are stored in memories 555 and 556 in testing apparatus 551 such as an LSI tester. The input test pattern of memory 555 is applied to device 560 in testing. Device 560 carries out a certain operation in accordance with the applied input test pattern and outputs an output signal indicating results of the operation as an output response pattern. Comparator 557 included in testing apparatus 551 compares the output response pattern from device 560 with the expected output pattern stored in memory 556. If this expected output pattern matches the output response pattern, then it is determined that device 560 operates normally. Conversely, if the expected output pattern mismatches the output response pattern, then it determined that there is a failure in device 560. Analyzing the input test pattern generated by test pattern generator 550 also allows a fault diagnosis (an analysis of the failure, or the like).
In such a testing apparatus, a card (board) which is called pin electronics for applying a signal directly to a device under measurement and receiving the signal therefrom is installed in a test head, one for each pin terminal of a semiconductor device under measurement. The pin electronics is employed not only in a functional testing of a semiconductor device but also in a DC/AC characteristic testing.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a general pin electronics circuit incorporated in a semiconductor testing apparatus. Referring to FIG. 3, a pin electronics circuit 200 includes a driver 201 for applying a voltage waveform to a semiconductor device 206 under test (hereinafter referred to simply as LSI) in accordance with a test pattern, and a comparator 202 for receiving an output signal from the LSI to determine whether a logical value of the received output signal is logical one or logical zero. Pin electronics circuit 200 further includes a switching element 205a for connecting an output of driver 201 to a node 208, and a switching element 205b for connecting the node 208 and an input of comparator 202. One of switching elements 205a and 205b is rendered conductive by a control signal from a control circuit not shown. Node 208 of pin electronics circuit 200 is connected via a transmission line 203 to a terminal 207 of LSI 206. Terminal 207 may be either a signal output terminal or a signal input terminal, or alternatively, a terminal for both inputting and outputting a signal.
Pin electronics circuit 200 further includes a resistor 204 connected via a switching element 205c to node 208. When there is a mismatch between output resistance of an output buffer of LSI 206 and characteristic impedance of transmission line 203, reflection accompanied by undershoot and overshoot is produced in signal waveforms at node 208. In order to inhibit such reflection, resistor 204 is provided as terminating resistance. An operation will now be described.
When pin terminal 207 of LSI 206 is a signal input terminal, only switching element 205a included in pin electronics circuit 200 is turned on in response to an output of the control circuit not shown, so as to connect the output of driver 201 to node 208. A voltage signal in accordance with a test pattern is applied to an input of driver 201. Driver 201 applies a voltage waveform in accordance with this test pattern via node 208 and transmission line 203 to pin terminal 207 of LSI 206. LSI 206 operates in accordance with the voltage signal applied to pin terminal 207.
When pin terminal 207 of LSI 206 is a signal output terminal, only switching element 205b included in pin electronics circuit 200 is turned on. Comparator 202 receives an output signal from pin terminal 207 of LSI 206 via transmission line 203, to convert the received output signal into a signal of logical one or logical zero. Comparator 202 is supplied with an expected output voltage (VOH, VOL) of LSI 206 as a reference value. Based on the applied expected output voltage, comparator 202 discriminates the logic level of the output signal from LSI 206. The logic signal generated by comparator 202 is compared with an expected output pattern. Pass/fail of LSI 206 is determined in accordance with the result of the comparison.
Transmission line 203 has impedance. LSI 206 includes an output buffer circuit as shown in FIG. 4 at its output portion.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing structure of an output stage of LSI 206. Referring to FIG. 4, LSI 206 includes an internal circuit 250 for performing a predetermined function, and an output buffer circuit 251 for buffering an output signal from internal circuit 250 to transmit the buffered output signal to pin terminal 207. Output buffer circuit 251 includes a p channel MOS (insulated gate type) transistor PT and an n channel MOS transistor NT that are complementary-connected between an operating supply potential Vcc and another supply potential Vss. Transistors PT and NT include a resistance component (ON resistance) R that exists when these transistors are in an ON state.
Output resistance of output buffer circuit 251 contributes as output impedance at pin terminal 207 of LSI 206. When there is a mismatch between the output impedance at pin terminal 207 of LSI 206 and impedance on transmission line 203, reflection of a signal occurs on node 208, so that overshoot and undershoot are generated in this signal. Further, even if the output impedance at pin terminal 207 of LSI 206 matches the impedance on transmission line 203 and hence no reflection occurs, stray capacitance and parasitic inductance exist on transmission line 203, resulting in a ringing of a signal on node 208. In order to inhibit such signal reflection and ringing, when pin terminal 207 is a signal output terminal, switching element 205c as well as switching element 205b is turned on, so that resistor 204 is connected as terminating resistance to node 208. A brief description will now be given on function of terminating resistance 204.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a connection in a case in which the transmission line system is unterminating. Referring to FIG. 5, pin terminal 207 of LSI 206 is connected via transmission line 203 to comparator 202. In the connection shown in FIG. 5, when the output impedance (output resistance) at pin terminal 207 is lower than the characteristic impedance of the transmission line, the undershoot and overshoot of a signal is generated on input node 208 of comparator 202. More specifically, comparator 202 has high input impedance, and a voltage signal that is transmitted from pin terminal 207 via transmission line 203 to node 208 undergoes a total reflection at an input terminal of comparator 202. The following relation is obtained: EQU Vc=2.multidot.Z0.multidot.V/(Z+Z0)
where the output impedance (output resistance) of pin terminal 207 is Z, the characteristic impedance of transmission line 203 is Z, the output voltage applied to pin terminal 207 is V, and a voltage on node 208 is Vc.
If output impedance Z of pin terminal 207 is lower than characteristic impedance Z0 of transmission line 203, Vc>V is satisfied. That is, the amplitude of the voltage signal on input node 208 of comparator 202 becomes larger than that of the voltage signal at pin terminal 207, so that the undershoot and overshoot of the voltage signal is generated at input node 208. The manner in which the undershoot is generated at node 208 is shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a signal waveform obtained when the undershoot is generated at input node 208 of comparator 202. Referring to FIG. 6, a logical high level of an output signal from pin terminal 207 indicates 5 V, while a logical low level of the output signal indicates 0 V. When undershoot occurs in this voltage signal waveform 209, the undershoot causes noise, thereby failing to convert the output signal into a correct logic signal in comparator 202. In addition, when AC characteristics such as a falling time and a rising time of the output signal waveform of LSI 206 are measured, timing errors occur, thereby failing to make an accurate measurement. For accurate measurement in functional testing of LSI 206 under such conditions, it is necessary to measure a signal in the state where ringing is smoothed over, thereby failing to carry out a fast functional verification.
As a method for inhibiting the overshoot, undershoot and ringing caused by reflection at node 208, resistive termination is employed. In the resistive termination, switching element 205c shown in FIG. 3 is turned on, so that resistor 204 is connected between node 208 and potential Vss.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a connection configuration of pin electronics and LSI in the use of the resistive termination. Referring to FIG. 7, resistor 204 is connected between node 208 and supply potential Vss (normally ground potential 0 V). Assume that a resistance value of resistor 204 is RT. At pin terminal 207 of LSI 206, there exists output resistance R due to ON resistance of transistors PT and NT included in output buffer circuit 251 shown in FIG. 4. Only ON resistance R of p channel MOS transistor PT (see FIG. 4) connected to operating supply potential Vcc is shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a voltage waveform on node 208 in the use of the resistive termination. Distorted pulse waveform 209 (see FIG. 6) on node 208 in the case where no resistive termination is carried out is shown as well in FIG. 8. When the logical level of a signal appearing at pin terminal 207 is logical one, a voltage detected by comparator 202 (a voltage on node 208) is obtained by the following relation: EQU Vcc.multidot.RT/(R+RT)
where a direct current resistance component of transmission line 203 is ignored. As described above, the voltage applied to node 208 is divided by terminating the transmission line by using resistor 204, whereby the generation of undershoot, overshoot and ringing on node 208 can be inhibited.
As apparent from FIG. 8, a voltage waveform 210 on input node 208 of comparator 202, obtained in the resistive termination using resistor 204 is a very smooth waveform as compared to signal waveform 209 on node 208 to which no terminating resistance is connected.
If such resistor 204 is connected to node 208, a current flowing through resistor 204 is obtained by the relation Vcc/(R+RT) when the logical level of an output of LSI 206 is logical one.
When LSI 206 outputs a signal of logical zero to pin terminal 207, n channel MOS transistor NT shown in FIG. 4 is turned on, whereas p channel MOS transistor PT is turned off. This results in such a state that resistor R shown in FIG. 7 is connected to potential Vss (0 V), the voltage on node 208 is Vss (0 V), and the current flowing through resistor 204 is also 0 mA.
A general review of pin electronics is given in "MODERN ATE" by M. R. Barber et al., IEEE DESIGN & TEST April 1987, pp. 23-30.
The use of resistive termination to reduce signal ringing caused by impedance mismatching of a general transmission line is described in "Correct Signal Faults by Implementing Line-analysis Theory" by D. Royle, EDN Jun. 23, 1988, pp. 143 to 148.
A solution for the undershoot/overshoot problem in pin electronics by providing a series resistor on a transmission line is described in "Timing Measurements on CMOS VLSI DEVICES DESIGNED TO DRIVE TTL LOADS" by M. R. Barber et al., 1986 International Test Conference, IEEE, Paper 4.4, pp. 161-168.
In the conventional resistive termination used as a method for inhibiting the generation of overshoot, undershoot and ringing, a current flows through terminating resistance 204 when the logical level of an output of LSI 206 is logical one. This current is supplied via an output transistor from a power supply line of output buffer circuit 251 (see FIG. 4) in LSI 206. This allows an excess current to flow into LSI 206, causing an electromigration problem in an internal interconnection of LSI 206, resulting in a degradation in reliability of LSI 206.
In addition, connecting the resistor 204 to node 208 causes an increase in RC delay on the transmission line and an increase in the rising time and the falling time of the signal waveform on node 208, i.e., an increase in time constant, whereby the output signal waveform is rounded. When the output signal waveform is rounded in this manner, such a problem occurs that even if LSI 206 is operated at an actual operation clock frequency, an accurate output signal cannot be obtained at predetermined timing, and hence no accurate functional testing can be made. Further, another problem arises that no precise measurement can be made in DC/AC characteristic measurements. When a functional testing is carried out with a deviation in measurement timing in consideration of the rounding of the output signal waveform, a fast functional testing for the LSI cannot be carried out, resulting in a longer test time. This problem becomes a greater problem as the LSI operates faster and/or requires a larger number of pin terminals. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for compensating for variations in a manufacturing process. In particular, the present invention relates to applying such methods to optical instruments.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The capsule camera has proved to be an effective minimally-invasive way for examining the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. One example of a swallowable capsule camera is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,531, issued to the Ministry of Defense, State of Israel. A number of patents assigned to Given Imaging describe in greater detail a capsule camera system which uses a transmitter to send images captured by the camera to an external receiver. Other capsule camera examples include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,709,387 and 6,428,469. There are also other patents to the Olympus Corporation regarding capsule cameras. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,077 discloses a film camera in a capsule designed for the stomach. U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,292 discloses a capsule camera with a buffering memory and a transmitter. U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,060 discloses a capsule camera which stores image data in an atomic resolution storage (ARS) device.
Various advancements in electronics may now be incorporated into the capsule camera. For example, an LED provides a compact and low-power lighting source. CMOS image sensors reduce the component count and power. The further miniaturizing of integrated circuit geometry allows SOC (system-on-a-chip) techniques to be used, which reduce the size and power of the capsule camera. However, size reduction pushes the limits of manufacturing tolerances. For example, manufacturing processes for semiconductor image sensors inherently include not only lot-to-lot, wafer-to-wafer, and die-to-die variations, but also pixel-to-pixel variations within a die. Even the analog circuits sensing the charge stored in a cell to provide digital image data vary from location to location within a die. In addition, LEDs are known for variations in their light spectrum and intensity. Also, because the center of a lens passes light better than at the edge, a higher intensity results in the center of the image than at the edges. There are also variations from lens to lens, even if the lenses are fabricated from the same mold.
Another example results from the fact that illumination sources in a capsule camera illuminate objects only a few centimeters away, the objects receive non-uniform light intensities. Moreover, the transparent window provided in the capsule housing for the LED light to pass through is not perfectly transparent. Thus, when the light sources in the capsule (e.g., LEDs) are turned on, the transparent window reflects some of the light within the camera's field of view back to the light sources and the image sensor.
As the capsule camera is intended to allow a physician to examine the inside of a patient's GI tract, its accuracy and image quality are of paramount concern. | {
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Field
The present disclosure relates to light output systems and, more particularly, to light output systems having reflectors and lens. In some embodiments, the light output systems may be part of augmented and virtual reality imaging and visualization systems.
Description of the Related Art
Imaging and visualization systems may utilize systems that output light into a light modulating device that then modulates and projects the light to form images in the eyes of a viewer. There is a continuing need to develop light projection systems that can meet the needs of modern imaging and visualization systems. | {
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The present invention generally relates to the storage and retrieval of electronic data in a computer managed data archive. More specifically, the present invention provides for the efficient storage and retrieval of audio and video data suitable for distribution over a broadcasting network in a media lifecycle management system.
Broadcast facilities employ a wide variety of electronic equipment to receive, process and transmit audio-visual content to audiences. A key component in a broadcast content delivery system is a data storage archive and media lifecycle management system where audio-visual content is stored both before and after it is transmitted for broadcast. Data storage archives can include a wide variety of storage media and associated hardware such as magnetic tape, optical disk and hard disk drive arrays. The various data storage devices used within a broadcasting facility are interconnected, via a computer network, to supply devices which receive data from external sources. Examples of these supply devices includes production equipment which prepare and edit broadcast material and video servers which are used to play-out material to broadcast transmitters. A distinguishing characteristic of a data archive and media lifecycle management system, compared with a typical computer network, is the tremendous amount of data that constitutes broadcast quality video when it is converted to a digital form and the ongoing need for transporting such large volumes of data among various devices within the system in a timely manner.
The various storage hardware and media have different performance and cost characteristics which often determines how they are used within a broadcast content system. Video servers, which feature high data transfers speeds and are relatively expensive, are used as play-out devices to transfer electronic video data to broadcast transmitters. On the other end of the performance/cost spectrum are analog magnetic tapes which are inexpensive but limited in data access speed. There is a similar trade off in performance versus cost for the data channels and associated transmission protocols which are used to connect the various storage devices with each other. Also, trade-offs exist for the types of connections used to interconnect to the computer(s) which control the overall broadcast content management system. At the low end of the spectrum of performance is ethernet cable used in standard computer networks to connect network servers to client workstations which is readily available at low cost. A typical high performance data channel technology is a fiber channel, which is faster but commensurately more expensive. Based on these options/trade-offs, it is desirable to construct a data archive and media lifecycle management system with an optimal blend of performance and cost for both data storage and data transmission hardware.
In addition to employing a cost effective architecture of storage and transmission hardware, the media lifecycle management systems must also be reliable and flexible. Broadcast content typically includes both program content for audiences as well as commercial advertising which is a major source of revenue for broadcasters. Any system down time will negatively impact a broadcaster's immediate revenue as well as their reputation with audience members. It is important therefore that the media lifecycle management system be reliable and robust on both a component level as well as on an overall system level. This includes a consideration of the future growth and maintenance of the system. The ability to make changes to the system, without interruption in operation, is especially important at a time like today when rapid advances are being made in computer and related digital storage technologies.
In a Referring now to FIG. 1, a prior art data archive and media lifecycle management system 1 is shown schematically. This system illustrates the traditional approach to media data management that has been employed to date. The system is comprised of various components which cooperate to perform the tasks of storing, indexing, searching, and retrieving data as needed in day to day operations. A centralized system core 2 contains software which communicates with and controls external data storage devices such as a digital video and/or media servers (DVS) 6, a system memory cache 7, and a media library 8. The media library is shown having a number of separate memory modules which represent an organized plurality of devices such as magnetic tape drives, hard disk drives, optical drives, holographic drives or any other suitable data storage devices. System core 2 is also connected to an external database 3, which contains a searchable index of the storage locations of all data stored by the system. Typically the index records in the database will contain descriptive metadata related to the data stored on the various external storage components 6-8. In addition, database 3 contains an active database of the configuration of the data archive and media lifecycle management system 1 as well as operation and status logs. The system core 2 is connected to the various external components through two separate data channels. The dashed lines 9 represent internet protocol (IP) infrastructure and could be either Ethernet or GigEthernet which are capable of data transfer rates of 10-100 Mbits/sec for the former and 1 Gbit/sec for the latter. The solid lines 10 represent Fiber Channel (FC) which have a significantly higher data transfer capacity in the range of 1-4 Gbits/sec. Expected advances in FC technology will lead to yet higher data transfer capacities of 8 Gbits/sec within several years and a further increase to 16 Gbits/sec several years after that.
Several approaches to data storage and media lifecycle issues have been developed in the past. Several of these include:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,465 discloses a method of moving substantial blocks of data from an I/O buffer or disk cache buffer disk (external) memory to working processor memory for use by a program running in the computer system. The method involves the use of an autonomous hardware device, a so-called data mover, to affect the transfer of data. The data mover can receive and store instruction words and data words and is provided with the necessary registers, counters, switches and digital logic circuits so that it can issue appropriate memory retrieval and storage (read and write) instructions. The data mover is provided with a throttle to minimize potential conflicts with other components of the data processing system. It is designed so that its read and write instructions overlap each other, significantly increasing the rate of data transfer. The data mover relieves the control processors of the data processing system of the responsibility of moving blocks of data from the I/O buffer to the working store thereby significantly increasing the rate of data transfer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,849 describes a computer image production system that features computer workstations connected to data image storage devices which contain image data that is retrieved and processed by the workstations. The workstations are connected to the storage devices by two separate communication networks; a first network for sending and receiving system logistics and control information to the data storage devices and a second network for transferring data files from storage to the workstations and vice versa.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,026 involves a method of transferring data between clusters in a system comprising a plurality of clusters by issuing data transfer instructions from a first cluster which are carried out by a data transfer processing unit on a second cluster without having to use a main data processor in the second cluster. This allows the system to transfer data between clusters without compromising the general data processing ability of clusters affected by the data transfer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,723 discloses a method of mirroring write request data from a first device to a second device where the second device has a primary and a secondary processor. Variable length control data is included in the data stream to the second device and is received by the secondary processor which reads and executes the control data without requiring a hardware interrupt of the primary processor of the second device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,789 involves a network file server consisting of a cached disk array and a plurality of data mover computers for providing access to data files stored in the cached disk array. The data movers perform file system tasks such as mapping file names to logical data blocks, and the locking and unlocking of data files to minimize the loading on the cached disk array. Each data mover maintains a local cache of the file directory software including locking information of locked files that are accessible through the data mover. Data transfers may use more than one data mover simultaneously to expedite the transfer of data from the cached disk array to a client computer. A cache consistency scheme ensures that file locking information is consistent among the local caches of the plurality of data mover computers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,581 describes a file server system in which a plurality of data mover computers control access to data stored on respective data storage devices. A network client can access data stored in the system through any of the data movers. If a data mover receives a request for data whose access is controlled by another data mover, the second data mover performs a lock on the requested data and sends metadata for the requested data to the first data mover computer which then uses the metadata to formulate a data access command to retrieve the requested data over a data path which bypasses the data mover computer which controls access to the requested data.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,130 outlines a computer system interface between a host computer/server and a storage device comprising an array of disk drives. The interface includes a plurality of front end directors coupled to the host computer server and a plurality of back end directors coupled to the array of disk drives. The interface also comprises a data transfer section containing a cache memory and a messaging network that is used to send control signals between the front and back end directors. Each director includes a data pipe for transmitting data to and from the cache memory in the data transfer section, a microprocessor, a controller and a common bus for connecting the aforementioned components. The controller manages the exchange of messages between the front and back end directors used to control the transfer of data through the data pipes to the cache memory in the data transfer section.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,717 describes a distributed computing clustering model which features at least two file servers each of which uses a virtual shared memory containing data objects or tuples which can be accessed independently by worker processes running on client computer devices. A state table is used to synchronize the active virtual shared memory of a first active file server with the stand-by virtual memory of the stand-by file server. In the event of a failure, the stand-by file server will become active and the worker processes will be able to access data objects or tuples in its version of the shared virtual memory.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,071 discloses a computer interface between a host computer/server and a storage device comprising an array of disk drives. The interface includes a plurality of front end directors coupled to the host computer server and a plurality of back end directors coupled to the array of disk drives. The interface also comprises two independent communication networks, one for transmitting control messages between the front and back end directors and a second for transmitting data through a common cache memory between the front and back end directors.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,606 involves a method for effecting a failover change of control from one node in a loosely connected cluster of nodes in a distributed computer environment to another candidate failover node. Configuration data for a plurality of candidate failover nodes is maintained in a data store and status messages are sent from each of the candidate failover nodes, analyzed and compared with the configuration information to determine if a failure in the current controlling node has occurred and if a failover change of control should be initiated. The method provides for a cascading failover which provides for a first failover candidate taking over only a portion of the processes of a failed control node with a second failover candidate taking over the remaining functions.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,575 describes a method of transferring data between a host computer and a bank of disk drives over an interface which comprises two separate communication networks connecting front end data transfer directors connected with the host computer and back end data transfer directors connected with the bank of disk drives. The interface mediates and controls the transfer of data from the host computer to the disk drives and vice versa. One of the communication networks in the interface is used to pass control messages from the front end directors to the back end directors and vice versa while the second communication network is reserved for the transfer of data only from the host computer to the disk drives or vice versa through an intermediary cache memory. The use of a separate network for messaging relieves the cache memory from the burden of storing and transmitting the control messages and improves the operation of the system. The method includes the provision of checking where messages received by a second director are from a valid first director, and if not, terminating the data transfer transaction.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,028,218 illustrates a redundant file server system which uses a plurality of processor boards each having at least 2 physical processors each of which share a cache memory, multiple functional units and a common register unit allowing each of the physical processors to be programmed to act as separate logical processors. The separate logical processors on each processor board are programmed to function as network control processors, data storage control processors and data mover processors in either an active functioning mode or in a stand-by mode ready to take over from the active processor in the event of a failure. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for reinking ribbons in computer printer ribbon cartridges and the like without removing the ribbon from the cartridge. The apparatus can reink ribbon cartridges of various sizes and shapes, and also has provision to reink reel to reel type ribbons.
2. Prior Art
There have been various proposals to extend the life of ribbons used in computer printers, word processors, and typewriters by reinking the ribbons.
Some such prior art proposals put reinking means inside the ribbon cartridge.
Other proposals such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,715 to Schiffmacher et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,522 to Wright, have withdrawn a ribbon from a cartridge and passed it to an inking station and then back to the cartridge.
Prior art devices for reinking have been limited in the size and type of cartridge that the apparatus could process. However, ribbon cartridges now come in many different sizes and shapes. Some cartridges have right hand drive connections, and other are left hand drive. The cartridges of different make and use may have projecting drive connections in different locations. Also, ribbons may be of the reel to reel type. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus appropriate for use as a thermal fixing apparatus, mounted, for example, in a copier or a printer, and a heater employed for this apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an image heating apparatus having a flexible metallic sleeve and a heater employed for this apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most conventional copiers and printers of an electrophotographic type adopt, as fixing means, a thermal roller fixing system, of a contact heating type, that provides satisfactory heating efficiency and safety, or a system whereby power is not supplied to a thermal fixing apparatus in the standby state and power consumption is as greatly reduced as possible; specifically, a film heating system of an energy saving type is one wherein a thin film is arranged between a heater and a pressure roller, and the thermal fixing of a toner image to a recording medium is performed through the film. An example thermal heating method that uses the film heating system is proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 63-313182, No. Hei 2-157878, No. Hei 4-44075 and No. Hei 4-204980. The schematic configuration of such an example film heating system is shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 9, a fixing apparatus of a film heating type includes: a heating member (a heating body; hereinafter referred to as a heater) securely supported by a stay holder (a support body); a heat resistant thin film (hereinafter referred to as a fixing film) 3, the inner peripheral surface of which contacts the heater 2; and a elastic pressure roller 4 that, with the heater 2, grips the film 3 to form a nip portion (a fixing nip portion) having a predetermined nip width. The heater 2 is controlled so as to maintain a predetermined temperature while power is received. The fixing film 3 is a cylindrical member, an endless belt shaped member, or a finite web roll member, and by using a rotation force supplied by drive transmission means (not shown) or the pressure roller 4, the fixing film 3 closely contacts and slides across the heater 2 at the fixing nip portion, and is conveyed in the direction indicated by an arrow.
In a condition under which the heat output by the heater has been adjusted to provide the predetermined temperature and the fixing film 3 has been moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, the medium to be heated, a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image, is fed between the fixing film 3 and the pressure roller 4 at the fixing nip portion. The recording medium, held closely in contact with the face of the fixing film 3, and the fixing film 3 are then conveyed through the fixing nip portion. At the fixing nip portion, the toner image is heated by the heater 2, through the fixing film 3, and is thermally fixed to the recording medium. The recording medium, having passed through the fixing nip portion and having, thereafter, been separated from the face of the fixing film 3, is conveyed away from the fixing nip portion.
The stay holder 1, a heat resistant plastic member, for example, is used to hold the heater 2 and to guide the fixing film 3. In order to minimize the friction when the fixing film slides across the stay holder 1 and the heater 2, grease having a high heat resistance is used to coat the outer faces of the heater 2 and the stay holder 1. The pressure roller 4 is made by forming, around a core 6, a silicon rubber layer or a sponge layer 7 made of foamed silicon rubber, and then by forming, on the layer 7, a tubular shaped releasing layer 8 made of PTFE, PFA or FEP, or by applying a releasing layer 8 as a coating.
The fixing film 3 is quite thin, i.e., 20 to 70 μm, so that the heater 2 can efficiently apply heat at the fixing nip portion to the recording medium that is to be heated. The fixing film 3 includes three layers: a film base layer, a conductive primer layer and a releasing layer, with the film base layer on the heater side and the releasing layer on the pressure roller side. The film base layer is a heat resistant, very flexible layer that is made of a heat resistant resin, such as insulating polyimide, polyamideimide or PEEK, or a metal such as SUS, and has a thickness of about 15 to 60 μm. Further, because of the presence of the film base layer, the mechanical strength, such as the tear strength, of the entire fixing film 3 is maintained. The conductive primer layer is a thin layer, about 2 to 6 μm thick, and is electrically grounded in order to prevent the entire fixing film 3 from becoming charged. The releasing layer is a layer for preventing toner offset relative to the entire fixing film 3, and is made by applying a coating of a fluorine resin, such as PFA, PTFE or FEP, having a satisfactory release property of about 5 to 15 μm. Furthermore, in order to reduce the charge on the surface of the fixing film 3 and to prevent electrostatic offset, a conductive material, for example, is made by mixing carbon black having a specific resistance of about 103 Ωcm to 106 Ωcm in the releasing layer.
A ceramic heating member is generally employed as the heater 2. For example, using screen printing, a heat generating resistance layer, such as silver palladium (Ag/Pd).Ta2N, is formed in the longitudinal direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of paper) on the surface (the surface that does not face the fixing film 3) of an electrically insulating, aluminum nitride ceramic substrate having a superior thermal conductive property and a small thermal capacity, and in addition, a heat generating resistance layer formation face is covered with a thin glass protective layer. Further, a slide layer is formed on the face of the ceramic substrate that contacts the fixing film 3 to reduce the damage friction may cause to the fixing film 3. The slide layer that contacts the fixing film 3 is generally made of glass when the base layer of the fixing film 3 is formed of a resin, such as polyimide. When the base layer of the fixing film 3 is made of a metal such as SUS, however, the durability of the glass layer is reduced. Therefore, to provide for such an event, a method whereby the slide layer on the slide face of the heater 2 is formed of a resin, such as polyimide or polyamideimide, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-57978.
According to the ceramic heater 2, when power is supplied to the heat generating resistance layer, the heat generating resistance layer generates heat, and the temperature of the entire heater, including the ceramic substrate and the slide layer, is rapidly raised. The rise in the temperature of the heater 2 is detected by temperature detection means 5, located at the rear of the heater 2, and is fed back to a power controller (not shown). The power controller controls the power supplied to the heat generating resistance layer, so that at the heater 2 a substantially predetermined temperature (a fixing temperature) is constantly detected by the temperature detection means 5. This control process enables the heater 2 to maintain a predetermined fixing temperature.
To increase the processing capability of an image forming apparatus, the heating efficiency of a fixing apparatus must also be increased. And in order to efficiently transmit heat generated by the heater to a recording medium, the conduction of heat by the base layer of the fixing film must be improved. For a resin fixing film, heat conduction can be improved by mixing heat conductive filler into the resin. However, when too large an amount of heat conductive filler is mixed into the resin, the tear strength of the fixing film is reduced and tearing of the film will occur. Thus, in order to eliminate the heat conduction and tear strength problems, a proposed fixing film is one for which the base layer is made of metal. When a metal fixing film is employed, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-57978, it is preferable that the slide layer of the heater be made of a resin such as polyimide.
It has been found, however, that when coping with an increase in the processing speed of an image forming apparatus, merely making the slide layer of the heater of a resin such as polyimide is not sufficient. Means for increasing the processing capability of the fixing apparatus can include the application of an increased pressurizing force at the fixing nip or the raising the temperature of the heater during the fixing process. However, increasing the pressuring force and raising the temperature of the heater both tend to accelerate the abrasion of the slide layer of the heater. As the slide layer of the heater is worn down by abrasion, particles removed from the slide layer mix with the grease between the surface of the heater and the metallic sleeve. As a result, the desired viscosity and smoothness of the grease is lost, the resistance produced by friction is increased, and the drive torque becomes greater. When the drive torque is increased, it is difficult to rotate the fixing film at high speed, and the processing capability of the fixing apparatus can not be improved. And when a thick slide layer is formed, although the durability of the slide layer is increased, the heat generated by the heater is not easily transmitted to the nip portion. Thus, the method employed to increase the thickness of the slide layer is also not acceptable. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a power device for preventing malfunction, and more particularly, to a power device for preventing malfunction of a protecting device by determining whether a signal delivered from an electric power system to the power device is a surge signal.
2. Background of the Invention
In general, an electric power system has various transmission facilities to supply power generated by a generator to consumers, and power generated by the generator is supplied to consumers through various power transmission and reception facilities midway.
Power facilities are designed based on a normal power flow, but when power facilities are broken down, an overvoltage, an insufficient voltage, an overcurrent, frequency fluctuation, and the like, occurs, hampering power supply to consumers and negatively affecting the facilities, and thus, a fault section needs to be promptly separated at an initial stage to remove factors which have caused the breakdown.
A device that senses such a breakdown and transmits a cutoff signal to a circuit breaker is known as a protecting relay, and as protecting relays have been changed from the past induction relays or static relays to digital relays, it is required to detect a current of an accurate range over a larger correction range.
When surge (for example, lightning surge, switching surge, or the like) generated in an electric power system is introduced to a protecting relay, the protecting relay, recognizing the surge as a signal (for example, a voltage or a current), performs a relaying function, and thus, a relay malfunctions due to the surge. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to playing card dispensers and more particularly, to an automatic playing card dispensing system, which dispenses playing cards and reads the card suits and card values automatically.
2. Description of the Related Art
A regular playing card dispenser generally comprises a shoe having a chute for holding a deck of playing cards, and a motor drive controllable to rotate a card-dispensing roller in dispensing playing cards out of the chute. This design of playing card dispenser simply dispenses playing cards. The dealer needs to deal the dispensed playing cards, to read the card suits and card values of the dealt playing cards, and to judge who the winner is. This design of playing card dispenser has drawbacks as follows:
1. Direct contact of the dealer with the playing cards cannot eliminate human cheating.
2. Human calculation of the card values and game result adjustment cannot eliminate human error. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In the field of radio frequency (RF) communication receivers, the main task of the receiver front-end circuit is to process a signal that is received by an antenna coupled to the receiver front-end circuit in such a manner that it can be more easily processed by subsequent receiver circuits, for example, demodulation circuitry. Typically, such front-end circuits comprise low noise amplifier (LNA) circuitry for amplifying the received RF signal, and mixer circuit arranged to perform frequency translation of the amplified radio frequency signal to a lower intermediate or baseband frequency. The intermediate/baseband frequency signal may then be filtered to remove interfering signals etc.
Since the frequency of the intermediate or baseband signal output by the mixer circuit is typically much lower than the carrier frequency (fRF) for the received RF signal, all stages within the receive chain, subsequent to the mixer circuit, operate at low or baseband frequencies. Furthermore, due to the amplification provided by the LNA circuitry in front of the mixer circuit, and by the mixer circuit itself (if active mixers are used), the signal levels following the mixer circuit are also larger than the signal level of the received RF signal. Accordingly, these low frequency/high signal level characteristics allow the use of a large variety of circuit techniques for the implementation of the stages within the receive chain following the front-end circuitry.
However, due to the high operating frequencies and the low signal levels of the received RF signal, only a very limited number of circuit techniques may be used to successfully implement the front-end circuitry that comprises the LNA circuitry and the mixer circuit. The amplification provided by the LNA increases the signal level at the input of the mixer circuit/device and, therefore, alleviates its noise requirements. However, fully integrated LNAs are known to exhibit poor selectivity. As a consequence, the LNA not only amplifies the wanted signal component, but also amplifies unwanted signal components with frequencies close to the frequency of the wanted signal component. Accordingly, the higher the LNA gain, the more challenging become the linearity requirements for the mixer circuit. A key mixer circuit linearity metric is the IP3 (third order intercept point), since the mixer is often the bottleneck within, say, a receiver front end in terms of IP3, as well as IP2 (second order intercept point).
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an example of a known mixer circuit topology in the form of a Gilbert quadrature mixer 100 comprising a pair of Gilbert cell mixers 110, 120. The input stage for each Gilbert cell mixer comprises a respective transconductance stage 115, 125, which transforms the input signal coming from, for example, a preceding LNA or filter into a signal current. This signal current is then chopped by a group of four transistors 130, which down-converts the frequency of the signal current to the desired intermediate or baseband frequency. The output of the mixer 100 is in the form of a current and is typically converted to a voltage by a resistor/capacitor RC load (not shown), which also functions as a low-pass filter.
Two significant limitations of this known mixer design are firstly that the linearity of the mixer is primarily limited by the input transconductance stages 115, 125, and secondly that flicker noise generated by the transistors 130 appears at the output. For the first of these limitations, good mixer designs with a current consumption commensurate to portable devices, such as mobile telephone handsets, etc., require an input-referred IP3 value smaller than circa 0 dBV. Such a stringent requirement is not achievable with the use of such an input transconductance stage. As for the second of the above identified limitations, such a limitation is usually not significant for bipolar transistor implementations, since flicker noise is significantly less for bipolar transistors than it is for, say, MOSFETs (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors). However, the presence of flicker noise at the output is a significant problem for CMOS implementations.
Whilst bipolar transistors may be more suitable for implementing mixer circuits in terms of their flicker noise, the fabrication of high performance bipolar transistors requires expensive processing steps during their fabrication. Consequently, the fabrication of such high performance bipolar transistors is prohibitively expensive for cost sensitive implementations, such as within front end circuits of RF communication receivers. Less expensive CMOS processes may be used to produce lower performance bipolar transistors. However, such lower performance bipolar transistors are not capable of operating at the Gigahertz frequencies required by modern RF communication receivers.
A known method for overcoming the flicker noise problem of CMOS implementations of the Gilbert cell mixer is by way of suppressing the DC (direct current) current flowing in the switching transistors, since the flicker noise of CMOS transistors, such as metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), is proportional to the drain bias current flowing in the transistor. FIG. 2 illustrates a known example of a passive Gilbert type mixer 200 whereby coupling capacitors 260 are connected in series with the switching transistors 230 the output ports of the mixer are terminated by transimpedance amplifiers 240, 250, which also function as low-pass filters. In this manner, the coupling capacitors 260 ensure a zero DC bias current flowing in the switching transistors 230, thereby significantly reducing the flicker noise present at the output ports of the mixer. The transimpedance amplifiers are used to hold the source/drain potential of the switching transistors at a known potential. However, since such a mixer design still comprises input transconductance stages 210, 220, the problem of odd-order distortion, and thus poor linearity, is still present.
FIG. 3 illustrates a further example of a known mixer circuit 300 implementing an alternative method for overcoming the flicker-noise problem of the classic Gilbert cell mixer design illustrated in FIG. 1. The mixer circuit 300 of FIG. 3 comprises an active 2LO-LO mixer whereby switches 340 are directly connected to the transconductance stages 310, and are toggled at twice the desired local oscillator frequency (LO) used for output transistors 330. In this manner, the flicker noise of the output transistors 330 does not appear at the output of the mixer circuit. Conversely, the flicker noise of the switches 340 does appear at the output, but as common mode noise, which may be suppressed. However, once again the mixer circuit 300 still comprises input transconductance stage 310, and thus the problem of odd-order distortion, and thus poor linearity, is still present.
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a further known mixer circuit 400. For each of the known mixer circuits illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the odd-order distortion, and in particular the third order intercept point (IP3) is primarily limited by the input transconductance stages. For the mixer circuit 400 of FIG. 4, there is no input transconductance stage. Instead, capacitors 410 are used to connect the switching transistors directly to an inductor-capacitor (LC) tank 420 used as a load for, say, a preceding LNA. Importantly, the capacitors 410 are constituent parts of the tank 420, and not merely coupling capacitors. In this manner, their impedance and magnitude are relatively significant and will provide some isolation between the respective quadrature I-channel and the Q-channel. The isolation is required in order to keep the noise contribution of transimpedance amplifiers 440 low. In addition, the parallel resonance boosts the signal current coming from the LNA by a factor equal to the quality factor of the LC tank 420. Since the input stage of the mixer circuit 400 comprises only passive components, the linearity of this mixer circuit 400 is superior, as compared to those of FIGS. 1 to 3, since the linearity is only limited by the switching transistors 430 and by the transimpedance amplifiers 440.
A problem with the mixer circuit 400 of FIG. 4 is that the LC tank 420 requires the inclusion of an inductor. Analogue circuits comprising components such as inductors do not scale with improvements in semiconductor manufacturing processes in the same manner as digital circuits. Thus, the presence of analogue components, such as inductors, is a considerable burden on the ability to scale a circuit in order to reduce the size, footprint, etc. of an integrated circuit device. | {
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1. Technical Field
This disclosure generally relates to computer systems, and more specifically relates to monitoring virtual machine (VM) patterns as they run and dynamically adjusting the VM patterns according to one or more metrics.
2. Background Art
The combination of hardware and software on a particular computer system defines a computing environment. Different hardware platforms and different operating systems thus provide different computing environments. In recent years, engineers have recognized that it is possible to provide different computing environments on the same physical computer system by logically partitioning the computer system resources to different computing environments known as virtual machines. The System X computer system developed by IBM is an example of a computer system that supports logical partitioning into multiple virtual machines. If multiple virtual machines on a System X computer system are desired, partition manager code (referred to as a “hypervisor” in IBM terminology) is installed that allows defining different virtual machines on the same platform. Once the partition manager is installed, virtual machines may be created that define different computing environments. The partition manager manages the logical partitions to assure that they can share needed resources in the computer system while maintaining the separate computing environments defined by the virtual machines.
Virtual machines are used extensively in computing solutions that are cloud-based. As the demands for cloud solutions increase, open source software for building clouds, such as OpenStack, have become a building block for creating a reliable and flexible cloud platform.
Deploying a computing solution to a cloud involves many considerations and decisions, such as security (public v. private cloud), price, reliability, Quality of Service, whether a single VM or multiple VMs are needed, etc. The process for finding a suitable cloud for deploying one or more VMs is currently a manual one made by a human administrator. Thus, a human administrator determines the specifications for a desired computing solution or part of a desired computing solution, and manually looks for a cloud that satisfies the specifications. When the human administrator selects a suitable cloud, the human administrator can deploy the computing solution to the selected cloud. The human administrator may then monitor performance of the computing solution, and manually make decisions regarding if and when to change configuration of the computing solution, such as moving part of the computing solution to a different cloud. | {
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The explosive growth of the Internet and email has lead to the explosive growth of the amount of data available. This tremendous amount of data has led to the need to have a tool for classifying, analyzing and organizing the available information as the massive amount of raw information is not meaningful. There are many tools for organizing the information as well as tools for searching through that information. There are many different well known search tools and search engines, such as the very popular Google search engine (www.google.com/). There are also tools designed to permit the user to understand the data collected during the search. Some of the existing tools are textual. For example, a typical search engine might provide search results in a textual form. Alternatively, some tools provide a visual display (and clustering) of the data collected during a search/mining operation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,965 describes a system in which the text in a corpus of documents and the relationships between the various words in the corpus of documents is displayed visually in a map-type structure. The map structure permits the user to identify words that appear more often in the corpus of documents. The map also permits the user to drill down through the map structure and, at the lowest level, look at the actual documents that are associated, for example, with a particular word.
Most conventional search engines do not provide an “authoritative search” when a query is entered into the system. In particular, most conventional search engines, such as Google, generate results for a search but do not attempt to apply further processing to understand the data being retrieved or use that further processing to assist with an understanding of the data. The search engine will match the query against an index and return documents that match one or more of the query terms. Typically, the results are organized according to relevance so that the most relevant document, such as the one with the most terms that match the query terms, is presented before the less relevant documents. However, the search engine does not attempt to further analyze the results. The problem with such an approach to search is best illustrated with an example. Assume that a user is looking for documents about John Adams (the composer) and enters the query “John Adams” into the search engine. The search results will likely include documents that contain the words (“John” and “Adams”), but are not actually about the composer entity. Thus, it is desirable to provide a search engine that performs additional processing, to provide a more authoritative search to the user such as the identification and disambiguation of specific named entities.
In addition, most conventional search engines do not consolidate or index content from heterogeneous sources. Nor do these search engines present results that are then ranked according to the relevance of the content from the heterogeneous sources. For example, most conventional search engines do not blend the results of a web-based search with the results of an intranet search so that the results of the user's search include both content from the web that meets the query criteria and content from the intranet that meets the query criteria. It is desirable to provide a search engine that provides this “blending” of content from the heterogeneous sources.
It is also desirable that a search engine provides additional features including a long term archive of search queries and results, vertical content that may be provided with semantic indexing, localization of search results, multimedia display of the search results, mining tools and personalization of the search experience for the user. Thus, it is desirable to provide a search system and method that overcomes the limitations of the conventional systems and provides the desirable features set forth above and it is to this end that the present invention is directed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to phosphor-converted semiconductor light emitting devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Semiconductor light-emitting devices including light emitting diodes (LEDs), resonant cavity light emitting diodes (RCLEDs), vertical cavity laser diodes (VCSELs), and edge emitting lasers are among the most efficient light sources currently available. Materials systems currently of interest in the manufacture of high-brightness light emitting devices capable of operation across the visible spectrum include Group III-V semiconductors, particularly binary, ternary, and quaternary alloys of gallium, aluminum, indium, and nitrogen, also referred to as III-nitride materials. Typically, III-nitride light emitting devices are fabricated by epitaxially growing a stack of semiconductor layers of different compositions and dopant concentrations on a sapphire, silicon carbide, III-nitride, or other suitable substrate by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), or other epitaxial techniques. The stack often includes one or more n-type layers doped with, for example, Si, formed over the substrate, one or more light emitting layers in an active region formed over the n-type layer or layers, and one or more p-type layers doped with, for example, Mg, formed over the active region. Electrical contacts are formed on the n- and p-type regions.
Since the light emitted by current commercially available III-nitride devices is generally on the shorter wavelength end of the visible spectrum, the light generated by III-nitride devices can be readily converted to produce light having a longer wavelength. It is well known in the art that light having a first peak wavelength (the “primary light”) can be converted into light having a longer peak wavelength (the “secondary light”) using a process known as luminescence/fluorescence. The fluorescent process involves absorbing the primary light by a wavelength-converting material such as a phosphor and exciting the luminescent centers of the phosphor material, which emit the secondary light. The peak wavelength of the secondary light will depend on the phosphor material. The type of phosphor material can be chosen to yield secondary light having a particular peak wavelength.
In a common application, the light emitting device and phosphor material are selected such that the combined primary and secondary light appear white. In a conventional white light phosphor converted LED, a III-nitride die that emits blue light is combined with a phosphor that emits yellow light, such as Y3Al5O12:Ce3+. Such white light devices typically have undesirable color rendering properties since the combined light is deficient in the red region of the visible light spectrum.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,069 describes a phosphor-converted LED including two phosphors, a first phosphor that emits yellow light and a second phosphor that emits red light. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to antennae, and, more particularly, to apparatus for securing a DIN connector to an end cap to an antenna.
Currently, there exists many antenna types, shapes, and sizes. An end cap of an antenna may snap onto a radome to seal and protect the antenna from adverse environmental conditions. The end cap may have a plurality of Deutsches Institut für Normung (or “DIN”) connectors attached thereto, to electrically connect other components (e.g., dipoles) of the antenna with an external device such as a receiver or transmitter. Due to the wide variation of antennae and antenna configurations, brackets, end caps, and other hardware may need to be customized for each antenna configuration, at least for securing DIN connectors to the end cap for connection to other components. Design and implementation of this additional hardware may be burdensome and costly.
As such, it would be desirable to have an end cap capable of supporting numerous antenna configurations and securing DIN connectors without the use of additional hardware. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Non-destructive examination of objects by means of X-ray computer tomography requires the use of high-energy X-radiation sources which allow examination of objects that have high penetration lengths or high densities. In conventional X-radiation sources, the X-ray target is a solid body; under electron beam bombardment, a high temperature increase can be observed in the interaction zone, the so-called focal spot, of the solid body, which results in high thermal loads acting on the interaction zone. A dissipation of the heat generated in the focal spot of a solid body is very difficult. The achievable output power of the X-radiation is therefore limited due to the thermal load of the X-ray target. X-radiation sources with an X-radiation of high output power are however required in particular to achieve a good image quality at a short irradiation time.
WO 02/11 499 A1 discloses an X-radiation source where a liquid jet is used as X-ray target. The liquid jet is generated by means of a nozzle and collected by a suction pipe. Between the nozzle and the suction pipe, the liquid jet is able to move freely in an evacuated chamber. The liquid jet is bombarded with an electron beam in order to generate X-radiation. The X-ray target being designed as a liquid jet allows better dissipation of heat generated in the focal spot than a solid body. The achievable output power of the X-radiation is higher than compared to X-radiation sources using a solid body as X-ray target. A drawback is that in the event of an excessive temperature increase of the liquid jet, the vapor pressure of the liquid jet may increase such that complete removal thereof is impossible, causing a part of the liquid jet to evaporate and to deposit on the internal walls of the evacuated chamber. This impairs the functionality and reliability of the X-radiation source. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Rotary drill bits of the type employed for drilling wells, blast holes and the like commonly employ two or three inwardly projecting cone-shaped rolling cutters which are rotatably mounted on journals carried by the body of the bit. The cutters have teeth or rock-crushing inserts on their conical surfaces, and are oriented by the journals to roll upon the bottom surface of the hole being drilled as the bit is rotated by the well string to which it is attached. A fluid, such as air, may be forced down the well string and discharged through the bit to flush cuttings upwardly in the well bore. The conical cutters commonly are mounted to the journals by means of both roller bearings and ball bearings, the roller bearings being subject to the radial forces imposed on the cutter during a drilling operation. In such operations, pulverized drill cuttings of rock or the like may find their way into the interior roller and ball bearings and cause undue bearing wear. Various methods have been suggested for preventing, or at least reducing, premature bearing wear; such methods include the use of seals to prevent pulverized rock cuttings from entering the bearing areas, or the use of lubricants, or compressed air flowing through an oblique channel to the bearings for lubricating and cooling the bearings and for sweeping pulverized rock away from the bearings. Representative of such bits are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,075,997; 2,076,002; 2,814,465; and 3,656,764.
The forces acting on such conical cutters during a drilling operation have both axial and radial components. Of these, the axial component was transmitted to the journal by means of the ball bearings, or by means of relatively small confronting frictional bearing surfaces interiorly of the bit, whereas the radial component was transmitted through the roller bearings. The heat generated at the bearing surfaces contributes materially to rapid bearing wear and premature failure. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the coloration of petroleum fuels. There is a need for dyes which are quickly and highly soluble in petroleum fuels such as, for example, gasoline, diesel oils and heating and fuels oils. As is pointed out in U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,273, this need arises because of the laws of certain foreign countries which impose taxes on motive and heating oils. These laws provide that particular dyes and/or marking agents must be added to these oils to provide a means for identification to prove or disprove the payment of taxes. For example, Manitoba Regulation 51/66 under the Motive Fuel Tax Act of Canada, provides in part that "Motive fuel used for any of the purposes mentioned in subsection (7) of Section 3 of the Act shall be given a specific colour and separate identity by means of a purple dye and a chemical marker, as may be determined by the minister."
A law passed in the Federal Republic of West Germany requires the addition of certain chemicals to distillate type heating oils sold in that country after Apr. 1, 1976. These chemicals are intended to permit the identification of taxed heating oils if used illegally for much more highly taxed diesel fuels. The opportunity for fraud exists because the chemical and physical properties of heating oils and of diesel oils are quite similar.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A great variety of azo dyes have been used for many years to color gasoline and other petroleum fuels and/or distillates. These dyes have usually been solid dyes in the form of powders, flakes, granules and the like which tend to cake and which have a limited solubility and a low rate of dissolution. For instance, the solubility of the various azo dyes used in the past has been of the order of magnitude of less than about 2%, ranging upward to about 5% in some instances. Further, and most importantly, the rate of dissolution of these solid dyes in gasolines, diesel and heating oils is very slow and requires special techniques. One such special technique is the so-called "dry dye eductor" system described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,925,333. In this same patent (at Column 6) it is disclosed that the solubility test was conducted by mixing gasoline with dye "on a slowly rotating wheel for 16 hours at 80.degree. F."
In addition, the use of powdered dyes causes (1) the evolution of noxious dye dust which exposes personnel to inhalation hazards requiring the adoption of precautionary measures and respiratory devices and (2) the deposition of dye dust on equipment and throughout the plant area requiring frequent cleanup.
Several solutions to these various problems have been suggested by the prior art. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 3,049.533 attempts to overcome the caking and dusting problems by providing azo dyes in the form of thin platelets formed on a rotating drum.
Another solution to the problems associated with solid dyes is that of British Pat. No. 1,108,981 which solubilizes difficulty soluble solid dyes in a mixture of a liquid phenol and a hydrocarbon to provide a liquid dye. U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,809 also provides a liquid azo dyestuff by a particular combination of a mixture of azo dyes containing defined alkyl phenols or alkyl naphthols in the dye molecule together with a liquid organic viscosity depressant. Some well-known so-called "oil soluble" solid azo dyes used for coloring petroleum fuels include the following (where "C.I." refers to color index):
______________________________________ ##STR2## SOLVENT YELLOW NO. 56 C.I. 11021 ##STR3## SOLVENT YELLOW NO. 14 C.I. 12055 ##STR4## SOLVENT RED NO. 24 C.I. 26105 ##STR5## SOLVENT RED NO. 19 C.I. 26050 ______________________________________
Each of the foregoing dyes presents the same disadvantages previously noted for solid dyes in general. The solubility deficiencies of Solvent Red No. 19 (C.I. 26050) will be demonstrated more fully in the Examples hereinafter set forth.
As is readily apparent, an azo dye which has excellent solubility in petroleum fuels and exhibits good storage would be desirable to remedy the defects of solid azo dyes.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide azo dyes which have high solubility in petroleum fuels and a practically instantaneous rate of dissolution therein.
It is another object of this invention to provide azo dyes which have a high rate of solubility in petroleum fuels, a practically instantaneous rate of dissolution therein, exhibit storage stability and do not adversely affect the physical and chemical characteristics of the petroleum distillate to which the are added. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present disclosure relates generally to a support for an infant carrier, and relates more particularly to a holder for a handheld infant carrier for use with a transport device.
Handheld infant carriers are well known and widely used for transporting infants in a variety of circumstances. In the case of transporting an infant in a motor vehicle, infant carrier manufacturers sometimes provide a base that can be securely installed in a rear seating area of the motor vehicle and can accept a handheld infant carrier in a secure engagement. The combination of infant carrier and base can provide a stable and fixed transport platform so that an infant in such a carrier can be securely and safely transported in the motor vehicle. Some infant carriers are configured to be secured in a rear seating area of a motor vehicle without a mating base. Infant carriers are sometimes configured with a handle arrangement to permit the infant carrier to be handheld and transported by hand. Infant carriers are available that are designed to be easily releasable from the motor vehicle securement to permit ease of manual transport. Some types of infant carriers are also configured to be releaseably secured to a stroller, to permit the infant carrier to be transported without necessarily manually carrying the infant carrier.
In each of the configurations where an infant carrier mates to a base or stroller for transport, the mating configuration is typically proprietary to the infant carrier manufacturer. Accordingly, an infant carrier made in accordance with one manufacturer's design does not typically engage with or mate with a transport base or cart that is provided in accordance with another manufacturer's design. As a result, infant carriers tend to be usable with transport mechanisms that are specifically designed for that type of infant carrier, and no others.
A shopper with an infant in an infant carrier is often challenged with regard to transporting the infant, infant carrier and a shopping cart that is intended for transporting goods selected by the shopper in a shopping environment. The infant carrier is not ideally placed in a basket of the shopping cart, since little room is left for selected goods, and the carrier may not be stably secured. If the infant carrier is mated to an associated stroller that is specific to the infant carrier design, the shopping customer is challenged to transport the infant carrier-stroller combination and the shopping cart in a shopping environment.
Alternately, the shopper may opt to manually transport the infant in the infant carrier while pushing the shopping cart, which raises another set of challenges. For example, it may be physically difficult for the shopper to carry the infant carrier throughout the shopping experience. Handheld infant carriers can be relatively weighty and thus challenging for users to carry for a duration of a shopping trip. The shopper may set the infant carrier on a floor of the shopping environment while selecting goods, for example, which represents a challenge for protection of the infant from potential dangers such as may be presented from dropped objects, being a tripping hazard, or being hit by shopping carts. In addition, the infant is located near to the potentially unsanitary surface of the shopping environment floor.
Recognizing some of these challenges, some infant carrier manufacturers have produced designs intended to be used with popular shopping cart models that permit the infant carrier to be located on a shopping cart in a somewhat stable arrangement. For example, the infant carrier may be configured to cooperate with the handle, gate or foldout seatback of a shopping cart to obtain a somewhat stable perch for the infant carrier. This approach to meeting the above-noted challenges of handling an infant carrier in a shopping environment has several drawbacks. For example, the infant carrier tends to be mounted on the shopping cart at a fairly high location relative to the shopping cart center of gravity, potentially increasing the tip-over risk of the infant carrier or the shopping cart in combination with the infant carrier. In addition, the infant carrier configuration tends to be fairly specific to the manufacturer, as noted above, so that the infant carrier is not usable with all varieties of shopping carts, which tend to vary significantly among retail establishments. Accordingly, the customer with an infant in an infant carrier faces a number of challenges in shopping environments in general.
The use of infant carriers in other circumstances can present different challenges. For example, new mothers leaving a health facility after giving birth may have difficulty carrying an infant carrier with a new infant. Some health facilities, including some hospitals, require that an infant carrier be available for the newborn infant to be transported home. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The acetoacetate moiety has been used in the coatings industry to impart functionality capable of undergoing a variety of cross-linking reaction while simultaneously lowering the viscosity of the resulting formulation. Among the reactions which can be used to promote cross-linking of acetoacetylated polymeric materials are reactions with activated olefins (commonly referred to as the Michael reaction), diamines, melamine, isocyanates, and the like. Coatings prepared from acetoacetylated polymers using such cross-linking strategies often exhibit improved stain-resistance, salt-spray resistance and better adhesion to the metal surface when compared to coatings prepared from nonacetoacetylated polymers.
Interest in the use of acetoacetylated materials in coatings has led to the need for general synthetic procedures for the preparation of acetoacetylated compounds which can be readily practiced on industrial scale. It is known that acetoacetylated acrylic resins can be prepared by the copolymerization of acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate with acrylic or methacrylic monomers. Alternatively, acetoacetylated polymers or resins can be prepared by the acetoacetylation of the polymeric substrate, rather than by polymerization of acetoacetylated monomers. One substrate for which this method of synthesis is generally required is in the preparation of acetoacetylated polyester resins.
Simple acetoacetylated materials can be prepared in a variety of ways. For example, an appropriate nucleophile can be treated with diketene. Alternatively, such nucleophile can be subjected to a thermal reaction with 2,2,6-trimethyl-4H-1,3-dioxin -4-one (TKD, the diketene-acetone adduct). As yet another alternative, such nucleophile can be subjected to transesterification with another acetoacetate moiety (referred to hereinafter as "transacetoacetylation").
The industrial-scale use of diketene for such applications is impractical due to strict governmental regulations regarding the shipping of this material. In addition, the classification of diketene as a lachrymator make the large scale use of this material undesirable. The dioxinone, TKD, while effective for acetoacetylation, is currently too costly a raw material to be employed for large scale industrial applications.
While transesterification reactions are well known in the preparation of polyester coating resins, transesterification of acetoacetates (i.e., transacetoacetylation) has not found wide spread application. One published procedure for the preparation of acetoacetic acid derivatives involves heating solutions of a higher boiling alcohol with an excess of methyl or ethyl acetoacetate while the volatile methyl or ethyl alcohol co-product is removed by distillation. Reaction times for such procedure are on the order of many hours when carried out at elevated temperatures (about 100.degree. C.). Another method for transacetoacetylation which has been suggested in the art involves contacting the alcohol of interest with a large excess of methylacetoacetate and a 4-dimethylaminopyridine catalyst in a high boiling hydrocarbon solvent such as toluene for an extended period of time. An alternate method for transacetoacetylation disclosed in the art is the use of titanium catalysts.
Seebach et al, Synthesis, 1982, pages 138-141, disclose the use of substantial amounts of titanium (IV) alkoxides (tetraalkyl titanates) as catalysts in the transacetacetylation of alcohols. More specifically, this reference discloses the reaction of tertiary (t) butyl acetoacetate with n-butanol and benzyl alcohol in the presence of tetraethyl titanate wherein the molar ratio of the titanate used to t-butyl acetoacetate was 0.21 or 0.35.
Yet another prior art disclosure of transesterification reactions employing acetoacetic moieties is found in European Patent Application 227,454, assigned to Cook Paint and Varnish Inc. The reaction between a polyhydroxy functional monomer or polymer and an alkyl monofunctional acetoacetate is disclosed. Suitable acetoacetate esters are disclosed to be methyl acetoacetate, ethyl acetoacetate, isopropyl acetoacetate, butyl acetoacetate, t-butyl acetoacetate, methyl benzyl acetoacetate and dodecyl acetoacetate. The examples in this disclosure demonstrate only the use of ethyl acetoacetate. There is no suggestion in the reference of any benefit from using one acetoacetate moiety rather than another taken from the above list of "suitable" compounds.
The high dilution, large amounts of catalyst used and long reaction times involved make each of the prior art procedures for transacetoacetylation impractical, especially when application on a commercial scale is contemplated. Prior art procedures are particularly ill-suited for the acetoacetylation of higher molecular weight (including polymeric) nucleophiles. There is, therefore, a need in the art for simplified procedure for transacetoacetylation, which procedure does not require extreme reaction conditions or large quantities of unreactive materials. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a tire with radial carcass reinforcement intended to be mounted on a rim, at least one seat of which is inclined towards the outside and is extended axially to the outside by a low projection. It concerns more particularly the beads of such a tire.
2. Description of the Related Prior Art
A bead intended to be mounted on a rim, at least one seat of which is inclined towards the outside, is described for example in the international publication WO 95/23073. The rim described in this publication comprises an external wall whose portion axially towards the outside is axially recessed with respect to the low projection on the rim. Consequently, this rim part axially furthest towards the outside does not benefit from any protection by the tire against attacks caused, for example, by rubbing against pavements during travel in town. The architecture, that is to say the structure, of this type of tire rim is described in the international publication WO 95/23073 and comprises in particular a part forming a “heel” designed so as to be situated axially towards the inside and a bead toe designed so as to be situated axially towards the outside when the tire is mounted on its mounting rim.
This tire also comprises a carcass reinforcement, the ends of which are anchored in each bead to an anchoring device, the said anchoring device being formed from at least one circumferential rim reinforcement element (such as a bead wire or a set of wires or cables wound circumferentially) and a wedge made from a mixture of high-hardness rubber and substantially triangular in shape. This wedge is, seen in section in a meridian plane (that is to say a plane containing the rotation axis of the tire), delimited by a radially external lateral face and a radially internal face and finally a face connecting the above two faces and situated axially to the outside, so that the vertex of the wedge opposite to the said lateral face is situated radially towards the inside of the circumferential bead reinforcement. The carcass reinforcement is anchored at each of its ends on the said anchoring device by means of an upturn which, at least partially, winds around the circumferential bead reinforcement element and is extended in or around the wedge made from a mixture of high-hardness rubber.
The fact that it is wished to provide satisfactory protection of the rim against various impacts and friction has led to adapting the axially external shape of the bead, an adaptation consisting of providing an addition volume of rubber mixture so that this additional volume prevents contact of the axial external projection on the rim with any external object.
Though this additional volume, forming a protuberance on each bead mounted on a rim seat inclined towards the outside, effectively protects the corresponding projection on the rim, it is of course liable to be subjected to a phenomenon of abrasion when the tire rubs against an external object, in particular a pavement. International application WO 99/64258 published on 16 Dec. 1999 teaches providing this protuberance with a plurality of incisions of non-zero width and with a depth of no more than 5 mm, these incisions delimiting a plurality of ribs parallel to each other and spaced apart evenly in the circumferential direction.
This latter construction, though it is favorable with regard to the abrasion aspect, nevertheless still presents a few drawbacks which the present invention seeks to resolve. This is because it has been found that, under extreme conditions, detachment of localized material could occur over a greater or lesser thickness. In certain cases, the thickness is such that the wedge of the anchoring device is laid bare and possibly the reinforcements of the carcass reinforcement are also. The carcass reinforcements are then no longer protected from external agents (water, air etc). | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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When an analog video signal is received by a conventional television set having a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), a picture is “drawn” on the CRT by sweeping an electron beam horizontally across the face of the CRT one line at a time. The sweeping of the electron beam is controlled by electromagnets in the television set. Each horizontal sweep across the face of the CRT is referred to as a scan line or simply as a line. The brightness at various points along a scan line is determined by the content of the electronic video signal. A complete picture formed from multiple scan lines is referred to as a frame.
At the end of each scan line, the electron beam is repositioned to the beginning of the next line. This is referred to as horizontal retrace. Due to the inductance of the electromagnets used to control the beam, horizontal retrace takes a certain amount of time. Accordingly, analog video signal includes not only active video regions comprising content information but also “gaps”, referred to as horizontal blanking intervals, which instruct the CRT to turn off its electron beam and perform horizontal retrace. The gaps are of sufficient duration to allow horizontal retrace to be completed. A similar mechanism is used to cause the electron beam to be repositioned from the bottom of the CRT back to the top after the last scan line has been drawn. The latter is referred to as vertical retrace.
The portion of an analog video signal which instructs the CRT to perform vertical retrace is referred to as the vertical blanking interval (VBI) region. The VBI region primarily consists of blank video lines, which follow similar conventions as active video lines but are not representative of displayed video content. VBI lines are considered to be part of an overall frame, despite the fact that they are not displayed. For example, in a television set whose CRT displays 480 scan lines of video content, each frame may actually include 45 additional, non-displayed lines which comprise the VBI region, for a total of 525 lines per frame. VBI lines may be adapted to carry various types of information associated with the video signal, such as closed captioning, content advisory, or aspect format information for example.
Images displayed on a CRT are redrawn many times per second to create the illusion of continuous motion. Continuous redrawing is performed using either interlaced or progressive scanning techniques.
In interlaced scanning, the overall frame is divided into two halves which are referred to as fields. Each field includes alternate rows (scan lines) of the frame. For example, the first field (or “top field” or “odd field”) may include odd numbered rows while the second field (or “bottom field” or “even field”) includes even numbered rows. Within the analog video signal, which may be referred to as an interlaced video signal, top and bottom fields are transmitted in sequence. A CRT receiving the signal will thus first draw the entire top field, then the entire bottom field, then the entire top field again, and so forth, in alternating fashion. Most CRT television sets employ interlaced scanning.
In progressive scanning, frames are not divided into fields. Rather, each line of a frame (whether active or VBI) is appears in sequence within the video signal, and the CRT draws each active video line of the frame in sequence before a vertical retrace occurs. The signal may be referred to as a progressive video signal in this case. Traditionally, the analog video signals received from a tower are interlaced rather than progressive video signals, however a television may generate a progressive signal from an interlaced signal in a process known as de-interlacing. Many computer monitors use progressive scanning because it may yield less “flicker” than interlaced scanning, such that a person may be able to view a picture generated with progressive scanning for longer time periods without eye fatigue than if interlaced scanning were employed.
Although most analog video signals world-wide generally follow similar conventions, analog video signals in different geographical regions may differ in such characteristics as number of scan lines per frame, visible pixels per line, horizontal scanning rate (also known as “horizontal frequency”) and vertical frame rate (also known as “vertical frequency”). For example, Table 1 illustrates the characteristics of the National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) video format prevalent in the North America and Japan as compared to the characteristics of the Phase Alternating Line (PAL) video format commonly used in Europe and the SEquentiel Couleur Avec Mémoire (SECAM) video format prevalent in France and Russia
TABLE 1NTSC and PAL format characteristicsVIDEOFORMATNTSCPAL/SECAMVisibleApproximately 480Approximately 576Lines/Frame(525 total lines)(625 total lines)VisibleDetermined by bandwidth,Determined by bandwidth,Pixels/Lineranges from 320 to 650ranges from 320 to 720Horizontal15.73415.625Rate (KHz)Vertical29.9725Frame Rate(Hz)
In most analog video formats, the VBI region may be used to carry Copy Generation Management System Analog plus Redistribution Control (CGMS-A+RC) information. CGMS-A+RC (pronounced “CGMSA plus RC”) information is an indicator of copy protection rights and redistribution control rights having two components.
The first component (CGMS-A) is a copy protection indicator which indicates whether and to what extent the associated video content may be copied. The objective of including copy protection information within an analog video signal may be to permit analog video sink devices (e.g. television sets, Video Cassette Recorders (VCRs), optical disc recorders such as Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) recorders, or Personal Computer (PC) television cards) receiving the signal to automatically take steps to prevent inappropriate copying of copyrighted content.
The second component (+RC) is a redistribution control indicator which indicates whether the video content may be redistributed, e.g., uploaded to a server on the Internet, broadcast unencrypted over a wireless network, or more generally, output over a digital output without some sort of content protection or recorded to media for long term storage. Content protection, which may constitute encryption for example, is different from copy protection, which generally precludes the making of unauthorized copies. Video may be content-protected but not copy-protected. In this case, the owner should be able to reproduce the video, e.g., by “burning” the video onto one or more recordable DVDs, but each reproduction will be viewable only by the owner (e.g. the owner may be the only one to have a key necessary to decrypt the content), rather than by anyone. Thus when redistribution control is effected, a device may automatically take steps to preclude redistribution of the video content (e.g. by automatically applying encryption before outputting a signal over a digital output of the device or automatically applying encryption before recording the content to media for long term storage).
Various VBI standards have been developed in an attempt to standardize the type and format of information carried in the VBI region of analog video signals. Some VBI standards specify carriage of both of the CGMS-A component and +RC component. For example, the CEA-805-A standard published by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) dictates that CGMS-A information shall be encoded using two bits and RC information shall be encoded using a single bit, as shown in Table 2 below:
TABLE 2CGMS-A and RC Bit Definitions - CEA 805-A StandardCGMS-A BitRC BitValuesCGMS-A DefinitionValueRC Definition00Copy protection not0Redistribution controlasserted (i.e.not asserted (i.e.copying permittedredistribution viawithout restriction)Internet is permitted)01Copy no more (one1No redistribution isgeneration copy haspermittedalready been made)10Copy one generationNo redistribution is(no copy has beenpermittedmade yet)11No copying ispermitted
It is noted that the CEA 805-A standard is presently undergoing revision, thus the bit definitions of Table 2 may change over time.
Other VBI standards may specify carriage of the CGMS-A component without the +RC component. Table 3 enumerates the VBI standards that are currently most prevalent. Some contention exists between the standards; efforts are being made to harmonize them. It is possible that some standards may be developed which specify carriage of only the +RC component without the CGMS-A component.
TABLE 3VBI StandardsGeographicCGMS-A (and optionally +Region ofVBI StandardRC) Repetition RateCommon UseCEA-608-BCGMS-A + RC repetitionNorth Americarate for 525i analog videocarriage = 10 to 30seconds (worst case)InternationalCGMS-A at least twiceInternationalElectrotechnicalevery 2 secondsCommission (IEC)61880 and IEC61880-2CEA-805-AType A packets: allowsNorth AmericaCGMS-A + RC everyfield/frame (deprecated).Type B packets: allowsCGMS-A + RC everyfield/frame.EuropeanAllows CGMS-A everyEurope andTelecommunicationsfield; recommends sinkAustraliaStandard Instituteresponse within 120(ETSI) EN 300 294milliseconds.IEC 62375Allows CGMS-A everyInternationalframe; recommends sinkresponse within 120milliseconds.Japanese Electronics andCGMS-A twice every twoJapanInformation TechnologysecondsIndustries Associates(JEITA) EIA-J CPR 1204Series and ARIB TR-B15
For convenience, the term “CGMS-A+RC information” will be used herein to generically refer to either or both of CGMS-A information and +RC information.
The second column of Table 3 indicates the rate at which CGMS-A+RC information is repeated within analog video signals under the relevant VBI standard indicated in column 1. CGMS-A+RC information is repeated to ensure that the information will be available to analog video sink devices regardless of the moment at which the devices lock to the signal. The repetition rate for the CGMS-A+RC information depends on the operative VBI standard. For example, as shown in Table 3, CGMS-A+RC information may be repeated as often as every field or frame or as infrequently as twice every two seconds or longer. The identity of the VBI line in which the CGMS-A+RC information is encoded may differ depending upon the operative VBI standard and the operative video format.
Despite the existence of various CGMS-A+RC formats, many providers of analog video signals (e.g. television networks) are not yet incorporating any CGMS-A+RC information within their analog video signals. Perhaps for this reason, many if not all commercially-available sink devices do not at present attempt to detect or extract CGMS-A+RC information from analog video signals.
It would be desirable for an analog video sink device to be capable of detecting CGMS-A+RC information regardless of the operative VBI standard and the operative analog video format. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Electricity and other forms of energy are billed in accordance with energy consumption that may vary with the size of the customer and the time of day. Since the peak amount of energy consumed by a customer over a given time period (so-called "demand") determines the size of the service required, e.g. size of conductors, transformers, peak generating capacity, etc., many utilities measure this peak consumption or demand to determine the rate to be charged the customer for all electricity consumed over a given period.
To determine the amount of energy being consumed by each customer during successive demand intervals, utility companies have located, at customer sites, electricity meters, such as watthour meters containing a demand register, which must periodically be read either by the customer or by a representative of the utility, to accumulate billing data (e.g. peak demand the total energy consumed). In addition, to evaluate customer energy demand so as to assess the capability of the utility's equipment to satisfy demand, or to justify rate modification, energy demand occasionally must be surveyed over an extended period of time, e.g. 18 months.
Electrical demand is typically measured by the use of a pulse initiator which utilizes a photo-optical detector to detect the rotation of the eddy-disk of a watt-hour meter and produces a series of pulses whose frequency is directly related to the instantaneous power (demand) being delivered to the customer.
Typically, a demand register accumulates these pulses over a preselected interval, e.g. 15 minutes, to give an indication of the peak demand over the interval. This peak demand data is then stored in a memory device for subsequent readout or display.
Since there will often be large numbers of meters registering demand throughout a utility system there exists a need to monitor electrical demand simultaneously at a large number of individual customer sites, and to process the data at a central location. This is commonly done by means of a mainframe computer operated by the utility company. This information is used by the utility to assess demand parameters such as peak demand and seasonal as well as daily demand variations. Accordingly, systems have been developed for polling customer meters to extract and transmit energy demand data over commercial telephone lines to the central computer for accumulation and processing.
Because the investment required to provide automatic polling of remote meter registers at the customer site is substantial, as an alternative, automatic meter data recorders have been developed that are set up at customer sites to be monitored. The data recorders commonly employ magnetic tape storage techniques to record pulses generated by the pulse initiator of the meter that represent electrical demand during successive intervals. The magnetic tape is then carried to the utility for processing.
Magnetic tape recorders of the type employed for this purpose are relatively complex, require substantial battery power to operate in the event of a power failure and may fail to work properly in environments exposed to temperature extremes. Recently, due in part to availability of inexpensive solid state memory devices, portable meter reading devices having solid state memories have been developed for accumulating demand data stored in a meter. The reading device is then either brought to the central computer and the data transmitted directly to the computer, or the data is transmitted over telephone lines to the central computer. There is a tendency, however, for errors to occur in the acquisition and transmission of data. These errors are caused by among other things failures of the solid state memory, misdetection of pulses generated by the electricity meter and, most commonly, electrical noise contamination. Data acquisition errors are particularly troublesome because they affect, among other things, the accuracy of customer billing. For this reason there currently exists a significant need to verify energy demand data accumulated from customer meters to ensure that the data is accurate. Also, since peak demand data must be correlated with the time of day, day-of-week, season, etc. for proper billing purposes, it is necessary that such a data acquisition device be capable of operation despite power outages occurring on the power line.
In systems which employ battery back-up power supplies for operation in the event of a power failure, there exists a need for determining when the battery has grown weak and requires replacement. Problems can occur in accumulating and maintaining verifiable energy demand data if the battery back-up system fails to provide a reliable alternative source of power during power outages. If the back-up battery has become marginal or failed (especially during periods of frequent outages), the recorded customer demand data may be erroneous or suspect. Yet, the utility has no way of determining when the back-up battery failed so as to estimate the beginning of the suspect data. Prior to the present invention, there has been no known way to accurately monitor the performance of battery back-up systems short of regular planned replacement at periodic intervals in accordance with known statistical replacement techniques, or periodic on-site testing of the batteries at the customers' facilities.
Other problems have been encountered in conventional remote meter data recorders which transmit energy demand data over commercial telephone lines to a central computer for processing. Because of this preexisting communications link for meter data collection, it would be economically advantageous to use the same equipment for energy management functions, such as where customer loads are interrupted during periods of peak demand. However, some prior art data recorders are configured to transmit the energy demand data to the central computer only at predetermined times. These predetermined times are usually selected when a customer's telephone line is not likely to be in use, e.g. during the late night hours. This type of prior art data recorder can receive command information from the central computer over the telephone line only after the recorder has initiated the communication by dialing up the central computer to download its data. Systems which can receive commands only during recorder-initiated communication modes are not receptive to receipt of commands at any time other than when communication has been initiated by the recorder, and are therefore unable to provide energy management functions.
Still other problems have been encountered in data recorder systems which are receptive to commands only after initiation of a communication by the meter for the purpose of downloading data. In particular, there exists a need for detection of error conditions such as power outages, low battery condition, or a malfunction in the meter. Conventional meters and recorders which are unable to provide indications of error conditions have proven unsatisfactory to electrical utilities which need to be able to monitor and correct error conditions rapidly and to perform peak load energy management functions.
One object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a method of and system for verifying data accumulated from remote electricity meters during successive demand intervals and to confirm that the data measured represents data upon which a utility company or other controlling institution can rely.
Another object is to provide a relatively inexpensive and reliable device for making energy demand measurements and verifying their reliability at customer meter sites for the purpose of obtaining demand survey and customer billing data. A further object is to provide an electricity demand data acquisition device which operates reliably even during a power outage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electricity demand acquisition device which initiates a communication to a central computer in the event of an error condition such as a power outage, low battery condition, or malfunction in the metering device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electricity demand data acquisition device which is operative to override the conventional data downloading operational sequence (which occurs at a predetermined time) and receive communications initiated by the utility central computer.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electricity demand data acquisition device which may be configured for operation over a wide range of utility customer demands by scaling the KYZ pulse input.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electricity demand data acquisition device which maintains an indication of the time of day and date of the occurrence of a low battery condition so that an estimation of the reliability of the data stored in the device can be made. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Recently, photographic cameras employing film having a magnetic recording layer for recording information relating to photographic taking conditions, identification of the photographer, etc., have been introduced to the marketplace under the name of Advanced Photographic System (APS). See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,745 issued Jul. 14, 1992 to Cloutier et al. One frequently encountered problem in such cameras is the reliability of the magnetic recording of information on the film in the camera. One approach is to translate a recording head relative to the film, while the film is stationary in the camera. This approach has the drawback of requiring additional apparatus in the camera. The other, and most commonly used approach is to employ a stationary recording head to record on the film while the film is being advanced in the camera. This approach requires some means for synchronizing the recording with the motion of the film advance system. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,455 issued Dec. 12, 1995 to Hibino et al., where the film speed encoder is employed to generate a serial data clock for synchronizing the recording of magnetic data on the film. The film speed encoders that are presently employed in APS cameras such as the Kodak model APS3600 camera monitor the passage of the film perforations for determining the film speed. Since there are only two perforations per film frame, this technique is not as reliable as would be desired. To increase the reliability of the recording, the information is recorded a minimum of three times in such cameras. There is a need therefore for an improved method and apparatus for synchronizing the recording of magnetic information with film advance in APS cameras. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Visual information in a retail environment often takes the form of advertising content. Such content is inherently persuasive, and is typically designed to influence a viewer's attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors in order to create a positive business impact, such as increasing sales, strengthening brand awareness, or engendering consumer loyalty.
In 2002, for example, total spending on advertising content used in retail environments, commonly referred to as Point of Purchase (POP), was estimated at $17 billion in the United States and exceeded $43 billion per year globally. This level of spending has garnered increasing scrutiny among brand owner executives who are demanding greater accountability for their marketing investments.
The need for measurable performance is increasingly urgent as well, because the average tenure of a Chief Marketing Officer has decreased to an estimated 22.9 months according to industry sources. Marketing leaders thus have precious little time to measurably demonstrate results from their marketing efforts. Marketing research, a sub-set of the research industry, has historically used correlational or matched control studies to evaluate advertising content performance against objectives. However, these “best practice” marketing research methodologies do not reliably reveal causation between the marketing message and the business result, as has been widely commented on by marketing analysis experts (e.g., Don E. Schultz, Market Research Deserves Blame for Marketing's Decline, Marketing News, Feb. 15, 2005). Even so, marketing research spending is currently estimated at $8 billion annually in the United States alone, which includes these types of studies. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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As an output apparatus for computers and work stations, electrophotographic image-forming apparatuses are known which form an image on a recording medium by using a powdery developing agent (toner). Such an image-forming apparatus is equipped with an image-bearing member like a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developing apparatus for supplying a developing agent onto the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum.
A conventional developing apparatus is explained below by reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing showing an example of conventional developing apparatus. FIG. 11 is a front view of a developing apparatus provided with a conventional magnetic sealing member.
The developing apparatus 10 is equipped with a toner container (developing agent container) 12 for holding a magnetic developing agent (hereinafter referred to as “magnetic toner T”), a stirring member 14 for delivering the magnetic toner T with stirring, and a roll-shaped (cylindrical) developing sleeve (developing-agent holder) 16 for holding the magnetic toner T delivered by the stirring member 14 on the peripheral face thereof. The developing apparatus 10 is further equipped with a developing blade 18 for controlling the thickness of the toner held on the peripheral face of the developing sleeve 16 as desired, and a magnetic sealing member 20 for preventing leakage of the magnetic toner T from the toner container 12.
The aforementioned toner container 12 is capable of containing a certain amount of the magnetic toner T. The stirring member 14 is fixed rotatably to the toner container 12, and rotates in the arrow A direction, thereby stirring and loosening the magnetic toner T mechanically and delivering the magnetic toner T smoothly to the developing sleeve 16 to be held thereon.
The developing sleeve 16 is fixed rotatably to bearings (not shown in the drawing) provided on the both sidewalls of the toner container 12. In the hollow in the developing sleeve 16, a magnetic roller 22 is fixed coaxially with the developing sleeve 16. The magnetic roller 22 is magnetized symmetrically to have plural magnetic poles (magnetic poles: N1, S1, N2, and S2) along the periphery direction. Thus, the developing sleeve 16 holds the magnetic toner T by the magnetic force of the magnetic poles N1, S1, N2, and S2, and delivers the magnetic toner smoothly onto an image-bearing member (not shown in the drawing).
The developing blade 18 is placed with a prescribed clearance to the peripheral face of the developing sleeve 16 to hold the toner T in a uniform thickness on the peripheral face of the developing sleeve 16.
The magnetic sealing member 20 is placed at respective ends of the developing sleeve 16 in the length direction (rotation axis direction) at a prescribed interval in a shape of an arc to prevent leakage of the toner T through a gap at the bearing portion (hereinafter called “sealing”).
In a known technique of prevention of leakage of the magnetic toner T through the gap at the bearing portion, an elastic sealing member composed of an elastic material like a felt or a foamed rubber is pressed against the peripheral face at the respective lengthwise ends of the developing sleeve 16 to stop the gaps.
However, with this technique of using an elastic sealing member, the peripheral speed of the developing sleeve 16 can be made irregular by counteraction to the rotation torque by friction between the elastic sealing member and the developing sleeve 16. This irregularity or variation of the peripheral speed may impair the uniformity of toner holding ability of the developing sleeve 16. The lack of uniformity in the toner holding ability may cause non-conformation of the density of the toner image formed on the image-bearing member surface with the image information of the original document to lower the quality of the image formed on a recording medium like a recording sheet.
Therefore, to prevent the lowering of the image quality by use of the elastic sealing member, the aforementioned magnetic sealing member 20 is employed.
The magnetic sealing member 20 is an arc-shaped magnetic body placed near the peripheral face of the developing sleeve 16 with a prescribed gap (0.2–0.8 mm). Thereby a magnetic circuit is formed from by the magnetic sealing member 20 and the magnetic roller 22 in the developing sleeve 16. This magnetic circuit forms a magnetic brush of the developing agent. This magnetic brush prevents the leakage of the developing agent. The magnetic sealing member 20 is placed outside each of the lengthwise ends of the developing blade 18 as shown in FIG. 11. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates, for example, to a light source unit including an arc tube having a light emitting section in which discharging emission between electrodes is carried out, a first reflecting mirror to emit a luminous flux radiated from the arc tube in a certain uniform direction, and a second reflecting mirror provided on the opposite side of the light emitting section from the first reflecting mirror, an illuminating optical device, a projector, and a method of manufacturing the light source unit.
2. Description of Related Art
In the related art, for example, in an illuminating device provided with an arc tube having a light emitting section and a first reflecting mirror injecting a luminous flux radiated from the light emitting section in a certain uniform direction, a second reflecting mirror is provided at the position opposite side of the arc tube from the first reflecting mirror so that light, which has been radiated from the arc tube but has become stray light and hence has not been used, can be used efficiently, as shown in related art document JP-A-8-31382.
In such an illuminating device, a high degree of accuracy is required to adjust the relative position among the arc tube, the first reflecting mirror and the second reflecting mirror in order to obtain the brightness of a luminous flux emitted from the illuminating device, and the position of a focusing point at desired values. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In development of a therapeutic agent for metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and arteriosclerosis, there are many difficulties in developing a new medicine, since the drugs which initially showed excellent efficacy in vitro had reduced efficacy in animal experiments in vivo. In order to solve the problem, there is needed a similar in vitro model to an in vivo model, which allows correct efficacy and toxicity to be predicted from the early stages of drug development.
In vivo such as human cells and tissue, growth and differentiation by interaction between cells occur, thereby having a complicated three-dimensional structure. However, the method used for cell or tissue culture in laboratories and the like corresponds to two-dimensional culture, and thus, there are many difficulties in studying the function of in vivo tissue or the reaction actually occurring in tissue.
For studying the reaction of in vivo tissue and the functions thereof, the research using three-dimensional scaffolds is actively proceeding in the fields of tissue engineering or biotechnology, and the research such as a cell differentiation mechanism, disease therapeutic agent development and tissue regeneration is being applied by implanting three-dimensional artificial tissue scaffolds (Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2013-0119663). However, the three-dimensional scaffolds are artificially manufactured, and since the in vivo structure composed of interaction between cells, such as real tissue or organs is so diverse and complicated, there is a technical limitation in forming a similar structure such as tissue.
In order to solve the existing problems and develop a new medicine for metabolic diseases, the present inventors have developed a culture method allowing different cells from each other to represent the similar function to that of adipose tissue through interaction between cells in a three-dimensional environment like in vivo. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to electric lighting systems. In particular, the invention relates to remote controlled spotlight systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When construction or utility workers are working at night, the necessary lighting is sometimes supplied by an electric lighting system mounted on a truck. The lighting system must be capable of supplying sufficient light, using an available power source. The system must also be rugged and durable to withstand typical construction environments.
Some prior art lighting systems must be manually aimed. If the lights are accidentally jarred, or if the worker moves to a new area, the worker must return to the lighting system to make proper adjustments. It is preferable for the lighting system to be remotely controlled, so that the worker can adjust the direction of the light without having to return to the system.
Many prior art lighting systems are rotatable in both horizontal and vertical planes. However, most of these systems have electric brush connections, so the systems are not sufficiently rugged and durable. Brush connections tend to corrode and prematurely fail. Brush connections can also create radio interference that can interfere with other equipment. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Conventionally, magnetic tape recorders such as video tape recorders are designed to drive a tape in the forward and reverse directions by using exclusively a supply reel driving turntable and a take-up reel driving turntable, respectively.
A tape running direction is selected by selectively engaging an idler gear to either the supply reel driving turntable or the take-up reel driving turntable. The idler gear is supported on an idler arm which is rockably coupled to a capstan drive mechanism. The capstan drive mechanism has a capstan motor for rotating a capstan in one direction or the other direction. Thus, the idler arm is rocked toward the supply reel driving turntable or the take-up reel driving turntable, in response to a rotating direction of the capstan motor.
When an operation mode of the video tape recorder changes from a forward reproducing operation to a reverse reproducing operation or vice versa, a tape is typically held by the capstan and a pinch roller for pressing the tape to the capstan. Thus, the tape is driven in the reverse direction simultaneously to the change of the operation mode between the forward reproducing operation and the reverse reproducing operation.
On the other hand, the take-up reel driving turntable or the FRD turntable is driven with a delay of time from the mode change because the idler gear takes time during its swing from the take-up reel driving turntable to the supply reel driving turntable.
Thus, the video tape recorder fails to drive the tape immediately at the mode change. As a result, a loose tape tension occurs on the tape for the delay time, causing troubles on reproduced signals such as reproduced images and sounds.
In order to solve the troubles, in the conventional video tape recorder an additional motor for exclusively driving the reel driving turntables are provided for maintaining a desired tape tension at the mode change. Therefore, such a conventional video tape recorder has a problem of cost due to the additional motor. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Internet-based social networking services provide a digital medium for users to interact with one another and share information. For examples, users are able to distribute digital content (e.g., textual comments, digital images, digital videos, digital audio, hyperlinks to websites, etc.) to other users that they might be connected with in the social networking service. Digital content that is distributed to a user can be displayed to the user in a stream page.
In some cases, a user of a social networking service may have established few contacts within the social networking service, or otherwise rarely interact with other users of the social networking service. As a consequence, such users can become discouraged and leave the social networking service. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the impedance control of an output driver of a semiconductor integrated circuit, particularly to a semiconductor integrated circuit including an impedance matching circuit for autonomously performing output impedance adjustment and an impedance control method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
With higher data transfer rate in data transfer between semiconductor devices and lower power consumption of the whole system that mounts a semiconductor integrated circuit thereon, demands and requirements for devices have been increased that can enhance impedance matching between an output driver and a transmission line as well as reduce the power consumption.
In the data transfer between semiconductor devices, when the output impedance of the output driver of the semiconductor integrated circuit is not matched to the impedance of the transmission line, reflection of a data signal outputted from the output driver occurs. In performing impedance matching, since a replica resistor likened to the impedance of the transmission line is used, the impedance of the transmission line is easy to change due to external factors such as the temperature. The output impedance of the semiconductor integrated circuit is easy to change due to an operating voltage in the circuit and temperature variation. Therefore, an impedance matching circuit for detecting change of the impedance and autonomously correcting the impedance has been provided.
Although the impedance matching circuit that can autonomously adjust the impedance has been used in the semiconductor integrated circuits such as the SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) that operate at high speed, they have not been used so much in the semiconductor integrated circuits such as the DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or the pseudo SRAM that require an operation with low power consumption. Accordingly, in most cases, reduction of power consumption of the impedance matching circuit itself has not been demanded. However, with higher data transfer rate in recent years, in order to prevent false transmission caused by reflection of the output data signal, impedance matching is being essential also in the DRAM and the pseudo SRAM. Furthermore, lower power consumption is being demanded in the semiconductor integrated circuits such as the SRAM that operate at high speed.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a DRAM equipped with an autonomous impedance adjustment circuit according to a conventional technique.
Referring to FIG. 1, a DRAM according to the conventional technique includes a semiconductor integrated circuit 200 that outputs data outputted from a memory cell array to a processor. The semiconductor integrated circuit 200 is configured to autonomously adjust the output impedance and includes an output driver 50 that can change its current drive capability (current drivability) and an impedance matching circuit 60 having replica drivers P80, N80 that can change their current drive capability. Outputs of the replica drivers P80, N80 are coupled to corresponding replica resistors R71, R72, respectively. The impedance matching circuit 60 adjusts the current drive capability of the output driver 50 and the replica drivers P80, N80 based on output voltages of the replica drivers P80, N80 and a reference voltage. The semiconductor integrated circuit 200 is implemented in a single semiconductor package.
The impedance matching circuit 60 includes the replica drivers P80, N80, comparators P60, N60 and up/down (U/D) counters P70, N70. The replica driver P80 has the same configuration as that of a pull-up side circuit including a pull-up side transistor group of the output driver 50 and has the same output impedance as the pull-up side circuit. An output of the replica driver P80 is coupled to the replica resistor R71 having the same impedance as the characteristic impedance of a transmission line (data bus 51) coupled to the output driver 50. The comparator P60 compares an output voltage level of the replica driver P80 with a predetermined voltage level (VDDQ/2 in FIG. 1). The U/D counter P70 is a counter counting up or down according to a comparison result of the comparator P60. The current drive capability of the pull-up side circuit of the replica driver P80 and the output driver 50 is configured to change depending on the count value of the U/D counter P70. With the above-mentioned configuration, a value held in the U/D counter P70 converges, thereby achieving the impedance matching between the output of the replica driver P80 and the replica resistor R71.
In the impedance matching circuit 60, a structure for adjusting the output impedance of a pull-down side circuit of the output driver 50 is provided with components symmetrical to the components in the above-mentioned pull-up side circuit. The replica driver N80 has the same configuration as the pull-down side circuit including a pull-down side transistor group of the output driver 50 and the same output impedance as the pull-down side circuit. An output of the replica driver N80 is coupled to the replica resistor R72 having the same impedance as the characteristic impedance of the transmission line (data bus 51) coupled to the output driver 50. The comparator N60 compares the output voltage level of the replica driver N80 with a predetermined voltage level (VDDQ/2 in FIG. 1). The U/D counter N70 is a counter counting up or down according to a comparison result of the comparator N80. The current drive capability of the pull-down side circuit of the replica driver N80 and the output driver 50 is configured to change depending on the count value of the U/D counter N70. With the above-mentioned configuration, a value held in the U/D counter N70 converges, thereby achieving impedance matching between the output of the replica driver N80 and the replica resistor R72.
As described above, the current drive capability of the output driver 50 and the replica drivers P80, N80 is changed so as to match the impedances of the replica drivers P80, N80 to the impedances of the replica resistors N71, R72, respectively, in turn, match (automatically adjust) the output impedance of the output driver 50 to the impedance of the transmission line (data bus 51).
As an example of the autonomous output impedance adjustment circuit of conventional techniques, a semiconductor integrated circuit is described in Japanese Patent Application Publication JP 2008-118382 (referred to as Patent Literature 1). In the semiconductor integrated circuit described in Patent Literature 1, by adjusting the output impedance in synchronization with a clock signal generated in a semiconductor device such as a self-refresh timer, even when supply of an external clock is stopped, the operation of adjusting the output impedance can be stably continued. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Vehicle seat comfort has become increasingly important as passengers take longer trips. Providing cooling and heating of the seat can increase the comfort of passengers.
A variety of vehicle seating assemblies that provide for occupant cooling and heating are known. However, current solutions for providing cooling and heating often can be inadequate for cooling and heating a seated passenger. Further, current solutions for providing cooling and heating may not cool and heat the passenger efficiently. | {
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A continuing goal in semiconductor device fabrication is to make the devices smaller and positioned closer to one another while maintaining the integrity and desired performance characteristics of the individual devices. Such has led to the development and improvement of various semiconductor constructions, including, for example, recessed access devices (RADs), semiconductor-on-insulator constructions, partial and/or pseudo semiconductor-on-insulator constructions, fin field effect transistors (FinFET) and others. Such may be used in logic, memory, or other circuitry, for example for use in dynamic random access memory (DRAM), NOR, NAND, FLASH memory, and floating body memory, among other semiconductor devices and circuitry. Semiconductor device fabrication has also been applied to the development of a diversity of micro-structures. For example, such include the development of optical wave guides fabricated in semiconductor materials and the development of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS).
During fabrication, circuitry or micro-structures may be formed to have voids formed therein. Such may be wholly or partially filled with one or more materials during subsequent processing, left empty, or evacuated, and any remaining voids may be used for various purposes. Regardless, forming desired voids may be a challenge in achieving desired position and size of the voids.
A continuing goal of analytical sciences is to develop tools and methods for rapid separation and/or characterization of materials. For example, there is a continuing goal to develop tools for rapid separation and/or characterization of biomaterials, such as nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences. There has been interest in developing micro-structures suitable for utilization in the separation and/or characterization of materials, but there remains a need for improved methods for making and using such micro-structures. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a technique for correcting dispersion of a communication semiconductor integrated circuit having a modulation function of a transmission signal and a technique for reducing variation in characteristics due to dispersion in a gain of an amplitude control loop in a communication semiconductor integrated circuit having a phase control loop for phase modulation and the amplitude control loop for amplitude modulation. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technique effectively applicable to a semiconductor integrated circuit for high-frequency signal processing (high-frequency IC) having a modulation/demodulation function provided in a wireless or radio communication apparatus such as, for example, a portable telephone and an electronic component (RF module) using it.
One of the systems for wireless communication apparatuses (mobile communication apparatuses) such as a portable telephone of the prior art is a global system for mobile communication (GSM) adopted in Europe. The GSM system uses a phase modulation method called a Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) method in which a phase of a carrier wave is shifted according to transmission data.
Further, an evolved system of the GSM system to enhance data rates, that is, a system of enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE) has been proposed, the EDGE system having a dual-mode communication function in which an audio signal is communicated in the GMSK modulation and data is communicated in 3.pi./8 rotating 8-PSK (phase shift keying) modulation. The 8-PSK modulation is a modulation implemented by adding amplitude shift to the carrier phase shift in the GMSK modulation. In comparison with the GMSK modulation in which information of one bit is transmitted per symbol, information of three bits is transmitted per symbol in the 8-PSK modulation. Therefore, communication can be made at a higher transmission rate in the EDGE than in the GSM.
As a method of implementing a modulation method in which each of a phase component and an amplitude component of a transmission signal contains information, there has been known a method in which a signal to be transmitted is divided into a phase component and an amplitude component, a feedback operation is conducted for the components respectively by a phase control loop and an amplitude control loop, and signals resultant from the feedback operations are mixed with each other by an amplifier to output a signal (for example, British Patent Publication GB0212725.6)
In the above-mentioned system which has the phase control loop and the amplitude control loop and can implement wireless communication of the EDGE system, circuits constituting the amplitude control loop have dispersion of the gains due to dispersion in characteristics of constituent elements of the circuits in production and a loop gain is deviated from a design value. Accordingly, there is a possibility that the modulation precision of a transmission waveform (error vector magnitude (EVM)) and the noise suppression degree do not satisfy requirements of specifications.
Concretely, there is a problem in which while the modulation precision is higher and a characteristic called spectral re-growth indicating a degree of waveform distortion becomes better when the frequency bandwidth of the amplitude control loop (a frequency range from a central frequency of the transmission carrier wave to a frequency thereof for which an open loop gain is 0 dB) is wider, an attenuation value of the amplitude control loop becomes smaller for a reception frequency apart by 20 MHz from the central frequency of the transmission carrier wave and a sufficient noise suppression degree cannot be obtained when the bandwidth is wide. The above British Patent Publication discloses the technique for measuring dispersion in gain of the amplitude control loop and calibrating it.
In the amplitude control of the above British Patent Publication, however, a signal fed back to an amplitude comparison circuit for comparing amplitudes between a transmission signal and a feedback signal is taken out from an output of a power amplitude with a coupler provided at a succeeding stage of a high-frequency integrated circuit (IC). Accordingly, it is impossible to measure dispersion in the gain of the amplitude control loop before the system is constructed. To this end, when such measurement and calibration of dispersion are made on the side of a set maker which manufactures the wireless communication apparatus, the burden on the set maker is increased. On the other hand, when the measurement and calibration of dispersion are made on the side of an IC maker which manufactures the high-frequency IC, calibration cannot be made in consideration of dispersion in characteristics of the power amplifiers connected to the succeeding stage of the high-frequency IC and accordingly the precision of the calibration is degraded.
Further, calibration of dispersion in gain of the amplitude control loop in the invention disclosed in the Publication GB0212725.6 is made by taking data for calibrating a gain characteristic to a control signal outputted by a variable gain amplifier connected on the way of the amplitude control loop on the basis of a measured value to eliminate the dispersion and storing the calibration data in a nonvolatile memory in a baseband LSI circuit. Accordingly, the writing work of the calibration data in the nonvolatile memory is required to increase the burden on the set maker. In addition, it is also considered that a circuit for adjusting dispersion of the gain is provided for each circuit having large dispersion of the gain so that the gain is adjusted by the adjusting circuit on the basis of the measured result, although since such a method requires measurement and adjustment processes of dispersion for each chip, a cost of the integrated circuit is increased. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to wireless and PSTN telecommunications service menus and, more particularly, to a method and system for directing a user through a menu of options for an advanced telecommunications service.
2. Background
Wireless and PSTN telephone companies (including local exchange carriers (xe2x80x9cLECsxe2x80x9d)) often offer subscribers a wide variety of advanced telecommunications services. Among the services offered are call forwarding, flexible call forwarding. call waiting, follow-me services, caller identification, and voicemail. Certain services (for example, call waiting) are enabled by the subscriber using standard touch-tone features. Specifically, the subscriber simply enters a feature access code (e.g., xe2x80x9c*72xe2x80x9d) to enable the service for his calling line. For instance, call forwarding on a home line is often enabled by dialing the feature access code and waiting for a double-burst dial tone from the office switch. The subscriber then dials the directory number of a destination calling line to which the calls should be forwarded. This information is then retained by the network. All subsequent calls are automatically forwarded to the specified destination calling line. When the subscriber desires to turn off the service, he simply dials a second feature access code (e.g., xe2x80x9c*73xe2x80x9d), which disables the service. This on/off activation provides a clear and simple interface for the subscriber.
The on/off activation of services has several drawbacks, however. First, such activation often inhibits the remote enablement of features for a particular calling line. Feature access codes usually affect only the calling line from which they are dialed. For example, a subscriber to call forwarding usually cannot enable the service by dialing a feature access code from a line other than the line for which the service was provisioned. Thus, if the service were provisioned on his home line, he could not dial the feature access code from his parents"" home to enable the service.
Second, simple on/off activation prevents the flexible use of a service. Many services, including most call forwarding and call waiting services, are extremely inflexible regarding the time and manner in which they are offered. Typically, once the code is dialed, the service is enabled until the subscriber dials a second feature access code to disable the service. The subscriber cannot specify the time for initiating and/or concluding the service. Moreover, the subscriber cannot further configure the service in any fashion to suit his needs.
Third, on/off activation prevents the LEC from offering usage-based billing. Usage-based billing allows a carrier to charge a subscriber for a service based upon the amount of use of that service by the subscriber. Billing usually occurs on a per-minute, per-hour, or per-day basis. With feature access code-enablement, the subscriber simply turns the service on and off. The carrier does not keep track of the subscriber""s usage. If the subscriber uses the service infrequently, he cannot justify the overall monthly cost to rent the service. As a result, the carrier would lose a subscriber that it might otherwise have gained if usage-based billing were offered.
To prevent the aforementioned drawbacks, a wireless or PSTN carrier can provide an automated voice response (xe2x80x9cAVRxe2x80x9d) menu billing system. An AVR menu system relies upon Advanced Intelligent Network (xe2x80x9cAINxe2x80x9d) functionality to provide the subscriber with more options and greater flexibility when enabling and configuring a service. These options are provided to the subscriber using pre-recorded messages. When the subscriber dials a special access number (as opposed to a two-digit access code), the subscriber listens to this menu of options. The subscriber may then use her touch-tone telephone (or her own voice) to select options as they are provided. In this manner, specific configurations may be established to provide greater flexibility to the user.
Most AVR menus are created to offer a xe2x80x9ctree-likexe2x80x9d format for the subscriber. The subscriber begins the menu at the xe2x80x9ctrunkxe2x80x9d of the tree. As he selects specific menu items, he is guided down xe2x80x9cbranchesxe2x80x9d of the tree. Each xe2x80x9cbranchxe2x80x9d may then have several xe2x80x9csub branchesxe2x80x9d that may be navigated by the subscriber. If the subscriber makes a mistake, he can usually press a button (e.g., xe2x80x9c*xe2x80x9d) to return to the previous menu or xe2x80x9cbranch.xe2x80x9d The subscriber may repeatedly press this button until he is returned to the desired menu.
Very often, however, navigating complex tree menus can be a very daunting task. If the subscriber has progressed down several sub-branches, he eventually may forget his location within the menu. As a greater number of sub-branches (options) are provided at subsequent levels, this problem can grow exponentially. Ultimately, the subscriber may be forced to give up and re-dial the system. This situation wastes time and causes frustration among subscribers.
In addition, the subscriber may lose focus and forget his original task when dialing the number. For instance, a caller originally may desire to set a wake-up call. When she dials the system, the system may offer her several wake-up call options, guide her down several more layers of the menu, and then offer to take her back to the xe2x80x9cmain menuxe2x80x9d. If the subscriber makes a mistake while setting her wake-up call options, she will be taken back to the main menu where she will be re-offered several options again. If the subscriber has already been taken down numerous sub-menus, she may now be attracted by the offer to retrieve messages from her mailbox. Thus, the subscriber has been routed away from the original xe2x80x9ctaskxe2x80x9d of obtaining a wake-up call. This scenario, too, is wasteful and inefficient.
Finally, both consumers and telecommunications companies incur costs for using complex AVR menus. The length of time of an AVR telecommunications service call usually corresponds directly to the complexity of the AVR menu. Since consumers are charged for the length of telephone calls, the costs to the consumers for such calls are likely to increase with complexity. Similarly, service providers have costs associated with the provision of the telecommunications service. The goal of the service provider should be a fast and efficient method for providing telecommunications services through AVR menus.
The present invention overcomes many of the problems of the prior art by navigating a subscriber through a telecommunications service menu in a more direct and efficient manner than other systems. Specifically, the method and system of the present invention navigates the subscriber using a set of rules designed to facilitate the quick and methodical configuration of services. The telecommunications services menus provide a simple interface to the subscriber without the confusion normally associated with such menus.
The present invention is directed to a method and system for creating an automated voice response menu. These menus allow subscribers to configure a telecommunications service, such as call forwarding, voicemail, and caller identification. The subscriber accesses the menus by dialing a feature access code from his home calling line or by remotely dialing a special access number. The subscriber is then connected to a network element, such as a service circuit node, that stores several pre-recorded messages to be played for the subscriber. The messages are assembled into a menu based upon a xe2x80x9cstraight-line thinkingxe2x80x9d methodology that moves the user from a starting point to an ending point. The user is not permitted to veer from this path.
Each menu allows the subscriber to complete a task related to the configuration and/or use of a particular telecommunications service. Once the user has selected the task, he is only presented options for the completion of that task. Unlike other automated voice response menus, the user is not allowed to select options unrelated to the task. Moreover, the user is not allowed to select options returning the user to a previous menu. If the user has a mistake, the system will return the user back to the beginning of a particular task menu. The user is not allowed to make the decision to return to earlier options within the menu or to return to previous menus. This methodology allows the user to remain focused on a particular task and has the further advantage of expediting the telephone call.
Each menu includes a starting point and a completion point. The starting point is merely the entry point for the menu, such as a welcome message. The completion point represents the completion of the desired task. The menu further includes one or more required inputs. Each required input assists the system in completing the task. If a required input is not provided, the system will request the information again until a predetermined number of errors has been reached. The menu may further include one or more optional inputs. If the user does not provide an optional input, the system will merely complete the task and exit. If the user provides an optional input, the system may send the user to a second menu directed to a sub-task of the original task. The menu will not be directed to a second unrelated task.
In summary, the method and system of the present invention allows a user to quickly access an automated voice response system. In addition, the present invention reduces the confusion normally associated with such menus while improving efficiency and creating simplicity. The present invention also reduces costs to the user and the telecommunications service company by reducing the time spent by the user in navigating the menu. Advantageously, the present invention allows the user to plan for and complete a predetermined telecommunications services task without delay.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for creating an automated voice response menu that allows a user to quickly configure or use a telecommunications service.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a method and system for creating an automated voice response menu that reduces confusion for the user.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for creating an automated voice response menu that increases the user""s efficiency.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and system for creating an automated voice response menu that reduces costs for the user.
Finally, is an additional object of the present invention to provide a method and system for creating an automated voice response menu that reduces cost for the provider of a telecommunications service.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The goal of hybrid development is to combine, in a single hybrid, various desirable traits. For field crops, these traits may include resistance to diseases and insects, resistance to heat and drought, reducing the time to crop maturity, greater yield, and better agronomic quality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops, uniformity of plant characteristics such as germination, stand establishment, growth rate, maturity, and plant and ear height is important. Traditional plant breeding is an important tool in developing new and improved commercial crops. | {
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This invention relates to a catheter assembly, and more specifically, to a catheter assembly which is used by inserting in a blood vessel.
Typical balloon catheters for insertion into a blood vessel such as catheters for PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) (hereinafter referred to as PTCA catheters) are provided with a lumen for guidewire passage formed along its full length in addition to the balloon inflating/deflating lumen. In the use of such catheters, the guidewire is preliminarily inserted in the guidewire passage lumen of the catheter before the catheter insertion into the blood vessel, and the catheter and the guidewire are simultaneously advanced within the blood vessel with the guidewire ahead of the catheter until their distal ends reach the target site, namely, around the stenosis in the blood vessel.
This operation is very difficult, and a considerable skill was required to succesfully complete such operation. As shown in FIG. 12, in a typical process, a guiding catheter 5 accommodating a guidewire 2 and a catheter 3 is inserted into the blood vessel 9. Then the guiding catheter 5 is advanced in a blood vessel 9 until the distal end of the guiding catheter 5 reaches the entrance or a narrow blood vessel. The guidewire 2 and the catheter 3 provided with the balloon 36 are then advanced along the narrower blood vessel one after another until they reach near the stenosis lesion. The guidewire 2 is advanced to extend through and beyond the stenosis 10, and the catheter 3 is advanced along the guidewire 2 until the balloon 36 of the catheter 3 is positioned right within the stenosis 10. The balloon 36 is then inflated to dilate the stenosis 10. Such complicated operation must be conducted at the proximal extracorporeal end of the catheter by groping. Therefore, the structure, and hence, the operational convenience of the catheter and the guidewire are of great significance.
A wide variety of PTCA catheters are available for use in the cases of different stenosis sizes and blood vessel diameters, and PTCA catheters of different balloon sizes are also available for step-wise dilatation of the stenosis lesion. In some cases, exchange of the PTCA catheter that has been inserted in the blood vessel may become necessary. Repeated withdrawal and insertion of catheters is also carried out when a plurality of devices called stents are indwelled in the blood vessel for the purpose of maintaining the inner diameter of the blood vessel.
Preferably, such catheter exchange is effected with the guidewire being left in the blood vessel of the patient in order to reduce the burden of the patient, the time and trouble of the operation, and the risk of infection.
As described above, the lumen for guidewire passage in the conventional catheters extends along its full length. Therefore, for effecting catheter exchange by withdrawing the catheter out of the patient's body from the proximal end of the guidewire with the guidewire being retained in the patient's body, it has been necessary for the proximal extracorporeal end of the guidewire to extend beyond the proximal end of the catheter a length longer than the full length of the catheter. The extracorporeal end of the guidewire extending for such a long length has been quite an obstacle in the operation of the catheter.
In view of such situation, U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,129 proposes a catheter wherein the lumen for guidewire passage does not extend through its full length. The guidewire lumen of this patent catheter extends only between the distal end opening and an opening formed on the periphery of the catheter several centimeters proximal from the distal end, and the guidewire proximal of the guidewire lumen extends along the exterior of the catheter. The guidewire and the catheter are in engagement with each other only along the length of such short lumen, and therefore, this catheter can be exchanged while the guidewire is anchored in the patient's body, even if the guidewire protruded from the patient's body by a short length. Such catheter is known as a rapid exchange catheter.
When a catheter having a guidewire inserted through its guidewire lumen is advanced through the blood vessel of a patient to the target site, the guidewire and the catheter should be respectively handled on their extracorporeal ends (for example, on their femoral ends) by pushing and pulling the catheter/guidewire with occasional rotation, and such movement of the catheter/guidewire should be transmitted to their distal ends. Accordingly, the catheter should be provided with sufficient torque transmission and pushability. The catheter should also have a sufficient kink resistance to prevent the blockage of the balloon inflation lumen by folding of the catheter.
However, in the rapid exchange catheter as described above, the rigidity (flexural rigidity and tortional rigidity) of the proximal portion of the catheter in the proximal side of said opening on the periphery (see FIG. 11), where the guidewire is not accommodated in the lumen, was significantly lower than the distal portion of the catheter in the distal side of said opening, where the guidewire is accommodated in the guidewire passage lumen. Due to such insufficiency in the rigidity of the proximal portion of the catheter, the catheter suffered from insufficient kink resistance, and insertion of such rapid exchange catheter into the blood vessel often proved unsuccessful.
Such catheter also suffered from insufficient torque transmission and pushability. One reason for such disadvantage was the play inevitably formed between the guiding catheter 5 and the catheter main segment (shaft) 31 since the guidewire 2 extended along the exterior of the catheter main segment 31 shown in FIG. 11. Another reason was the relatively small outer diameter of the catheter main segment, which was an inevitable consequence of separate accommodation of the guidewire 2 and the catheter main segment 31 within the interior of the guiding catheter 5. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a safe, portable chemical combination of reagents which, when combined, conveniently and safely generates heat, steam and a biocidal chemical agent that destroys contaminating microorganisms or chemical agents on contaminated objects or surfaces. The present invention does not require external sources of power such as electricity or fire.
2. Description of Related Art
Microbial contamination of objects and surfaces such as food contact surfaces and food service equipment in kitchen environments (e.g., cutting boards, knives, and utensils), of military clothing, vehicles, and equipment, and of medical, dental, or veterinary instruments can lead to the transmission of infectious pathogens and the spread of food-borne illnesses and other diseases. Inactivating these pathogenic microorganisms to prevent infection and the spread of disease requires disinfection or sterilization through the application of a lethal treatment of commensurate stringency.
Military activities in remote or open field locations often experience conditions wherein electrical power, water, or fire is unavailable, of limited availability, or undesirable in such environments. Military surgical teams in such instances require clean, safe, sterile instruments and equipment that contact the patient. While pre-packaged instruments transported to these locations arrive initially sterile, they become contaminated following their use in medical procedures. It is absolutely necessary that these contaminated instruments be cleaned and sterilized before subsequent use on other patients to prevent the transmission of infection and disease.
In representative hospitals, clinics, and laboratories, contaminated instruments are customarily washed, scrubbed, sealed in germ-free packaging, and then sterilized in an autoclave for re-use. Typically, pressurized steam autoclaves powered by electrical power generate heat and/or steam as the agents most frequently used to sterilize glass, metal, or high-melting plastic tools and instruments. However, it is currently not possible to carry out such sterilization techniques in military facilities located in remote or open field environments where large pressurized steam autoclaves are not available, and wherein electrical power, water, or fire is unavailable, of limited availability, or undesirable. The challenge of replenishing the supply of available sterile instruments in these circumstances often requires transporting contaminated equipment via aircraft to distant hospitals with the facilities to support the operation of a pressurized steam autoclave. In order to safely and effectively sterilize contaminated surgical instruments for immediate re-use on site in these remote or difficult-to-access locations with limited power supplies, it is necessary to consider alternatives to electrical or fossil fuel-powered sterilization using autoclaves.
There are several prior art sterilization methods used to sterilize objects such as field feeding equipment, military equipment, or surgical tools. However, such prior art methods are not suited for remote, field environments such as those typically found in military situations or in countries ravaged by disease and famine wherein international health workers and doctors conduct medical operations in situ. The most widely used chemical disinfectants are halogens, ozone, chlorine dioxide, chloramines, and ethylene oxide. Among them, the most effective disinfectant is chlorine. Ozone and chlorine dioxide are very close to chlorine with respect to effectiveness. Other halogens, such as bromine and iodine, are less effective as is ethylene oxide, although, under certain circumstances, one of these agents may be recommended over the others. For example, ethylene oxide is frequently used to fumigate textiles because ethylene oxide is readily decomposed to non-toxic products on contact with air.
The major disadvantages of the two most effective chemical disinfectants, i.e. chlorine and ozone, are problems related to their storage, transport, and generation. Chlorine is stored as a gas in heavy pressurized cylinders. Ozone is unstable, and is generated in situ, which requires a source of electricity. Heavy equipment is typically involved whether electrical power is obtained from batteries or generators. Ozone, moreover, is usually generated in an electrochemical cell which must be continuously supplied with air at one electrode and water at the other electrode thereby necessitating the use of further mechanical and/or electrical implements and devices. Other halogens and traditional disinfectants, such as hydrogen peroxide, chloramines, and ethylene oxide, are unstable, not sufficiently effective, or are difficult to handle.
Another technique for sterilizing or disinfecting objects entails the use of the disinfectant Super Tropical Bleach (sodium hypochlorite in aqueous solution). This bleach is typically used to decontaminate military equipment, vehicles, weapons, clothing, and field-kitchen equipment. However, hypochlorite cannot be generated on-site and must be transported and stored in large, heavy containers. Hypochlorite is also caustic and difficult to ship due to its potential health hazards. Furthermore, hypochlorite is especially corrosive to metal surfaces such as those found on military equipment, vehicles, weapons systems, and generators. Additionally, disinfection or decontamination by hypochlorite produces environmentally hazardous by-products including carcinogenic compounds that endanger human health. These disadvantages of Super Tropical Bleach prevent its use in disinfecting contaminated surgical instruments in remote or far-forward environments.
The use of radiation to achieve disinfection and sterilization also has many disadvantages. Whether the radiation takes the form of ultraviolet light, X-rays, or nuclear emissions, it is usually applied in an enclosed environment. The generation of such high-energy radiation either involves electricity, for ultraviolet light and X-rays, or lead-lined containers and special handling, in the case of shielded installations for radioactive nuclides. Factors such as high power, heavy and complex equipment and extreme safety precautions preclude the rapid deployment of radiation sources from one location to another, especially in remote areas.
Thus, these aforesaid sterilization and disinfection methods that use chemicals or radiation are not suitable for remote, field operations and in situations wherein electrical power is not available or of limited availability.
Another known sterilization and disinfection technique involves chlorine dioxide synthesis. Known chlorine dioxide synthesis techniques typically use one of three methods: (a) electrochemical, (b) acidification, and (c) oxidation. Each of these three methods is described in the ensuing description.
(a) Electrochemical Methods
The electrochemical methods involve the formation of chlorine dioxide from chlorine-containing compounds of lower chlorine oxidation number, such as, but not limited to, chloride, hypochlorite, or chlorite ions, by passage of an electrical current through solutions of these electrolytes in an electrochemical cell. For example, Tremblay et al. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2003/0006144 discloses an electrochemical method that requires the production of relatively large volumes of electrolyte that must be constantly stirred and transported in small amounts using an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell typically comprises liquid reservoirs, pumps, and batteries which are not only heavy, voluminous and bulky, but also are difficult to operate without a source of electricity or fire. Furthermore, although potable drinking water can be produced from such an electrochemical cell, Herrington U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,966 does not disclose achievement of sterilization, the more rigorous state of complete elimination of microorganisms.
(b) Acidification
Acidification involves the formation of chlorine dioxide by proton transfer to chlorite ion. The chlorous acid so produced disproportionates to yield chloride and chlorate ions, and various amounts of chlorine dioxide. Kampa Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2004/0062680 (“Kampa”) discloses an apparatus and method wherein the components needed for reaction are sequestered into two compartments separated by a rupturable membrane. This method can be used for acidification if a component in one compartment is a proton-releasing reagent, and the other component in the second compartment is a chlorite salt. Such a technique is prone to several problems the solutions of which make the techniques disclosed in Kampa undesirable for field sterilization. For example, the acidification reactions may be too slow and require expensive catalysts that do not last long as is found in Ostgard U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,039. Barenberg et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,826 (“Barenberg”) discloses a chemical combination which is a variation on the acidification method and uses a hydrophobic material to contact a contaminated surface, a hydrophilic material to introduce water needed to release protons, a proton-releasing reagent and a chlorite salt. However, the chemical combination described in Barenberg requires bulky material and precise control in order to achieve the correct amount of moisture in the atmosphere. Thus, the technique described in the aforesaid Barenberg patent is not suited to the rigorous sterilization requirements associated with remote field operations as is frequently found in military applications (e.g., high altitudes or desert climates). Klatte U.S. Pat. No. 6,635,230 describes a technique involving the use of a zeolite to store the proton-releasing compound and chlorite salt in a mixed, but unreactive state. However, such a technique uses costly materials, requires fluid flow methodologies, and is not suited to the sterilization requirements associated with remote sites wherein electrical power is not available.
(c) Oxidation
Oxidation methods require the formation of chlorine dioxide by using a chemical oxidant to raise the oxidation number of a chlorine-containing chemical such as sodium chlorite. A widely used oxidant is chlorine gas, which must be transported to the site in a heavy pressurized gas cylinder. In addition, there are problems in gas delivery which require considerable heavy, energy-consuming equipment to make the device effective as a biocide. Such a technique is disclosed in Jefferis, III et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,188.
Thus, as shown above, none of these aforementioned chlorine dioxide synthesis methods provide a safe, convenient, reliable means for generating sufficient chlorine dioxide to achieve sterilization of objects in a relatively short time and in remote locations.
There are also disinfection methods and techniques that do not use chlorine dioxide. Such a method is described in Tarancon U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,072. This technique uses a fluorine-containing interhalogen compound such as gaseous chlorine trifluoride which hydrolyzes upon contact with liquid water or gaseous water vapor to release biocidal products. This technique necessitates the safe handling of corrosive and expensive materials as well as toxic gases. Furthermore, this technique requires a chamber of controlled humidity to effectuate disinfection. Thus, this technique is not suited for remote field operations.
There are other prior art techniques and methods that are variations of the techniques and methods described in the foregoing description. For example, Rosenblatt et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,504,442 also discloses the use of chlorine dioxide gas as a chemosterilizing agent. Contaminated surfaces are contacted with an effective amount of gaseous chlorine dioxide for a predetermined amount of time to kill bacterial spores at a temperature that does not overly exceed ambient temperature. Rosenblatt et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,739 discloses the use of chlorine dioxide gas as a chemosterilizing agent. The method comprises the step of exposing a surface contaminated with spores to a humid gaseous environment and then exposing the spores to an amount of gaseous chlorine dioxide. Drake U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,802 discloses a method and apparatus for generating and using chlorine dioxide. Specifically, this patent teaches a method for generating a volume of disinfectant/sterilant fluid having a predetermined concentration of chlorine dioxide. The method includes transferring the generated chlorine dioxide gas to a separate disinfectant chamber containing a liquid solvent. The liquid solvent is chosen from the group consisting of water, alcohol, organic solvents and chlorinated solvents.
Aoyagi U.S. Patent Application No. U.S. 2003/0136426 discloses a method for cleaning and sterilizing medical devices. The medical devices are immersed in a chlorine dioxide solution. Thereafter, the medical device is placed in a chlorine dioxide gas atmosphere. Nelson et al. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2004/0101438 discloses a method and apparatus for sterilizing or sanitizing a container for food. Chlorine gas is produced either inside or outside the container and then circulated inside and throughout the container. The chlorine gas is then removed from the container and is reclaimed by dissolving it in a solvent. However, the foregoing techniques and methods suffer from one or more of the drawbacks and disadvantages described in the foregoing description (i.e. complex, bulky and expensive equipment, equipment that requires electrical power, etc.) and therefore, are not suited for use in remote locations wherein electrical power is not available or of limited availability, or wherein fire is either not available or undesirable.
Thus, it is apparent that currently, there is no portable, power-free method to safely, conveniently, and controllably generate sterilant or disinfectant in field environments, particularly in remote locations, that can be used to sanitize field feeding equipment, decontaminate military clothing or equipment, or sterilize medical instruments. With respect to sterilizing contaminated medical or surgical instruments, there is currently no alternative to the costly and inconvenient practice of collecting the used medical or surgical instruments and tools, removing them from the remote field environment, and transporting them to a distant site where they are sterilized in electrically-powered hospital steam autoclaves, packaged, and then transported back to the remote field environment for reuse. What is needed is a technique whose precursors can be safely and readily transported to field locations (including difficult-to-access environments or remote locations) and that requires no external power sources to controllably and safely generate a lethal biocidal chemical agent to sterilize objects or surfaces (e.g. field feeding equipment, medical instruments, military clothing or equipment, etc.) on site so that such objects can be cleaned, sterilized, and reused quickly and safely. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Management (console) communications are used in server systems to send and receive status, control and configuration information. Management communications are typically transmitted and received via a single local area network (LAN) interface (i.e., a LAN that combines management and payload communications), or via a cable to an RS-232 port on the server.
When there is no management LAN, each server typically includes an RS-232 port for management communications. When a large number of servers are to be controlled, a complex, hard-to-manage wiring bundle to each individual server's RS-232 port is typically implemented, which connects each individual server with a complex set of switch networks. Using an RS-232 port for management communications is sufficient for a single stand-alone server, but when the server is integrated with many others, a separate cable for each server is difficult to maintain and configure.
As an alternative to dedicated RS232 ports, some servers will use a LAN interface commonly implemented as a Network Interface Card (NIC) configured and maintained through the operating system. Normally this LAN is used for application and customer payload information, and the management functions are an add-on.
If a single LAN interface is used, there is a security hole in that management information commingles with payload information on a single LAN. This commingling of signals on a single LAN allows for unauthorized snooping, and the potential for unauthorized communications to console devices. For a single LAN interface, a security driven software layer can be used (at additional cost), but there is a possibility that the security layer could be compromised. The mixed data stream is vulnerable to security breaches even if firewalls are used. Unauthorized access by an application user to chassis management functions could lead to permanent data corruption for all users. Similarly, unauthorized access by a chassis administrator to an application could lead to a compromise of secure data.
With the single LAN solution, the content on the LAN can be segregated outside of the system to the two different streams, management and payload. This forces the same solution on all systems in a data center. A system-by-system solution is difficult, to obtain and maintain. In addition, by having the segregation in commercial, sometimes publicly accessible switches, the possibility of hacking is greatly increased. Once the LANs are linked through an external switch, management or information technology (IT) personnel would typically configure the system, and then hand it over to the application users/developers, who would typically change passwords for security reasons to lock out the IT personnel from the system. Only through manual intervention and coordination between the two types of users can full manageability be obtained.
It would be desirable to provide a server with a more convenient, flexible, and secure system for management communications. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
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