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Computing systems are currently in wide use. Some computing systems are deployed at end user organizations and they assist the end user organizations in performing the operations undertaken by the organization.
Some such computing systems implement processes that are defined and implemented in various ways. They can, for instance, be defined in metadata and the process can be realized by an instance of a workflow that runs the process. Therefore, the computing system can monitor for triggering events, that trigger the instantiation and running of a workflow, which performs a process. This type of workflow definition can be difficult to manage.
For instance, at any given time during the runtime processing of the computing system, a plurality of different processes can be active. Multiple workflow instances, for example, may be executing multiple different processes (or multiple instances of the same process) during runtime. These workflows may all be in different states. Therefore, if a user wishes to modify the process definition, it can be difficult to apply the modification. The workflows may be defined by a global definition. Attempting to apply a modification to the global definition of a workflow may be disruptive, because the multiple instances of the running workflows may be at different states so the modification may or may not be applied. Therefore, attempting to modify them uniformly cannot be done, simply by changing the global definition.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a photographic processing machine and, more particularly, to a method of and an apparatus for drying photographic light-sensitive material, such as film sheet, by applying drying air thereto in the photographic processing machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In such a photographic processing machine, particularly, a typical automatic developing machine, a drying device is arranged in such a manner that, immediately after a power switch of the automatic developing machine has been turned on, a fan and a heater are turned on to introduce the outside air from an air inlet and supply warm air through an air duct to a drying chamber, and thereby the interior of the drying chamber is heated.
More specifically, the outside air which is introduced through the air inlet is heated by the heater irrespective of the condition of the introduced air (for example, temperature and humidity). Thus, the relative humidity of the introduced air is reduced and the temperature of a film sheet to be dried by warm air is raised, to evaporate moisture from the film sheet. The warm air containing the moisture is discharged from the machine.
However, in a case where a film sheet is dried by using such a device, the moisture carried on, or contained in, the sheet is evaporated and discharged irrespective of the ambient temperature, humidities, and other conditions of the outside air. Therefore, if the amount of sheet to be processed per unit time is large, if the ambient temperature is low, or if the ambient humidity is high, the temperature in the drying chamber may not reach a predetermined temperature under the same conditions that warm air is supplied, or humidity may become excessively high. As a result, the environment within the drying chamber deteriorates with time, and thus film sheets may stick each other because imperfect dryness or nonuniform dryness may take place. For these reasons, a heater and a fan each having a capability which corresponds to the maximum amount of film sheets to be processed per unit time are needed. This causes the problem of increases in the size of the apparatus and the cost of production. Otherwise, the film sheet may be excessively dried, and thus the curl or nonuniform dryness thereof may take place.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of and an apparatus for drying photographic light-sensitive material, both of which are suitable for applications in a photographic processing machine for light-sensitive material, and both of which are capable of maintaining a necessary and appropriate degree of dryness by using a minimum required level of energy (the temperature and flow rate of warm air) to achieve a suitable dryness of the photographic light-sensitive materials. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data storage system, more particularly, to a data storage system having an adjustable display module on the housing, in which the angle of the display screen of the adjustable display module can be flexibly adjusted to adapt to the change of the housing placement.
2. Description of the Related Art
A RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive/Independent Disks) workstation is a data storage system equipped with a plurality of disk drives configured to provide data storage space of high capacity, high performance, and/or high data availability. The prior art RAID workstation always has a display screen provided on a front panel of the housing for displaying the operation status of the RAID workstation. Since display screen is fixedly mounted on the housing, users cannot change the angular position of the display screen with respect to the housing.
In practically using, because of some varying factors, such as the located environment, the housing of the data storage system could be placed in either a vertical fashion or a horizontal fashion. If, for example, the original design is that when the housing is placed on a platform in a vertical fashion, the display screen is parallel to the level of the platform for observation, it is quite inconvenient for users to observe the display screen when the data storage system is in a horizontal placement fashion, which is a 90 degrees rotation from the vertical placement fashion. In the horizontal placement, users cannot observe the information displayed on the display screen with a regular angle. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an enclosed paperboard carton capable of enclosing containers, which carton has a dispenser in one end of the carton for dispensing containers, for example, cans or bottles, which can be removed or dispensed without destroying the overall structural integrity of the carton. In order to ensure that the containers roll out of the carton through the end dispenser, a tilt platform is provided at the opposite end of the carton, so that the containers will tend to roll towards the end of the carton with the dispenser.
2. Background
Fully enclosed cartons capable of enclosing cans have been used in the past that have a dispenser in one end for dispensing the cans one at a time. All of these cartons with a dispenser in one end suffer from the limitation that when the carton lies flat in the refrigerator, pantry or on a table, the bottom row of cans has no force to move them toward the dispenser end of the carton. In order to remove cans from the bottom of the carton near the end of the carton away from the dispenser, it is frequently necessary to tilt the carton downward towards the dispensing end to allow the cans to roll towards the dispenser.
3. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,265,283 to Farquhar discloses a fully enclosed carton having a dispenser for dispensing the enclosed cans. The end wall of the carton has a dispensing flap which can be folded down upon opening. An aperture formed by the flap extends into the side walls to permit grasping of the cans to withdraw it from the carton. When the flap is opened, the cans are held in the carton by an arcuate flap portion extending downwardly in the end wall into the center of the aperture.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,509 to Holly, Jr. et al. also discloses a fully enclosed carton with a dispenser in one of the end walls. This dispenser is likewise formed in the end wall by tearing out an end flap and lowering it into proper position. Expansion slits are provided in the side wall for the user's fingers to grasp the ends of the exiting can. | {
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Articles with one or more structured surfaces are useful in a variety of applications (e.g., abrasive discs, assembly of automobile parts, and disposable absorbent articles). The articles may be provided as films that exhibit, for example, increased surface area, mechanical fastening structures, or optical properties.
Mechanical fasteners, which are also called hook and loop fasteners, typically include a plurality of closely spaced upstanding projections with loop-engaging heads useful as hook members, and loop members typically include a plurality of woven, nonwoven, or knitted loops. Mechanical fasteners are useful for providing releasable attachment in numerous applications. For example, mechanical fasteners are widely used in wearable disposable absorbent articles to fasten such articles around the body of a person. In typical configurations, a hook strip or patch on a fastening tab attached to the rear waist portion of a diaper or incontinence garment, for example, can fasten to a landing zone of loop material on the front waist region, or the hook strip or patch can fasten to the backsheet (e.g., nonwoven backsheet) of the diaper or incontinence garment in the front waist region. Mechanical fasteners are also useful for disposable articles such as sanitary napkins. A sanitary napkin typically includes a back sheet that is intended to be placed adjacent to the wearer's undergarment. The back sheet may comprise hook fastener elements to securely attach the sanitary napkin to the undergarment, which mechanically engages with the hook fastener elements.
The hooks of hook and loop fastening systems may be formed with a curved shape or they may be substantially upright stems that are deformed to include, for example, a head in the shape of mushroom. Some methods, which have varying degrees of versatility and complexity, are available to control the shape of loop-engaging heads. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,589 (Pearson); U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,797 (Provost et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,660 (Kampfer); U.S. Pat. No. 6,558,602 (Melbye et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,378 (Parellada et al.). | {
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Plasma arc torches are widely used in the processing (e.g., cutting and marking) of metallic materials. A plasma arch torch generally includes a torch body, an electrode mounted within the body, a nozzle with a central exit orifice, electrical connections, passages for cooling and arc control fluids, a swirl ring to control the fluid flow patterns, and a power supply. The torch produces a plasma arc, which is a constricted ionized jet of a plasma gas with high temperature and high momentum. The gas can be non-reactive, e.g. nitrogen or argon, or reactive, e.g. oxygen or air.
In process of plasma arc cutting or marking a metallic workpiece, a pilot arc is first generated between the electrode (cathode) and the nozzle (anode). The pilot arc ionizes gas passing through the nozzle exit orifice. After the ionized gas reduces the electrical resistance between the electrode and the workpiece, the arc then transfers from the nozzle to the workpiece. The torch is operated in this transferred plasma arc mode, characterized by the conductive flow of ionized gas from the electrode to the workpiece, for the cutting or marking the workpiece.
In a plasma arc torch using a reactive plasma gas, it is common to use a copper electrode with an insert of high thermionic emissivity material. The insert is press fit into the bottom end of the electrode so that an end face of the insert, which defines an emission surface, is exposed. The insert is typically made of either hafnium or zirconium and is cylindrically shaped.
While electrodes with traditional cylindrical inserts operate as intended, manufacturers continuously strive to improve the service life of such electrodes, particularly for high current processes. It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an electrode having an insert configuration that improves the service life of the electrode. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a package structure and method thereof; in particular, to a package structure and method thereof for an optical module.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, the optical proximity sensor has become the major choice of electronic devices for distance sensing. For example, when an electronic device is close to the face of a user or placed in a pocket, the optical proximity sensor can detect an object close by, and the electronic device can immediately turn off the display and/or the touch function to avoid inadvertent touch and save power consumption, thereby providing a better user experience.
The light source of the optical proximity sensor emits light, and the light is reflected by the object to a sensor of the optical proximity sensor, and then converted into electronic signals for processing to achieve the purpose of detecting objects. The light source and the sensor of the optical proximity sensor must be separated from each other by a shield, so that the light source and the sensor can be disposed on the same substrate, to avoid interference with each other and reducing the product performance.
However, the optical proximity sensor should be covered with a cover when assembled with the electronic device, and since the cover cannot always fit perfectly against the optical proximity sensor, an air gap between the cover and the shield of the optical proximity sensor is often formed. Thus, the distance between the cover and the shield is often inconsistent, resulting in measurement errors of the optical proximity sensor. | {
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Many entities, such as merchants, advertisers, content providers, manufacturers, and more, are often greatly interested in finding out as much as they can about consumers. By learning more about consumers, these entities can often better target advertisements, offers, or other content to consumers, or better select consumers for receipt of specific content. As a result, these entities may try to obtain information on consumers as often as possible, and with as much detail included as possible. One such piece of information is transaction data associated with payment transactions involving a consumer. Such information may be useful for identifying a consumer's purchasing behavior and shopping trends.
However, consumers may be worried about the amount of information that advertisers and other such entities may possess about themselves, particularly when it comes to their shopping behavior. As a result, many regulations have been passed and/or adopted that may limit an entity's ability to gather and/or possess personally identifiable information associated with a particular consumer. Therefore, entities are now often in need for information about consumers that can provide valuable detail, while still maintaining a consumer's privacy as per regulations and requirements.
Thus, there is a need for a technical solution to provide behavioral scores for consumers based on transaction data while maintaining consumer privacy. | {
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A pressure-sensitive chip for a semiconductor pressure sensor is formed of a silicon single crystal similar to in an integrated circuit (IC) component, and is provided with, at a center portion of this chip, a diaphragm formed by thinning the thickness of the chip. And, on the surface of this diaphragm, piezoresistive pressure-sensitive gauges (semiconductor strain gauges) are formed. When pressure is applied to the diaphragm, the diaphragm is deformed to change the pressure-sensitive gauges in electric resistance, and this change in electric resistance is detected as an electric signal, whereby a pressure or a change in pressure is measured. Semiconductor pressure sensors include relative pressure-type semiconductor pressure sensors for measuring relative pressures and absolute pressure-type semiconductor pressure sensors for measuring absolute pressures.
A sectional view of an absolute pressure-type semiconductor pressure sensor is shown in FIG. 10. By making a glass substrate 23 adhere to a rear-surface side of a pressure-sensitive chip 21, a vacuum space is formed between a diaphragm 20 and a glass substrate 23. A pressure applied to the front surface of the diaphragm 20 is measured as an absolute pressure with reference to a vacuum pressure of the rear-surface side as a standard. The drawing shows a condition where the diaphragm 20 has been warped owing to pressure applied to the front surface of the pressure-sensitive chip 21.
As a conventional absolute pressure-type semiconductor pressure sensor, one whose pressure-sensitive chip 21 has been protected by a case has been proposed (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2000-88687, for example). An example of this pressure sensor is shown in FIG. 11. A glass substrate 23 is attached to the pressure-sensitive chip 21 which is provided with piezoresistive pressure-sensitive gauges (unillustrated) formed on a silicon substrate, and a vacuum chamber 24 is formed therebetween. The pressure-sensitive chip 21 and glass substrate 23 are covered with a case 25, and the pressure-sensitive chip 21 is connected to leads 27 via bonding wires 26.
In such an absolute pressure-type semiconductor pressure sensor, due to presence of the case 25, damage to the bonding wires 26 and deterioration of the pressure-sensitive gauge electrodes are prevented. Connecting the pressure-sensitive gauge electrodes to an external electronic measuring device directly by soldering becomes a factor in fluctuation of sensor output since stress occurs owing to a difference in thermal expansion, and therefore, to connect them, the bonding wires 26 and leads 27 are used. As a result, with a structure having the case 25, bonding wires 26, and leads 27, reduction in size is difficult.
In order to realize reduction in size of an absolute pressure-type semiconductor pressure sensor, one whose pressure-sensitive chip and leads have been electrically connected by conductive bumps has been proposed (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-82009). An example of this pressure sensor is shown in FIG. 12. A bump 33 having conductivity is formed on one surface 32 of a pressure-sensitive chip 31, and the bump 33 and a lead 36 are electrically connected in a condition where the one surface 32 of the pressure-sensitive chip 31 and one surface 35 of the base 34 are opposed.
However, in this structure, since the pressure-sensitive chip 31 and lead 36 are firmly connected via the bump 33, when a change in temperature occurs, stress caused by a difference in thermal expansion between the pressure-sensitive chip 31 and an electronic measuring device occurs, and the stress easily concentrates on the bump 33. When strain of the bump 33 becomes great as a result of this stress concentration, there is a possibility that a problem such as electrode exfoliation and an increase in the resistance value occurs. In addition, as a result of occurrence of a fluctuation in the resistance value of a piezoresistive pressure-sensitive gauge owing to this stress, the sensor erroneously detects that a fluctuation in pressure has occurred. Accordingly, when reduction in size is attempted by a connection using bumps 33, it is necessary to provide the bumps 33 with some stress relieving function.
On the other hand, in recent years, with the reduction in size of semiconductor devices, a reduction in size of semiconductor packages has been realized. Of these, one for which reliability of a connecting portion has been improved and reduction in size has been realized by providing a resin post structure in a solder bump portion and a stress concentrated in the bump is relieved by this resin post has been proposed (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2002-280476, for example). An example of this semiconductor package is shown in FIG. 13. This has been provided by coating a resinous projection 44 provided on a insulating resin layer 43 of a wafer 41 with a conductive layer 45, and connection reliability has been improved and reduction in size of the semiconductor package has been realized by forming a post 46 constructed so as to disperse and absorb a stress by way of deformation of the resinous projection 44.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a semiconductor pressure sensor for which reduction in size has been realized without impairing pressure measurement accuracy and connection reliability by connecting a pressure-sensitive chip to an electronic measuring device by use of bumps having a stress relieving function. | {
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The practice of orthodontics requires a considerable amount of chair time with patients so that perfect or near perfect alignment of the patient's teeth can be achieved. When orthodontic brackets (braces) are bonded to the patient's teeth at an initial treatment, it is very difficult if not impossible to precisely position each bracket. The problem is exacerbated by a number of issues. For example, excess crowding of the teeth, angulations of the teeth, lack of access and at times human error or inability to precisely position a bracket on a specific tooth.
A further problem confronting the orthodontist is that the realignment of the teeth following the initial treatment, it becomes apparent that some of the brackets that have been bonded to a patient's teeth need to be repositioned.
This requires removal of the originally bonded bracket from the tooth enamel that causes pain and discomfort, frequently damages the bracket, requires a new bracket, requires removal of the existing bonding material on the patient's teeth, repairing the tooth surface and rebonding a new bracket in the ideal position. This procedure is costly, time consuming and may not necessarily be the last time the orthodontist is replacing that bracket.
After many years, it is still common practice to adhesively bond an orthodontic bracket directly onto a tooth. Nevertheless, there have been attempts to provide adjustable orthodontic brackets. For example, a U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,387 of Prins discloses an Adjustable Orthodontic Bracket that can be fixed to a band to surround a tooth. The bracket has a base to be carried by the tooth, and a movable member to which wires are attached, and a retainer to fix the movable member to the base. In the preferred embodiment, the base and the movable member have spherical surfaces so that motion of the movable member can dispose the bracket at any desired angle in any plane for the desired torque, and in all embodiments the movable member is rotatable about the retainer through 360 degrees and can be set at any desired angle.
A U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,581 of Adler discloses an Orthodontic Bracket. As disclosed therein, an improved orthodontic bracket is formed of a wire gripping block secured within a spring metal base having wings or string tabs which set within tab receiving slots on opposite ends of the block. A slot within the face of the block is configured for gripping an orthodontic banding or archwire extending from tooth to tooth, the face being large enough to accommodate any desired orientation of the slot to convert tension forces in the wire to a desired amount of torque for inducing a predetermined rotation of the tooth. A central plate portion of the base includes a slot elongated for the guidance of an orthodontic pin between the block and the base while transverse wing portions of the aperture serve as keyways for cooperation with alignment pins extending from a back face of the block. A channel for receipt of the orthodontic pin is also located on the back face of the block. Further, a bifurcated shim having legs contacting cam surfaces of the block for insertion between the block and the base to facilitate removal of the block for interchanging with other blocks, the legs passing outside the alignment pins and one of the tabs, the one tab having peripheral slots for engagement with the legs.
A more recent Kishi U.S. Pat. No. 8,371,846 discloses a Self-Adjustable Self-Ligating Orthodontic Bracket. As disclosed, a self-adjustable, self-ligating orthodontic bracket includes a base with a tooth face bonded to a surface of a tooth. A linking body includes a body connection. The linking body is in physical communication with an archwire transmitting a force to the linking body. A connector applies a tension between the linking body and the base motivating the linking body and the base toward a normal position.
Notwithstanding the above, it is presently believed that there is a need and a potential commercial market for an adjustable orthodontic bracket and method in accordance with the present invention. There should be a commercial market for such devices because they use a base member adhesively bonded to a tooth instead of adhesively bonding the orthodontic bracket on the tooth as commonly done today. The base member has dimensions and configuration that is slightly larger than the bracket. Therefore, the bracket is heat softenable material onto the base member and the base member is adhesively bonded to the tooth. A laser with pinpoint accuracy softens the heat softenable material in order to adjust the bracket.
In addition, the adjustable orthodontic bracket and method are considerably more cost effective, safe, saves hours of an orthodontist's time, relieves a patient from pain and discomfort, and reduces the costs for such treatments. | {
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This invention relates to a motor control device that controls at least one motor.
One type of a conventionally known motor control device controls a plurality of motors which drive different driven targets by means of a single control unit (such as a microcomputer). More particularly, this type of motor control device achieves motor control as follows. That is, a manipulated variable for a motor is calculated, for example based on input signals from an encoder that outputs pulse signals in accordance with rotation of the motor. Then, a process for setting the manipulated variable to a motor driving circuit (hereinafter, referred to as a “control process”) is repeated per motor. However, the single control unit is not capable of executing the control process of the plurality of motors in parallel. Accordingly, the conventional motor control device repeatedly performs the control process to each motor in sequence so as to virtually control each motor in parallel.
Also, in such a conventional motor control device, a different control cycle is defined per each motor. Each motor is controlled by the control process of each motor which is executed per control cycle of the corresponding motor.
One example of such a motor control device is provided with a plurality of timers each provided corresponding to each motor. More particularly in this example, interruption signals are supplied from the plurality of timers to a control unit in cycles predetermined in the plurality of timers. Each time the interruption signal is supplied, the control unit executes the control process of the corresponding motor so that the plurality of motors are controlled in the corresponding cycles.
In another example, control cycle of a motor having the shortest optimal control cycle out of control cycles of a plurality of motors is set to an execution cycle Ts of the control process. Each time the execution cycle Ts arrives, the interruption signal is supplied to a control unit from one timer.
Particularly, as shown in FIG. 11, the control cycle of the motor having the shortest optimal control cycle is defined as the execution cycle Ts of the control process. The control cycles of other motors are defined as integral multiples of the execution cycle Ts. Each time the execution cycle Ts arrives, the control process of the motor of which control cycle has arrived is carried out in sequence. In this manner, each motor is virtually controlled in parallel in a different control cycle. That is, the above control process is executed to the motor having the same control cycle as the execution cycle Ts each time the execution cycle Ts arrives, while, with respect to a motor having a control cycle of M (M: an integer of two and above) times as long as the execution cycle Ts, the control process is executed each time the number of times of arrival of the execution cycle Ts reaches an integral multiple of M. | {
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The invention relates generally to apparatus for monitoring operation of positive-displacement pumps and, more particularly, to a liquid/gas phase detector for multi-stage positive-displacement rotary axial-screw pumps.
In conventional pumps of this type, pressure is developed from the inlet or suction port of the pump to the outlet or discharge port in near-even stage-to-stage increments. Each stage is defined as a moving-thread closure or isolated volume formed by meshing of pump rotors between the inlet and outlet ends of the pump. Pressure is developed along the moving-thread closures as liquid progresses through the pump. The number of closures is usually proportional to the desired level of outlet pressure delivered, i.e., the greater the pressure, the greater the number of closures necessary. The closures enable the pump to develop an internal pressure gradient of progressively increasing pressure increments. Properly applied, a rotary axial-screw pump can be used to pump a broad range of fluids, from high-viscosity liquids to relatively light fuels or water/oil emulsions.
However, when large volumes of entrained or dissolved gas exit in solution within the pump, the normal progression of pressure gradient development is often disrupted, adversely affecting pump performance. If large quantities of gas become entrained in the pumped liquid, the internal pumping process may become unsteady and the internal pressure gradient can be lost. The pump may also vibrate excessively, leading to noise and excessive wear.
This condition is synonymous with a more common phenomena known as "cavitation". Cavitation usually occurs when the pressure of a fluid drops below its vapor pressure, allowing gas to escape from the fluid. When the pump exerts increasing pressure on a gaseous liquid, unstable stage pressures result leading to collapse of the gas bubbles in the delivery stage.
Traditional cavitation detection has been through audible noise, reduced flow rate, and increased pump vibration. However, by the onset of these occurrences, significant changes in pump operations may have occurred and it is often too late to protect the pump from internal damage. For example, where the pump is unable to develop a normal pressure gradient from suction to discharge, the total developed pressure may occur in the last closure. This upsets normal hydrodynamic support of the idler rotors, eventually leading to metal-to-metal contact with consequential damage to the pump.
Knowledgeable application and conservative ratings are traditional protection against these conditions. However, when pumping liquids with unpredictable characteristics or uncontrolled gas content, as is often the case, frequent monitoring of pump operations with attendant labor and other costs is required to maintain normal operations. Traditional means of detecting cavitation and other operating instabilities have been found particularly unsuitable where the pump is expected to give long reliable service at a remote unattended installation, and under extreme environmental conditions. | {
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Two major telecommunication networks have evolved worldwide. The first is a network of telephone systems in the form of the Public Switched Telephone System (PSTN). This network was initially designed to carry voice communication, but later also adapted to transport data. The second is a network of computer systems in the form of the Internet. The Internet has been designed to carry data but also increasingly being used to transport voice and multimedia information. Computers implementing telephony applications have been integrated into both of these telecommunication networks to provide enhanced communication services. For example on the PSTN, computer telephony integration has provided more functions and control to the POTS (Plain Old Telephone Services). On the Internet, computers are themselves terminal equipment for voice communication as well as serving as intelligent routers and controllers for a host of terminal equipment.
The Internet is a worldwide network of IP networks communicating under TCP/IP. Specifically, voice and other multimedia information are transported on the Internet under the VoIP (Voice-over-IP) protocol, and under the H.323 standard that has been put forward for interoperability. Another important implementation of VOIP protocol is SIP (“Session Initiation Protocol”.)
The integration of the PSTN and the IP networks allows for greater facility in automation of voice applications by leveraging the inherent routing flexibility and computing accessibility in the IP networks.
An example platform for easy deployment of telephony applications is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,411, which entire disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. Essentially, a networked telephony system allows users to deploy on the Internet computer telephony applications associated with designated telephone numbers. The telephony application is easily created by a user in XML (Extended Markup Language) with predefined telephony XML tags (e.g. VoiceXML) and easily deployed on a website. The telephony XML tags include those for call control and media manipulation. A call to anyone of these designated telephone numbers may originate from anyone of the networked telephone system such as the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone System), a wireless network, or the Internet. The call is received by an application gateway center (AGC) installed on the Internet. Analogous to a web browser, the AGC provides facility for retrieving the associated XML application from its website and processing the call accordingly.
This type of telephony platform allows very power yet simple telephony applications to be built and deployed on the Internet. The following are some examples of the telephony applications deployed on this platform. A “Follow me, find me” application sequentially calls a series of telephone numbers as specified by a user until one of the numbers answers and then connects the call. Otherwise, it does something else such as takes a message or sends e-mail or sends the call to a call center, etc. In another example, a Telephonic Polling application looks up from a database the telephone numbers of a population to be polled. It then calls the numbers in parallel, limited only by the maximum number of concurrent sessions supported, and plays a series of interactive voice prompts/messages in response to the called party's responses and records the result in a database, etc. In another example, a Help Desk application plays a series of interactive voice prompts/messages in response to the called party's responses and possibly connects the call to a live agent as one option, etc. In yet another example, a Stock or Bank Transactions application plays a series of interactive voice prompts/messages in response to the called party's responses and conducts appropriate transactions with a backend database or web application, etc.
The latter examples are generally referred to as self-help applications. In the voice context, a self-help application is referred to as IVR. IVR refers to Interactive Voice Response and is a technology that automates interaction with telephone callers. Enterprises are increasingly turning to IVR to reduce the cost of common sales, service, collections, inquiry and support calls to and from their company.
Historically, IVR solutions have used pre-recorded voice prompts and menus to present information and options to callers, and touch-tone telephone keypad entry to gather responses. Modern IVR solutions also enable input and responses to be gathered via spoken words with voice recognition.
IVR solutions enable users to retrieve information including bank balances, flight schedules, product details, order status, movie show times, and more from any telephone. Additionally, IVR solutions are increasingly used to place outbound calls to deliver or gather information for appointments, past due bills, and other time critical events and activities.
The various voice applications described above are typically specified by application scripts coded in VoiceXML. Alternatively, the scripts can be coded using dialog objects. US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0043953 A1 discloses a technique of building dialog control using dialog objects.
Historically, IVR solutions have used pre-recorded voice prompts and menus to present information and options to callers, and touch-tone telephone keypad entry to gather responses. Modern IVR solutions also enable input and responses to be gathered via spoken words with voice recognition.
IVR solutions enable users using voice as a medium or other form of inputs through a voice channel to retrieve information including bank balances, flight schedules, product details, order status, movie show times, and more from any telephone. Additionally, IVR solutions are increasingly used to place outbound calls to deliver or gather information for appointments, past due bills, and other time critical events and activities.
It is desirable for a developer of an application to know how a segment of code in the application interacts with users during runtime and have the usage statistics displayed against the segment of code so that any “hotspots” can easily be detected and rectified if desired. Similarly, insofar as the application represents a portal for conducting business, a business analyst will be interested in the statistics of customer usage and behavior. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cover of an image forming device such as a printer, a facsimile machine, and a copy machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Utility Model-Application Publication No. HEI-7-2345 discloses a document scanning unit with a tray serving both as a supply tray for supplying documents to a document retrieving portion, and as a document-discharge tray for receiving the documents after images are retrieved.
The device case is formed with a sheet-supply port through which documents are supplied into the device, and sheet-discharge port through which documents are discharged out of the case. The sheet-supply port and the sheet-discharge port are formed in the rear and the upper sides of the case, respectively, so as to sandwich therebetween the rear upper portion of the case. The tray is mounted at the rear surface of the case and includes a slanting surface that slants downward toward the sheet-supply port. A guide is provided on one edge of the upper surface of the tray. The guide is for regulating size of documents placed on the tray.
The guide includes a regulating rib extending in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of documents stacked on the tray. Documents to be supplied into the document retrieval device are stacked on the tray below the rib and documents are discharged out of the discharge port on top of the rib. In this way, the rib separates sheets to be supplied from sheets that have been discharged.
Japanese Patent-Application Publication (Kokai) No. HEI-8-177297 discloses a mechanism for pivoting open a cover of a printer and slowly stopping the cover when the cover opens to a desired amount. The disclosed mechanism requires only a slight force to move the cover when first pivoting the cover open, but a larger force as the cover opens wide.
The cover is pivotably mounted on a shaft that is fixed to the device case. A coil spring is compressingly wound around the periphery of the shaft. When the cover is pivoted open, a free end of the coil spring engages with the cover so that the coil spring unwinds around the fixed shaft in a direction for loosening the coil spring. Force required to move the cover increases the more the cover is opened, because force required to unwind the coil spring increases.
Japanese Utility Model-Application Publication No. HEI-8-878 discloses a mechanism for stopping a cover at a desired opened position. The mechanism includes a cover, a rod, and a stop member. The rear edge of the cover is pivotably connected to a case so that the cover can be opened up with respect to the case by lifting up the front edge of the case. The stop member is fixed to the cover. The rod is also pivotably connected to the case and extends through the stop member on the cover. A friction member is supported in the stop member. The friction member is designed to move along the rod without generating any friction resistance while the cover is being opened, but to engage with the rod by friction while the cover is being closed.
However, with the configuration disclosed in Japanese Utility Model-Application Publication No. HEI-7-2345, supplied documents and discharged documents travel in opposite directions. Because the guide is provided only at one edge of the tray, discharged and supplied documents will rub against each other at the edge without the guide. There is a potential problem in that documents that have already scanned and then discharged from the retrieval device will get drawn back into the retrieval device by movement of documents being supplied. These documents will again be supplied back to the retrieval device and rescanned so that sheets that have been processed can be mixed in with sheets that have not yet been processed. Also, when discharged documents reenter the sheet-supply port in this manner, they can enter the sheet-supply port at an angle and cause paper jams, or can be torn or otherwise damaged.
The mechanism described in Japanese Patent-Application Publication (Kokai) No. HEI-8-177297 requires the coil spring to be wound around the fixed shaft. Therefore, assembly of the mechanism is extremely troublesome. When the cover is heavy, the coil spring must be formed from a thick diameter wire or other thick material, and also must be lengthened. As a result, a fairly large area must be secured to accommodate the lengthened and thickened coil spring around the fixed shaft. Therefore, the mechanism for opening and closing the cover must be relatively large.
The mechanism described in Japanese Utility Model-Application Publication No. HEI-8-878 requires a long rod extending from the case to the cover. Also, the rod pivots in a fan shaped motion in association with opening and closing of the cover. Other components can not be disposed along the pivot orbit of the rod. In other words, the mechanism for opening and closing the cover takes up a lot of space. Also, troublesome operations are required to attach the components of the mechanism together.
It is an objective of the present invention to overcome the above-described problems and to provide a device for supplying and discharging sheets in an image forming device wherein supplied sheets and discharged sheets are not supplied at a slant and do not get mixed up, and to provide a mechanism for opening and closing a cover with a compact shape that can be assembled with easy operations.
One aspect of the present invention relates to devices that supply and discharge sheets to almost the same location following a U-turn pathway. According to this aspect of the present invention a sheet supply/discharge configuration includes a case and a sheet-supply tray. The case is formed with a sheet-supply port and a sheet-discharge port extending substantially in parallel with each other.
The sheet-supply tray includes an upper surface, a pair of guides, and a pair of separation ribs. The upper surface slants downward toward the sheet-supply port and has a lower edge disposed with the sheet-supply port interposed between the lower edge and the sheet-discharge port. The pair of guides is disposed in an upright posture with respect to the upper surface. The guides guide sheets stacked on the upper surface toward the sheet-supply port. The pair of separation ribs are provided one to each of the guides. The separation ribs together define thereabove a sheet-discharge pathway and therebelow a sheet-supply pathway.
With this configuration, sheets can be supplied from and discharged to almost same place without the two types of sheets getting mixed up. That is, even if the recording sheets are supplied through the sheet-supply pathway in a direction completely opposite from a direction in which the recording sheets are discharged through the sheet-discharge pathway, the separation ribs prevent sheets being supplied and sheets being discharged or that have been supplied and discharged from touching each other. Therefore, discharged sheets can be prevented from being drawn back into the sheet-supply pathway by sheets being supplied. As a result, the discharged sheets can be prevented from being printed on for a second time. Also, paper jams can be prevented. Because this function is achieved by providing only a pair of guides in the upper surface of the sheet-supply tray, the configuration is extremely simple.
It is desirable that the sheet-supply port and the sheet-discharge port be formed in an upper surface of the case. In this case, it is desirable that a regulating protrusion be formed on the upper surface of the case at a position between the sheet-supply port and the sheet-discharge port. The regulating protrusion guides sheets from the discharge port to travel above the separation ribs of the guides.
With this configuration, the restriction protrusion prevents discharged recording sheets from entering the sheet-supply port below the pair of guides, as the discharged sheets pass over the upper surface of the case. As a result, discharged recording sheets can be more reliably prevented from entering into the sheet-supply side.
It is also desirable that each separation rib has a slanted surface slanting nearer the upper surface with increasing proximity to the sheet-supply port. Because the separation ribs are higher at the side through which sheets are introduced in between the guides and into the sheet-supply pathway, a plurality of recording sheets can be more easily inserted in between the guides. Additionally, because the recording sheets are discharged by sliding upward across the upper surface of the separation ribs, the front edge of the recording sheets are more greatly separated from the supply pathway with increasing distance from the sheet-supply port, that is, with increasing proximity to the side through which sheets are introduced into the sheet-supply pathway. Therefore, recording sheets that move downward when supplied are less likely to contact discharged sheets or sheets that are being discharged. As a result, the discharged sheets are less likely to be drawn into the sheet-supply port by sheets being supplied.
It is further desirable the sheet-supply tray be pivotably mounted on the case and pivotable into a posture covering at least the sheet-supply port. In this case, it is further desirable that an extension hopper be pivotally mounted on the upper surface of the sheet-supply tray so as to be pivotable between a reclining posture and an extended posture. In the reclining posture, a substantial portion of the extension hopper is adjacent to the upper surface. IN the extended posture, a substantial portion of the extension hopper extends off upper surface.
With this configuration, the sheet-supply tray is pivoted open with respect to the case, and then the flat wire shaped extension hopper is pivoted so that its front end sticks out from the free end of the sheet-supply tray. Even if long sheets are stacked on the inner surface of the sheet-supply tray across the extension hopper, the edge of sheets sticking over the free end of the sheet-supply tray do not bend or crease. Furthermore, the end portions of recording sheets sticking over the end of the sheet-supply tray do not hang down so that sheet supply can be smoothly performed and distorted printing can be prevented.
When the extension hopper is pivoted from its extended posture between the guides to its reclining or folded condition, the extension hopper will not get in the way when the sheet-supply tray covers the case. Also, the facsimile device can be made more compact.
A second aspect of the present invention relates to a mechanism for opening and closing a cover or other pivotable member of an office automation device, such as a printer, a fax machine, or a copy machine, wherein the cover is pivotable around an imaginary pivot line with respect to a case or other fixed member of the device. This aspect more particularly relates to configuration enabling the cover to smoothly open to a large angle with respect to the fixed member so that the cover opens quietly and without any shock.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the mechanism is provided to a fixed member and to a pivotable member. That is, the pivotable member is pivotably attached to the fixed member so as to be pivotable about an imaginary pivot line with respect to the fixed member.
The mechanism includes a pin and resiliently deformable slide rib. The pin and the slide rib are provided to different ones of the fixed member and the pivotable member. That is the pin is provided to one of the fixed member and the pivotable member, and slide rib is provided to another of the fixed member and the pivotable member.
The pin protrudes in a direction substantially parallel with the imaginary pivot line. It is also axially centered on an imaginary circle that is centered on the imaginary pivot line. The slide rib has an outwardly-curved surface eccentric with the imaginary circle.
The one of the slide rib and the pin that is provided to the pivotable member is disposed at a position so as to follow the imaginary circle when the pivotable member is pivoted open away from the fixed member. As a result, the outwardly-curved surface and the pin pressingly slide against each other.
With this configuration, when pivotable member pivots open with respect to the fixed member, the pin and the outwardly curving surface will approach each other because, one the one hand, the pin is disposed on the imaginary circle around the imaginary pivot line of the pivotable member and, on the other hand, the outwardly curving surface of the pivot rib is eccentric with respect to the imaginary pivot line.
Said differently, the outwardly curving surface is formed so that one end is nearer the imaginary pivot line than the other end. As a result, when one of the pin and the slide rib moves by pivoting movement of the pivoting member, so that the pin approaches the distant end of the outwardly curving surface, the slide rib resiliently bends in a radial direction with respect to the imaginary pivot line. This bending deformation generates resistance force between the pin and the slide rib so that the moving one of the pin and the slide rib can be stopped and maintained in place with extreme ease. When the pivotable member is massive and heavy, the resistance force against the pin can be easily increased without changing shape or dimensions of the slide rib or the pin itself. That is, to increase the resistance force, the slide rib and the pin need merely be positioned so that the slide rib and the pin abut where the curved surface of the slide rib is further from the imaginary pivot line, that is, in the radial direction from the line. The mechanism having this configuration is compact and does not require large outer dimensions.
It is desirable that when the slide rib has a fixed end and a free end on opposite sides of the outwardly-curved surface, then in this case the outwardly-curved surface slope further away from the imaginary pivot line with increasing proximity to the free end.
By forming the slide rib with one end fixed and the other end free, resistance force for holding the pin in place can be smoothly changed by moving the pin along the slide rib from the fixed end to the free end of the slid rib. As a result, operations for opening and closing the pivotable member can be smoothly performed.
It is desirable that the fixed end of the slide rib be formed integrally with an inner diameter portion of a resin hollow frame. By forming the slide rib integrally to the inner surface of the hollow frame, the slide rib can be positioned by merely fixing a portion of the hollow frame to the fixed member. As a result, operations for attaching the slide rib can be easily performed. Further, because the pivot orbit of the pin is restricted to within the hollow frame, objects can be easily prevented from becoming sandwiched between the slide rib and the pin.
It is desirable that the imaginary pivot line extend in a horizontal direction. Also, it is desirable that the pin be provided to protrude from the pivotable member. Further, it is desirable that the hollow tube frame with the slide rib be fixed to the fixed member. By forming the small pin on the pivotable member, the region where other components can not be disposed because of the pivotable orbit of the pin is reduced so that the device overall can be more compact.
According to a third aspect of the present invention device that uses sheets, such as for printing fax data or print data, includes a lower case, an upper case, a pin, a resiliently deformable slide rib, and a sheet-supply tray.
The upper case is pivotably attached to the lower case so as to be pivotable about an imaginary pivot line with respect to the lower case. The upper case is formed with a sheet-supply port and a sheet-discharge port extending substantially in parallel with each other.
The pin is provided to one of the lower case and the upper case. The pin protrudes in a direction substantially parallel with the imaginary pivot line and is also axially centered on an imaginary circle that is centered on the imaginary pivot line.
The slide rib is provided to another of the lower case and the upper case. The slide rib has an outwardly-curved surface eccentric with the imaginary circle. The slide rib or the pin, whichever is provided to the upper case, is positioned so as to follow the imaginary circle when the upper case is pivoted open. As a result, the outwardly-curved surface and the pin pressingly slide against each other.
The sheet-supply tray is disposed on the upper case at a position to sandwich the sheet-supply port between the sheet-supply tray and the sheet-discharge port. The sheet-supply tray has an upper surface slanting downward toward the sheet-supply port; a pair of guides for guiding sheets stacked on the upper surface toward the sheet-supply port; and a pair of separation ribs provided one to each of the guides, the separation ribs together defining therebelow a sheet-supply pathway and thereabove a sheet-discharge pathway. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for detecting possibility of processing a program in parallel, and an apparatus utilizing detecting results of the above apparatus in translating a program to be applicable to a parallel computer.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Recently, development of the parallel computer system capable of processing a program in parallel has been emphasized. The parallel computer, possessing plural PEs (Processing Element) for executing programs, implements parallel processing by providing each PE with a program.
Generally, a source program described in a higher level language such as FORTRAN is made for serial processing. When such source programs are applied to the parallel computer, a compiler where an object program is generated from the source program needs to be constructed to generate the object program applicable to parallel processing.
A conventional compiler manipulates the source program to generate the object program applicable to the parallel computer. That is, parallelism is extracted from iterations of loop process 3 such as do loop in the source program. Then, each of the iterations is assigned to the PE to be executed in parallel, detail of which is in Paiud, D. A., el al (1986), Advanced compiler optimization for supercomputers, Communications of the ACM, pp. 1184-1201. In addition, "loop" here refers to a set of instructions which can be executed repeatedly and each repetition is relevant to an iteration.
Construction of the conventional compiler is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1.
An input unit 1 is equipped to be inputted with the source program from the outside.
A memory 2 is equipped to hold programs such as a program for implementing compilation, the source program inputted by the input unit 1, and the object program generated in the compilation.
A processor 3 is equipped to execute compilation based on the program held in the memory 2.
An output unit 4 is equipped to output the object program, which is generated by the processor 3 and is held in the memory 2, to an output device (e.g., a display device, a printer, a file device).
Function of the conventional compiler, which is the compilation made by the processor 3 based on-the program in the memory 2, is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2.
An input unit 21 is inputted with the source program from the outside.
A loop detector 22 detects loop processing from the source program.
An array detector 23 detects an array from the source program.
A storage unit 24 stores the loop detected by the loop detector 22 and the array detected by the array detector 23.
A judgement unit 25 judges if iterations of the loop can be processed in parallel by referring to what is in the storage unit 24.
An object generation unit 26 generates the object program applicable to parallel processing of the loop when the judgement unit 25 judges that parallel processing is possible while generating the general object program when the judgement unit judges that parallel processing of the loop is impossible.
An output unit 27 outputs the object program to the display device, the printer, the file device and the like.
Operation of the conventional compiler with its construction and function described hereinbefore is described referring to the flow chart of FIG. 3.
First, the source program to be compiled is inputted to the input unit 21 (step 31). An example of such source program is FIG. 4, where two loops ( "Do 20" loop for a variable j, "Do 10" loop for another variable j) are nested inside an outer loop 400 ("Do 10" loop for a variable i).
Second, loop processing is detected by the loop detector 22 from the source program, and the detecting result is stored in the storage unit 24 (step 32). In FIG. 4, a do-statement and a continue-statement in a pair are detected from the source program as loop processing (step 32). Third, whether or not loop processing has been detected is examined (step 33). In FIG. 4 loop processing of the loop 400 has been detected.
Fourth, when loop processing has been detected, an array in loop processing is detected by the array detector 23 and the detecting result is stored in the storage unit 24 (step 34). In FIG. 4 arrays of a(1), c(i), d(i), a(j), e(i, j)on the left side of the statement and arrays of a(j-1), c(j), d(j), a(j) on the right side of the statement in the loop 400 are detected. If loop processing had not been detected in FIG. 4, general object program would be generated for serial processing. Fifth, the judgement unit 25 judges possibility to process the loop in parallel by examining whether or not there exists any data-dependence relation across iterations of the loop based on what is in the storage unit 24 (step 35). More precisely, it is examined whether or not the array on the right side refers to the array on the left side in the same iteration of the loop considering the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the control variable. In FIG. 4 the judgement unit 25 judges that parallel processing of the loop is possible. To be concrete, in "Do 20 loop" the value of the array a(j-1) on the right side of the statement varies between 1 and 9 when the upper limit value and the lower limit value of control variable j are defined to be 2 and 10 respectively (j=2-10). Such value range of the array a(j-1) has been defined before the loop 400 by the arrays of a(j) varying between 2 and 10 and a(1) so that no data-dependence relation exists across iterations of the loop 400. In addition, possibility of processing in parallel the loops nested in the loop 400 including the "Do 20" loop and the "DO 10" loop is left unjudged here.
Finally, when no data-dependence relation exists, the object program is generated to process the loop in parallel (step 36). If there were any data-dependence relation across iterations of the loop, the general object program would be generated (step 37). In FIG. 4 the object program is generated to process the loop 400 in parallel.
As is described hereinbefore, conventionally whether or not a data-dependence relation exists is judged by referring to the upper and lower limit value of a control variable in a do-statement and also a subscript statement in an array.
However, conventional judgement is inaccurate as to following loops.
(1) A loop holds an if-statement and the value of a variable is not obtained until the if-statement is executed.
(2) A loop holds a subroutine which may have the data-dependence relation.
(3) A subscript statement of an array in a loop includes computation which is not predetermined.
Thus, conventionally processing one of above three loops in parallel is judged to be impossible even when it is logically possible. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Currently, mechanisms are available through which previously connected network entities, such as WI-FI® and BLUETOOTH® peers, known as trusted devices can automatically unlock themselves and the services within when they get connected to each other. However, this can cause security issues should an undesirable third-party enter the vicinity. Sensitive contents can be stolen in such a situation leading to compromised data and security and the many issues that can arise therefrom. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has been used in a variety of applications such as tracking, security, transportation, retailing, industrial, and individual identification. Data communication via RFID technology may be used for detecting the presence of an object, identifying the object, or obtaining data associated with the object. In an RFID system, an RFID tag is attached to an object and communicates wirelessly with an RFID reader. The RFID reader typically drives a plurality of RF antennas to detect and identify RFID tags at different locations.
In passive RFID systems, the antenna of the RFID reader emits RF signals to activate passive RFID tags within a reading range. Once activated by the RF energy, the passive RFID tags are configured to transmit a responding signal to the RFID reader. The RFID tag obtains its energy through electromagnetic induction with the EM field generated by the RF antenna, and the communication range of the RFID tag is dependent on the intensity of the EM field. For an RF antenna in the shape of a square, since the electromagnetic wave radiates less effectively around its four corners, the intensity of the EM field is weak around the corners, and thus the RFID tag will be difficult to be detected and identified if it is placed in close proximity to any corners of the RF antenna.
Therefore, for an RF antenna array with multiple antennas, a “blind spot” is formed as a result at the area encompassing borders of multiple RF antennas in the array. The blind spot refers to an area on the surface of the RF antenna array, where an RFID tag fails to be detected. At the same time, an RFID tag placed elsewhere outside the blind spot within the effective communication range of the RF antenna array is detectable to the antenna array. Practically, there is usually a distance between the surface where the RFID tag is placed and the surface of the RF antenna array. Typically the bigger the distance is, the bigger the blind spot is.
The present invention provides to an apparatus and method for eliminating the blind spot in high frequency (13.56 MHz) RF antenna arrays. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a controlling device, controlling system and controlling method, and in particularly to controlling device, controlling system and controlling method of an indoor electronic apparatus.
2. Description of Prior Art
Generally speak, people always need to configure one or more indoor electronic apparatus inside of a house to adjust and keep circumstance conditions of the house in a most comfortable status.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of remote control for a related art indoor electronic apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, user can configure an air conditioner 11, a heat recover ventilator (HRV) 12 and an air circulator 13 inside of the house. The air conditioner 11 generates and delivers cold air/hot air to adjust indoor temperature, the HRV 12 exchanges indoor and outdoor air, and the air circulator 13 keeps balance of temperature around whole area.
However, the above mentioned indoor electronic apparatus are usually operated independently. For example in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 11 can only be operated via an air conditioner remote control 110, the HRV 12 can only be operated via a HRV remote control 120, and the air circulator 13 can only be operated via an air circulator remote control 130. In other words, user is not permitted to control all indoor electronic apparatus through a single control interface directly.
Besides, current operation procedure of the indoor electronic apparatus is complicated. User should feel the air him or herself, and then operates the indoor electronic apparatus according to his or her own sensitivity, it may cause the uncertainty of the current operation procedure. Furthermore, the current operation procedure needs to adjust the working mode of the indoor electronic apparatus according to the sensitivity manually and continually (for example, adjusting temperature degree or airflow of the HRV 12) to keep the circumstance conditions in the most comfortable status. As a result, user may cause abrupt change of air quantity around the whole area and waste energy because of the inconvenience and the unfamiliarity about the current operation procedure. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polarizing plate used in a display device and a fabrication method thereof, and more particularly, to a polarizing plate having an enhanced light leakage which occurs as the polarizing plate is bent when a luminance enhancement film is laminated thereon, and a fabrication method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a polarizing plate is formed by attaching a triacetylcellulose (TAC) film as a protective film to a polarizer in which polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based molecule chains are oriented in a certain direction and which have a structure containing an iodine-based compound or a dichroic polarizing material. Here, in general, the polarizer and the protective film are attached by a water-based adhesive configured as a PVA-based aqueous solution.
Meanwhile, in relation to the use of such a polarizing plate in a liquid crystal display (LCD), or the like, a technique of attaching a luminance enhancement film such as a DBEF film to 3M Company to one surface of the polarizing film to use the same for the purpose of luminance enhancement has been proposed. However, when the luminance enhancement film is attached to the related art polarizing plate, a curling phenomenon (referred to as negative directional curling, hereafter), in which a central surface of the polarizing plate becomes downwardly concave, occurs due to a high shrinkage rate of the luminance enhancement film. If such negative directional curling occurs on the polarizing film, when a liquid crystal panel is mounted on a module of the LCD, a corner portion of the liquid crystal panel comes off due to the curled polarizing plate so as to be brought into contact with a case, and as a result, a great deal of stress is formed at the corner portion to cause a corner light leakage phenomenon. Such a corner light leakage phenomenon causes a defective image. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates generally to apparatus for dispensing wafer-like objects and relates more particularly to apparatus for dispensing stacks of cookies into the pockets of cookie packaging trays.
The packaging of cookies and especially the thin wafer-like variety of cookie requires special considerations due to the extremely fragile and perishable nature of the product. Not only must great care be exercised to guard against breakage during the filling of the cookie shipping containers, but in addition the containers themselves must be designed with sufficient strength to prevent disintegration of the cookies during shipment and storage. Furthermore, the containers must be sealed and airtight to prevent the entrance of moisture and foreign matter which could cause a spoilage of the cookies.
Some forms of cookies such as the familiar ginger snaps have sufficient inherent strength to permit packaging by loose bagging, with the bag being sealed and shipped within a protective cardboard box. More delicate cookies, however, cannot be packaged in such random fashion and must be packaged in compartmented containers with each compartment containing a stack of a predetermined number of cookies. In one form of such package which the present invention is adapted to fill, a tray of plastic material is provided with a plurality of cookie pockets, each of which receives and holds a stack of cookies of a predetermined number, usually ranging from four to seven. The tray, which protects the cookies against breakage during shipping and storage, is inserted after filling into a box or bag which is sealed to prevent the entrance of contaminants.
Heretofore, the trays have been manually filled with the cookie stacks, an operation which requires a substantial number of workers. Not only are high labor costs incurred, but in addition the manual handling of the fragile cookies often results in cookie breakage.
It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for dispensing stacks of cookies into the pockets of cookie packaging trays which minimizes the manual handling of the cookies.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as described which will operate at a high rate of speed but will handle the cookies in a gentle fashion and essentially eliminate cookie breakage.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as described which is readily adjustable to operate with cookies of different thicknesses as well as trays of different sizes and of different pocket configurations.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as described which can be operated by relatively unskilled operators with a minimal amount of training. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Sapphire crystals doped with transition metals such as chromium, vanadium and titanium have attracted the attention of scientists and engineers for many years primarily because of their applicability as high-power laser media and secondarily because of there marketability as synthetic gemstones. As a tunable laser medium, for example, transition-metal-doped sapphire crystals must exhibit a uniform trivalent dopant distribution. High quality titanium-doped sapphire single crystals, for instance, can produce high-power tunable lasers in the wavelength range of 670-1100 nm, and also provide pink synthetic gem stone.
Presently, Ti: Sapphire crystals are produced primarily by a method known as melt growth at very high temperatures often exceeding 2000° C. Melt growth inherently produces low quality crystals with high defect densities attributable to the high growth temperature. Additional drawbacks attendant to melt growth include high stress within the crystal and non-uniform distribution of the selected dopant(s).
Accordingly, there exists a need for a method, alternative to melt growth, for synthesizing sapphire crystals doped with trivalent transition metals including at least one of chromium, vanadium and titanium. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This disclosure relates generally to the field of image processing. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this disclosure relates to a technique for improving image registration operations by giving more weight or significance to regions within an image deemed to be more important.
Image registration is the process of overlaying two or more images of the same scene taken at different times, from different viewpoints, and/or by different sensors. The goal of image registration is to align two images—the reference and sensed images—so that when they are combined or blended together, they appear as a seamless whole (rather than as a combination of disjoint images). One approach, known as feature-based registration, seeks to identify unique features in both the reference and sensed images (e.g., edges, line endings, centers of gravity and the like). The correspondence between the two sets of detected features then drives image alignment.
During image registration, the use of foreground imagery versus background imagery can produce different results, where the selection of one can lead to visually poor results. This problem can arise, for example, because of parallax. Consider the capture of an individual's portrait using a multi-image capture technique such as high dynamic range (HDR) imaging. In such cases, the individual is most often close to the camera while the background is far away (e.g., a tree line). Here, a small camera motion will cause the individual's face to move in relation to the edge of the frame more than the background tree-line. Unfortunately, trees can provide a stronger signature for registration than would the individual's face. (The same is true for any background having a large number of detectable edges, line endings and the like compared to the foreground subject.) Automatic feature-based registration techniques would use the background for registration purposes and, as a result, ghosting of the foreground subject (e.g., the individual's face) would exhibit ghosting. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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A wiring harness disclosed in the Patent Document 1 has three high-voltage electric wires and three metallic protection pipes for receiving and protecting the three high-voltage electric wires one by one. The high-voltage electric wire connects a motor mounted on a front side of a vehicle with an inverter mounted on an intermediate or rear side of the vehicle.
The wiring harness is arranged via a vehicle under floor which is an outside of a vehicle frame. For this reason, the metallic protection pipe is formed so that the high-voltage electric wire can be protected from being splashed with water or stone. The metallic protection pipe has stiffness property for protecting the high-voltage electric wire and preventing deflection of the high-voltage electric wire, and an electromagnetic shield function since it is made of metallic.
The three wiring harness insert the high-voltage electric wire into the metallic protection pipe with a straight state, respectively. Thereafter, the metallic protection pipe is bent along a route of the wiring harness arranged on the vehicle under floor. The wiring harness is manufactured with a factory of harness manufacturer as described above. Thereafter, the wiring harness is conveyed to an assembly factory of vehicle manufacturer, and is assembled in a predefined position of the vehicle. Thereby, arrangement of the wiring harness is completed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Trading methods have evolved from a manually intensive process to a technology enabled, electronic platform. Advances in technology are having an increasingly large and broad impact on trading and the way in which exchanges conduct business. What was previously seen as a supplement to the traditional pit trading, electronic trading platforms continue to increase in importance and popularity. The advent of electronic trading has meant that a customer can be in virtually direct contact with the market, from practically anywhere in the world, performing near real-time transactions, and without the need to make personal contact with a broker. Electronic trading systems are also convenient for floor brokers on the floor at an exchange for receiving orders electronically.
As a result, the number of market participants continues to increase as does market volatility. Such an increase in the number of market participants may result in more competitive prices, while also contributing to the liquidity of the market. However, potential complications may also result. One such complication may be that updates of market data (e.g., price updates, order updates, or fill updates) occur more frequently than can be processed by the software systems monitoring those market data updates.
Consider the following illustration whereby a client subscribes to price updates on Microsoft stock (MSFT), and connects using a slow 28,800 bps modem. Assume that at a certain point in time the volume in the MSFT market increases and price updates start flowing at a rate that is beyond what can be delivered over the slow connection to the client. Most server devices have an internal message queue, which is an ordered list of messages, from which updates are taken out on a first in, first out (FIFO) basis by applications running on the device. However, as a result of the increasing flow of price updates, the internal message queue for the server will continue to grow until the market's volume burst subsides (if it does subside). Because the contents in the queue will be growing, and the messaging system is obligated to deliver all of the messages in the queue, the client will receive and begin to display price updates that are increasingly outdated.
In some circumstances like the example given above, the trader will be trading on the basis of old information, which is unacceptable and can have disastrous results. In other circumstances, the internal message queue will backup until ultimately there is a failure that typically results in the disconnection of the client, which is also unacceptable and eventually prevents the trader from actively participating in the electronic market altogether.
To avoid some of these problems, traders might subscribe to the fastest connection (e.g., having the highest throughput and lowest latency) available in their area, such as a dedicated T1 line or ISDN. Usually, but not all of the time, a fast connection can help a trader avoid some of these timing issues. However, these fast connections often come at a high price. This high price is typically considered a necessary price to pay according to some traders who trade in fast moving markets, while it is not so desirable for other traders, perhaps those who trade in slower moving markets. Regardless of the type of trader, for those traders who do not wish to pay the high price associated with these types of high performance connections, they are often at a great disadvantage in many aspects, one of which was described in the example above.
Even if a trader subscribes to a fast connection, it doesn't always mean that they will have access to it. With the advent of electronic trading, a trader isn't necessarily required to trade at any particular location. Advances in computers now permit users to be highly mobile. As long as there is a network connection available, a trader can trade anywhere in the world. Therefore, even if a trader subscribes to a fast connection having plenty of bandwidth, he or she may not be always in allocation with access to it (i.e., wireless trading).
Furthermore, even if every trader has access to a fast connection, then the burden shifts to the provider of such information such as the exchange or some third-party provider. If every trader requires a high bandwidth connection, then the provider of the information must be able to supply all of the high-bandwidth connections often equating to higher operating costs, which are then relayed back to the trader. Therefore, giving every trader access to a fast connection will not always result in the optimum solution. | {
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(1.) Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns holding containers for cryogenic liquids of the type comprising an inner casing and an outer casing defining an insulating inner space therebetween and a cryogenic liquid withdrawing pipe in the inner casing including a first portion extending into the inner space between a lower portion of the inner casing and an upper portion of the outer casing, for example, holding containers for distributing liquid nitrogen in particular, which are made self-pressurizable by means of said withdrawing pipe.
(2.) Description of Prior Art
In order to provide a gaseous phase at the outlet of a cryogenic liquid withdrawing pipe, the first portion, or internal portion of the pipe includes a section which is in heat exchange contact with the outer casing at least partially to vaporize the liquid which is withdrawn from the inner casing. Depending on the materials of which the outer casing and the pipe are made, joining of the section and the outer casing by brazing, welding or gluing would cause certain problems, for example deformation of the outer casing, and significantly increases the manufacturing cost. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a web conferencing server and a method of holding a web conference.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Web conferencing or webinar enables participants based at different places to attend a conference held online. Existing web conferencing tools include IBM's LOTUS®, SAMETIME®, and UNYTE® (“LOTUS,” “SAMETIME,” and “UNYTE” are registered trademarks in the possession of IBM in the United States and/or other countries), Cisco's WEBEX® (“WEBEX” is a registered trademark in the possession of Cisco in the United States and/or other countries), and Microsoft's NETMEETING® (NETMEETING is a registered trademark in the possession of Microsoft in the United States and/or other countries). The particulars of IBM's UNYTE® are available at ***conferenceservers.com/docs/user/?brand=SametimeUnyteMeetingPro, and thus are not repeatedly described herein for the sake of brevity.
In general, each of the existing web conferencing tools provides a virtual conference room and enables conference participants to enter the virtual conference room to chat therein online. However, given a large number of participants (which total in hundreds or thousands, for example), it will be necessary that the conference should be smoothly held and will not be impeded by a specific participant's problem. The aforesaid necessity is of vital importance, especially when the specific participant happens to be the chairperson or a participant in charge of a specific duty. | {
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The present invention relates to a cooking utensil and, more particularly, to a control circuit responding to an output signal derived from a gas sensor in a cooking utensil, for example, a microwave oven.
Recently, a combined microwave and electric heating cooking oven has been developed. In such a cooking oven it is very difficult to determine a preferred cooking time period. The cooking time period must be determined in accordance with the kind of foodstuff to be cooked, the initial condition of the foodstuff, the amount of the foodstuff, the output energy level of the cooking apparatus, the environment condition, etc.
One approach is to detect the food temperature or the oven temperature to control the microwave generation or the heater energization. However, the temperature responsive control is not perfectly satisfactory.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel control system for a cooking utensil.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a combined microwave and electric heating cooking oven including a gas sensor and a control circuit responding to an output signal derived from the gas sensor.
Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
To achieve the above objects pursuant to an embodiment of the present invention, a gas sensor is disposed in a path of the gas exhausted from an oven cavity. A control circuit is provided for terminating the microwave generation or the heater energization when an output voltage signal of the gas sensor reaches a preselected value.
A plurality of selection switches are provided for determining the above-mentioned preselected value, at which the control circuit responds, in accordance with the kind of foodstuff to be cooked. More specifically, the selection switches are associated with resistors for selecting the preselected value by dividing an output voltage level of the gas sensor in an initial condition.
The present control is based on the fact that the concentration of the gas developed from the foodstuff being cooked reaches a predetermined value when the foodstuff has been cooked. The predetermined value of the gas concentration varies in a fashion depending on the kind of foodstuff being cooked. The output voltage signal of the gas sensor represents the gas concentration and, therefore, the completion of the cooking can be detected by detecting whether the gas sensor output reaches the preselected value. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to devices for projecting pictures onto large viewing screens; and more particularly to such devices that project laser beams via reflective liquid-crystal light valves to form such pictures. The invention has its most important applications in such projection of moving pictures.
2. Related Art
a. Known potential of lasers—Since the advent of the laser, people have been trying to find new ways to use lasers in projecting pictures of one kind or another, for large audiences. This is both natural and reasonable, since lasers offer several important characteristics that are relevant in large-image projection.
As will be seen from the following recap of these characteristics, one would expect these characteristics to be responsible for a predominance of laser projection systems in large-screen displays for both video home use and theater-scale displays. Indeed, several powerful large international companies have attempted—at monumental cost—to develop such equipment for market.
Therefore, while reading the following discussion of laser advantages for large-screen projection sources, please bear in mind this overriding question—why are large-screen laser projectors not common in the marketplace? (i) energy efficiency—All other things being equal, the amount of light needed to show any kind of picture on a projection medium (viewing surface) is proportional to the area to be covered by the picture. Optical energy is therefore of utmost importance in a large-format projection system, and it is necessary to pay for visible optical energy with electrical energy.
In such transactions it is well understood that some conversion inefficiency is unavoidably involved as a sort of tariff—in other words, that a sizable fraction of the electrical energy used will go into invisible forms of energy such as heat, or near-infrared and ultraviolet radiation. Normally there is relatively little objection to this price in itself, but the question does arise of just how sizable a fraction one can afford.
With nonlaser light sources, this concern is compounded when taking into account the additional surcharge for optical energy that is visible but goes off in directions other than into the collecting optics of a projector. Most nonlaser sources (incandescent hot-filament or arc lamps) radiate approximately equally in all directions. The amount of visible light that can be directly collected from such a source into an optical system is typically less than a tenth of the visible light produced.
It can be dismaying to pay for many times the amount of electrical energy used—even that which is directly used to make visible light, setting aside consideration of the conversion efficiency discussed above. Therefore it is common to provide reflectors behind the source, or more generally speaking to try to surround the source with reflectors to help capture a greater geometrical fraction of the visible energy. Such efforts, however, complicate and compound the management of heat thrown off due to those same conversion inefficiencies considered above.
A laser, though of course itself a costly article, greatly improves all these energy economics. Since its optical emissions are directional, essentially all the emitted light can be very easily captured for use.
Furthermore, to a significant extent the spectral components can be controlled so that minimal energy is wasted in infrared or ultraviolet radiation. A laser is therefore far more energy efficient than other sources—with respect to both raw conversion efficiency of electricity into visible light and geometrical capture of that visible light.
Lasers and their power supplies do give off heat, and this must be managed. In comparison with a typical arc lamp or like device, a laser is vastly more favorable with respect to the amount of heat, the temperature involved, and the difficulty of collection. (ii) brightness—With most types of light sources, increasing the amount of light available calls for fabrication of a source that is scaled up in all three dimensions, more or less equally, and therefore greatly complicates the process of collecting the light and drawing off heat.
To make a brighter laser, it is necessary in essence to make a laser which is just like one that has various desirable known properties, except with a bigger tube. Over a small range of brightness increases, furthermore, what is needed is only a longer tube. Heat management with a longer tube reduces to using the same hardware, but more of it, as with a shorter tube. Even if brightness requirements do call for increased diameter too, the elongated character of most laser structures tends to distribute and thus mitigate the problems of power and heat management.
With a bigger laser, all the greater amount of optical flux can be made to go in essentially the same direction and into essentially the same projection system as the corresponding smaller laser. These oversimplifications of course slight some practical considerations such as design of power-supplies, cooling, and lasing modes, but summarize an important way—for purposes of image formation—in which lasers differ from other light sources. (iii) contrast—Several properties of lasers tend to enhance contrast in a projected image. The simplest of these is once again inherent directionality, which facilitates both collection of input illumination and handling of an image, with minimum crosstalk between different portions of the beam or the image.
Contrast is enhanced by avoiding such crosstalk—or in other words preventing the spill of a cast over an entire image frame, from bright image areas. Such undesired spill corrupts areas that should be dark. Further enhancement of just the same sort arises from the inherent collimation of a laser beam.
Equally or more important, when most modern image-modulation devices are taken into account, is the inherent monochromaticity of a laser beam. Other sources emit light over the entire visible spectrum, requiring subdivision into spectral segments, and physical separation into distinct beams that can be separately modulated and then recombined to give full-color images.
In either type of system, laser or nonlaser, the final optical stage—i.e., the projection lens—is preferably broadband since it preferably carries all the colors in a common beam; for this purpose a high-quality achromat is desired. The benefits under discussion apply to all earlier optical stages, where the functions being performed are much fussier and complicated than the final projection stage.
With such other sources, each distinct beam carrying a separated spectral segment is already broadband, either complicating or degrading the effectiveness of all optical effects or manipulations. These include everything from perturbation of simple focusing (chromatic aberration) to the operation of sophisticated image-modulating devices (see below).
Since operation of lenses, polarizers, prisms, dichroics and image modulators are all wavelength-dependent, the operation of virtually all optical components in a projection system using such other sources tends to scatter light away from the precise bright-region positions where it should be. The result is to create a kind of halo about such positions—or, again, depending on the brightness contours of a particular image, even to produce a filmy bright cast over much of a scene that should be darker.
Also of great importance is the inherent polarization of a laser beam. Many large-screen projectors of the present day employ an image-writing stage that controls a high-intensity light beam by spatial modulation of the beam.
As discussed more fully in later sections of this document, almost all such modulators rely upon formation of a latent image in polarization state (or as it is sometimes called, a “phase object”). This image is later developed by passage through some form of polarization analyzer.
Other projectors intensity-modulate a scanning spot of a high-intensity beam; here too, the phenomenon most commonly exploited to accomplish modulation is the polarization of the beam. For all such applications a laser is ideally suited, first of all because no light need be discarded (or recaptured through a complicated optical train) merely because its polarization state does not match what can be used by a modulator.
More significant to contrast enhancement is the relative sharpness (i.e., narrowness of angular range) of laser polarization, in comparison with polarization obtained through a common polarizer. Because of this, in areas of a latent image that should be bright (calling for passage of a beam through the downstream polarizer), the polarization state provided when using a laser source is defined more sharply; the same is true for areas that should be bright and call for extinction. The latent image therefore is potentially brighter where it should be bright, and darker where it should be dark—or, in other words, has better contrast.
It is true that the latent image yet remains to be developed through a polarizer, leading to some imprecision in isolating for projection the polarization state that is nominally correct. Nevertheless—even based upon the sharper polarization definition in the latent image alone—both the beam passage in bright areas and the beam extinction in dark areas are better. (iv) sharpness—Another benefit due to the inherent collimation of a laser beam is that it produces sharper images. This is partly associated with contrast enhancement, due to the wavelength- and polarization-dependent effects discussed above. In a scanning-spot projection system (whether amplitude-modulated or not), laser-formed images are sharper also in part because of the capability of a highly collimated beam to be focused to a fine spot.
In image-modulation systems, laser beams are able to traverse great distances without degradation of spatial modulation. In other words, a spatially modulated beam can carry an image over a long distance without becoming blurry. For a laser system, this performance characteristic may be more associated with favorable divergence properties than with collimation.
In any event, except for contrast effects already discussed, the capability of a good arc-lamp-based projector to produce a sharp image at a distance may be about as good as a laser-based system heretofore—provided that the image is projected onto a screen or other viewing surface that is: (1) flat or very gently curved, (2) essentially at right angles to the beam, and (3) not moved toward or away from the projector after the projector is set to produce a sharp image.In other words the prior-art laser projector may have little advantage in sharpness as such if the projection medium is all at the same distance from the projector, and there is an opportunity to adjust the projector for the actual projection distance.
Cases in which these conditions fail are discussed in the following paragraph. In both types of systems, laser and nonlaser, the ability to maintain image sharpness as such over long distances depends to a major extent on the quality and size of the final projection lens. (v) infinite depth of sharpness—Laser systems have a unique and major advantage over white-light systems, in projection onto projection media that are at varying distances from the projector. Such media also can be positioned or oriented so that they are not all at a common, preset projection distance.
These media can include, for example, surfaces that are strongly angled to the projection beam. In the vector-graphics part of the laser-projector field, this is a well-known characteristic—which I have sometimes termed “infinite focus”. It is also possible with other types of laser-transmitted images, including both vector- and raster-scanned spots as well as images projected with spatial modulators. My phraseology is mentioned for instance in U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,348 to Randall J. Knize, Ph. D.
It has been suggested to me that the term “infinite focus” is a misnomer, in that “focus” refers to formation of an image at a preset “focal plane” (sometimes in the retina) by convergent light rays from various parts of a lens system. Such convergence requires adjustment of the optical system for a specific projection distance—a process with which of course nearly everyone is familiar. My phrase “infinite focus” derives from the concept of “depth of focus”, combined with the idea that laser-transmitted images seem to have infinite depth of focus.
As I now understand, however, laser beams when used to project images in such a way as to obtain this effect are not focused at all. The image is not formed by convergence of rays from different parts of a lens, either at a preset “focal plane” or otherwise.
Rather an image can be impressed upon a laser beam by so-called “spatial modulation” of the beam. This means that each pencil of rays from the laser carries a specific, fixed part (e.g. pixel) of the image. Laser beams are initially collimated so that the ray pencils are all parallel, never crossing one another or converging.
It is possible to force a laser beam to converge to a rather fine point (of course only an approximation of a point) by interposition of a lens that does focus all the rays. For present purposes it would not make sense to do this, since there would be no image—only a single bright spot—and indeed this is never done in a system that displays the “infinite” effect.
Instead the spatially modulated beam is simply directed to a viewing medium, where the ray pencils are stopped and so make the impressed image visible to viewers. In practice such a beam can be expanded, to form a large image on a large viewing medium, and for this purpose a substantially conventional lens may be employed—and within the constraints of pixel or raster-line visibility the image will be sharp but never “focused”.
The other half of the phrase “infinite focus” is also somewhat inaccurate since there are some limits to the depth, along the projection direction, at which images appear sharp. These limits are imposed by beam divergence and other diffraction effects.
For reasons that will appear after I have introduced my invention, however, these effects should never come into play in a laser-based system properly designed and assembled for image projection. Therefore in other parts of this document I have replaced my earlier terminology with the phrase “infinite depth of sharpness” or simply infinite sharpness.
It has been recognized that this deep-sharpness effect is of potentially great value for special effects. Some of this value has been actually achieved in some vector systems, as will be explained below, but the much greater potential for raster images has not been realized in practice heretofore.
The importance of the previously posed question as to the nonappearance of laser projectors in the marketplace should now be apparent. Some reasons for that peculiarity will appear from the following sections of this document.
b. Vector-scanning laser systems—Generally speaking this term refers to free-form movement of laser beams from any point on a projection medium to any other point, and following any specified trajectory (e.g. curved) rather than a preset framewise pattern as discussed in the next section. (i) light-show style—Historically these were the first displays for large audiences, and are straightforward to produce since equipment was minimal and artistic opportunities maximal. In most cases the beams are neither amplitude modulated nor focused (a small-diameter laser tube yielded a small spot for entertainment purposes), and a relatively slow sweep is usually employed so that audiences can perceive the spot motion itself as well as the trajectory. Since the color effects of the independent laser beams are an important part of the show, there is no point in forming or sweeping a combined beam.
I mention these early systems primarily because—as long as the beams are not focused—a primitive sort of equivalent of infinite sharpness is enjoyed for each beam independently. That is to say, beams can be projected onto surfaces at considerably varying distances from the lasers without changing spot size.
The beneficial uses of this phenomenon are entirely familiar to designers and operators of these shows as a sort of special-effects trick that can be used to enhance light-show imagery. The desirability of extending this phenomenon to infinite sharpness as related to projection of whole picture images is accordingly also believed to be known in this field.
It will be understood, however, that in the light-show context spot size does change, to the extent that the beams are spread out on a viewing surface that is angled to the projection beam. (Depending on audience position—i.e., whether the audience is looking essentially along the projection direction or along a normal to the surface, or from some other direction—the stretching may not be visible in its entirety, or at all.)
It is very important to recognize this sort of spreading on an angled viewing surface, and to distinguish it from failure of the beams to be sharp. An analogous spreading/sharpness distinction arises later in discussing whole-picture-image projection. (ii) graphics—As in the now-familiar vector graphics of computer programs such as CAD/CAM, Corel® Draw, Visio® and so forth, the use of vector graphics in a laser-based projection system is well understood and highly versatile. It may be used to provide economically and quickly a simple, static production nameplate, or a more elaborate moving display for similar purposes, or of course cartoons for entertainment etc.
In this case the beams may be amplitude modulated for more complex effects, and the beams may be combined into a composite beam that is swept as a unit—in which case the entire resulting image may enjoy infinite sharpness provided that the beams are simply projected and not focused. As will be seen, vector-graphics projection is of only secondary interest for present purposes.
c. Raster-scanning systems—The topic now turns to reproduction of whole picture images that are generalized, in the sense that the projection system is a neutral vehicle for display of any raster-based image. The projection-system raster can be set to match traditional or conventional broadcast television, whether U.S. interlaced or otherwise, or to match a high-definition television format or to match a conventional computer-monitor format, or any other well-defined raster specification. (i) amplitude-modulated spot, with separately swept beams—In essence such a system would be a direct laser-projector analog of a conventional television set, requiring amplitude modulation at video speeds, and for each color independent two-dimensional sweep. Such devices may never have been put into practice, but they are well represented in U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,011 of Korpel (1968), assigned to Zenith Radio Corporation. (Korpel's independently swept beams optionally share a common projection lens.)
Such a system cannot provide accurate infinite sharpness of a full-color image, as introduced above, since Korpel's separately swept individual-color beams emanate from spaced-apart points (possibly even spaced-apart projection lenses) and can therefore accurately converge to form a registered image only at a preselected plane. If, however, the projection distance (or audience distance) is kept much larger than the spacing between the origination points or lenses, and the inherently collimated beams are not focused, registration error at differing projection distances can be made negligible and a semblance of infinite sharpness can be obtained. (ii) amplitude-modulated spot with sweeping of a combined beam—A device of this type should have true infinite sharpness, since what is swept is a unitary beam (again provided that the system does not bring the beam to a sharp focus). Systems with this type of configuration and particularly employing solid-state lasers are disclosed by Knize, noted earlier, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,950 to David E. Hargis and U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,961 to Frank C. Gibeau, Ph. D. Amplitude modulation in these systems is by electrical control of the lasers.
It appears that these systems may have considerable promise, but are not to be found in the marketplace. It would seem that for these devices with present-day available components the laser power at certain needed wavelengths, or the modulation response speed, or the overall economics, or combinations of these considerations, are inadequate for realistic commercial exploitation.
d. Line-scanning systems—The great bulk of reported and patented developments in laser projectors is of this type, using a separate acoustooptic modulator (AOM) for each primary color. A seminal patent in the linewise AOM regime is U.S. Pat. No. 3,818,129 of Yamamoto, assigned to Hitachi. In such a system each AOM is a crystal driven by an acoustic wave propagating laterally (with respect to the laser-beam path) and modulated by one video raster line at a time.
The compressions and rarefactions of this input modulation in the AOM create or write a phase-retardation pattern within the crystal, extending transversely from one side of the crystal to the other and representing optical modulation in one primary color for an entire video raster line. In the most-advanced forms of these systems, just as the formation of this retardation pattern is completed a laser is pulsed to provide a light beam intersecting the pattern at right angles.
This reading-beam pulse length is very short compared with the propagation speed of the acoustic wave through the crystal, so that in effect the laser illumination is able to stop the motion of the raster line. The laser beam in effect reads the entire retardation pattern, and upon leaving the crystal has impressed upon it—in phase retardation—a latent image of the entire raster line.
This image is then developed, as suggested earlier, by a polarization analyzer or equivalent, downstream of the crystal. The result is an image of one primary color component of the raster line, which is then preferably combined with like images for the other two primaries, formed in separate AOMs.
At some point in the optical system, whether before or after the modulation stage, each of the three individual primary-color laser beams or the composite beam must be shaped to form a wide, shallow beam cross-section. For reasonable optical efficiency within the modulators it appears preferable to use a more-common beam aspect ratio in passage through the modulators—i.e., to perform the shaping after the beam has passed through the modulators, though before the final projection lens. Considerable variation in such aspects of the design, however, is possible.
The composite beam is enlarged and projected to a particular position vertically on a viewing screen, forming a three-color raster line for viewing by the audience. The process is repeated for successive lines—but shifting the vertical position progressively down the screen—to construct an entire image frame, and then for subsequent frames to produce moving pictures.
The vertical position for each raster line is controlled by a rotating polygon or other vertical-sweep device, so that successive lines are displaced to successive appropriate positions on the screen. This sweep, it is important to note, follows the modulators—i.e. is introduced downstream, along the optical path, from the modulators—as exemplified, for instance, by U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,082 of Tamada, assigned to Sony.
Thus in AOM systems the slot-shaped beam is scanned or stepped only on the projection screen, not on the modulators. Though capable of moderately high contrast (over 300:1 in certain military projectors), high resolution, reasonably good color saturation, and infinite sharpness, this type of system is subject to important limitations and also certain qualifications as explained below.
It appears that some of the largest and most sophisticated corporate participants in the laser-projector race have persistently placed their money—many millions of dollars of it, over many years—on the acoustooptic modulator entries. These include Sony, Schneider, and IBM as well as a host of lesser players.
For all that wagering, none of the AOM entries is seen to place or even show, today. Many have dropped out entirely.
As suggested near the beginning of this “background” section, resources invested in laser projectors have been wholly disproportionate to performance. The question remains why this pattern continues. (i) light inefficiency and energy loss—This is the dispositive consideration for AOM-based systems. Unfortunately the compromises that enable achievement of the favorable parameters listed above also reduce, to an unacceptably low level, the light efficiency of the modulators and the system in general. The only laser projectors built in this way that actually operated to produce excellent image quality were military systems that required extremely large, high-power, expensive lasers. (ii) low bandwidth—Another element that suffers in these systems is the capability to follow rapid action in a scene. This may be related to persistence (or propagation speed) in the AOM crystal, or the modulation constraints that follow inherently from the need to refrain from outpacing the pulsed-laser optical reading system. (iii) complex optics—Many optical stages are needed in an AOM system. The military projectors mentioned above, though they operated continuously for two years and always maintained certain military specifications of brightness, resolution and contrast, had more than forty-five optical elements. (iv) stepped, slot-shaped beam—The special significance of these features will be seen in later portions of this document. For purposes of the present “background” section, it suffices to point out that use of this type of beam is required by, and directly associated with the nature of the line-at-a-time modulator:
Since the modulator processes one raster line at a time, the pulsed beam on which this modulation is impressed must necessarily correspond in shape to the wide, shallow aspect ratio of one raster line. It would not be possible to operate a one-raster-line-at-a-time modulating system with any other beam shape.
Similarly, it follows necessarily from the generation of a complete raster line in optical form that the optical system must include an optical stepper or continuous scanner of some sort—to shift the target position successively down the viewing screen for the successive raster lines, as described earlier. Even a continuous scanner, in this type of system, amounts to a stepper since the beam is pulsed only intermittently, once per raster line. It would not be possible to operate a one-raster-line-at-a-time modulating system without some sort of stepper.
To the best of my knowledge it has not been reported in the prior art that a slot-shaped beam, or a stepping system for such a beam, might confer any other benefits upon a laser projection system.
Now before going on from vector-, raster-, and line-scanning (AOM) systems to take up systems that employ some very different kinds of modulation, I shall pause and digress to discuss some very important special considerations peculiar to laser operation. As will be seen later, these are matters of particular relevance to my invention.
e. Speckle—This well-known term describes a now-familiar phenomenon of laser illumination, a coarse and very bright granular pattern of light that shimmers with tiny movements of the viewer's eyes. Speckle is highly undesirable in image projectors for displaying ordinary pictures (movies, television shows etc.) because it pervades the images and distracts from the informational or dramatic content of the show.
It has been explained to me that speckle is an interference pattern formed within the eye. Although in principle present with other sources too, speckle is not ordinarily visible with such sources. Those skilled in the art recognize that the speckle effect can be made negligible by introducing various kinds of either phase confusion or relative motion, as between the laser source and the eye.
Heretofore, however, actual equipment called into service for accomplishing this has fallen far short of the elegant. Many elaborate schemes of greater or lesser cost and complexity are described in the literature.
One such “speckle eliminator”, which is among the more complex but demonstrates the seriousness of the problem, is presented by Hargis, mentioned previously. Hargis introduces several approaches, “each of which introduces an optical path randomizing [medium] at an intermediate . . . plane within the projection optics”.
One of his systems is “a spinning diffusion plate” which works at “transverse plate velocities in excess of a few centimeters per second” but suffers from “transmission inefficiency (˜50%), . . . large numerical aperture . . . and . . . general bulkiness.” Transmission is improved “to the 85%-95% regime” by substituting “a thin sheet of wax supported between glass plates.”
Another system is a “flowing fluid diffuser” using “a highly turbid fluid”, suffering from “low transmission efficiency with the inconvenience of a pump and associated plumbing.” A third, relying not on flow but on “Brownian motion”, Hargis rejects because “its transmission efficiency is limited, compared with what presently appears to be the best available system described below”.
His favored choice is a “novel nutating plate” which “takes advantage of the desirable properties of wax laminate diffusers”. It involves a screen— “supported on springs, and caused to vibrate in a plane . . . perpendicular to the projection axis of the video image beam . . . by orthogonal electromagnets . . . . “Motion relative to two orthogonal axes is induced in plate 25, together with a 90-degree phase shift between those motions, in order to avoid periodic moments of zero velocity which would be associated with simple harmonic motion along a single axis. The result is a non-rotating diffuser which undergoes rapid nutation, much in the manner of the contact surface of a[n] orbital sander. Hence, all regions of the image are subjected to the same motion. An excursion of 1 millimeter at 60 Hz provides constant transverse velocity of about 20 cm sec−1. This yields an inexpensive device which is barely larger in cross section than the imaging beam itself.”Provision of his illustrated device, plus a system of electromagnets and associated electrical drive, may not be expensive but it is certainly elaborate and surely diffuses—and thus randomly redirects and wastes—expensive laser energy.
Other workers have proposed a great variety of systems (likewise severely over-complicated, in most cases) for elimination of speckle. Representative are U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,473 teaching a transducer that generates surface acoustic waves in a projection screen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,597 proposing an array of mirror cells movable between two positions in conjunction with a magnifying element, U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,494 disclosing use of a Raman cell to introduce optical sidebands, U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,460 counseling division of laser light into three separate beams and introducing differential delay or polarization rotation before recombination, U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,999 similarly advising a splitter to make many separate beams whose speckle patterns mutually cancel, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,220 describing two polarizing beam splitters and a totally reflecting right angle prism that form a composite beam with mutually incoherent components.
Very generally speaking, speckle elimination systems of which I am aware exhibit two common drawbacks. They add otherwise unnecessary mechanical or electromechanical equipment, and more importantly they subtract light.
f. Gamut and saturation—Patents and other technical literature that touch on the selection of wavelengths for the primary colors in laser projectors, by and large, have favored color conventions or standards approaching those of commercial broadcast television. The most important of these conventional wisdoms relates to selection of wavelengths for use as the primary red.
It is well known that wavelengths close to the visible-color chromaticity envelope provide the broadest and best base for building a capability to display rich, saturated colors. Nevertheless leading workers in the laser-projector field have taught away from use of a long-wavelength red.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,082 of Tamada, assigned to Sony, strongly rejects use of laser lines in the region of 647 nm for a primary red beam. Tamada offers the reasoning that such wavelengths should be avoided because they are weak in the spectra of certain lasers which he prefers.
Following suit is U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,426 of Linden, assigned to Advanced Laser Projection. Linden warns that the— “red light component produced by the krypton ion laser requires four-to-five times the power as the comparable power of an [argon] ion laser . . . . The krypton red light component is at a wavelength that the human eye is not as sensitive to and therefore makes it difficult to balance with the other colors to give a complete color scale with reasonable power. “The [argon] ion laser in combination with a dye laser is therefore preferred . . . . The dye laser preferably converts light energy of a shorter wavelength to a longer, tuneable wavelength.”Like other leaders in this field, Tamada and Linden counsel use of wavelengths in the range of 610 nm for primary red, generally based on rationales such as presented above.
It appears that one underlying motivation for such a choice may have stemmed from the use of commercial video standards or conventions—NTSC, PAL or HDTV—which consistently favor the 610 nm range. This historical choice, in turn, appears to have arisen not truly because of apparent luminosity to the human eye but rather from the limited availability of television-display phosphors during early color video development.
Another interesting historical development in the laser projector field is the prevalent technique of filtering out certain cyan lines that are present in popular lasers—particularly argon lasers, which are a good choice for providing both blue and green lines. There seems to be a high likelihood that the cyan light is discarded because it prevents ready mixing of accurately neutral colors (black, white and gray), as well as ideal rendition of all other colors—when 610 nm lines are chosen for the red primary.
The choice of laser light at 610 nm for red thus has complicated repercussions—particularly since the cyan light in an argon-laser beam amounts to some forty percent of the total power or energy in the beam. Discarding that large fraction of the beam power is a profligate waste, when a major challenge in the laser projector field is finding enough energy at a reasonable price to form an adequately bright large image.
Whether because television phosphors lacked the capacity for deeper red or because of their need for greater brightness, present laser-projector workers stress the NTSC-based luminance chart and the 610 nm red options—and thus forsake the broader color gamut available in both film and computer monitors, as well as the ample beam power readily available in the cyan lines.
Some writings in the laser-projector field, such as the Tamada and Linden patents, do at least mention the possibility of longer-wavelength primary reds. All such writings are limited to either: (1) use of such reds with acoustooptic modulators (AOMs), or (2) direct, electrical amplitude modulation of the source lasers.As will be seen, neither of these paths is part of the genealogy of my invention.
g. Laser types proposed or used—It is well known, at least in concept, to employ lasers of a great number of different types for laser projectors. In particular it is known to employ gas, dye and solid-state lasers in this field. (i) gas—Many subtypes are known, but foremost in this category are argon lasers for spectral-line groups in the blue and green, and krypton lasers for red. Thus argon gas laser beams are commonly split for separate modulation in separate AOMs that receive blue and green image-data components, while a krypton gas laser beam is modulated in a third AOM that receives red image-data components.
These lasers are relatively straightforward to operate and adjust. They require neither pumping nor tuning. They require neither mixing nor frequency-doubling. Accordingly they provide good efficiency as to both electrooptical energy and human-operator efforts. (ii) dye—In the opinions of many workers in this field, dye lasers are of particularly great value because they are tunable (particularly to 610 nm). In the opinion of this writer, reliance on tunability is a handicap because of the extra operator attention which it demands, as well as the high cost of tunable mirrors and other needed paraphernalia.
Dye lasers are considerably less user-friendly than gas lasers, on account of their requirements for management of an additional pumping stage at the front end and mixing stage at the back. In most cases they also consume profligate amounts of extra energy in generating light at frequencies that are not wanted but merely needed for purposes of subtraction or addition to obtain desired frequencies.
This waste may be acceptable in high-end consumer or boardroom equipment, where literally conspicuous consumption can be a virtue. It is highly questionable, however, in a cost-conscious commercial environment, for example a light-hungry projector system for driving a monumental IMAX®-style screen or an outdoor-spectacle system which projects images onto, actually, monuments and other structures. (iii) solid state—These devices may in the end become the only sources that make economic sense, for use in my invention as well as other types of systems. At the time of writing, reasonable sources are available in red and green.
No adequate solid-state laser exists, however, for use as a blue primary source in even a large consumer/boardroom unit. Solid-state blue lasers adequate for use in large outdoor displays would appear to be at least some years in the future.
It is true that for such special applications a very large number of individual very small solid-state lasers can be ganged to amass a mighty beam. The overall economics (and possibly ancillary procedures) of that approach appears unfavorable relative to the present invention.
h. Liquid-crystal “device” modulators—Unlike the AOM, a liquid-crystal “device” or “display” (LCD) modulator provides modulation over an entire frame. Here it is possible to flood an entire frame at a time, and project the resulting full frame to a projection screen or other viewing medium. (i) some leading work in the field—Active current effort on advanced LCD modulators that operate on unpolarized beams is seen from researchers at Kent State University (see SMPTE Journal, April 1997). Earlier LCD efforts correspond to U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,877 of Blinc, assigned to Kent State; U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,263 of Minich, assigned to Proxima Corporation; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,851,918 and 4,720,747 of Crowley, assigned to Corporation for Laser Optics Research; and also U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,225 of Deter, assigned to Schneider. (ii) visible electrode structure—All LCD modulators are operated in transmission. That is to say, in such a system a laser beam is projected completely through the entire device from one side to the other.
All these devices accordingly require direct electronic writing of the desired image electronically rather than optically—and this in turn requires one or another form of multiple-electrode structure, in a pattern that is spread over the entire frame. These electrodes are nominally transparent, and indeed are not readily visible in displays of modest size, such as for instance less than five feet along a diagonal.
In theater-size and larger formats, however, the electrode edges are quite conspicuous. These patterns are distracting and intrusive, leaving LCD modulation essentially unusable for high-quality imaging in theater and outdoor applications, unless all of the audience is at a very great distance from the screen or other projection medium. (iii) no infinite sharpness—Also a drawback for such large-scale applications is the fact that these LCD units fail to preserve the laser property, described earlier, of maintaining sharp imaging at widely varying projection distances. Various special-effects potentialities are thereby foreclosed.
i. Liquid-crystal light valves—These liquid-crystal light valves (LCLVs) are to be carefully distinguished from the liquid-crystal display or device modulators discussed just above. Whereas an LCD operates in transmission and requires passing the projection beam through electrodes in the image-writing (input) stage of the modulator, an LCLV operates in reflection and has entirely separate image-writing and projection stages.
The image-writing stage may have electrodes, or may be written optically or thermally, but all such activity is entirely isolated from the projection stage by an opaque mirror. There is one, unitary electrode in the projection stage but its edges are ordinarily outside the image frame. (i) development of the LCLV—Pioneering work with LCLVs is due entirely to Hughes Aircraft Company and Hughes-JVC Technology Corporation. This is seen in a series of patents extensively elaborating the LCLV and its usage in many variants over two decades. These include U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,807 of Boswell (1977), U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,322 of Jacobson, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,343,535 and 4,378,955 of Bleha, U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,028 of Gagnon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,209 of Chang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,222 of Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,082 of Henderson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,467 of Schmidt, U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,219 of Gold, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,174 of Sprotbery (1995).
A particularly important precursor of the LCLV is attributed to Dr. Bleha. Particularly helpful expositions of the working principles of these ingenious modulators appear in the Boswell and Jacobson patents. Apparently an LCLV may be a twisted-nematic type, a birefringent type, a hybrid of the two, etc. (ii) structure and operation of an LCLV—Common to the several LCLV variants is a basic laminar configuration in which an input or writing stage first develops a voltage that varies spatially within the device frame, in accordance with brightness variations that constitute an image to be projected. An output or reading stage has a polarization-influencing characteristic—such as a particular index of refraction, corresponding to a particular optical phase delay.
The writing stage and reading stage are separated by an opaque mirror, and the whole assemblage is sandwiched between two transparent planar electrodes. By virtue of these electrodes, voltages developed in the writing stage are applied to the reading stage.
The spatially varying voltage induces corresponding spatial variations in the polarization-influencing characteristic of the reading stage. Meanwhile polarized light—the reading beam—is introduced into the output or reading stage, reflected from the internal mirror and returned toward the projection screen.
The spatial variation in index causes the desired image-brightness variations to be expressed as a spatially varying polarization field, carried by the light beam leaving the reading stage. As described earlier, this polarization field is decoded or developed by a polarization analyzer so that the beam carries a spatially varying intensity field, which is perceptible to the eye as an image. For color images, this strategy is replicated for each of three primary colors.
The resulting beam or beams are projected (with or without combination into a common projection beam) in a substantially conventional way through a projection lens to a viewing medium. Whereas the writing stage may be excited with very low-intensity light as for instance from a small CRT (or by low voltages applied to an electrode matrix, or in other ways), the reading stage is preferably excited with extremely intense, projection-level illumination—such as, in the Hughes work, a high-current arc lamp.
Evidently Hughes personnel have explored the use of LCLVs with, exclusively, such incandescent sources (“white” light). One reference, however, does propose the use of LCLVs with laser sources—and that is not a Hughes document but rather is the above-noted patent of Minich (Proxima). Both types of usage are discussed below. (iii) image projection using incandescent-lamp sources—Regardless of other optical conditions, broad-spectrum conventional light sources cannot provide the infinite-sharpness characteristic. It goes without saying that the Hughes projectors, operated as described in all the Hughes patents, necessarily operate by actually focusing images on a projection screen, with the associated shallow depth of focus. Accordingly these systems are incapable of the earlier-mentioned special-effects applications that rely on infinite sharpness. (iv) full-frame—Most of the Hughes patents describe operation with the high-intensity “reading” or output stage of the LCLV modulator flooded continuously by projection light, or in other words all illuminated at once. This type of operation offers a particularly appealing simplicity and elegance: in essence the entire projection frame is opened and held open, for whatever input may be written to the input stage.
The output for regions of the frame that are not being written, however, is simply dark. Thus for instance if a very small but bright pen-light type of flashlight could be pointed onto the writing stage and played about manually, presumably a mammoth searchlight would appear to be—in real time—correspondingly wandering about on the projection medium, which might be for instance the exterior of a very large building. Subject to contrast limitations, the projection medium would be substantially dark in regions corresponding to writing-stage regions not illuminated by the pen-light. (v) poor energy economics, and brightness nonuniformity—The full-frame LCLV Hughes system is, however, subject to several drawbacks. First, per the above introductory subsection on laser vs. nonlaser comparison, as in most other projection systems the light from an incandescent source is emitted in essentially all directions. Only a small fraction of this omnidirectional radiation can be effectively captured for guiding into the LCLV, and the remainder becomes a source of heat-management problems.
Second, the light collected from a high-intensity source is typically nonuniform across the frame in which that light is collected. This too can be mitigated, and in conventional ways including use of frosted (i.e., diffusing) elements—but such solutions further scatter optical energy with only limited directionality, and so inevitably further aggravate the already unfavorable collection geometry. Special lensing, too, may be used to reduce central bright spots, but at yet-additional cost—both monetary and thermal.
Third, most writing stages operate incrementally—in other words, based upon some sort of scanning input such as a raster-driven or vector-graphics-driven spot of light, which inherently can be active in only a very small portion of the writing-stage frame at any given moment. The costly or even precious high-power light beam, however, is directed indiscriminately to the entire frame, including mostly unreceptive regions that are not being written at any given moment.
This mismatch of written and read regions is mitigated by the persistence characteristic of the LCLV—that is, the continuing capability of a written region to pass reading light, for a length of time perhaps equal to a tenth to a fourth of the period of an entire frame, after the writing in that region stops. Thus the unfavorable factor is not on the order of thousands, only on the order of four or ten—but still distinctly unfavorable.
Fourth, yet more energy loss is incurred in beam masking to fit the image shape & projection frame. Whereas collection systems typically yield beams that are circular, projection frames are square or (particularly for widescreen movies) rectangular.
In the case of masking down a circular beam 11 (FIG. 26) to a square projection format 774, for example, the discarded chordal areas 775 amount to about thirty-six percent of the area of the circle—as is verified by simple arithmetic later in this document. Thus 36% of the energy in a circular beam is wasted in masking to a square frame.
Worse, in masking to a three-by-four screen format 874 (FIG. 27) the discarded fractions 875 come to 39%. In going to the popular widescreen nine-by-sixteen format 974 (FIG. 28) the lost fractions 975 are nearly 46%, close to half of the optical energy in the circular beam. (vi) polarization analyzer—Now turning from energy losses somewhat in the direction of performance, the intrinsic contrast ratio of an LCLV although high is far from perfect, particularly since polarization extinction for broad-spectral-band light is hard to control. (As Noted Previously, the Operation of Polarizing Devices is Wavelength-Dependent.)
Thus a perceptible glow may pass through an LCLV to the projection medium in regions that should (based on the written image) be dead black. In this way some of the costly optical energy extracted from the omnidirectional source—and still remaining after the several inefficient processes discussed above—is used to illuminate areas that are dark in the desired image.
(vii) vertically swept “slot”—Several of the Hughes patents are direct testament to the intractable character of these problems. The above-mentioned Henderson, Schmidt and Gold patents in particular lay out these same difficulties and discuss a proposed solution.
Henderson teaches simply shaping of a white-light beam, from an incandescent source, into a shallow slot-shaped beam—and scanning that beam across an LCLV modulator. In this case, since the light source itself is continuously operating, a continuous sweep produces a continuum of overlapping successive beam positions rather than a discrete-stepping effect. Henderson's goal is to greatly improve energy uniformity, masking, read/write efficiency and contrast of an LCLV system by placing the reading light in precisely the region where the writing is taking place.
Evidently, as it appears, Henderson was not wholly successful in this—since the companion Schmidt patent explains at column 2 (lines 48 through 56), and also at column 9 (lines 30 and 46) that Henderson's approach, considered alone, suffers severely from the loss of “telecentric behavior” of the optical system, and also from chromatic aberration. Schmidt notes that the purpose of his own invention is to restore “telecentric behavior” and mitigate adverse chromatic effects.
A telecentric optical system is defined in the Gold patent as a system in which all “chief rays” are made to parallel the optical axis of the system. A chief ray, in turn, is by definition a ray that originates at an off-axis point of an object or source and crosses the axis. Like chromatic aberration, these are characteristics of conventional white-light systems in which, for example, rays from various points of an object which extends transverse to the axis are collected in a lens and redirected—many typically crossing the axis—to construct an image also transverse to the axis (but located at another point along the axis).
Schmidt proposes resolving the Henderson problems through particular forms of rotating polygonal deflectors that are transparent, and ingeniously configured to preserve telecentricity. Gold teaches use of a more conventional reflective rotating polygon, but coupled with somewhat elaborate optical elements to pre- and postcondition the slot-shaped beam for deflection at the polygon—also to preserve (or restore) telecentricity.
Despite these yeoman efforts, it appears that Hughes has never used the scanning-slot system commercially. Not even the most-recently introduced projector models—or technical papers—from the Hughes development group suggest any movement toward adoption of the Henderson/Schmidt/Gold system.
Perhaps this is due to the difficulty of forming a white-light source beam into a very shallow, very wide slot-shaped beam, without discarding so much light that the overall system is unacceptably inefficient and impractical. Henderson, for example, mentions (column 6, line 55) that brightness in at least the vertical cross-section of the beam is Gaussian, and suggests masking off a substantial portion of even that cross-section to avoid using the skirts of the Gaussian beam. In any event it seems that the scanning-slot beam—if not simply inoperative—was a dead-end side trip, in the course of developments at the birthplace of the liquid-crystal light valve.
(viii) image projection using laser sources—The previously mentioned Minich patent proposes to use LCLVs with laser sources—including red laser lines in the neighborhood of 620 nm. Minich asserts that his LCLV-based apparatus is “substantially similar . . . to the system [using a transmissive LCD modulator], except that the [LCLV] apparatus operates reflectively rather than transmissively.”
By lumping these devices together somewhat indiscriminately, Minich suggests less than full appreciation for their major differences. As mentioned earlier, the transmissive LCD devices are objectionable for very-large-format projection because of conspicuous electrode patterns which they display.
Neither the problems of beam-shape matching and contrast nor the possibilities of scanning slot-shaped beams are taken up by Minich—in either his above-noted patent or his more-recent one, U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,076. These problems are just as important with laser sources as with the Hughes white lamps.
Likewise the problem of speckle in systems using LCLV modulators is never taken up by Minich in those patents. It is substantially impossible to operate a laser/LCLV projector without addressing this obstacle.
Minich furthermore fails to address the desirability of infinite sharpness, although this represents a major application for laser projectors. The conventional understanding is that the image-forming mechanisms of LCLV modulators destroy laser-beam coherence and thereby foreclose achievement of infinite sharpness.
Still further, in the patents mentioned above Minich says nothing of the problems of brightness uniformity. Whereas beam nonuniformity in white-light LCLV systems is significant, in a laser-beam LCLV system it is of the utmost importance—because laser beams are subject to a number of artifacts that become plainly visible on the projection screen if a laser beam is simply expanded to flood an LCLV reading stage.
To fill in certain portions of his disclosure, Minich refers to documents of Texas Instruments Incorporated (column 5, line 58) and of Hughes (column 9, line 58). The overall focus of the Proxima development program, as suggested in the Minich patent, is upon very compact, lightweight and inexpensive projectors that are very unlike the very large, high-quality Hughes product (and two orders of magnitude lower in price). Actual Proxima machines on the market appear to correspond to the more-recently issued '076 Minich patent mentioned above, not to anything in Minich '263.
All in all, it appears that the disclosures in the '263 Minich patent are conceptual rather than practical. It may offer, as the foregoing enumeration of omissions suggests, a less than completely enabling disclosure.
j. Marketplace considerations—The foregoing discussion indicates some answers to the question posed earlier, “why are large-screen laser projectors not common in the marketplace?” The answer is that numerous practical problems attendant the real-world design and manufacture of a commercially viable laser projector have not been answered.
One device that might provide a key to solution of some of these problems—the liquid-crystal light valve—has not been associated with laser projectors either in the marketplace or (notwithstanding the Minich '263 patent) in any meaningful, practically oriented enabling publication. No product or publication has revealed how to provide infinite sharpness, or otherwise how to project images on irregular projection surfaces having dramatically varying projection distances.
No teaching in the art has revealed how to defeat speckle without adding elaborate equipment appendages that subtract light. The art has never resolved, in marketplace terms, the problems of brightness, contrast, energy efficiency, masking, or illumination of nonwriting regions which Henderson, Schmidt and Gold attempted to address.
As can now be seen, the related art remains subject to significant problems, and the efforts outlined above—although praiseworthy—have left room for considerable refinement. | {
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Computing devices have made significant contributions toward the advancement of modern society and are utilized in a number of applications to achieve advantageous results. Numerous devices, such as computers, game consoles, smart phones, and the like have facilitated increased productivity and reduced costs in communicating and analyzing data in most areas of entertainment, education, business and science. The rendering and displaying of images is an important aspect of contemporary computing devices. Image rendering, storage and displaying tends to be computationally intensive, consume large communication bandwidth and memory storage capacity. Therefore, contemporary computing device typically use data encoding and decoding techniques to compress and decompress image data for storage, transmission and processing.
One common form of compression is the H.264/MPEG-4 video compression standard jointly developed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) and the International Organization for Standardization International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). Referring to FIG. 1, a video encoding/decoding device 100 according to the conventional art is illustrated. Encoding begins with receipt of frames of video data 110. In one implementation, the computing device may render video frames in R′G′B′ color space. The image frames in R′G′B′ color space (4:4:4) are down sampled to generate Y′CrCb color space (4:2:2) by a color space subsampling converter 115. The chromance Cr and Cb are down sampled by a factor of two 120 to reduce the amount of data of the Cr and Cb planes, because the human visual system is more sensitive to brightness than color. Therefore, the human visual system will perceive little visual difference in images based on the down sampled Y′CrCb color space (4:2:2), while Y′CrCb video data is approximately two thirds of the R′G′B′ video data.
The Y′CrCb frames are then compressed by a H.264 encoder 125. The H.264 encoder applies motion-compensated block encoding to the Y, Cr and Cb planes at one of a plurality of predetermined data rates. The lower the data rate the greater the loss incurred in compressing the data. The compressed data 130 may then be output by the H.264 encoder 125 to a transceiver to transmission across a communication channel, to a computing device readable media (e.g., optical disk, hard disk drive) for storage, or the like 135. The video data may then be reconstructed 140 from the stored or transmitted compressed data 130 by use of a H.264 decoder 145 and optional color space converter 150 in a substantially inverse process.
It is appreciated that the loss incurred as a result of down sampling during conversion from R′G′B′ color space to Y′CrCb color space is compounded by any loss incurred in the H.264 encoding/decoding. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for improved encoding/decoding techniques to reduce image compression losses. | {
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A wheelchair seat cushion must perform a number of important functions. The seat cushion should be comfortable and capable of providing proper support for optimal posture and posture control for a considerable length of time. The seat cushion should also assist, or at least not materially hinder, the user in maneuvering the wheelchair, permit a useful range of motion from the pelvis and upper torso of the person, and create stability and security for the person within the wheelchair. Perhaps most importantly, the seat cushion should help prevent and reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers created by prolonged sitting on the cushion without adequate pressure relief. Pressure ulcers can become a very serious health problem for individuals who must remain constantly in contact with the support cushion, and it is important to avoid such pressure ulcers.
Wheelchair users, like everyone, are of substantially different sizes, weights and shapes. Many wheelchair users have physical disabilities and associated posture and postural control impairments such as those typically caused by congenital disorders. Other wheelchair users, such as those who have been disabled by acquired or traumatic injuries, may have a more typical size and shape. In all of these cases, the support contour of the wheelchair seat cushion must safely support the anatomy of the user, whether the anatomy is abnormal or more typical. Wheelchair seat cushions must fit and perform properly to prevent further physical impairment and pressure ulcers. The cushion must also enhance the functional capabilities of the user by supporting independence in activities of daily living. There are a number of different theories or approaches for configuring the support contour of a wheelchair seat cushion to avoid pressure ulcers and to provide adequate postural alignment.
One approach to configuring the support contour of a wheelchair seat cushion is a single generic support contour which attempts to accommodate all types of pelvic bone-structure configurations, whether more abnormal or more typical. In general, this generic approach involves using a soft, flowable or adaptable material, such as air or gel, as the support material within the wheelchair cushion. This adaptable material adjusts and redistributes in response to the weight and shape of the user to create a support contour which conforms to the anatomy of the user. By conforming to the anatomy of the user, the pressure on the skin of the user is usually distributed relatively evenly over the area of contact. The extent of the uniform pressure distribution depends on the capability of the cushion to accept and conform to the user's anatomy without displacing the adaptable material and resulting in firm contact with a support structure.
The substantially equal pressure distribution is theorized to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers, by decreasing peak pressures on the skin in the pelvic area associated with bony prominences, most notably the ischial tuberosities, coccyx, sacrum, and greater trochanters. However, as individuals age with their disabilities, the quality of their skin is further compromised in its ability to tolerate pressure and shear forces. The decreased tolerance for pressure and shear forces, no matter how well those forces are distributed, increases the incidence of pressure ulcers.
Generic seat cushions which use flowable support material are usually incapable of providing adequate postural alignment. In general terms, adequate postural alignment is assisted by using the support contour of the seat cushion to encourage proper posture by providing a foundation for dynamic posture control. To do so, the support contour must have the capability of applying some support pressure to the pelvic area because alignment of the pelvic area is fundamental for proper posture. The adaptable support material of generic seat cushions is intended to move and redistribute itself, and consequently, is generally unstable and incapable of applying the support pressure or force in certain areas of the pelvic anatomy to optimize postural control and alignment.
Many of the disadvantages associated with generic wheelchair cushions may be overcome by using a custom wheelchair seat cushion having a support contour constructed specifically to accommodate the individual anatomical aspects of a particular user. In such cases, it is necessary to capture the anatomical shape of the individual which will contact the custom seat cushion, and then use that anatomical shape to make the custom seat cushion.
The cost of fabricating a custom wheelchair seat cushion can be substantial, for example, approximately $3000 or more. Much of the expense of a custom wheelchair seat cushion results from the amount of time consumed, and the cost of the relatively sophisticated equipment which must be used to capture and transfer the anatomical shape of the user into the support contour of the seat cushion. Moreover, despite the use of sophisticated equipment, it is nevertheless difficult to capture the anatomical shape of the user and transfer it into a customized support contour. An appreciation of some of these difficulties in creating customized wheelchair seat cushions is discussed in the above-referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/628,858.
The most prevalent approach used to configure the support contour of a custom cushion, at least at the time of filing hereof, is to distribute the weight of the user substantially uniformly over the entire support contour. The uniform pressure distribution is theorized to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers because the uniform pressure distribution is thought to avoid localized high-pressure points which could give rise to pressure ulcers. The substantial conformance of the support contour to the anatomical shape of the user is also believed to orient the user toward proper postural alignment.
Even if the support contour of the custom cushion is initially satisfactory to the user, changes in tissue and musculature may dictate changes in the optimal support contour of the custom seat cushion. Tissue will typically atrophy over time, particularly for first-time wheelchair users. Tissue atrophy and other tissue changes alter the pressure distribution over the support contour. Those changes may result in increased pressure on tissues surrounding the bony prominences, thereby ultimately increasing the risks of pressure ulcers. Moreover, as the muscle strength diminishes, the user relies more on the support contour of the seat to hold the proper posture. In doing so, parts of the pelvic anatomy press more directly on certain parts of the support contour as a foundation for postural alignment. The increased pressure from postural alignment increases the pressure and shear forces on the skin in those areas, again increasing the risk of pressure ulcers. In general, the concept of equally distributing the pressure over the entire support contour of the custom seat cushion is generally obtainable only for a limited amount of time and under limited circumstances. Additionally, any movement of the user, or even subtle changes in pelvic orientation on the support contour, can result in substantial increases in pressure and shear forces on the skin at the interface with the support contour.
One type of existing wheelchair cushion includes a cutout area adjacent to the tailbone or sacrum in the pelvic area. This cutout area is effective in eliminating pressure or shear forces which could cause pressure ulcers on the skin surrounding the sacrum. However, the single cutout area does not address the increased pressure and shear forces which occur at the areas of other bony prominences in the pelvic area. Moreover, the support contour of the cushion with the cutout area does not attempt to transfer support to other pelvic areas to compensate for the reduced support at the cutout area. This type of cushion is not generally intended to encourage or bias the pelvic area into alignment for proper posture. Instead, this type of cushion is intended to be used with a separate back support cushion in order to invoke postural alignment. In addition, this type of cushion is also subject to the problems arising from tissue loss and incorrect sizing.
In those types of existing wheelchair cushions having individualized support contours intended to interact with the anatomy of a specific user, slight discrepancies in capturing the shape of the individualized support contour may be compensated for by adding shims or other additional external support structures to the seat cushion or to a structural base upon which the cushion resides. In general, adding the additional shims or support structures is relatively imprecise in achieving the desired effect, and requires considerable time and effort due to the number of trial fittings that are typically required. A similar situation exists with respect to anatomical changes that occur after the cushion has been used for some amount of time. In both circumstances, the support capabilities of the cushion are decreased by the trial and error approach to correcting for shape-capturing discrepancies and anatomical changes. Furthermore, the added shims and external support structures complicate the use of the cushion, because those added parts must be kept in alignment with the cushion when in use.
In those types of existing wheelchair cushions which establish an individualized or specific support contour, certain areas of the support contour may be subject to excessive deformation of the somewhat flexible material from which the cushion is constructed. The wheelchair cushions must be constructed of material which offers some amount of flexibility or resiliency, in order to function adequately as a cushion. The material which provides that flexibility or resiliency is subject to deformation when the support contour includes areas of significant curvature or areas which apply transverse support on the anatomical structure of the user, because those portions of the support contour may have generally thinner dimensions than the portions of the seat cushion directly beneath the user. Excessively flexible portions of the wheelchair cushion, or portions which may become excessively flexible through use overtime, will not be capable of providing pelvic orientation and alignment as may be required by the wheelchair user.
Because of these and other deficiencies, seat cushions with inadequate support may be used long past the time when they have become ineffective in providing proper support, either because of the cost associated with replacement of the cushion or the failure of the user to recognize the problem until pressure ulcers or other difficulties appear.
Many of the same considerations applicable to wheelchair seat cushions also apply with varying levels of criticality to other types of seat cushions used in other seating environments and applications. For example, seat cushions used in office environments are required to support the user in a comfortable manner and in a manner which encourages proper posture and without creating risks of medical problems, for example inducing blood circulatory problems. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improvement of a starting electric motor having a resin rear bracket.
2. Prior Art
A conventional starting electric motor with a resin rear bracket is shown in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates the armature of a DC motor; 1a, an armature rotary shaft; 1b armature coils; 2, magnets forming magnetic fields; 3, a yoke forming magnetic paths and serving as an outer wall; 4, a commutator having segments in the outer periphery; 5a, a positive brush for rectification; 5b, a negative brush for rectification; 6a, a brush holder holding the positive brush 51; 7, a lead wire connected between the positive brush 5a and a terminal section of an electromagnetic switch (not shown); 7a, a rubber member insulating the lead wire 7; 8, an insulating plate; and 9, a metal base to which the insulating plate is secured, the metal base 9 being engaged with a rear bracket 10 of resin with bolts 11.
Further in FIG. 1, reference character 6b designates a brush holder holding the negative brush 5b; 12, a lead wire having one end connected to the brush holder 6b and the other end connected to the earth (ground) terminal of a starter (not shown); 13, a bearing fitted on the armature rotary shaft 1a and inserted into the recess of the rear bracket 10; and 14, through-bolts joining the resin bracket 10, the yoke 3, and a front bracket (not shown) together.
The operation of the motor thus constructed will be described. When the electromagnetic switch (not shown) is closed, current is supplied through the lead wire 7 to the positive brush 5a and through the segment in the outer periphery of the commutator 4 to the armature coil 1b and the current is allowed to flow through the segment in the outer periphery of the commutator, the negative brush 5b and the lead wire 12 to the earth terminal of the starter (not shown).
As the current flows in the magnetic field formed by the magnets 2 in the above-described manner, the armature 1 produces torque.
The conventional starting electric motor using the resin rear bracket 10 for the purpose of reducing its weight, being constructed as described above, suffers from the following problems: It is necessary to provide the lead wire 12 on the earth side (hereinafter referred to as "an earth side lead wire 12", when applicable), and the earth terminal. This will make the manufacture of the motor intricate, and the number of components increase. On the other hand, during travel of the vehicle, the motor suffers heat generated by the engine, and the rear end face of the rear bracket 10 locally receives the axial tensions of the through-bolts 14 and the bolts 11. As a result, the rear bracket 10 is deformed; i.e., creeped, and the through-bolts 14 and the bolts 11 are loosened. Also, since the end face of the rear bracket 10 is in the form of a plate of resin, the end face is insufficient in bend resisting strength and in compression resisting strength so that it is difficult to tightly and stably mount the rear bracket 10 on the yoke 3. | {
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Use of “depolarizers” in electrolytic reactions helps lower input electrical energy in electrochemical processes. For example, in batteries depolarizers help prevent buildup of hydrogen gas bubbles thereby preventing the voltage, and thereby current, from being reduced. Among the known depolarizers, including sulfur dioxide which is used for lowering energy use in production of hydrogen, oxygen consuming cathodes have gained in importance due to the high onset potential of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Oxygen depolarized cathodes are used in electrolytic production of chlorine from brine solution, and in its recovery from hydrochloric acid, a byproduct of various chemical processes, e.g., production of polymers notably polyvinyl chloride, polyurethanes and polycarbonate, chloroaromatics, and many other components. However, electrochemical chlorine production is currently one of the most energy-intensive processes in the chemical industry, Manufacture of chlorine using oxygen depolarized cathode (ODC) promises to reduce power consumption by as much as 30% compared to standard membrane technology, and is also accompanied with a cut in indirect carbon dioxide emissions. The process integrates use of oxygen with the reaction taking place at the cathode in the manufacture of chlorine by electrolysis of sodium chloride or HCl to produce water instead of hydrogen gas. Oxygen is pumped into the cathode compartment, which reacts with hydrogen to produce water, and the voltage needed for the electrolysis process is reduced by approximately a third. Thus, feeding of gaseous oxygen enables electrolysis to be performed at a lower voltage.
In this process, the conventional cathodic reduction of protons to H2 (g):2H++2e−H2(g)E=0.00 V vs. RHE (1)is replaced with the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR):O2(g)+4H++4e−2H2O(l)E=1.23 V (2)Thus, overall process is the following:2HCl+½O2Cl2(g)+H2O(l)E=−0.13 V (3)as compared to conventional:2HCl2H2(g)+2Cl2(g)E=−1.36 V (4)with a theoretical energy savings of ˜700 kWh per ton of Cl2 (g). Thus, the much lower ORR overpotential associated with oxygen consuming gas diffusion electrode (GDE) is expected to result in significant cost and energy savings.
Operation of an electrolytic cell for chlorine production involves use of aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid at concentration as high as 20% (˜5 M) and temperature as high as 60° C., which creates a highly corrosive environment. The presence of anions (chloride ions) in such corrosive environment causes poisoning of the catalyst, thereby reducing the efficiency of the cell. Therefore, there is a need to develop ORR catalysts that can resist anion poisoning.
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the most studied reactions in energy conversion systems due to the large overpotential caused by the slow kinetics. Due to the lower proton conductivity and permeability of oxygen in the phosphoric acid environment, high loadings of metal are required. Traditionally platinum based electrocatalyst have been used to facilitate ORR in acidic media, but the scarcity of these materials significantly increases the cost of the system. In addition to the economic disadvantage of platinum based electrocatalyst, there is also the issue of poisoning of these materials by the adsorption of the dihydrogen phosphate anion. The number of electrons transferred per active site of Pt per second is diminished by approximately 70% in the presence of moderate concentrations of phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC) are successfully commercialized and presently operate at 80% combined heat and power efficiency, but the cathode materials suffer poisoning effects from the dihydrogen phosphate ion adsorption (H2O4−) limiting the performance. Anion adsorption is structure dependent and it has been shown that some Pt-alloys exhibit a heightened tolerance to phosphate poisoning (He, Q. PhysChemChemPhys. 2010. 12, 12544) but cost is still an issue. However, non-platinum group metal catalysts (NPMC) for ORR containing Fe and/or Co have been investigated and progress has been made in developing synthetic strategy for preparing these NPMC have now made these materials viable contenders with Pt-based catalysts for use in acid based systems. (Jaouen, F. et al., 2011)
Current state of the art catalyst for ODC is rhodium based chalcogenite (RhxSy/C), currently produced by DeNora. The RhxSy/C catalyst outperforms the extremely ORR active carbon supported platinum (Pt/C) catalysts in resisting anion poisoning. The Pt/C catalyst is easily poisoned by chloride ions. Despite a lower activity for oxygen reduction relative to state of the art Pt-based electrocatalysts in most systems, RhxSy is not severely depolarized by contaminants such as chloride ions and assorted organics. However, Rh is a precious metal and the cost of RhxSy/C is a drawback for successful commercialization of RhxSy/C.
Anion poisoning, which is a common problem in electrocatalysis in aqueous media, is a result of strong interaction of catalytic metal nanoparticles (Pt, Rh, Ru, etc.) with impurities at potentials above potential of zero charge (PZC). The poisoning blocks access of the reactants (e.g., oxygen in ORR reactions) to the active centers on the metal surface, resulting in increased overpotential. Chemisorption of any species, e.g., anions, on the metal surface depends on the free energy of adsorption and free energy of solvation of that species. In acidic environment water molecules act as weak anionic species and interact with the metallic surface through the oxygen atoms of hydroxide ions. More electronegative moieties such as chloride or bromide ions, or other anions when present replace the hydroxide ions. The metal-anion interaction grows in strength with increased positive potentials, which is specifically challenging for oxygen reduction reactions as the ORR onset is desired to occur at high potentials. As shown for adsorption of chloride anions on platinum nanoparticles (FIG. 1) even small concentrations of anions result in significant losses in the activity of the catalyst.
Most reported nonplatinum group metal (non-pgm) catalysts consist of biomimetic Fe—Nx centers which are frequently wrapped within protective graphene layers, and contain non-coordinated metal nanoparticles (FeNPs). The overall catalytic performance and stability of these materials depends upon the structure and distribution of the metal centers throughout the catalyst surface. While the better performing MNC catalyst in this group exhibit promising durability in standard fuel cell environment, most of the protected Fe-consisting nanoparticles are susceptible to oxidation by strong anions like a chloride ion, especially at high concentrations, as in case of catastrophic cathode flooding with concentrated hydrochloric acid in chlorine recovery HCl electrolyzers. | {
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In concrete terms, raw materials containing iron oxide, such as iron ore, materials containing iron ore, partly reduced materials containing iron ore are reduced in the inventive method in a high-pressure reduction unit by introduction of a reduction gas into the high-pressure reduction unit. The reduction gas consumed during the reduction is drawn off from the high-pressure reduction unit as top gas. The reduction gas is created from a feed gas which is exported, for example, as an export gas from a plant for pig iron production and has at least a partial quantity of the withdrawn top gas mixed with it as a recycle gas and from CO2 separated from the gas mixture obtained by the mixing of the recycle gas with the feed gas after one or more compression steps.
Furthermore the invention relates to a facility for carrying out the method described above. The facility comprises a high-pressure reduction unit with a reduction gas line and a top gas line, a feed gas line for supply of feed gas or for supply of a gas mixture of the feed gas and recycle gas respectively into a device for separation of CO2. Compression devices are disposed in the feed gas line. The recycle gas is supplied to the feed gas via a recycle gas part flow line emerging into the feed gas line. A high-pressure reduction unit is to be understood in this case as a reduction unit which is designed for an operating pressure of greater than 2 bar (200 kPa), preferably of greater than 3 bar (300 kPa), even more preferably of greater than 4 bar (400 kPa). The operating pressure corresponds to the pressure of the reduction gas introduced into the reduction unit.
An object of the present invention is the use of the facility for carrying out the described method in a plant network with a plant for production of pig iron and/or crude steel products, especially a FINEX® plant or a COREX® plant. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a driving means, which can be used in a device for working sheet-like material, such as a press brake for bending steel sheet.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A driving means for a press brake is known from European patent application No. 0 384 529. The disadvantage of such a driving means is the limitation of the available press force per length of the beams. This limitation is for example the result of the tensile strength of the belt. An increase of the belt width in order to increase the tensile strength would limit the maximum bending angle of the device for certain products when bending sheet-like material. By increasing the belt width, the width of the beams is increased, which in turn results in a higher chance on collisions between the sheet-like material and the beams.
Another limitation is related to the electric motors used for driving the belt. If the pressure force of the device would be increased the power of the electric motors should also be increased resulting in larger motors having slower dynamics which has an impact on the speed with which the device can be operated.
Yet another limitation of the driving means according to the prior art, is the limited number of rollers in respect to the length of the driving means. Reducing the diameter of the rollers, to increase the number of rollers, would only partially increase the press force. When the diameter of the rollers is reduced, the belt has a smaller bending radius, which reduces the maximum tensile strength of the belt. | {
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a widely used material for the manufacture of balloon-type medical devices where a "non-compliant" balloon is required. Unlike "compliant" balloons, which continue to expand as internal pressure in the balloon is increased, a "non-compliant" balloon will attain and maintain a substantially constant configuration regardless of the internal pressure. For an analogy in a non-medical field, the typical party balloon is an example of a compliant balloon which continues to expand as it is being blown up. In fact, such a balloon will generally continue expanding under increased pressure until it bursts. On the other hand, a hot air balloon can not be compliant. In order to be safe and effective for its intended use, a hot air balloon must generally maintain its predetermined configuration once it has been inflated. Therefore, it is properly considered as an example of a non-compliant balloon.
In the medical field, depending on the particular application or use, it may be preferable to use either a compliant balloon or a non-compliant balloon. It happens, however, that for some medical procedures and applications it may be preferable to use a balloon which is neither typically compliant nor typically non-compliant. Such a balloon is subsequently referred to herein as being a "semi-compliant" balloon.
A well known use in the medical device field for non-compliant inflatable balloons involves the performance of angioplasty procedures. When used for this purpose, the balloon is first positioned across a stenosis in an artery. It is then inflated under relatively great pressure to a final balloon configuration to dilate the artery. The object is to use the predictable final configuration of the non-compliant balloon to dilate the artery to only a known extent. This, of course, will also breakup the plaque which is causing the stenosis in the artery and, thereby allow for the subsequent flow of blood through the previously blocked artery. Importantly, the balloon can not assume an uncontrolled or unpredictable configuration when inflated. This is so because, if left unchecked, the balloon could cause unwanted damage to the arterial system. A balloon intended for such use is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 33,561 Which issued to Levy for an invention entitled "Balloon and Manufacture Thereof".
Use of balloons for stent placement is typically done in situations where it is necessary that a stent act as a structural support for the arterial wall in order to prevent a restenosis or collapse of the artery. The placement of a stent in an artery, however, can be an extremely complicated procedure due to the fact that arteries typically do not have constant diameter lumens and, instead, typically have arteries whose diameters vary significantly over even short distances.
Not surprisingly, the placement of a stent in an artery requires skill and dexterity. Specifically, when placing a stent in an artery it is necessary to generate forces which can be applied to various parts of the stent over controllable and predictable distances to shape and conform the stent to the artery. This, of course, must all be done in situ. Thus, a truly non-compliant balloon which has a fixed inflated configuration would be inefficient because of its inability to vary in configuration during sizing and placement of a stent. On the other hand, a truly compliant balloon would also be inefficient due to its tendency to reconfigure itself into areas of least resistance and, thereby, not necessarily apply forces at the required locations on the stent.
In light of the above it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing and using a semi-compliant PET balloon which will expand into predictable configurations that correspond to selectively controlled inflation pressures. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing and using a semi-compliant PET balloon which can be manipulated in an artery and inflated to position, configure and anchor a stent into the arterial wall to prevent collapse of the arterial wall. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing and using a semi-compliant PET balloon which is simple to employ, and relatively cost effective. | {
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The 3G communication modules described below can realize: receiving and sending a 3G signal, converting the 3G signal into data of voice service or data service, and then sending it to an Application Processor (AP) through a certain interface.
At present, the application of the 3G communication module still belongs to a developing technical field, and there is no standard for the interfaces between 3G communication modules and the APs. Most 3G communication modules keep using the connection mode between a data card and a computer, and use a USB interface for connection. In the operating system of the AP, a port for the virtual voice service and the data service is used for realizing interaction between voice and data. Such connection mode has a problem that the USB interface is not adapted to be applied in equipments with low power consumption, such as a mobile terminal, due to its high power consumption. In order to solve the problem of high power consumption of the USB interface, some 3G communication modules use a Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) interface to transmit voice service data and a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) interface to transmit data with a small volume. Only in a case of a relatively large data volume, a high-speed USB interface is used. One to four General Purpose Input Output (GPIO) interfaces is used for the wakeup between the 3G communication module and the AP.
As the development of the Internet of things depends on the fixed network and the mobile network, the efforts of telecom operators in China in the research and development of the Internet of things will further accelerate the development of the Chinese industry of the Internet of things. With the rapid development of the Internet of things, 3G communication modules will be widely applied in various radio communication fields. Therefore, the APs connected with 3G communication modules will also be more diversified. An AP in a traditional smart phone or netbook has many interfaces, such as USB, PCM, Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) and UART. While in industrial or simple civilian radio communication fields, some APs are applied in an application environment relying mainly on programmable logic controller (PLC) or simple single chip machine. These APs do not have abundant interfaces to connect with 3G communication modules, therefore connection between 3G communication modules and APs is limited. | {
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Recently, the substitution of glass glazing with transparent materials which do not shatter or are more resistant to shattering than glass, has become widespread. For example, transparent glazing made from synthetic organic polymers is now utilized in public transportation vehicles, such as trains, buses, taxis and airplanes. Lenses, such as for eye glasses and other optical instruments, as well as glazing for large buildings, also employ shatter-resistant transparent plastics. The lighter weight of these plastics in comparison to glass is a further advantage, especially in the transportation industry where the weight of the vehicle is a major factor in its fuel economy.
While transparent plastics provide the major advantage of being more resistant to shattering and lighter than glass, a serious drawback lies in the ease with which these plastics mar and scratch, due to everyday contact with abrasives, such as dust, cleaning equipment and ordinary weathering. Continuous scratching and marring results in impaired visibility and poor aesthetics, and often requires replacement of the glazing or lens or the like.
One of the most promising and widely used transparent plastics for glazing is polycarbonate, such as that known as Lexan.RTM., sold by General Electric Company. It is a tough material, having high impact strength, high heat deflection temperature, good dimensional stability, as well as being self-extinguishing, and is easily fabricated. Acrylics, such as polymethylmethacrylate, are also widely used transparent plastics for glazing.
Attempts have been made to improve the abrasion-resistance of transparent plastics. For example, scratch-resistant coatings formed from mixtures of silica, such as colloidal silica or silica gel, and hydrolyzable silanes in a hydrolysis medium, such as alcohol and water, are known. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,708,225, 3,986,997 and 3,976,497, for example, describe such compositions.
In copending U.S. application Ser. No. 964,910, now abandoned, coating compositions having improved resistance to moisture and humidity and ultraviolet light are disclosed. It was discovered therein that, in direct contrast to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,997, compositions having a basic pH, i.e., 7.1-7.8, do not immediately gel but in fact provide excellent abrasion-resistant coatings on solid substrates.
The present invention offers a significant advantage over many of the heretofore known coating compositions in that it does not require heat in order to initiate the cure reaction. The radiation cure system of the present invention expends considerably less thermal energy than conventional heat cure systems.
In copending application Ser. No. 129,297, the present applicant has disclosed a radiation curable hardcoating composition which requires the use of the acid hydrolysis product of an alkoxy functional silane. In another copending application, Ser. No. 167,622, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,462 , the present applicant has provided a different radiation curable hardcoating composition which requires the combination of colloidal silica, acryloxy or glycidoxy functional silanes and non-silyl acrylates. However, applicant's disclosure in Ser. No. 167,622 was a precursor of the present invention. The early coating composition required an inert blanketing atmosphere in order to effectuate a proper cure. Ordinarily, free-radical type crosslinking mechanisms are retarded in non-inert atmospheres. Applicant's present invention, however, provides for the use of certain ketone-type and hindered amine photoinitiators which enable the cure of highly abrasion resistant coatings which are acryloxy-siloxane based.
In fact, the present applicant has recently demonstrated the utility of such a UV sensitive, non-inert atmosphere curable photoinitiator system in his copending application, Ser. No. 204,146 filed Nov. 5, 1980, now abandoned for a non-siloxane coating composition. The coating compositions of Ser. No. 204,146 are specific improvements over the coatings and articles disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,465 (Moore et al.) both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The Moore et al. disclosure teaches that certain very useful coatings and coated articles can be provided through the photoreaction of certain polyfunctional acrylate monomers and resorcinol monobenzoate. The Moore et al. coatings use any of several well known UV radiation photosensitizers including ketones such as benzophenone. The Moore et al. disclosure, however, failed to recognize that the improved coatings of the present invention could be provided by combining the ketone-type photoinitiator with a hindered amine-type compound whereupon the photosensitized acrylate-siloxane coating composition could be cured without the necessity of using resorcinol monobenzoate and without the necessity of an inert atmosphere (both of which are required by the Moore et al. disclosure). The savings and convenience provided by the use of a non-inert atmosphere such as air can be substantial, and these savings can be provided by the present invention without derogating the quality of the hard coating composition or coated product.
Since ultraviolet light is one of the most widely used types of radiation because of its relatively low cost, ease of maintenance, and low potential hazard to industrial users, rapid photo-induced polymerizations utilizing UV light rather than thermal energy for the curing of hard coatings offer several other significant advantages. First, faster curing coatings offer substantial economic benefits. Furthermore, heat sensitive materials can be safely coated and cured with UV light without the use of thermal energy which could damage the substrate. Additionally, the essentially solvent free media reduces the necessity for expensive and time consuming pollution abatement procedures.
Thus the advantages provided by the materials of the present invention are particularly useful for a number of purposes. For example, polycarbonates are commercially important materials possessing excellent physical and chemical properties which are useful in a wide range of applications from non-opaque impact resistant sheets to shaped articles. Generally, however, polycarbonates have rather low scratch resistance and are somewhat susceptible to attack by many common solvents and chemicals.
Previous efforts to overcome this low scratch resistance and susceptibility to attack by solvents have included lamination procedures and applications onto the polycarbonate of a surface coating. Many of these prior art remedial efforts have been unsuccessful due to the incompatibility of the laminate and coating materials with the polycarbonate substrate. This incompatibility has resulted in stress cracking and crazing of the polycarbonate, crack propagation into the polycarbonate as a result of the brittleness of the coating, and a reduction of other advantageous properties of the polycarbonate.
The prior art coatings for polycarbonates have included organopolysiloxanes, U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,397; polyester-melamines or acrylic-melamines, U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,390; and allyl resins, U.S. Pat. No. 2,332,461. These types of prior art coatings are generally applied from solutions of inert solvents and are cured to final properties by baking at elevated temperatures. The disadvantages of such systems are obvious. The heat curing requires a supply of thermal energy thereby adding to the cost of the system. Further, the thermal curing step is somewhat limited by the heat distortion temperature of the polycarbonate which is to be coated. Thus, in coating of polycarbonates, sheets of 30 mils and less generally cannot be coated and cured economically because of excessive warpage of the sheets during the thermal curing process.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,305 describes a synthetic shaped article having a mar-resistant polymer surface layer integrated with the polymer surface body, said polymer surface layer consisting essentially of, in polymerized form, (a) 20 to 100 weight percent of compound having a total of at least three acryloxy and/or methacryloxy groups linked with a straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbon residue having not more than 20 carbon atoms, and (b) 0 to 80 weight percent of at least one copolymerizable mono- or diethylenically unsaturated compound. This type of a surface layer suffers from the fact that it generally has poor durability of adhesion after prolonged exposure to weathering.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,309 describes a molded article of plastic having on its surface a cured film of a coating material comprising at least 30% by weight of at least one polyfunctional compound selected from the group consisting of polymethacryloxy compounds having a molecular weight of 250 to 800 and containing at least three methacryloyloxy groups in the molecule and polyacryloyloxy compounds having a molecular weight of 250 to 800 and containing at least three acryloxy groups in the molecule. This patent, however, also teaches that this coating must contain from 0.01 to 5% by weight of a fluorine-containing surfactant in order for the coated article to be acceptable. This patent teaches that when the coating material contains less than 0.01% by weight of the fluorine-containing surfactant, it is impossible to obtain a coated article having the requisite degree of surface hardness, surface smoothness, abrasion resistance and optical clarity. If the coating material contains more than 5% by weight of said fluorine-containing surfactant, the adhesion between a cured film of the coating material and a molded substrate of plastic is unsatisfactory.
It has now been found that a coating composition containing colloidal silica and acryloxy functional alkoxysilanes as well as certain specific polyfunctional acrylic monomers in combination with a blend of ketone and hindered amine photoinitiators provides excellent and durable UV cured coatings, especially for high strength plastic substrates such as polycarbonate, polyester, polymethylmethacrylate, and other polyacrylates, as well as polyamides, nylon and metalized plastic surfaces. These materials may be in films or sheets as well as in the form of molded parts. Thus, the present invention provides certain acrylate-siloxane based UV-cured coatings which adhere tenaciously and durably to the substrate, are compatible with the substrate, are mar, abrasion and solvent resistant, and maintain properties after prolonged exposure to weathering.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide ultraviolet light curable coating compositions providing improved mar and abrasion resistance which are curable under a non-inert atmosphere such as air.
It is another object to provide a UV curable coating comprising the photoreaction products of colloidal silica and acryloxy functional silanes in combination with certain polyfunctional acrylate monomers and a blend of ketone-type and hindered amine-type photoinitiators.
It is another object to provide a process for providing abrasion resistant ultraviolet light curable coating compositions which are curable on rigid and flexible substrates, and which do not require an inert atmosphere for proper curing thereon.
It is still another object to provide articles of manufacture which are highly mar and abrasion resistant by virtue of having been coated with the coatings of the present invention which have been cured thereon. | {
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X-ray devices have been used for many years in medical, security and other applications. Conventional, analog X-ray devices employ an X-ray source and photographic film, which are placed on either side of an object to be examined. The X-rays are absorbed, scattered or unaffected as they pass through the object, depending on the density of features within the object. The film captures the X-rays, thereby creating an attenuation image of the features.
While analog X-ray devices are effective for some applications, the need to use chemical-based film causes them to be disfavored in applications where multiple images need to be produced rapidly or even continuously, as is the case with security X-ray machines. In addition, analog film images cannot be easily manipulated by a computer, thereby often requiring an additional step before digital storage, analysis and/or manipulation of the X-ray data can occur.
Thus, digital X-ray technology replaces the film that is used in analog X-ray devices with a digital detector. The digital detector detects the X-rays after they have passed through the object and generates electrical signals that can be interpreted by a computer to produce a corresponding image. Thus, the image may be generated very quickly (e.g., in real-time), can be digitally stored and can even be used to generate continuous images. In addition, digital X-ray technology provides higher detective quantum efficiency (“DQE”) and larger dynamic range, as is known to those skilled in the art. Therefore, digital X-ray technology enables better quality images when compared to analog X-ray technology.
Both analog and digital X-ray technology, however, collapse 3-D features into 2-D plane images, which causes the overlap of features within the object. While 2-D images may be acceptable in some applications, this overlapping of features, commonly referred to as “structured noise,” can become problematic in some medical lesion diagnosis and other applications. Lesions tend to provide a lower level of visual contrast in 2-D X-ray images because their density is similar to that of surrounding tissue. Thus, a low contrast lesion may be hidden behind dense, and therefore higher-contrast, tissue such as bone. In the case of mammography, false negative and false positive test results are quite common because of the poor contrast provided by conventional 2-D X-ray techniques, whether analog or digital.
A conventional solution to the problem of poor image contrast is to employ a technique that enables material decomposition, where an object is subjected to X-rays of varying X-ray photon energy spectra. As a result, object features of different compositions will interact with the X-rays differently, depending on the photon energy, thereby creating images with differently-emphasized features. Typically, material decomposition (or an atomic number Z and corresponding density calculation) separates an image into two images corresponding to two base materials, where the two base materials have distinct X-ray attenuation characteristics. To perform such a material separation, two distinctive incident X-ray spectra are needed to measure the same object. Conventionally, such distinctive spectra are produced with two different tube high voltage settings, or at the same tube high voltage setting but using two different beam filtration materials. A shortcoming of such material decomposition methods is that such methods mainly work on tissues that have different X-ray attenuation coefficients, such as bone and soft tissue, and are not very sensitive to slight material composition changes.
Because the image data generated by a digital detector is digital in nature, a computer may be used to manipulate the data to create additional images that may be able to isolate desired features. For example, in conventional tomosynthesis, multiple views of an object are taken at several projection angles with a large area digital detector panel. A “shift-and-add” algorithm may then be applied on the digital data to focus on a slice depth, where out-of-plane features are de-emphasized and in-plane features are enhanced. Thus, while each slice image is still 2-D, the ability to de-emphasize out-of-plane features reduces the effects of such features so as to enable images of higher quality. A typical system implementation usually has more than 10 projection angles to further enhance the focusing accuracy.
In Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT), for example, a series of radially-oriented view projection images are taken of a patient at various angles and input into a computer. The computer applies mathematical algorithms to the image data to create additional representations of the object. As a result, the digital image data may be electronically manipulated to generate the best view for the intended application (e.g., cross-sectional images generated from projection image data). Thus, visual contrast between features within an object may be increased.
Digital X-ray technology typically requires a detector area of approximately 45 cm by 45 cm for chest radiography and 25 cm by 30 cm for mammography for properly-sized images. Often, smaller detectors cannot be used because the inevitable gaps between the detectors results in lost data and therefore poor quality images. Unfortunately, fabrication of large field digital X-ray detectors is often difficult and expensive. In addition, digital detectors having the sizes discussed above (referred to as “large field” detectors) typically have a pixel size ranging from 50 μm to 200 μm. While this level of resolution may be sufficient for some applications, other applications such as mammography require even higher resolutions for effective diagnosis. Because they are easier to manufacture, small-field digital detectors can achieve smaller pixel sizes, which therefore yields greater image resolution.
An additional shortcoming of a typical tomosynthesis device is that the device's X-ray source must be rotated, which adds to the complexity, size and cost of such a device. For example, a CAT scan machine has a gantry within which an X-ray source and large digital detector are placed on opposite sides of an object to be analyzed. The gantry rotates the X-ray source and digital detector to enable numerous images of the object that is positioned within the gantry at different view angles. The rotating gantry assembly is a complex mechanism that is very expensive to construct and maintain. Also, vibrations caused by the rotating gantry may adversely affect the alignment of the X-ray source and the digital detector, thereby necessitating a robust, vibration-reducing design that needs to be maintained very precisely. In addition, conventional CAT scan machines are very large and therefore require a specialized and substantially permanent site, as well as a high-voltage power supply. The large size of a CAT scan machine further renders it unwieldy or unusable when attempting to obtain images of smaller body parts, as is the case in mammography. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Known dialyzers usually include four ports by which they are connected, on the one hand, to a line system of a dialysis machine and, on the other hand, to an extracorporeal blood system connected to a patient. Said ports are split into two ports for connection to the extracorporeal blood system via which blood to be purified is supplied to the dialyzer and drained from the dialyzer hereinafter also referred to as blood ports, and two ports for connection to the dialysis machine via which the dialysis fluid is supplied to the dialyzer and drained from the dialyzer, hereinafter also referred to as dialysis fluid ports (see schematic of FIG. 1).
Before the start of a blood treatment method it is necessary to fill and flush the extracorporeal blood circuit including the dialyzer filter so as to remove the air present in the extracorporeal circuit and possible residues in the dialyzer. As a rule, flushing is performed with a common saline solution. For this purpose, a pre-filled bag including common saline solution is used which is manually connected to the arterial blood hose end. The blood pump of the dialysis machine then conveys the fluid through the extracorporeal circuit. The common saline solution finally exits the venous end of the blood hose into a waste bag. After circulating sufficient fluid the extracorporeal circuit is flushed and filled and thus prepared for the blood treatment.
In order to prevent impurities from penetrating the dialyzer and fluid possibly present in the same from leaking as well as to protect the ports from damage the ports of the dialyzer are initially covered and closed.
For the afore-described flushing operation the caps closing the blood ports of the dialyzer have to be removed. They are then usually attached to the dialysis fluid ports. After flushing, the caps are removed from the dialysis fluid ports so that the feed and respective drain lines of the dialysis fluid hose system can be attached thereto. | {
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This invention relates to a combinatorial weighing system. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel combinatorial weighing method capable of raising weighing speed, and to a combinatorial weighing apparatus for practicing such method.
A combinatorial weighing apparatus operates by supplying a plurality of weighing machines with articles to be weighed, computing combinations based on weight values obtained from the weighing machines, selecting a combination giving a total combined weight value equal or closest to a target weight, and discharging the articles solely from those weighing machines corresponding to the selected combination, thereby providing a batch of weighed articles of a weight equal or closest to the target weight.
The control system of such a combinatorial weighing apparatus will now be described in brief with reference to FIG. 1. The apparatus includes n-number of weighing machines M.sub.1 through M.sub.n respectively comprising weight sensors C.sub.1 through C.sub.n, each of which is constituted by, e.g., a load cell, and weighing hoppers, not shown, attached to the weight sensors. The weighing hoppers of the weighing machines M.sub.1 through M.sub.n are so adapted as to be opened and closed by respective drive units A.sub.1 through A.sub.n controlled by a computation controller 50, described below. The weight sensors C.sub.1 through C.sub.n sense the weight of articles introduced into the respective weighing hoppers, each weight sensor producing a weight signal, namely an analog value corresponding to the weight sensed thereby. The weight signals from these weight sensors C.sub.1 through C.sub.n are applied as multiple input signals D.sub.1 through D.sub.n to a multiplexer 1 via amplifier circuits E.sub.1 through E.sub.n and filters F.sub.1 through F.sub.n, respectively. The multiplexer 1, which is composed of analog switches or the like, responds to a selection command S.sub.o from the computation controller 50 by selectively applying the weight signals D.sub.1 through D.sub.n as weight data to a buffer circuit 11 in sequential fashion. The buffer circuit 11 delivers the weight data signals D.sub.1 through D.sub.n received from the multiplexer 1 to a sample/hold circuit 12 upon subjecting the signal to an impedance conversion. The sample/hold circuit 12 repeatedly samples and holds the weight data signals D.sub.1 through D.sub.n subjected to the impedance conversion by the buffer circuit 11, and delivers the weight data signals to a buffer circuit 13. The latter subjects the signals to an impedance conversion, producing analog weight data signals delivered to an analog-digital converter (A/D converter) 2. The latter converts the analog weight data signals from the buffer circuit 13 into digital signals applied to the computation controller 50. The latter is composed of a microcomputer and includes a processor 501 for performing combinatorial calculations, a read-only memory (ROM) 502 storing a control program for combinatorial processing, and a random-access memory (RAM) 503 for storing the weight data as well as the results of processing performed by the processor 501. The computation controller 50 computes combinations on the basis of the weight data, selects a combination, referred to as the "optimum combination", giving a total combined weight value equal or closest to a target weight, and delivers discharge commands S.sub.1 through S.sub.n to the drive units A.sub.1 through A.sub.n of respective weighing hoppers belonging to those weighing machines M.sub.1 through M.sub.n which correspond to the selected combination.
Since a combinatorial weighing apparatus of the foregoing type is based on static weighing, the weighing machines M.sub.1 through M.sub.n must attain a quiescent, stabilized state by the time the computation controller 50 reads the weight data D.sub.1 through D.sub.n delivered by these weighing machines. Accordingly, in the conventional combinatorial weighing apparatus, a timer is set to a time period within which the weighing machines are expected to stabilize, and the timer is started at the exact instant the loading of the articles into the weighing hoppers of the weighing machines is completed. When the set time period has expired, the timer issues a signal in response to which the computation controller 50 sends the selection command S.sub.o to the multiplexer 1 and reads in the weight data D.sub.1 -D.sub.n from the weighing machines M.sub.1 -M.sub.n.
To maintain good weighing accuracy, the aforementioned time period must be set with some margin for safety. Even though weighing machines may actually stabilize early, therefore, the weight data cannot be read until the set time period has fully expired. Accordingly, weighing speed with the conventional arrangement is limited by the time period to which the timer has been set and is difficult to raise without diminishing weighing accuracy. Furthermore, with the conventional weighing system, there is no confirmation that the weighing machines have actually stabilized when the weight data are read. For this reason, reading of the weight data cannot be inhibited in the event that the quiescent state of the weighing machines is upset by an external disturbance, such as floor vibration, which occurs during the reading operation. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cushioned insoles for shoes and other footwear. Such cushions are worn for orthopedic purposes or simply for comfort.
2. Prior Art
The closest prior art known to applicant is Zente U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,801 issued Dec. 2, 1975. Additional prior art is cited in the Zente Patent, namely: Pat. Nos. 532,429, 1,069,001, 1,193,608, 1,148,376, 1,517,171, 2,477,588, 2,546,296, 2,549,343, 2,641,066 and 3,724,106.
The Zente Patent shows a plurality of non-communicating compartments formed between a pair of plastic laminae, each of said compartments containing a separate liquid-filled ampule or bag. In the illustrated form of the Zente insole there are eleven compartments and eleven liquid-filled ampules confined within said compartments.
The procedure for making the Zente insole is complicated and costly and the result is less than optimum since the desired cushion effect is diminished by the presence of multiple plastic layers between the liquid and the foot. | {
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This invention is related to a simple, new and useful method whereby some or all of a specific indoor pollutant can be removed.
Conventional methods usually involve the adsorption of such pollutants onto activated surfaces such as charcoal, silica gel, alumina or other materials with large surface areas, (see R. E. Goddard & J. A. Coles Canadian Pat. No. 625,216 and J. W. Kasmark Jr., M. L. Dooley & A. H. Jones U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,904.
Another conventional method is to use a solution to react with the specific gas, (see M. A. Kise, Canadian Pat. No. 643,062).
Such methods are usually non-specific and quite expensive to produce and operate. In the case where aqueous solutions are used the air becomes saturated with water and higher humidity levels result. In the case of adsorption systems, the pollutant, usually present in trace quantities, must compete with oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water in the air in order to be adsorbed to a significant extent. The adsorption is also temperature dependent and not always complete as far as the pollutant is concerned. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The invention relates to an improvement of an adjustable height basketball backboard support system through the disclosure of a unique and novel retainer which prevents an adjustment link from swinging away from the support member during the adjustment process. One form of an adjustable basketball backboard support system includes a basketball backboard which is mounted to a support member through a parallelogram linkage and wherein a counter-weight is utilized to allow for easy adjustment of the height of the basketball backboard. The adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment link which adjustably connects one of the parallelogram links to the support member to determine the height of the basketball backboard. A pin secures the adjustment link to the support member at the desired height.
In addition, the adjustable basketball backboard support system can include a handle which is placed on the adjustment link. This handle facilitates the holding of the basketball backboard while its height is adjusted. Moreover, the handle provides an additional safety feature to the basketball backboard support system. Specifically, the handle protects the user's hand during the adjustment process by permitting the user to grasp the adjustment link on the side of the adjustment link farthest from the support member. Prior art systems do not generally include this feature and require the user to grasp the bottom of the adjustment link or the side of the adjustment link closest to the support member. Therefore, a feature of this handle is that it prevents the adjustment link from striking the user's hand. Users of prior art systems also find it difficult to laterally align the adjustment link with the support member.
Because the adjustment link is pivotally connected to the parallelogram, it will swing away from the support member when the user adjusts the height of the backboard. This is a significant problem in the adjustable basketball backboard support system field because some of the force applied during the adjustment process is converted to angular motion which makes the alignment of the holes in the adjustment link and the support member more difficult. In addition, the problem of the adjustment link swinging away from the support member can also create an unsafe situation. For instance, the angular motion could cause the adjustment link to strike the user.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to limit the angular motion of the adjustment link during the adjustment process.
Another object of the present invention is to assist the user in the alignment of the adjustment link with the support member during the adjustment process.
A further object of this invention is to ensure the safety of the user during the adjustment process.
A further object of this invention is to eliminate the difficulty a user encounters in trying to laterally align the adjustment link and support member.
These and other objects are achieved by modifying and improving the basic adjustable height basketball backboard support system by adding a retainer to maintain the adjustment link adjacent to the support member during the adjustment process. This inventive retainer can be generally described as consisting of a slide which rides on a guide or a rail. As will subsequently be discussed in greater detail, the guide or rail is positioned on the support member. In fact, the guide or rail can even be the support member. However, the guide or rail will generally be a bracket. In this type of configuration, the slide's legs will curve around the guide or bracket and limit the amount of rotation of the adjustment link by interacting with the bracket if the adjustment link begins to rotate away from the support member. The slide should have at least two legs to ensure the stability of the retainer, but one leg could be used. Hence, the retainer is positioned at the side of the adjustment link adjacent to the support member and is configured in such a way that it prevents the adjustment link from swinging away from the support member during the adjustment process.
The retainer can be made from a variety of materials such as plastic or aluminum. The retainer can also take on a variety of configurations. For example, in the preferred embodiment, the retainer consists of a slide attached to the side of the adjustment link closest to the support member. The slide consists of two parallel legs which extend to a U-shaped terminal end. In this embodiment, the guide is attached to the support member. The U-shaped configuration permits the slide to ride on the guide which consists of a bracket which is mounted to the support member by a pair of C-clamps.
This configuration achieves the objective of preventing the adjustment link from swinging away from the support member during adjustment. This is accomplished by the fact that the slide curves around the guide, bracket. As the adjustment link swings away from the support member, the U-shaped terminal ends contact the bracket which prevents any further angular motion of the adjustment link. In this embodiment, the handle and the retainer are separate units secured to the adjustment link by different bolts.
An alternative embodiment may include the feature of combining the handle and retainer into one unit. This configuration would consist of a slide made up of two parallel leg extensions of a handle that extend to and form two U-shaped terminal ends. This configuration would also consist of a guide that is attached to the support member. The retainer would still be configured so that the U-shaped terminal ends would contact or engage the guide during the adjustment process thereby preventing additional angular motion of the adjustment link. A feature of this embodiment is that the handle and retainer are combined into one piece which will reduce the amount of time required to manufacture the invention as well as reduce the cost of manufacturing.
This invention also contemplates a configuration whereby the slide is configured as a loop which curves around the support member. Specifically, the loop can consist of two parallel legs which extend to and join to form a single U-shaped terminal end. However, in order to maintain the loop configuration, the U-shaped terminal end should have more curvature than the U-shaped terminal ends in the preferred embodiment due to the fact that in this embodiment, the support member serves as the guide while a bracket served as the guide in the first embodiment. The slide loop may be secured to the adjustment link and support member by a bolt and simultaneously lock the height adjustment. It should be noted that in the loop configuration, the slide can be both the retaining mechanism and the mechanism which locks the adjustment link to the support member or it can be a separate element which only serves as the retaining mechanism. In the configuration where the slide only serves as the retaining mechanism, a bracket attached at the end of the adjustment link can be used to lock the adjustment link to the support member.
These retainer configurations ensure that the adjustment link will not swing away from the support member during the height adjustment process. Furthermore, these configurations ensure that the adjustable basketball backboard support system is easy-to-use and safe.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a method of installing an antenna of a wireless module, and a coaxial connector to be used in the method of installing the antenna.
When a wireless module equipped with a built-in antenna is installed at one position inside a casing of a device in which the wireless module is to be installed, there is no problem if the built-in antenna can exhibit desired antenna properties at the one position. In this case, it is not necessary to provide an external antenna with a relatively high manufacturing cost and a large number of design processes. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost can be less expensive and the design processes are less.
On the other hand, when it is difficult to use the wireless module equipped with the built-in antenna, or even when the wireless module equipped with the built-in antenna is installed at one position inside a casing, but the built-in antenna cannot exhibit desired antenna properties, or when it is difficult to install the wireless module at such one position, it is necessary to install the wireless module using an external antenna disposed inside the casing.
If it is clear whether the wireless module equipped with the built-in antenna can be used or the wireless module that uses the external antenna should be used in advance, there is no problem. However, if it is not clear which wireless module should be used, it is necessary to install the wireless module using the external antenna.
After the wireless module using the external antenna is installed, if it is found to be possible to use the wireless module equipped with the built-in antenna, the external antenna, which is expensive and requires more design man-hours, will be unnecessarily used, thereby increasing the cost and lowering work efficiency. Patent Reference 1 has disclosed such conventional techniques. Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-123915
A conventional coaxial connector is used in a pair with a conventional coaxial change-over switch. The conventional coaxial change-over switch has been widely used in portable communication devices such as a mobile phone for inspecting high-frequency circuits. FIG. 13 is a view showing a conventional coaxial change-over switch 121. The coaxial change-over switch 121 is similar to one disclosed in Patent Reference 2. Patent Reference 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-176612
The coaxial change-over switch 121 includes a stationary terminal 124 and a movable terminal 125, which are disposed in an insulated housing 122 and can contact with and separate from each other. A center conductor 129 is supported on an insulated housing 127 of the coaxial connector 126. When the center conductor 129 is moved downward through an insertion hole 135 formed in the insulated housing 122, the stationary terminal 124 stays stationary, and only the movable terminal 125 moves to a position indicated with a hidden line, so that the stationary terminal 124 is disconnected from the movable terminal 125.
When the movable terminal 125 is disconnected from the stationary terminal 124, the center conductor 129 of the coaxial connector 126 is in a state of contacting only with the movable terminal 125. As a result, it is possible to switch a signal circuit between the movable terminal 125 and the stationary terminal 124 to another signal circuit between the movable terminal 125 and the center conductor 129. Here, the change-over operation like this has been used to inspect high-frequency performance of a device equipped with a high-frequency circuit such as a mobile phone.
Conventionally, the coaxial change-over switch 121 has been used solely for inspection and only useful for inspection. More specifically, the coaxial change-over switch 121 has been used only upon inspection of a device after production and usually used only once, and therefore it has not been effectively used. In addition, an outer conductor 128 of the coaxial connector 126 is simply designed so as to be able to engage the lower end section 133 with an annular groove 132 of the coaxial change-over switch 121. Further, the coaxial connector 126 extends in the fitting direction. Therefore, the coaxial connector 126 is not structurally suitable to constantly connect between the coaxial connector 126 and the coaxial change-over switch 121.
In order to solve the above-described problems in the conventional techniques, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of installing an antenna. In the present invention, even when it is not clear whether a wireless module with a built-in antenna should be used or a wireless module using an external antenna should be used, it is possible to select one of the built-in antenna and the external antenna to a situation, and to freely switch between the built-in antenna and the external antenna. In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a coaxial connector to be used in the method installing the antenna.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a coaxial connector capable of constantly connecting with a coaxial change-over switch, so that the coaxial change-over switch can be effectively used.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Heat shrinkable plastic products have the property of shrinking when heated and are widely utilized for films such as shrink packages, shrink labels, etc. In particular, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene, and polyester based plastic films have been used to label or cap seal a variety of vessels or to directly package them.
However, films made of PVC are subject to environmental restrictions because their incineration may generate hydrogen chloride gas and a dioxin-causing material. If this product is used as a shrink label of a PET vessel, the recycling of the vessel can be carried out only after the cumbersome separation of the label and the vessel from each other.
Also, polystyrene based films may be very stably worked when undergoing the shrinking process and have a good external appearance, but have poor chemical resistance, undesirably requiring that an ink having a specific composition be used for printing. Furthermore, this film is problematic because it shrinks spontaneously because of poor storage stability at mom temperature, undesirably deforming the dimensions thereof.
Films made of polyester resin without such problems are receiving considerable attention as a shrink label while substituting for the films made of the above two materials. Moreover, as the use of PET vessels increases, polyester films which may be easily regenerated without the need to separately remove the label upon recycling of the vessels are being increasingly used.
However, the shrinking properties of conventional heat-shrinking polyester films must be improved. Because of drastic changes in shrinkage behavior, these films may wrinkle or shrink non-uniformly, undesirably causing frequent problems during a molding process of their shape deviating from an intended design. Also, compared to PVC based films or polystyrene based films, polyester films have relatively higher maximum shrinkage rate but are poor in terms of shrinkability at low temperature, and thus should be shrunk only at high temperature. Furthermore, because polyester has high heat shrinkage stress, PET vessels are undesirably deformed or becomes white turbid. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to nozzles for containers or the like, and more specifically to an automatic shut-off liquid dispensing nozzle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Automatic shut-off liquid dispensing nozzles are generally well known in the art of which U.S. Pats. Nos. 1,689,066, 2,420,341 and 2,582,195 are exemplary. One of the disadvantages of the nozzle disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,689,066 is that the valve plate can be inadvertently left in its open position and some liquid may be dispensed through the nozzle if the container is tilted before the nozzle is inserted into the receptacle. Also once the valve plate latch is released by the rising liquid in a receptacle, the construction of the valve mechanism is such that it is questionable whether the liquid flow will generate sufficient force to move the valve plate into a valve closed position quickly enough to prevent overfilling the receptacle.
The automatic shutoff nozzles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,420,341 and 2,582,195 are of complicated design and construction containing many moving parts manufactured to close tolerances and hence are too expensive to manufacture for some applications.
Applicant's improved liquid dispensing nozzle is believed to obviate these and other disadvantages of the prior art nozzles. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to the field of filtering or deodorizing devices, and more particularly to the field of such devices that deodorize, filter or capture odors and smoke from containers or receptacles for cigarette ashes and cigarette butts. Still more particularly, the invention relates to such devices that deodorize, filter or capture odors and smoke from cigarette butts deposited into containers or receptacles for disposal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the acknowledged dangers of cigarette smoke and in particular second hand smoke, many buildings are now designated as non-smoking buildings where smokers are not allowed to have or bring lit cigarettes inside. Often a designated outdoor smoking area is provided where employees or others may congregate to partake of a smoking break during the day. Because of these policies, it is not uncommon to find a cigarette butt disposal problem at building entrances and designated smoking areas, in that many individuals will simply drop their cigarette butts or partially smoked cigarettes on the ground, resulting in unsightly collections of large numbers of cigarette butts. Since the butts do not degrade, the areas must be cleaned often.
A common response to this situation has been to place ashtray-type trash collector devices in the needed locations. These ashtray-type devices consist of an upright cylindrical tube with a concave retainer of exposed sand on the top. Apertures for insertion of trash are placed on the side of the cylinder. These devices are not suitable for external locations where wind and rain may be encountered, and the devices are not aesthetically pleasing since the cigarette butts are simply stuck into the sand where they remain visible until the sand is cleaned.
More recently, cigarette butt containment vessels have been developed that are designed to receive the cigarette butts internally while presenting a more pleasant appearance. An example of such a device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,355, issued Feb. 13, 2001, to Luedcke, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The Luedcke containment vessel has a housing with a receptacle base that retains a removable bucket-type container. The upper portion of the housing is a removable elongated tube that is much narrower than the receptacle base. Lateral openings are disposed near the top of the tube to receive the cigarette butts being disposed. The tube is centered over the receptacle base and bucket, such that the butts are guided into the bucket when inserted through the lateral openings. The housing is typically made of plastic, while the bucket is metal so as to be maximally resistant to heat damage.
While this design addresses the visual problem associated with cigarette butt disposal, a new problem related to odor arises with their use. The disposal of large numbers of cigarette butts results in an accumulation of smoke, nicotine and tar within the containment vessel, regardless of how often the vessel is emptied, which over time is of sufficient concentration such that a strong, foul odor is emitted through the lateral openings that is readily apparent to anyone passing by or using the containment vessel.
It can therefore be appreciated that a need exists for a solution to the problem of odorous cigarette butt containers. The present invention addresses such a need. | {
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Particularly in well drilling e.g. for water wells or heating wells and generally in deep drillings or in groundwater areas, an earth pipe should be tightened into a rock hole in a way that the surface waters or the like impurities may not get mixed with the groundwater. In certain countries there already exist clear orders for these kinds of drillings and in the future they will also concern Nordic countries. E.g. in several states in the United States, the measure in question is at present obligatory.
Particularly e.g. in the United States and in the Southern Europe, a traditional method being used for carrying out the tightening mentioned above in a corresponding context, is with reference to the pictorial shown in FIG. 1 such that first of all a basic hole is drilled into the ground, the diameter of the hole being significantly bigger than the earth pipe to be installed therein, whereafter, after the drilling, a separate earth pipe is installed in the hole. After this, the space between the earth pipe and the basic hole is filled with a tightening mass, such as e.g. injection sement or bentonite clay, simultaneously, when the protecting pipe with the big diameter that was used in the drilling, is pulled out from the hole possibly along with its drilling means.
This is a very slow and expensive method, first of all because a significantly bigger hole needs to be drilled than what the earth pipe to be installed would require and on the other hand because the protecting pipe being used in the basic drilling needs to be pulled out from the drilled hole in a separate work stage. In addition to the above, when exploiting the method, also a disproportionately high amount of tightening mass is spent.
A way to carry out earth drilling in a more developed manner compared to prior art is formerly known e.g. from Finnish Patent No. 95618. A drilling head of a drilling unit, existing inside a casing part that operates after the drilling as an earth pipe, in the drilling apparatus presented in this patent, is formed of a first frame part and an annular second frame part, the drilling surfaces of which are provided with drilling organs, such as drill bits or like, of the first and second drilling means or in other words of a center drill or a pilot and a reamer. In this solution, the first frame part forming the the first drilling means, is being released from the second frame part forming the reamer, in order to pull the same out from a drilled hole after the drilling situation together with the drill rods.
A drilling performed with an apparatus according to the patent described above, has been shown as a pictorial in the appended FIG. 2. At present there exist e.g. different kinds of tightening cement mixtures and procedures in order to achieve tightening of an earth pipe also when performing this type of drilling. In such a drilling, after the casing part has been drilled into a rock and the first drilling means or the pilot has been pulled out, e.g. a freshly mixed batch of cement is dropped on the bottom of the hole, which is e.g. “crushed” on the hole bottom by a rock drill bit. There is, however, such a problem at present, that in the so called ring drill bits according to the patent described above, there doesn't exist any clear route for leading of the tightening mass outside the casing part in order to achieve an external coupling of the casing part with the rock hole. Thus, according to the rightmost view in FIG. 2, the tightening mass may not enter at all or will not get drifted fast enough in every case outside the casing part before the tightening mass gets solidified, which is why actual external tightening of the casing part or anchoring of the same, can not be carried out reliably enough. | {
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} |
Known methods of treating metal surfaces to improve paint adhesion and corrosion resistance of the painted metal surfaces include two general classes of chemistries. The first class is based on traditional conversion coating types of chemistries, such as zinc phosphate, iron phosphates, chromium chromate, chromium phosphate, etc. The second class is based on more recent developments in the metal pretreatment industry and is characterized by what is now referred to as “dried-in-place” technology. Traditional conversion coating chemistries require rinsing of the metal substrate to remove applied pretreatment solution. Dried-in-place chemistries allow for the applied solutions to be dried on the metal substrate to which they are applied, without subsequent rinsing.
Chromium compounds have been used as traditional conversion coatings to treat metal surfaces. Such chromium compounds show toxicological effects and have been determined by the Environmental Protection Agency to be a risk to the environment and by the Occupational Safety and Health Agency to be a health risk. Moreover, hexavalent chromium compounds such as are used in some of these systems are classified as carcinogens by these agencies.
As a result, much effort has been expended in developing compositions and methods for producing chromium-free pretreatments. For example, the owner of the present application has commercialized products that are successful in improving the corrosion resistance and paint adhesion of metal surfaces. Such compositions are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,106 to Jones et al, directed to an aqueous composition including a polymer system having carboxylic functional groups and hydroxyl groups and a compound of a group IV-B element.
One application for conversion coatings is the pretreatment of metal coils. In a pretreatment coating operation, a coil (roll) of metal is unwound, cleaned, pretreated with the conversion coating to improve corrosion resistance and/or paint adhesion, and then decorated (e.g., painted and baked). The painted stock is then rewrapped and ultimately used to create articles which, already having been painted, require no additional decorating step. Thus, a convenient and economic means for producing painted articles is achieved.
Because the prepainted coil must be cut, bent, impacted, and shaped into a desired article, good adhesion of the paint to the metal surface is important. Further, corrosion resistance can be of importance since an article produced from painted coil can be required to perform in severe weather. Articles such as siding and rainwear (e.g., gutters and spouts) are some examples. Thus, improved conversion coating materials and methods for applying them are constantly sought. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical information reading method and device for optically scanning bar codes and like information via a laser beam emitted from a laser light source, and more specifically relates to an optical reading method and device suitable for scanning a bar code and like information via a downwardly directed laser beam.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional laser bar code readers of the installed type such as, for example, Spectra-Physics, Inc. (U.S.A.) model 750SL, and Nippondenso model BLS-1000, have a reader unit with a built in laser light source, a scanning unit and a reader unit arranged directly above the register counter of a supermarket or the like via a column support. A laser beam emitted from the laser light source of the scanning unit is emitted downwardly from a window on the bottom side of the unit and scans the bar code of the merchandise to accomplish a reading of the bar code information.
In laser bar code readers of the aforesaid construction, the laser beam for scanning the bar code of the merchandise is emitted downwardly from a window formed on the bottom side of the unit, as previously described, such that the bar code reading operation is readily accomplished on the register counter. Furthermore, such a bar code reader is safe because the laser beam is situated so as to not directly enter the eyes of an operator.
This advantage, however, also produces certain disadvantages because the laser beam is emitted downwardly, the disadvantages being described hereinafter. Normally, an operator removes the merchandise from the shopping basket disposed in proximity to the laser bar code reader on the register counter by a shopper, and after the bar code of said merchandise is read via scanning by the laser beam of the bar code reader, the merchandise is placed in another shopping basket on the register counter. It happens that sometimes the bar code of merchandise remaining in the shopping basket placed by a shopper and the bar code of merchandise already read and placed in the other shopping basket are scanned so as to be read together by the laser beam. Such a situation is disadvantageous inasmuch as the bar codes of the merchandise are duplicated, and the operator must perform an operation to correct the duplicated reading.
It has been considered that in order to prevent the aforesaid duplicate reading of the merchandise bar code, light having a wavelength near the wavelength of the laser beam should be directed toward the bar codes of the merchandise accommodated in the baskets. However, the aforesaid arrangement has certain disadvantages inasmuch as it requires an adequate light source to produce the aforesaid light having another wavelength, it requires more electrical power for said light source, and it is disadvantageous in terms of limitations to the location of installation. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The invention relates to an apparatus for processing planar gel layers or slab gels and, more particularly, to an apparatus for staining and destaining electrophoresis slab gels and for examining the destained slab gels.
Electrophoresis is a technique for separating charged molecules of a sample such as protein or DNA on the basis of differences in electrical charge or molecular weight under the influence of an electric field. In general, a polymer material such as polyacrylamide, agar, agarose, or cellulose acetate is used to contain and support the sample. The ionic components of the sample separate or migrate through the support medium (gel) under the influence of the electric field until the elements reach equilibrium. The ionic component separation is not visible to the eye. Consequently, the gel must be stained and fixed with an appropriate stain. The stain permeates the entire gel rendering it a dense opaque color and the surplus stain which is not held by the ionic hands must be removed before the bands themselves become visible. Destaining may be done electrophoretically by passing direct current through the gel or by diffusion. The subsequently destained gel is examined by optical densitometry or other methods, such as photography and can be shrunk and dried for permanent record.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,174 issued to Rushbrook et al, on Nov. 2, 1982 discloses a diffusion destainer having a stain absorbing material contained in a hollow housing and disposed within an open, that is topless, destaining container. A drawback of the destaining container is that only a single slab gel can be destained therein. Additionally, the slab is unsupported in the container making handling of the slab difficult during the staining and destaining process. Furthermore, some components of the staining and destaining solutions, such as acetic acid, methanol, ethanol, butanol or isopropanol form vapors which can readily escape from the open container causing an unpleasant and possibly harmful odor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,689 issued to Golias on July 5, 1983 shows an automated electrophoresis and staining apparatus for processing a gel attached to a MYLAR (trademark) sample plate. The sample plate with the gel attached is frictionally supported within a plate holder rack. Gels used in such an apparatus are extremely thin, of the order of a few microns. Such an apparatus is unsuitable for processing gels having a thickness of the order of about 0.4 mm to about 3.0 mm which are not bound to a supportive backing.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,880 issued to Hoefer on Jan. 6, 1976 discloses a slab gel diffusion destainer for gels having a thickness in the millimeter range. Subsequent to electrophoresis and staining, the slab gel is supported on a flexible mesh which contacts the slab gel on both sides. The mesh is rolled into a cylindrical form and inserted into a slab holding tube and confined therein by placing end caps on each end of the tube. The tube is disposed within a cylindrical container and a suitable washing liquid is circulated through the interior of the destainer. A problem with this apparatus is that rolling the slab gel in the mesh tends to damage or distort the slab gel. Furthermore, diffusion of the stain into the overlapped portion of the gel can be non-uniform.
With the exception of the destainer described in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,174, the apparatus described herein are expensive and not well suited for the handling of slab gels. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to an output stage for a voltage regulator or other type of circuit which must conduct load current at both low and high input/output voltage differentials. More particularly, the present invention relates to a circuit for distributing load current among multiple power transistors, each optimized to conduct current over a different range of input/output voltage differentials.
Power devices, such as voltage regulators and power switches, which often must supply current to a load while operating at a high input/output voltage differential, require an output stage power transistor that can conduct substantial load current at such high voltage differentials without creating a risk of destroying the power transistor due to thermal instabilities and overheating in localized areas of the transistor. To prevent the power transistor from becoming damaged in this fashion, ballast resistors are used in the emitter of the power transistor to stabilize the current in the transistor.
Ballast resistance increases the voltage dropped across the emitter of the transistor in proportion to the current conducted by the transistor. In certain circumstances, this increase in voltage may increase the minimum operating voltage of a power device. An adequately ballasted power transistor, for example, should have sufficient ballast resistance to drop approximately 100-500 mV when conducting a low current at high input/output voltage differentials. Under such conditions, the increased voltage drop across the transistor caused by the ballast resistance does not significantly degrade the performance of the power device because the input/output voltage differential at which the device is operating will generally exceed the voltage drop across the power transistor. At higher currents and lower voltage differentials, however, the ballast resistance can place undesirable limits on the power device. Having a resistance in the emitter of the transistor increases the minimum value of the saturation voltage of the transistor. At high currents the voltage drop across the ballast resistance alone may be between 200 mV and 2V, thus causing a great increase in the minimum operating voltage for the power transistor and the power device in which the transistor is employed.
For this reason, a power transistor having a low ballast resistance is desirable in the output stage of power devices which conduct high currents while operating at low input/output voltage differentials. However, such a power transistor is unstable at high input/output voltage differentials, and thus if used alone as an output stage would severely limit the operating range of the power device.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to be able to provide an output stage for a power device such as a voltage regulator or a power switch that has both a low minimum operating voltage and the ability to conduct substantial load current safely at high input/output voltage dif- ferentials. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Glutamate is thought to be the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. There are three major subtypes of glummate receptors in the CNS. These are commonly referred to as kainate, AMPA and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (Watkins and Olverman, Trends in Neurosci. 7:265-272 (1987)). NMDA receptors are found in the membranes of virtually every neuron in the brain. NMDA receptors are ligand-gated cation channels that allow Na.sup.+, K.sup.+ and Ca.sup.++ to permeate when they are activated by glummate or aspartate (non-selective, endogenous agonists) or by NMDA (a selective, synthetic agonist) (Wong and Kemp, Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 31:401-425 (1991)).
Glummate alone cannot activate the NMDA receptor. In order to become activated by glummate, the NMDA receptor channel must first bind glycine at a specific, high affinity glycine binding site which is separate from the glutamate/NMDA binding site on the receptor protein (Johnson and Ascher, Nature 325:329-331 (1987)). Glycine is therefore an obligatory co-agonist at the NMDA receptor/channel complex (Kemp, J. A., et al., i Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:6547-6550 (1988)).
Besides the binding sites for glutamate/NMDA and glycine, the NMDA receptor carries a number of other functionally important binding sites. These include binding sites for M.sup.++, Zn.sup.++, polyamines, arachidonic acid and phencyclidine (PCP) (Reynolds and Miller, Adv. in Pharmacol. 21:101-126 (1990); Miller, B., et al., Nature 355:722-725 (1992)). The PCP binding site--now commonly referred to as the PCP receptor--is located inside the pore of the ionophore of the NMDA receptor/channel complex (Wong, E. H. F., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:7104-7108 (1986); Huettner and Bean, i Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:1307-1311 (1988); MacDonald, J. F., et al., Neurophysiol. 58:251-266 (1987)). In order for PCP to gain access to the PCP receptor, the channel must first be opened by glummate and glycine. In the absence of glummate and glycine, PCP cannot bind to the PCP receptor although some studies have suggested that a small amount of PCP binding can occur even in the absence of glummate and glycine (Sircar and Zukin, Brain Res. 556:280-284 (1991)). Once PCP binds to the PCP receptor, it blocks ion flux through the open channel. Therefore, PCP is an open channel blocker and a non-competitive glummate antagonist at the NMDA receptor/channel complex.
One of the most potent and selective drugs that bind to the, PCP receptor is the anticonvulsant drug MK-801. This drug has a K.sub.d of approximately 3 nM at the PCP receptor (Wong, E. H. F., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:7104-7108 (1986)).
Both PCP and MK-801 as well as other PCP receptor ligands [e.g. dextromethorphan, ketamine and N,N,N'-trisubstituted guanidines] have neuroprotective efficacy both in vitro and in vivo (Gill, R., et al., J. Neurosci. 7:3343-3349 (1987); Keana, J. F. W., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:5631-5635 (1989); Steinberg, G. K., et al., Neuroscience Lett. 89:193-197 (1988); Church, J., et al., In: Sigma and Phencyclidine-Like Compounds as Molecular Probes in Biology, Domino and Kamenka, eds., Ann Arbor: NPP Books (1988), pp. 747-756). The well-characterized neuroprotective efficacy of these drugs is largely due to their capacity to block excessive Ca.sup.++ influx into neurons through NMDA receptor channels which become over activated by excessive glutamate release in conditions of brain ischemia (e.g. in stroke, cardiac arrest ischemia etc.) (Collins, R. C., Metabol. Br. Dis. 1:231-240 (1986); Collins, R. C., et al., i Annals Int. Med. 110:992-1000 (1989)).
However, the therapeutic potential of these PCP receptor drugs as ischemia rescue agents in stroke has been severely hampered by the fact that these drugs have strong PCP-like behavioral side effects (psychotomimetic behavioral effects) which appear to be due to the interaction of these drugs with the PCP receptor (Tricklebank, M. D., et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol. 167:127-135 (1989); Koek, W., et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 245:969 (1989); Willets and Balster, Neuropharmacology 27:1249 (1988)). These PCP-like behavioral side effects appear to have caused the withdrawal of MK-801 from clinical development as an ischemia rescue agent. Furthermore, these PCP receptor ligands appear to have considerable abuse potential as demonstrated by the abuse liability of PCP itself.
The PCP-like behavioral effects of the PCP receptor ligands can be demonstrated in animal models: PCP and related PCP receptor ligands cause a behavioral excitation (hyperlocomotion) in rodents Tricklebank, M. D., et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol. 167:127-135 (1989)) and a characteristic katalepsy in pigeons (Koek, W., et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 245:969 (1989); Willets and Balster, Neuropharmacology 27:1249 (1988)); in drug discrimination paradigms, there is a strong correlation between the PCP receptor affinity of these drugs and their potency to induce a PCP-appropriate response behavior (Zukin, S. R., et al., Brain Res. 294:174 (1984); Brady, K. T., et al., Science 215:178 (1982); Tricklebank, M. D., et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol. 141:497 (1987)).
Drugs acting as competitive antagonists at the glutamate binding site of the NMDA receptor such as CGS 19755 and LY274614 also have neuroprotective efficacy because these drugs--like the PCP receptor ligands--can prevent excessive Ca.sup.++ flux through NMDA receptor/channels in ischemia (Boast, C. A., et al., Brain Res. 442:345-348 (1988); Schoepp, D. D., et al., J. Neural. Trans. 85:131-143 (1991)). However, competitive NMDA receptor antagonists also have PCP-like behavioral side-effects in animal models (behavioral excitation, activity in PCP drug discrimination tests) although not as potently as MK-801 and PCP (Tricklebank, M. D., et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol. 167:127-135 (1989)).
An alternate way of inhibiting NMDA receptor channel activation is by using antagonists at the glycine binding site of the NMDA receptor. Since glycine must bind to the glycine site in order for glummate to effect channel opening (Johnson and Ascher, Nature 325:329-331 (1987); Kemp, J. A., et at., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:6547-6550 (1988)), a glycine antagonist can completely prevent ion flux through the NMDA receptor channel--even in the presence of a large amount of glutamate.
Recent in vivo microdialysis studies have demonstrated that in the rat focal ischemia model, there is a large increase in glummate release in the ischemic brain region with no significant increase in glycine release (Globus, M. Y. T., et al., J. Neurochem. 57:470-478 (1991)). Thus, theoretically, glycine antagonists should be very powerful neuroprotective agents, because they can prevent the opening of NMDA channels by glummate non-competitively and therefore--unlike competitive NMDA antagonists--do not have to overcome the large concentrations of endogenous glummate that are released in the ischemic brain region.
Furthermore, because glycine antagonists act at neither the glutamate/-NMDA nor the PCP binding sites to prevent NMDA channel opening, these drugs might not cause the PCP-like behavioral side effect seen with both PCP receptor ligands and competitive NMDA receptor antagonists (Tricklebank, M. D., et al., i Eur. J. Pharmacol. 167:127-135 (1989); Koek, W., et al., i J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 245:969 (1989); Willets and Balster, Neuropharmacology 27:1249 (1988); Tricklebank, M. D., et at., Eur. J. Pharmacol. 167:127-135 (1989); Zukin, S. R., et al., Brain Res. 294:174 (1984); Brady, K. T., et at., Science 215:178 (1982); Tricklebank, M. D., et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol. 141:497 (1987)). That glycine antagonists may indeed be devoid of PCP-like behavioral side effects has been suggested by recent studies in which available glycine antagonists were injected directly into the brains of rodents without resulting in PCP-like behaviors (Tricklebank, M. D., et al., Eur. J. Pharmacol. 167:127-135 (1989)).
However, there have been two major problems which have prevented the development of glycine antagonists as clinically useful neuroprotective agents:
A. Most available glycine antagonists with relatively high receptor binding affinity in vitro such as 7-Cl-kynurenic acid (Kemp, J. A., et al., i Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:6547-6550 (1988)), 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid (DCK) (McNamara, D., et al., Neuroscience Lett. 120:17-20 (1990)) and indole-2-carboxylic acid (Gray, N. M., et al., J. Med. Chem. 34:1283-1292 (1991)) cannot penetrate the blood/brain barrier and therefore have no utility as therapeutic agents; PA1 B. The only widely available glycine antagonist that sufficiently penetrates the blood/brain barrier--the drug HA-966 (Fletcher and Lodge, Eur. J. Pharmacol. 151:161-162 (1988))--is a partial agonist with micromolar affinity for the glycine binding site. A neuroprotective efficacy for HA-966 in vivo has not been demonstrated nor has it been demonstrated for the other available glycine antagonists because they lack bioavailability in vivo. PA1 lack the PCP-like behavioral side effects common to the PCP-like NMDA channel blockers such as MK-801 or to the competitive NMDA receptor antagonists such as CGS 19755; PA1 show potent anti-ischemic efficacy because of the non-competitive nature of their glutamate antagonism at the NMDA receptor; PA1 have utility as novel anticonvulsants with fewer side-effects than the PCP-like NMDA channel blockers or the competitive NMDA antagonists; PA1 help in defining the functional significance of the glycine binding site of the NMDA receptor in vivo. PA1 R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are hydrogen, halo, haloalkyl, aryl, fused aryl, a heterocyclic group, a heteroaryl group, alkyl, nitro, amino, cyano, acylamido, hydroxy, thiol, acyloxy, azido, alkoxy, carboxy, carbonylamido or alkylthiol; PA1 R.sub.6 is hydrogen, aryl, a heterocyclic group, a heteroaryl group, alkyl, amino, --CH.sub.2 CONHAr, --NHCONHAr, --NHCOCH.sub.2 Ar, --COCH.sub.2 Ar, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, cycloalkylalkoxy or acyloxy, wherein Ar is an aryl group or a heteroaryl group; and PA1 R.sub.7 is hydrogen, acyl or alkyl; PA1 R.sup.5 is selected from hydrogen and alkyl; PA1 R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl and CH.sub.2 Y wherein Y is selected from (CHOH).sub.n CH.sub.2 OH and (CH.sub.2).sub.m R.sup.c wherein m is 0 to 5, n is 1 to 5 and R.sup.c is selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, carboxy, cycloalkyl, and NR.sup.d R.sup.e in which R.sup.d and R.sup.e are independently selected from hydrogen and alkyl or R.sup.d and R.sup.e, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring which optionally contains one additional heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur; or PA1 R.sup.6 or R.sup.7, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring which is bonded to said compound through said nitrogen atom, said heterocyclic ring optionally containing one additional heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur; PA1 R.sup.8 is selected from hydrogen, halo, alkyl which may optionally bear a substituent selected from amino, acylamino, carboxy and carboxamido, arylalkyl and heteroarylalkyl; and wherein each aryl or heteroaryl moiety may be optionally substituted; and pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, are useful in treating neurological disorders. PA1 X is carbon or nitrogen; PA1 Y is carbon or nitrogen; and PA1 Z is carbon, nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur; PA1 the bond between X and Y is single; PA1 R.sub.1 -R.sub.6 are hydrogen, halo, haloalkyl, aryl, fused aryl, a heterocyclic group, a heteroaryl group, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, arylalkynyl, hydroxyalkyl, nitro, amino, cyano, acylamido, hydroxy, thiol, acyloxy, azido, alkoxy, carboxy, carbonylamido, alkylthiol, trialkylsilyloxy, or phenyldialkylsilyloxy; or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 or R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are an unshared electron pair where W and Z, respectively, are oxygen or sulfur; or one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, or R.sub.3, or R.sub.4, or one of R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 is an unshared electron pair when W, X, Y or Z respectively is nitrogen; or where R.sub.1 and R.sub.6 together are a C.sub.1-4 alkylene bridge, a substituted C.sub.1-4 alkylene bridge, an oxygen bridge, or an amine bridge, wherein the substituent is a halo, haloalkyl, aryl, fused aryl, a heterocyclic group, a heteroaryl group, alkyl, acyl, nitro, amino, cyano, acylamido, alkoxy, carboxy, carbonylamido or alkylthiol group; and R.sub.7 is alkyl, alkanoyl, trialkylsilyl, phenyldialkylsilyl or tetrahydropyranyl; PA1 by the Diels-Alder reaction of an compound having the Formula (II): ##STR14## where R.sub.1 -R.sub.6 are defined above and, in addition, R.sub.1 and R.sub.6 may be an oxygen bridge, a sulfur bridge, an amino bridge (N--R.sub.8, where R.sub.8 is alkyl, or acyl), a methamino bridge or a substituted methamino bridge where the substituent is a halo, haloalkyl, aryl, fused aryl, a heterocyclic group, a heteroaryl group, alkyl, nitro, amino, cyano, acylamido, alkoxy, carboxy, carbonylamido or alkylthio group; and where the compound having Formula II may exist as a mixture of cis and trans isomers; PA1 with a dienophile having the Formula (III): ##STR15## wherein at least one of A and B is hydrogen and the other of A and B is hydrogen, alkoxy, chloro, bromo, iodo, tosyl or mesityl; and PA1 R.sub.7 is alkyl, alkanoyl, trialkylsilyl, phenyldialkylsilyl or tetrahydropyranyl; to give a compound having the Formula (IV): ##STR16## PA1 (a) the Diels-Alder reaction of the compound having Formula VII with the quinone having Formula III to give the compound having Formula VIII PA1 (b) enolization to the corresponding hydroquinone; PA1 (c) halogenation; hydroboration/oxidation; nitration; nitration, reduction of the nitro group to an amine followed by acylation of the amine; epoxidation; or epoxidation, ring opening with an amino compound, and acylation; respectively, to give a compound having the formula: ##STR26## (d) oxidation to give the corresponding quinone; and (e) reaction with azide in acidic solution to give said azepine. PA1 (a) the Diels-Alder reaction of the compound having Formula VII with a quinone having the Formula: ##STR28## where A', B' and R.sub.7 are defined above, to give a compound of the Formula: ##STR29## (b) halogenation; hydroboration/oxidation; nitration; nitration, reduction of the nitro group to an amine followed by acylation of the amine; epoxidation; or epoxidation, ring opening with an amino compound, and acylation; respectively, to give a compound having formula: ##STR30## and (c) reaction with azide in acidic solution to give said azepine. PA1 W is carbon, nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur; PA1 X is carbon or nitrogen; PA1 Y is carbon or nitrogen; and PA1 Z is carbon, nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur; PA1 the bond between X and Y is single; PA1 R.sub.1 -R.sub.6 are hydrogen, halo, haloalkyl, aryl, fused aryl, a heterocyclic group, a heteroaryl group, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, arylalkynyl, hydroxyalkyl, nitro, amino, cyano, acylamido, hydroxy, thiol, acyloxy, azido, alkoxy, carboxy, carbonylamido, alkylthiol, trialkylsilyloxy, phenyldialkylsilyloxy; or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 or R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are an unshared electron pair where W and Z, respectively, are oxygen or sulfur; or one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, or R.sub.3, or R.sub.4, or one of R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 is an unshared electron pair when W, X, Y or Z respectively is nitrogen; or where R.sub.1 and R.sub.6 together are a C.sub.1-4 alkylene bridge, a substituted C.sub.1-4 alkylene bridge, an oxygen bridge or an amino bridge; and R.sub.7 is alkyl, alkanoyl, trialkylsilyl, phenyldialkylsilyl or tetrahydropyranyl; PA1 by the Diels-Alder reaction of a compound having the Formula H: ##STR81## where R.sub.1 -R.sub.6 are described above and wherein the diene may exist as a mixture of cis and trans isomers, with a quinone having the Formula III: ##STR82## where A, B and R.sub.7 are described above (R.sub.7 .noteq.H); to give a compound having the Formula IV: ##STR83## PA1 by the Diels-Alder reaction of a diene having Formula VII: ##STR87## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.6 are defined above, and wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.6 may additionally be an oxygen bridge, a sulfur bridge, an amino bridge (N--R.sup.9, where R.sup.9 is alkyl, aryl, acyl or carbalkoxy), a methanimine bridge or a substituted methanimine bridge, wherein such substituent is a halo, haloalkyl, aryl, fused aryl, a heterocyclic group, a heteroaryl group, alkyl, nitro, amino, cyano, acylamido, alkoxy, carboxy, carbonylamido or alkylthiol group; PA1 and wherein the diene having Formula VII may exist as a mixture of cis and trans isomers; PA1 with the quinone having Formula III (A and B=H in this example, but one of A and B may be other than hydrogen whereby the quinone is obtained directly), to give a compound having Formula VIII: ##STR88## PA1 (a) the Diels-Alder reaction of the compound having Formula VII with the quinone having Formula III to give the compound having Formula VIII PA1 (b) enolization to the corresponding hydroquinone; PA1 (c) halogenation; hydroboration/oxidation; nitration; nitration, reduction of the nitro group to an amine followed by acylation of the amine; epoxidation; or epoxidation, ring opening with an amino compound, and acylation; respectively, to give a compound having the formula: ##STR95## (d) oxidation to give the corresponding quinone; and (e) reaction with azide in acidic solution to give said azepine. PA1 (a) the Diels-Alder reaction of the compound having Formula VII with a quinone having the Formula: ##STR97## where A', B' and R.sub.7 are defined above, to give a compound of the Formula: ##STR98## (b) halogenation; hydroboration/oxidation; nitration; nitration, reduction of the nitro group to an amine followed by acylation of the amine; epoxidation; or epoxidation, ring opening with an amino compound, and acylation; respectively, to give a compound having formula: ##STR99## and (c) reaction with azide in acidic solution to give said azepine. PA1 by the Diels Alder reaction of the compound having Formula XIV with the quinone having Formula III (A and B are hydrogen in this example) to give the intermediates having Formulas XV and XVI. Ring opening of the cyclic ether and elimination of water gives a compound having Formula XXII: ##STR112## and its isomer having Formula XXIII: ##STR113## PA1 with the quinone having Formula III to give the intermediate having Formula XXVII: ##STR117## and its isomer having Formula XXVIII: ##STR118## PA1 by the Diels-Alder reaction of the diene having Formula XXXIII: ##STR123## with the quinone having Formula III (A and B are hydrogen in this example, but one of A and B may be other than hydrogen) to give a compound having Formula XXXIV: ##STR124## or its isomer having Formula XXXV: ##STR125## PA1 (1) Placing a substituent (methyl) at position R.sub.6 (i.e., position 9) of compounds of formula VI (see, compounds 43-45, Table IV) results in loss of activity. This is probably due to steric interference with the important N-H group in position 1. Therefore, preferred compounds of the invention should not have any substituent other than hydrogen in this position. PA1 (2) Placing a lone substituent at position R.sub.3 (i.e., position 7) of compounds of formula VI (see, compounds 11-15, Table II) results in greatly reduced to no activity. Therefore, preferred compounds should not be monosubstituted at R.sub.3. PA1 (3) Placing a substituent at R.sub.4 (i.e., position 8) of compounds of formula VI (see, compounds 3, 5, 6, 7 (Table I) and 16) yields enhanced activity. Therefore, preferred compounds are mono-substituted at position R.sub.4. PA1 (4) Placing a substituent at R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 (i.e., positions 7 and 8) of compounds of formula VI (see, compound 46, Table IV) yields compounds of similar activity as the unsubstituted benzazepine. Therefore, these are not preferred compounds. On the other hand, placing substituents at R.sub.1, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 of compounds of Formula IX (see, dichloro compound described above) results in enhanced activity. Therefore, for compounds of Formula IX, substituents at R.sub.1, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are preferred compounds. PA1 (5) Preferred compounds have a hydrogen at R.sub.7 (i.e., OH at position 3) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Also, substituents that may be readily cleaved to OH by intracellular enzymes, e.g. alkyl and alkanoyl groups such as acetate, are preferred.
One recent success in identifying orally active glycine receptor antagonists was reported by Kulagowski et at., J. Med. Chem. 37:1402-1405 (1994), who disclose that 3-substituted 4-hydroxyquinoline-2(1H)-ones are selective glycine antagonists possessing potent in vivo activity.
A need continues to exist for potent and selective glycine/NMDA antagonists which can penetrate the blood/brain barrier and which:
International Application No. PCT/US93/09288 discloses that compounds having the formula: ##STR1## or a tautomer thereof; ps wherein: R.sub.1 is hydrogen, halo, haloalkyl, alkyl, aryl, a heterocyclic group, a heteroaryl group, nitro, amino, hydroxy, alkoxy or azido;
are useful for treating or preventing neuronal loss associated with stroke, ischemia, CNS trauma, hypoglycemia and surgery, as well as treating neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease and Down's syndrome, treating or preventing the adverse consequences of the overstimulation of the excitatory amino acids, as well as treating anxiety, convulsions, chronic pain and inducing anesthesia.
International Application Publication No. WO93/25534 discloses that compounds having the Formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are independently selected from hydrogen, perfluoroalkyl, halo, nitro and cyano;
Swartz et al. report that 3-hydroxy-1H-1-benzazepine-2,5-dione (1, Table I), its 7-methyl (2) and 8-methyl (3) derivatives, act as antagonists at the strychnine insensitive glycine site associated with the NMDA receptor complex (Swartz et al., Molecular Pharmacol. 41:1130-1141 (1992)). In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,683 describes the synthesis and biological activities of a series of halo-substituted analogs of 1, i.e. 4-10.
TABLE I ______________________________________ Published Aromatic Ring Substituted Derivatives of 3-hydroxy-1H-1-benzazepine-2,5-dione ##STR3## Compound # R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 IC.sub.50 (.mu.M) ______________________________________ 1 H H H 7.8.sup.a 2 H CH.sub.3 H See Footnote.sup.4 3 H H CH.sub.3 3.4.sup.a 4 H Cl H No Data.sup.e 5 H H F 1.7.sup.a 6 H H Cl 2.5.sup.a /0.030.sup.b /0.11.sup.c 7 H H Br 1.3.sup.a /0.097.sup.b /1.0.sup.c 8 F H F No Data.sup.e 9 Cl H Cl No Data.sup.e 10 Br H Br No Data.sup.e 46 H CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 7.3.sup.a,f ______________________________________ .sup.a Experiments described herein utilizing rat brain homogenates and a [.sup.3 H]-MK801 binding assay. .sup.b U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,683, utilizing rat brain homogenates and a [.sup.3 H]-glycine binding assay. .sup.c U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,683, utilizing a guinea pig ileum contraction method. .sup.d Swartz et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 41:1130-1141 (1992) lists a K.sub.B of 9.5 .mu.M versus a value of 3.0 .mu.M for compound 1 and 0.47 .mu.M fo compound 3. .sup.e Compound described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,683. .sup.f Compound described in Birchell et al., Can. J. Chem. 52:610-615 (1974).
Recently, efforts have been initiated to confirm the above mentioned findings and, more importantly, to improve the desired pharmacological properties of this class of compounds. To this end, compound 1 and a series of analogs were prepared and tested for biological activity (compounds 5-7, compounds 11-15, Table II and compound 16 (8-trifluoromethyl). The IC.sub.50 for 16 was determined to be 3.4 .mu.M utilizing rat brain homogenates and a [.sup.3 H]-MK-801 binding assay.) Compounds 11 and 15, which possess a substituent at position 7, were readily prepared via direct electrophilic nitration or bromination of the methyl ether of 1 (formed in situ by the ring expansion of 2-methoxynaphthalene-l,4-dione) followed by demethylation. Compounds 12 through 14 were the result of performing standard chemistry on the nitro group of the methyl ether of compound 11 (reduction with subsequent derivatization of the resulting amine) followed by demethylation. Unfortunately, all of these 7-substituted compounds, though readily prepared, proved to be ineffective glycine receptor antagonists.
TABLE II ______________________________________ 7-Substituted Derivatives of 3-hydroxy-1H-1-benzazepine-2,5- dione Derived from Electrophilic Substitution Reactions ##STR4## Compound # R.sub.2 R.sub.3 IC.sub.50 (.mu.M) ______________________________________ 11 NO.sub.2 H 300 12 AcNH H 92.5 13 TFAcNH H Inactive 14 N.sub.3 H Inactive 15 Br H Inactive 16 H CF.sub.3 3.4 ______________________________________ ##STR5## ##STR6## Since the direct electrophilic substitution of these benzazepines resulted in relatively inactive 7-substituted derivatives, it was desirable to prepare benzazepines with substitution at the other three available aromatic positions or at a combination of some or all of the available aromatic positions. To accomplish this required the availability of appropriately substituted 2-methoxynaphthalene-1,4-diones. Subjecting such quinones to ring expansion conditions followed by demethylation generally yield the desired benzazepines (Birchall et al., Can. J. Chem 52:610-615 (1974)). ##STR7## ##STR8## Substituted 2-methoxynaphthalene-1,4-diones are generally prepared by the methylation of the corresponding 2-hydroxy compounds (Fieset, L. J., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 48:2922-2937 (1926)). These enols may be obtained, for example, by the oxidation of appropriately substituted 1- or 2-tetralones, (Baillie et al., J. Chem. Soc. (C):2184-2186 (1966)) by the hydrolysis of 2-anilinonaphthalene-1,4-diones (Lyons et al., J. Chem. Soc. 2910-2915 (1953)) or by the hydrolysis and oxidation of 1,2,4-triacetoxynaphthalenes (Thiele et al., Ann. Chem. 311:341-352 (1900)). Another general method to 2-methoxynaphthalene-1,4-diones involves a 6 step synthesis starting from 3,4-diisopropoxy-3-cyclobutene-1 ,2-dione incorporating an appropriately substituted aryl lithium compound (U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,683). These various methods are outlined in Scheme
All of these methods have inherent disadvantages. The cyclobutenedione method involves six steps (four from a common intermediate) and involves the use of various highly reactive lithium reagents. The anilinonaphthoquinone and triacetoxynaphthalene methods require substituted naphthalene-1,4-diones as precursors. These, like substituted 2-methoxynaphthalene-1,4-diones, are not readily available. In addition, the oxidation reaction of 7-halo or 7-perfluoroalkyl-1-tetralones processed in only moderate yield (25-40%). Oxidations of 1-tetralones possessing nitrogen substituents, such as nitro, amino, acetamido or azido, failed to yield any desired product. Attempted oxidations of 5-halo-l-tetralones failed in our hands. Also, the preparation of substituted tetralones is, in general, laborious. Direct electrophilic substitution of 1-tetralone gives an isomeric mixture, which must be separated chromatographically. Other methods of synthesizing 1-tetralones generally involve the cyclization of substituted 4-phenylbutyric acids. Such butyric acids may be prepared by the succinylation of substituted benzenes followed by the reduction of the resulting .gamma.-ketopropionic acid (Blair, A. H., Organic Syntheses, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, Collect. Vol. 2, pp 81 and 499 (1943)) or via multistep syntheses such as those starting from substituted benzaldehydes (Beugelmans et al., J. Org. Chem. 50:4933-4938 (1985) or aryltributylstannanes (Owton et al., Synth. Commun. 21:981-987 (1991)). Some of these cumbersome methods have been used by us for the preparation of a variety 8-substituted 3-hydroxy-1H-1-benzazepine-2,5-diones (5, 6, 7 and 16, see Scheme II).
Finally, the cyclobutenedione method involves the use of highly reactive lithium reagents which cannot be used to prepare analogs of 3-hydroxy-1H-1-benzazepine-2,5-diones having one or more nitrogens in the benzene ring. This method requires the reaction of a substituted ortho-bromopyridine with n-butyllithium. The reaction between halo-pyridines and n-butyllithium is known to proceed by either the addition of n-butane to the 4-position or metalation at the 3-position, but not metalation at the 2-position (Gubble and Saulnier, Tet. Lett. 21:4137 (1980); Foulgner and Wakefield, J. Organ. Met. Chem. 69:161 (1974)). These metalation reactions are not specific and usually give a variety of products. ##STR9## | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a strain measuring device and a system that can measure strain.
2. Description of Related Art
So far, a semiconductor single crystalline substrate comprising local impurity diffused resistors is known as a mechanical quantity measuring device. As described in JP-A-2006-003182, there is a method to measure strain of an object by attaching this mechanical quantity measuring device to the object, based on change of the resistance of the impurity diffused resistors caused by the strain. In this method, four impurity diffused resistors through which current can flow in a specific direction are used to form a Wheatstone bridged circuit (hereafter, referred to as a bridged circuit) so as to measure strain in a specific direction of the substrate by utilizing anisotropy of the crystal orientation in strain sensitivity of the impurity diffused resistor. Furthermore, as described in FIG. 18 of JP-A-2006-003182, it is also proposed that each impurity diffused resistor is configured to a meander shaped strip line by being connected plural strip lines by a contact and/or a wiring in order to reduce power consumption of the mechanical quantity measuring device.
In the above related art, however, there is a possibility of decreasing measurement accuracy due to offset or fluctuation of sensitivity resulting from the variability of sheet resistance of p-type impurity diffused resistors in especial. | {
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In compromised vasculature and microvasculature systems, blood vessels may display increased leakiness through the blood vessel walls. Diseases where vasculature may be compromised may include cancer, stroke, aneurysm, and internal bleeding. The development of compositions and methods to identify leaky vasculature would be beneficial for early detection and for prognosis of such conditions. Currently, no adequate clinical tool exists to transparently and non-invasively identify and characterize leaky and compromised vasculature.
A related need exists for compositions and methods useful for patient specific, customized tumor characterization and therapy. Nano-systems exist for the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, especially cancer. Nano-systems offer the possibility of multifunctionality and are being actively developed for in vivo imaging, biomolecular profiling of biomarkers, and targeted drug delivery. Such systems offer the potential to enhance the therapeutic index of anti-cancer agents, either by increasing the drug concentration in the tumor site, decreasing the exposure of healthy tissue, or both.
Most solid tumors require a complex microvasculature network for their growth. This blood microvessel network includes a dense immature blood vessel system with a high degree of tortuosity and increased leakiness through the vessel wall. The success of chemotherapeutic nano-agent therapy for solid tumors is dependent, at least in part, on the access that these agents have to tumors via the so-called leaky vasculature of the tumor. The development and effectiveness of the above described nano-systems is currently limited because no adequate clinical tool exists to transparently and non-invasively predetermine whether the blood vessels of the tumor may be amenable to nano-carrier-mediated therapy in an individualized, patient-specific manner—that is, to determine whether the tumor has a leaky vasculature.
Moreover, no adequate clinical tool exists for co-encapsulation of therapeutic or anticancer agents with non-radioactive contrast enhancing agent to allow for direct X-ray visualization of the biodistribution of the therapeutic or anticancer agents in the body of a subject. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure of a semiconductor substrate producing an excellent gettering effect.
2. Description of the Background Art
In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, alkaline metal such as Na or heavy metal impurities such as Fe are brought into a semiconductor device from a contamination source such as a manufacturing apparatus, chemicals and atmosphere. These metal impurities have harmful influence, such as change of characteristics of the semiconductor device and an increase in junction leakage current. Therefore, a process to remove such metal impurities from inside a semiconductor device is carried out. The process is called gettering. Two such gettering processes are known, one being extrinsic gettering in which impurities are normally segregated through heat-treatment at high temperatures on a back surface of a semiconductor substrate which is not an active region of an element, and the other being intrinsic gettering in which a place for segregating harmful impurities is provided using supersaturated oxygen included in a silicon substrate. A conventional intrinsic gettering method will be described.
FIG. 11 is a sectional structural view of a silicon wafer which has undergone a gettering process. A denuded zone (hereinafter referred to as a DZ layer) having neither oxygen precipitates nor lattice defects is formed on a surface region of a silicon wafer 1 and an IG layer 4 producing a gettering effect is formed within a silicon wafer 1. Since lattice defects or the like do not exist in DZ layer 3, a variety of semiconductor elements are formed in this layer. IG layer 4 is a region where many oxygen precipitates 6 exist. Metal impurities brought into the surface of silicon wafer 1 are segregated around the oxygen precipitates 6 of the IG layer 4, so that DZ layer 3 in the surface of silicon wafer 1 is protected from contamination of impurities.
An intrinsic gettering method will be described. FIGS. 12 through 15 are diagrams showing steps of the gettering method for silicon wafer 1 shown in FIG. 11.
First, referring to FIG. 12, a silicon wafer la is prepared. Silicon wafer la manufactured by, for example, a Czochralski method (hereinafter referred to as a CZ method) has a concentration of oxygen of 14-18.times.10.sup.17 atoms/cm.sup.3.
Next, as shown in FIG. 13, silicon wafer 1a undergoes heat treatment at high temperatures of 1000.degree.-1250.degree. C., and oxygen 2 included in silicon wafer 1a is diffused outward. Through this step, DZ layer 3 of a low concentration of oxygen is formed in a surface of silicon wafer 1a. A region 4a of which concentration of oxygen is uniform remains inside silicon wafer 1a.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 14, heat treatment at low temperatures of 500.degree.-800.degree. C. is carried out and oxygen precipitation nuclei 5 grow in region 4a.
Referring to FIG. 15, in heat treatment at intermediate temperatures of 800.degree.-1100.degree. C., oxygen precipitating nuclei 5 are grown to be oxygen precipitates 6. The region where oxygen precipitates 6 are formed is IG layer 4 producing a gettering effect.
After three stages of heat treatment are carried out, silicon wafer 1a is placed into a manufacturing process of a device. Heat treatment to be carried out in the manufacturing process of a device may be replaced with the heat treatment step at intermediate temperature shown in FIG. 15. However, if the heat treatment in the manufacturing process of a device is short and insufficient, the above described heat treatment at intermediate temperature is carried out prior to the manufacturing process of a device.
Generally, DZ layer 3 where semiconductor elements are formed should have a thickness d of at least about 50.mu.m. As described above, a thickness of DZ layer 3 in a silicon wafer 1a manufactured by a conventional IG method is defined in heat treatment at high temperature shown in FIG. 13. In order to increase a thickness d of DZ layer 3, time for heat treatment at high temperature should be longer. If the time for heat treatment at high temperature is set longer, more oxygen 2 is diffused outward from silicon wafer 1a, and as a result, thickness d of DZ layer 3 having a low concentration of oxygen becomes larger. In the heat treatment step at high temperature, oxygen nuclei of IG layer 4 are restrained from growing and does not become larger, so that, in order to grow oxygen nuclei in the IG layer for providing more effective gettering, a time for heat treatment at low temperature shown in FIG. 14 should be set long. If the heat treatment at high temperature or low temperature for such a long time is carried out, non-uniform temperature distribution is caused, resulting in warping of wafer or slip dislocation within the wafer. The heat treatment step for such a long time lowers a throughput of wafer, which is a factor preventing mass production.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the distribution of oxygen concentration of the silicon wafer. Referring to the figure, the distribution of oxygen concentration is plotted as a gentle curve from DZ layer 3 to IG layer 4. In a horizontal direction with respect to the surface of wafer 1, oxygen precipitates 6 sparsely exists in a boundary of DZ layer 3 and IG layer 4, as shown in FIG. 11. As a result, necessary thickness d of DZ layer 3 is not uniform, oxygen precipitates 6 are formed in DZ layer 3, and therefore a problem arises that a yield of wafer is decreased. | {
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The recent proliferation of digital communication networks, ranging from local area and wide area networks (LAN/WAN) to personal home networks, has created a multitude of pathways through which electronic devices may communicate. The group of devices capable of being networked is no longer limited to just computers, but has expanded to include devices such as printers, copiers, and even facsimile machines to name just a few.
As the number of networked devices continues to grow, so too does the amount of data processed by these devices. It is not uncommon for individuals in an office setting to send and receive large amounts of data in both electronic and printed formats daily.
A large percentage of the data sent and received by individuals tends to be in the form of electronic mail (email). Typically, when an individual receives email they read it and then choose to either save a copy of the message or delete it. Often, individuals will read a particular piece of email and subsequently delete it only to find at a later date that they should have saved the email. Similarly, individuals who save email messages may misplace one or more messages over a period of time. If the individual is located in an office that maintains a systems administrator, they may be able to have the message recovered or found. Unfortunately, however, it is difficult to identify a specific message once it is deleted and searching for a misplaced message can prove time consuming as well.
Electronic data including word processing files, spreadsheet files, and images are not immune to deletion or misplacement either. After creation, these types of files may be sent to another individual in electronic format, or more typically printed out. It is common for an individual working on a draft version of a file to print multiple versions of the file at various times. An individual may unwittingly delete an old version of a file only to discover that the saved version of the file is even older.
It is therefore desirable to have a system that manages electronic files and documents that originate from a variety of sources with reduced, or even minimized, user intervention and provides a straightforward interface for efficient electronic file retrieval. It is also desirable to provide a system for conveniently publishing documents that have been retrieved. | {
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The present invention relates generally to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to optimizing use states of a hybrid mobile vehicle along a discretized travel route.
Conventionally, a hybrid car or the like having an engine and an electric motor has been configured to regenerate kinetic energy as electric energy, store the electric energy in a battery or the like, and control the timing of using the regenerative energy to drive the motor using the stored electric energy in order to minimize the time of arrival at a destination and maximize fuel efficiency (for example, see JP2013-123363, JP2009-115466, and JP2005-282569). | {
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The invention described herein generally relates to processes for stripping coatings from various substrates such as metals, i.e., aluminum and steel; composites such as plastics, carbon-based substrates, ceramic tiles, wood, glass, fiberglass building materials and the like. Paint strippers typically used for removal of polymeric coatings contain solvents, water, surfactants, corrosion inhibitors, and viscosity modifiers. Solvents are typically volatile liquids or low-vapor pressure solvents that are not biodegradable. The surfactants are used to promote wetting and penetration of the coating. Viscosity modifiers are predominantly cellulose derivatives, though finely divided silica, clay and synthetic polymers can be used. Corrosion inhibitors are specific to the stripper composition and for protecting the metallic substrates involved. The more environmentally acceptable paint removers contain low vapor pressure solvents containing ammonia, amines, or organic acids; see U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,675 to Wilkins et al., which relates to a stripping composition containing peroxide. U.S. Pat. No. 3,355,385 relates to a process that uses hydrogen peroxide as the bond release agent for stripping organic coatings.
Automobiles and aircraft are painted to protect the substrates from corrosion and to enhance the cosmetic appearance to help market the product. The prior art has utilized many different compositions and methods for the removal of paint from different substrates. For example, some paint stripping compositions utilized highly caustic, alkaline solutions as demonstrated by Murphy in U.S. Pat. No. 3,766,076 and by Sullivan in U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,587. However, caustic solutions aggressively attack most metal substrates such as aluminum, steel, copper, zinc and chromium. The prior art utilizes various other volatile organic solvents, such as pyrrolidones as reported in U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,810 and phenyl ethers or ethoxylated alcohols as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,706.
Other known stripping methods use blasting processes with materials like plastics, starches, water and sometimes solvents. These methods not only produce large amounts of waste, which must be treated, but also generate a significant amount of airborne pollutants. With the proliferation of resinous coatings for the protection of metal and composite surfaces has come the need for a method of removing these types of coatings from their substrates without damaging the underlying material. It has been observed, for example, that strong acids are effective in removing these coatings, but their indiscriminate oxidation of the metal substrates makes acids undesirable and unacceptable in the majority of cases.
Several other techniques have been developed in attempts to satisfactorily remove paint coatings. One technique is to debond or dissolve the organic coating in a chemical solvent. While these solvents are often effective for debonding the paint coating from the substrate, they generate chemical waste such as stripping sludges, which result in disposal and pollution problems. Some organic stripping materials such as methylene chloride are effective as stripping agents and do little harm to underlying substrates. However, these chemicals pose additional problems such as toxicity, high volatility and flammability. While efforts have been made to minimize the problems associated with solvents, organic chemicals are still relatively inefficient, requiring large volumes of materials that must be disposed of in an approved manner upon completion of the stripping procedure. For example, conventional aircraft paint removal methods are increasingly under fire from many regulatory agencies, posing a problem for commercial and military operators. Moreover, some solvents such as methylene chloride are suspected human carcinogen agents, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified these solvents as hazardous air pollutants. The costs associated with chemical stripping are astronomical, and the process is labor-intensive, consuming from a few hundred hours to as much as a few thousand hours depending on the aircraft part and the size of the aircraft. In addition, operational costs include special safety apparel, the cost of waste containment/disposal and facility/equipment maintenance costs. In most current practices, operational difficulties include the need for multiple chemical applications to remove the coatings, and a large degree of hand sanding in areas where the coatings remain after the chemical stripping.
More recently, other methods with lower environmental impact have been developed and generally fall into three categories: (a) the use of less toxic chemicals; (b) impact blasting of the paint coating including: plastic media blasting (PMB), laser stripping, aqua jet, CO2-pellet blasting, starch or vegetable media blasting or ice-blasting; and, (c) vaporization of the paint via concentrated heat and/or light energy, e.g., laser stripping. Combinations of these methods also have been evaluated, including the FlashJet process wherein a pulsed xenon flash lamp initially vaporizes the paint coating into a fine ash residue. This residue is subsequently swept by a frozen carbon dioxide-pellet blast into a multistage collection system of filters and activated charcoal scrubber. However, these alternative methods, some of which are at a relatively mature stage of development, are not without problems. For example, the PMB procedure must be done in a closed system because of particulate generation and the potential for air pollution. The use of water as an impact medium as in the ice-blasting procedure, however, partially circumvents this difficulty. In general, the use of high-speed media jets in blasting procedures poses personnel safety and compliance issues. This is true even in the recently developed FlashJet process.
In view of these problems, there is a pressing need to develop novel approaches to paint stripping that are environmentally benign, pose minimal personnel safety problems, and are inexpensive. For delicate substrates of composites and honeycombs (e.g., radomes, helicopter rotor blades), the aforementioned methods like PMB or media blasting are not compatible because they will cause considerable damage to the substrate being stripped.
A laboratory version of a photochemical process for paint stripping has been described in Proceedings of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 98-5, pp. 232–235, 1998). This study showed that the aqueous peroxide medium could be photochemically decomposed by UV light to generate gas bubbles within the polymeric coating. The present invention concerns a improved method for stripping paint based on either UV light and IR radiation in combination, or IR radiation alone. Modifications in the aqueous stripping medium to better facilitate coating debonding are also described. | {
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The present invention relates generally to an electronic enclosure with improved EMC performance. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electronic enclosure with improved EMC performance capable of operating within a hostile environment.
A variety of design characteristics must be considered in the development of electronic applications. Cost, size, thermal capabilities, and operating limits must often be considered in order to produce a successfull end-product. One such characteristic that must be considered is known as Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC). Electronic products and components often radiate fields during operation. These fields can cause electro magnetic interference in surrounding products or components. Additionally, an electronic product or component must be protected from such radiated fields produced by neighboring electronics. Electro Magnetic Compatibility is the ability of such products or components to withstand localized radiated fields as well as the ability of such products to reduce the impact of their own radiated fields on neighboring components.
Although numerous coatings and casing agents have been developed in order to improve a component""s EMC, often these solutions can run counter to other important design considerations. Manufacturing costs can be negatively impacted where additional coatings or manufacturing procedures are necessary. Weight and size restrictions can be negatively impacted wherein the EMC improving elements serve to increase a products dimensions. Coatings and casings can make proper thermal dissipation of the electronic component difficult. One particular design consideration of import to the automotive industry is the ability to withstand a corrosive environment.
Engine control modules, transmission controllers, and power train controllers are all often subjected to hostile environments. Design constraints commonly dictate such components be protected from such hostile environments through the use of a sealed or a semi-sealed housing. Additionally, however, these housings (or casings) must serve as an EMC barrier between the controllers and the surrounding environment. An enclosure that could successfully combine the characteristics of hostile environmental capabilities and EMC barrier improvement would be highly desirable. Furthermore, an enclosure design that could accomplish these goals without significant adverse impact on weight, cost, size, or thermal dissipation would be even further valued.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an electronic enclosure with improved EMC performance. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electronic enclosure capable of usage within hostile environments.
In accordance with the objects of the present invention, an electronics assembly is provided. The electronics assembly includes an electronics enclosure and an electronic component positioned within the electronics enclosure. The electronics enclosure includes a base element including a perimeter mating groove defined by an inner groove wall and an outer groove wall. The electronics enclosure additionally includes a cover element including a perimeter tongue element. The perimeter tongue element fits within the perimeter mating groove upon assembly of the electronics enclosure. The electronics enclosure further includes a plurality of crush ribs formed onto the perimeter tongue element. The plurality of crush ribs pierces the base element to create a contiguous protective shield surrounding the electronic component.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and appended claims. | {
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Today's enterprise data centers store ever-larger amounts of business critical data that must be immediately and continuously available. Ever larger and more complex storage systems are used for storage of the data. Many different hosts and applications access data on these storage systems. In order to provide security and prevent data corruption, it is often necessary to ensure that the applications and hosts have exclusive access to particular areas of storage in the system.
One mechanism for partitioning storage systems employs the concept of “virtual arrays”. Accordingly, software is provided within a storage array to logically partition the array into separate storage groups. Each storage group includes at least one host and a set of logical units of storage. The logical units of storage in the group are accessible only to the hosts in the group. Other hosts cannot access a storage group to which they have not been granted access. Unfortunately, the current methods for partitioning storage arrays into virtual arrays are highly complex and expensive, and operate only at the storage array level. It is desirable to provide a simpler, inexpensive means of presenting virtual arrays to host systems, and to provide a way of centralizing array partitioning from another part of the system—for example, the fabric. It is also desirable to be able to migrate data from one such presented virtual array to another. It would be further advantageous to provide a failover mechanism between such virtual arrays. | {
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Previously, various systems have been used for driving the sheet advancing chains in machinery of this character and, for example, various systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,451,467; 2,708,575; 2,862,233; 2,991,826; 3,217,852; 3,748,078; 3,776,804; and 3,884,129.
In one such prior art patent, a rack gear is used to power the drive transmission shaft, in contradistinction to the present invention, wherein a rack functions as a stroke measuring element and accomplishes a different purpose. In other systems, special and expensive (to purchase and service) hydraulic motors are required. | {
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In resonant motors which produce an oscillating output action, metal springs are part of the motor contributing to the action. However, after a large number of successive uses, the springs develop metal fatigue, resulting in reduced performance and eventual breakage. The problem of metal fatigue in the springs is particularly prevalent in systems which operate at high frequency and hence have a large number of stress cycles. In addition, metal springs have space limitations relative to a desired output stroke, since for a given degree of desired movement, i.e. 1 millimeter, for example, of a workpiece, approximately five times that distance is required between the opposing masses for the mechanical springs.
It would hence be desirable to have a motor arrangement which produces a desired motor output but without having major components which are subject to fatigue stresses and failures. | {
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Power consumption and speed are inherently coupled for a given semiconductor technology. Contact resistances and transport properties are related to the band gap of the semiconductors, which affects current levels and drive voltages. In order to reduce the power consumption and to increase the performance of certain key circuits, for instance for wireless communication, it would be attractive to fabricate those circuits in a different material than Si.
Semiconductor nanowire transistors are considered as one of the candidates in the post-CMOS electronics era. In particular a vertical nanowire configuration allows for a wrap gate formation that efficiently controls the electrostatic potential inside the wires, which enhances the transconductance and reduces the sub-threshold slope.
The growth of nanowires offers new possibilities in heterostructure design as radial strain relaxation allows a large range of new compositions to be fabricated. InP can, for example, be grown on InAs without defects as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,335,908 or US 2004/0075464 by the same applicant as the present invention. It is also possible to use a substrate that is not lattice matched to the wires, which offers even more design flexibility and opens up a route to integrate III-V semiconductors on Si.
Semiconductor nanowires are in this context defined as rod-shaped structures with a diameter less than 200 nm and a length of several μm. The growth of semiconductor nanowires can be done in various ways, for example by Vapor Phase Epitaxi (VPE) using metal particles to assist the anisotropic growth as disclosed in US 2004/0075464 A1.
In the nanowire geometry of the FET the gate will surround the narrow nanowires providing good gate coupling, and heterostructures can be placed in the current channel as described in WO 2006/05020, forcing the source-drain current to pass through the heterostructure interfaces. This offers the possibility to improve the device characteristics.
FIG. 1 shows data for a prior art InAs nanowire wrap gate transistor. The drive current level in transistors with individual nanowires like this one is typically limited to below 100 μA, which is too low for most analogue and mixed-mode circuit applications. Also for digital applications the current level is critical. This problem may be eliminated by placing nanowires in a row, or a matrix, and addressing all the nanowires simultaneously. A patterned substrate will be used as one of the source/drain contacts, on which the nanowires will be grown by controlled nucleation, while the other source/drain contact is formed on top of the wires. The gate level metallization is formed in an interconnection level between the substrate and the top contact.
Transistor pairs (NMOS and PMOS in CMOS, and enhancement mode FETs and depletion mode FETs in different variations of directly coupled field logic, DCFL) are fundamental building blocks for digital, analogue, and mixed-mode applications. Using nanowire circuit architecture, transistors with complementary function may be placed in a vertically stacked configuration, with ohmic contacts to a center region of the wires acting as an output node. In many applications, like a ring-oscillator, this output node should be connected to both gates in the next stage, which requires a three-level interconnection metallization scheme for the gates only. Connections between the various interconnection levels are further required.
In addition to transistors passive elements such as resistors and capacitors has to be added to enable the design of a wider range of circuits including, sample-and-hold circuits and comparators. This increases the complexity of the interconnections of the circuits. The integration of the resistors, capacitors, and transistors enables a wide variety of circuits including, sample-and-hold circuits and comparators. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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It is well known in the art that limescale deposits can be chemically removed with acidic solutions, and a great variety of acidic cleaning compositions have been described for this purpose.
Furthermore, it is known in the art to use surfactants in such acidic compositions to lower the surface tension and to improve the wettability of the surfaces being cleaned. The presence of surfactants in such compositions helps to solubilize the soils and to improve the streaking profile of the acids, thereby also slowing down the limescale redeposition phenomenon.
However, the presence of surfactants causes the problem that a base odor is imparted to the compositions comprising them, thereby making them not attractive from a consumer point of view. This base odor, chemical in nature, can be due to the surfactant molecules themselves, to the presence of unreacted intermediates from the surfactant making process or to other impurities within the surfactant raw materials.
To overcome this problem it is well known in the art to add a perfume in surfactant-based compositions, one of its role being to effectively mask the surfactants base odor. However, it has been found that perfumes tend to deposit onto synthetic materials and are thus difficult to rinse off.
This is even more of a problem in applications such as the descaling of appliances including cooking appliances (e.g. coffee machine), beauty care appliances (e.g. dental jet machine) or any other appliance such as steam irons, kettles and the like, as said appliances comprise various synthetic surfaces. Indeed, during the descaling operation of such an appliance perfumes firstly tend to deposit onto the synthetic surfaces and then tend to be released during the normal use of said appliance. In other words, food or beverage can be contaminated during the normal use of a cooking appliance, when said normal use follows the descaling operation of said appliance with a composition comprising perfumes. This is highly undesirable from a consumer acceptance viewpoint. Thus it is desirable to use descaling compositions being free of perfumes.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a composition comprising surfactants and an organic acid, for the removal of limescale deposits, said composition being free of perfume and possessing a superior limescale removing capacity while being also substantially odor-free.
It has now been found that compositions comprising an organic acid being substantially odor-free such as maleic acid together with a surfactant consisting of cationic, zwitterionic, amphoteric surfactants or mixtures thereof are substantially odor-free without the need of adding any further compound such as a perfume to mask the surfactants base odor. Indeed, we have found that cationic, zwitterionic, amphoteric surfactants or mixtures thereof do not impart a base odor to a composition, or to the surfaces treated with said composition, provided that the pH of the composition is neutral or maintained in the acidic range. Unexpectedly the compositions of the present invention comprising maleic acid and such a surfactant or mixtures thereof under neutral or acidic conditions, are substantially odor-free compared to the same compositions with equivalent amount of other surfactant types such as anionic, nonionic, amine oxide surfactants or mixtures thereof.
An advantage of the present invention is that said compositions are particularly suitable for applications in which the presence of perfume is not desirable including the descaling of appliances such as cooking appliances, beauty care appliances or any other appliance such as steam irons, kettles, coffee machines, tea pots and the like.
A further advantage is that the compositions of the present invention are also safe to a wide variety of materials used to manufacture said appliances, including synthetic materials as well as any type of metal (e.g. aluminum, stainless steel, chromed steel and the like).
European patent application No. 93870120.8 discloses an acidic composition comprising an acid for example maleic acid together with a thickening system comprising from 0.5% to 15% by weight of the total composition of a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and a cationic surfactant. No reference is made to the possibility to provide substantially odor-free surfactants based compositions due to the use of said cationic surfactants as the surfactant.
GB 2071 688 and EP 255 978 disclose acidic compositions comprising among other ingredients from 0.1% to 10% by weight of cationic surfactants and a strong inorganic acid. Organic acids and in particular maleic acid are not disclosed. No reference is made to the possibility to provide substantially odor-free surfactants based compositions due to the use of said cationic surfactants as the surfactant. | {
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The technical field relates generally to the fabrication of thermoplastic components, and more specifically to the heating of thermoplastic components during fabrication.
Typically, tooling in autoclave or hot press processing is a significant heat sink that consumes substantial energy. Furthermore, the tooling may require significant time to heat the composite material to its consolidation temperature and, after processing the composite, to cool to a temperature at which it is safe to remove the finished composite part. Furthermore, even distribution of heat applied to the tooling and the composite material may be difficult, especially when manufacturing a large component.
Fabrication of thermoplastic components may include induction heating. Typically, dies or tooling for induction processing are ceramic because ceramic is not susceptible to induction heating and, preferably, is a thermal insulator (i.e., a relatively poor conductor of heat). Cast ceramic tools cost less to fabricate than metal tools of comparable size and have less thermal mass than metal tooling because they are unaffected by the induction field. Because the ceramic tooling is not susceptible to induction heating, it is possible to embed induction heating elements in the ceramic tooling and to heat the composite or metal retort without significantly heating the tools. Thus, induction heating can reduce the time required and energy consumed to fabricate a part.
While graphite or boron fibers can be heated directly by induction, most organic matrix composites require a susceptor in, or adjacent to, the composite material preform to achieve the necessary heating for consolidation or forming. The susceptor is heated inductively and transfers its heat principally through conduction to the preform or work piece. Enclosed in the metal retort, the work piece does not experience the oscillating magnetic field resulting from the induction process. The field is instead absorbed in the retort sheets. Heating is by conduction from the retort to the work piece.
Induction focuses heating on the retort (and work piece) and eliminates wasteful, inefficient heat sinks (e.g., tooling of conventional processes). Induction heating facilitates a reduction in the difference between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the tools and the work piece. Furthermore, this process is energy efficient because significantly higher percentages of the input energy go to heating the work piece than occurs with conventional presses. The reduced thermal mass and ability to focus the heating energy permits the operating temperature to be changed rapidly. Finally, the shop environment is not heated as significantly from the radiation of the large thermal mass of a conventional press, and is a safer and more pleasant environment for the press operators.
Fabrication of thermoplastic components may also include thermoplastic welding. Thermoplastic welding, which can eliminate mechanical fasteners, features the ability to join thermoplastic composite components at high speeds with minimum touch labor and little, if any, pretreatments.
Large scale parts such as wing spars and ribs, and the wing skins that are bonded to the spars and ribs, and/or fuselage sections and support structure may be typically on the order of twenty to thirty feet long, and potentially can be hundreds of feet in length when the process is perfected for commercial transport aircraft. Parts of this size are difficult to produce with perfect flatness. Instead, the typical part may have various combinations of inconsistencies beyond design tolerance. Applying heat to the interface by electrically heating the susceptor in connection with pressure on the parts tends to flatten the inconsistencies, but the time needed to achieve full intimate contact with the use of heat and pressure may be excessive, and can lead to undesirable results.
An existing solution for increasing the rate of production of thermoplastic components is to build more autoclaves and rate tooling when a critical rate of the current tools is reached, or to cap the production capabilities of a manufacturing facility at a certain rate that does not require building new tooling. The existing autoclave based systems have an inherent limit at which production rates above that critical rate will trigger a large increment of capital expenditures to be incurred along with a lag time required to obtain the capital, install the equipment, and ensure the equipment is functional.
Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and a system that facilitates rapid fabrication of large thermoplastic components, as well as a related method. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Integrins are a family of heterodimeric proteins which generally mediate cell adhesion. Typical of such proteins are the vitronectin receptor (an .alpha..sub.V .beta..sub.3 heterodimer) and the fibrinogen receptor (an .alpha..sub.IIb .beta..sub.3 heterodimer). The natural ligands of these receptors (e.g., vitronectin and fibrinogen) have been found to share a common -Arg-Gly-Asp- amino acid sequence, which appears to be critical for binding. In fact, many of the integrin receptors appear to cross react with ligands which possess such an amino acid sequence. For instance, the .alpha..sub.IIb .beta..sub.3 receptor reacts with fibronectin and vitronectin, thrombospondin and von Willebrand factor, as well as fibrinogen. Functionally fibrinogen, a dimer having two binding sites for .alpha..sub.IIb .beta..sub.3, reacts with activated receptors found on the surface of platelets. The binding of .alpha..sub.IIb .beta..sub.3 receptors on adjacent platelets, by fibrinogen leads to crosslinking and is considered to be a major factor in platelet aggregation. Compounds which inhibit the binding of the .alpha..sub.IIb .beta..sub.3 receptor to fibrinogen have been shown to inhibit the platelet aggregation in vitro, and thrombus formation in vivo. See, for instance, EP-A 0 341 915.
The vitronectin receptor is found on a variety of cell types, such as on osteoclasts and the endothelial cells lining blood vessels. Recent studies have indicated that the attachment of osteoclasts to the bone matrix is mediated through these cell surface adhesion receptors. For instance, Davies, et al., J. Cell Biol., 1989, 109, 1817, disclose that the osteoclast functional antigen, which is implicated in the regulation of bone resorption, is biochemically related to the vitronectin receptor. The vitronectin receptor is known to bind to bone matrix proteins, such as osteopontin, bone sialoprotein and thrombospondin, which contain the tri-peptide Arg-Gly-Asp (or RGD) motif. Thus, Horton, et al., Exp. Cell Res. 1991, 195, 368, disclose that RGD-containing peptides and an anti-vitronectin receptor antibody (23C6) inhibit dentine resorption and cell spreading by osteoclasts. Bertolini et al., J. Bone Min. Res., 6, Sup. 1, S146, 252 have shown that cylco-S,S-N.sup..alpha. -acetyl-cysteinyl-N.sup..alpha. -methyl-argininyl-glycyl-aspartyl-penicillamine amide inhibits osteoclast attachment to bone. In addition, Sato, et al., J. Cell Biol. 1990, 111, 1713 disclose that echistatin, a snake venom peptide which contains the RGD sequence, is a potent inhibitor of bone resorption in tissue culture, and inhibits attachment of osteoclasts to bone. Fisher, et al., Endocrinology 1993, 132, 1411, has further shown that echistatin inhibits bone resorption in vivo in the rat. EP 528 587 and 528 586 report substituted phenyl derivatives which inhibit osteoclast mediated bone resorption.
Bondinell, et aL, in WO 93/00095 (PCT/US92/05463) and WO 94/14776 (PCT/US93/12436) disclose that certain compounds which have a substituted 6-7 bicyclic ring system are useful for inhibiting the fibrinogen (.alpha..sub.IIb .beta..sub.3) receptor. Other 6-7 bicyclic ring systems which inhibit the fibrinogen receptor are disclosed by Blackburn et al. in WO 93/08174 (PCT/US92/08788). Blackburn et al., WO 95/04057 (PCT/US94/07989) also disclose compounds which have a five- or six-membered ring fused to such 6-7 bicyclic ring to form a tricyclic ring system, which are useful as antagonists of the fibrinogen receptor. Other compounds having 6-7 bicyclic ring systems that selectively inhibit the vitronectin receptor are disclosed in WO 96/00730 (PCT/US95/08306) and WO 96/00574 (PCT/US95/08146). It has now been discovered that certain new tricyclic ring systems are useful templates for preparing integrin receptor antagonists. It has also been discovered that such a ring system may be used as a template, which may be suitably substituted to prepare compounds which are selective for either the fibrinogen receptor or the vitronectin receptor. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Mechanical actuators in the form of keys, buttons, switches, and other actuators have long been used for the entry of operation commands and parameters to machines, such as household appliances. Various issues, however, have led to the replacement of mechanical keys or buttons with data entry components that electrically sense data input, such as capacitive switches. One of the issues leading to the replacement of mechanical actuators with capacitive switches is the wear and tear of moving parts in mechanical actuators. Because capacitive sensing does not require moving parts for data input, the capacitive switches have a longer life. Moreover, capacitive switches are typically sealed with a protective membrane. The membrane helps protect the switches from environmental conditions, such as dirt or spillages. This protection makes capacitive sensors especially suitable in devices that need to be cleaned regularly, as the sensor is not exposed to cleaning agents or other foreign substances. Thus, capacitive switches are especially useful in household appliances that are exposed to dirt, spillage, and other contaminations.
A typical capacitive switch includes a pair of electrical conductors separated by a dielectric, such as air. Each conductor may be, for example, a metal trace that is applied as a layer on a printed circuit board (PCB). An excitation source is connected to one of the two conductors. The conductor coupled to the excitation source is sometimes called an emitter and the other conductor is sometimes called a receiver. An electrical field is formed between the emitter and the receiver. Most of the electrical field is concentrated between the emitter and the receiver on the PCB, however, a fringe field extends out of the PCB from the emitter. The capacitance of the capacitive switch may be measured with a capacitance measurement circuit. The measurement circuit may be a frequency counter that is coupled to the output of a relaxation oscillator that has the capacitive switch coupled to one of its inputs. The capacitive switch is also coupled to a current source and a discharge switch is coupled to the other oscillator input. The discharge switch opens and closes in response to the signal on the output of the oscillator. The charging and discharging of the capacitor through the discharge switch generates a signal having a frequency that is related to the capacitance of the switch. By counting the frequency during a fixed period, a value for the untouched switch may be determined. In other known devices, a sigma-delta capacitance-to-digital converter senses the capacitance formed between the two conductors across the dielectric and generates a digital data value corresponding to this capacitance.
When a human finger approaches a capacitive switch, the capacitance of the person's finger affects the capacitance of the switch. The change in the switch capacitance affects the frequency of the relaxation oscillator or the value generated by a sigma-delta capacitive-to-digital converter. The change in capacitance may be detected by the change in the value generated by the converter or the frequency count measured during the fixed time period. By comparing the change to some threshold value, touching of a capacitive switch may be detected. Thus, touching a capacitive switch is analogous to depressing a mechanical switch. Identification of the touched key provides an appliance with data for control of the appliance.
The above description assumes that the capacitance of a capacitive switch remains relatively constant as long as the switch is not touched. However, capacitance of a switch may change in response to ambient air changes, such as temperature and humidity, as the air is the dielectric for the capacitor. If the capacitance of a switch changes significantly, it may approach the threshold that indicates the switch has been touched. If the capacitance reaches or passes through the threshold, the appliance may process data corresponding to the key even though a user has not touched the key. The erroneous detection of a key being touched in response to ambient air changes is commonly called ghosting. Ghosting may cause an appliance to respond to false commands. Therefore, reducing the likelihood that an appliance processes commands corresponding to a capacitive switch in response to environmental condition changes is desirable. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
Database Systems
A database management system (DBMS) manages a database. A DBMS may comprise one or more database servers. A database comprises database data and a database dictionary that are stored on a persistent memory mechanism, such as a set of hard disks. Database data may be stored in one or more data containers. Each container contains records. The data within each record is organized into one or more fields. In relational DBMSs, the data containers are referred to as tables, the records are referred to as rows, and the fields are referred to as columns. In object-oriented databases, the data containers are referred to as object classes, the records are referred to as objects, and the fields are referred to as attributes. Other database architectures may use other terminology.
Users interact with a database server of a DBMS by submitting to the database server commands that cause the database server to perform operations on data stored in a database. A user may be one or more applications running on a client computer that interact with a database server. Multiple users may also be referred to herein collectively as a user.
A database command may be in the form of a database statement that conforms to a database language. A database language for expressing the database commands is the Structured Query Language (SQL). There are many different versions of SQL, some versions are standard and some proprietary, and there are a variety of extensions. Data definition language (“DDL”) commands are issued to a database server to create or configure database objects, such as tables, views, or complex data types. SQL/XML is a common extension of SQL used when manipulating XML data in an object-relational database.
A multi-node database management system is made up of interconnected nodes that share access to the same database. Typically, the nodes are interconnected via a network and share access, in varying degrees, to shared storage, e.g. shared access to a set of disk drives and data blocks stored thereon. The nodes in a multi-node database system may be in the form of a group of computers (e.g. work stations, personal computers) that are interconnected via a network. Alternately, the nodes may be the nodes of a grid, which is composed of nodes in the form of server blades interconnected with other server blades on a rack.
Each node in a multi-node database system hosts a database server. A server, such as a database server, is a combination of integrated software components and an allocation of computational resources, such as memory, a node, and processes on the node for executing the integrated software components on a processor, the combination of the software and computational resources being dedicated to performing a particular function on behalf of one or more clients.
Resources from multiple nodes in a multi-node database system can be allocated to running a particular database server's software. Each combination of the software and allocation of resources from a node is a server that is referred to herein as a “server instance” or “instance”. A database server may comprise multiple database instances, some or all of which are running on separate computers, including separate server blades.
Multitenant Architecture
A container is a collection of schemas, objects, and related structures in a multitenant container database (CDB) that appears logically to an application as a separate database. Within a CDB, each container has a unique ID and name. The root database and every pluggable database (PDB) is considered a container. PDBs isolate data and operations so that from the perspective of a user or application, each PDB appears as if it were a traditional non-CDB. Each PDB is defined by its own separate database dictionary. A database dictionary comprises metadata that defines database objects contained in a database. In effect, a database dictionary defines the totality of a database. Database objects include tables, table columns, and tablespaces. A tablespace is a set of one or more files that are used to store the data for various types of database objects, such as tables. If data for a database object is stored in a tablespace, a database dictionary maps a database object to one or more tablespaces that hold the data for that database object.
The root container, also called “the root”, is a collection of schemas, schema objects, and nonschema objects to which all PDBs within a particular CDB belong. Every CDB has one root which stores the system metadata required to manage all PDBs within the CDB. In some implementations, the root does not store “user” data but instead stores data that is common across the PDBs of the CDB, such as definitions for common users and roles, shared tables, code packages, and so forth. A PDB is a user-created set of schemas, objects, and related structures that appears logically to an application as a separate database. As a result, each PDB can potentially be used to store data related to a different application, such as one PDB being dedicated to hosting a human resources application and another PDB being dedicated to hosting a sales application. However, since shared resources are stored just once in the root database and linked to by the database dictionaries of the PDBs, duplication of data is avoided compared to hosting each application with a completely separate traditional database. Furthermore, since PDBs are essentially self-contained databases in their own right, PDBs can be easily transferred between different CDBs for upgrade or load balancing purposes. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The Hall effect occurs when a conductor carrying current is placed in a magnetic field. A voltage is generated according to the cross product of the field and flow of current. Sensors operating on the hall effect can be modeled like a Wheatstone bridge. Opposite ends of the bridge are coupled to a differential amplifier to provide an output. It is common to use a plurality of these transducers electrically connected in a parallel arrangement and physically oriented in a common centroid manner to provide cancellation of offset errors that are common to the individual bridges. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The difficult and often time consuming task of rigging power transmission lines has been made easier in recent years by the use of helicopters which raise the transmission cables and pull them between the transmission towers. A number of U.S. patents have been granted for equipment which allow aerial stringing of cables to be done and, of these, the following patents disclose the type of equipment which presently is available; U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,884 issued on Feb. 8, 1977 to Donald A. Lederhos, U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,089 issued on Feb. 25, 1975 to Keith E. Lindsey; U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,287 issued on Dec. 12, 1978 to Keity E. Lindsey; U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,256 issued on June 22, 1971 to Bertie William Wellman.
Only the patent granted to Lederhos addresses itself to the problem of placing a transmission cable on a portion of a tower which cannot be entered from above or from the side of the tower. This particular patent discloses a cable-catching device which must be secured to the towers and a disengageable connector employing a rather complex interconnecting parts. The operation of such a device demands a high degree of skill and a great deal of patience on the part of a helicopter pilot and these as well as other disadvantages inherent in the device may explain why it has not found greater acceptance. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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An opposed piston two stroke diesel engine may have advantages over a four stroke diesel including reduced mechanical complexity, reduced displacement for equivalent power, and reduced fuel consumption. However, a four stroke diesel engine may provide useful engine braking to reduce or maintain vehicle speed when driver demand torque is low. The four stroke engine provides engine braking torque (e.g., a torque that acts to slow vehicle powertrain or driveline rotation, which may be referred to as a negative torque) when exhaust manifold pressure is increased to a greater pressure than engine intake manifold pressure, thereby creating a positive pressure change in pressure across the engine (e.g., between the cylinder intake valves and exhaust valves). The positive pressure across the engine increases engine pumping work to provide engine braking. However, a two stroke engine requires intake manifold pressure to be greater than exhaust manifold pressure to ensure air flow through the engine. Further, engine pumping work of a two stroke engine is not affected by boosting a two-stroke engine. Therefore, engine braking from engine pumping work of a two stroke engine is not increased or decreased when the two stroke engine is boosted. Yet, engine braking may be desirable to control vehicle speed whether the vehicle includes a four stroke or two stroke engine. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a way of engine braking for a two stroke opposed piston engine.
The inventor herein has recognized the above-mentioned disadvantages and has developed a two stroke diesel engine braking method, comprising: completing cycles of all engine cylinders in two revolutions of an engine; and continuously adjusting engine braking torque of the engine without increasing engine pumping work of the engine via continuously adjusting a drive ratio of the mechanically driven supercharger in response to a request for engine braking.
By continuously adjusting flow through a mechanically driven supercharger, it may be possible to provide the technical result of providing engine braking via a two stroke engine without increasing engine pumping work. In particular, work performed by the mechanically driven supercharger may be adjusted via adjusting a drive ratio (e.g., a ratio of an actual total number of rotations of an input shaft of a supercharger compressor to an actual total number of rotations of an output shaft of the supercharger compressor. And, since the mechanically driven supercharger is part of the engine and coupled to the engine crankshaft, engine braking may be increased or decreased via adjusting the drive ratio of the mechanically driven supercharger. The drive ratio of the mechanically driven supercharger may be adjusted via a hydraulic actuator responsive to desired engine braking torque. In addition, an exhaust valve may be closed to further increase engine braking torque if engine braking torque is less than desired engine braking torque and desired engine braking torque may not be achieve via adjusting the supercharger drive ratio alone.
The present description may provide several advantages. Specifically, the approach may allow a two stroke diesel engine to supply engine braking. Further, the amount or level of engine braking may be adjusted proportionately in response to an engine braking request. Further still, the approach may be realized with more than a single hardware configuration. Additionally, by not increasing engine pumping work while performing engine braking, it may be possible to more precisely control engine braking since changes in engine pumping work may not have to be determined to control engine braking.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an external hard disk box and more particularly to a hard disk box which can be assembled easily, can be carried conveniently, is suitable for stacking and is provided with a shock-proofing effect.
b) Description of the Prior Art
External hard disk boxes used on existing markets are mostly assembled by screws and do not have a shock-proof protection structure inside and outside the boxes. In addition, data transmission lines are separated with the hard disk boxes; therefore, it is not convenient to carry and use by users.
On the other hand, for the external hard disk boxes sold on the existing markets, bottom surfaces thereof are all not provided with skid-proof pads and are difficult to be stacked; hence, surfaces of the boxes can be easily scratched to affect beautifulness while using hard disks.
As a result, through provision of soft silicon rings and silicon covers to the external hard disk box of the present invention, the box can be assembled conveniently, is carried easily, can be stacked and is shock-proofed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to the field of medical ventilators, and more particularly, to a ventilator exhalation valve for regulating the expiration of respiratory gases from a patient to the atmosphere.
Medical ventilators provide artificial respiration to patients whose breathing ability is impaired. Typically, the ventilator employs an inhalation valve to deliver a breath to the patient from a pressurized source of gas and an exhalation valve for permitting the breath to pass from the lungs to the atmosphere. The flow of the breath during inspiration is governed by the inhalation flow-control valve. When the flow-control valve opens, the pressurized gas forming the breath is introduced into the lungs of the patient. Upon passage of a predetermined volume of gas, the flow-control valve closes to end the inspiration phase of the breath. After the inspiration phase, the respiratory gases are vented from the patient, through the exhalation valve to the atmosphere. The respiratory gases pass through the exhalation valve which provides flow control after inspiration is completed and before the next inspiration cycle begins.
Prior ventilators have been capable of operating in several modes so that the degree of support the ventilator provides to the natural breathing pattern of the patient can be varied over a broad spectrum. At one end of the spectrum, the ventilator can provide fully controlled ventilation in which the ventilator has complete control over when the breath is delivered, the volume of gases delivered to the patient during each breath and the timing and pressure of the respiratory gases. In the "volume controlled" mode, all of the flow parameters are preset by an operator in accordance with the particular needs of the patient.
At the other end, the ventilator can be programed to permit "spontaneous" breathing by the patient. During the spontaneous breathing mode, the breath rate, the volume of gas inhaled during each breath and other flow parameters are not predetermined, but rather reflect the actual usage of the patient.
Intermediate of the volume controlled and the spontaneous modes, various degrees of ventilator supported respiration are available. One of the parameters which can be controlled by the ventilator during all modes of ventilation is the pressure in the lungs after the expiration phase is complete. Therapists have found that in some patients, it is beneficial to maintain a slight positive pressure within the lungs after expiration, so as to avoid a possible collapse of lungs. The pressure of the gases in or near the lungs and airway is called the "proximal pressure." Previous ventilators have included a "positive end expiration pressure" (PEEP) feature which enables the operator to determine and regulate the minimum proximal pressure after each expiration cycle is completed.
Previous ventilators have included micro-computer controllers which "servo" the position of the exhalation valve so as to regulate the proximal pressure to the desired level during the expiration phase of each breath, that is, the controller positions the valve based on feedback from a pressure sensor, and causes the movement of the valve as needed to maintain the desired proximal pressure. This is commonly referred to as a closed loop or "servo" control system.
Typical exhalation valves in closed loop ventilators generally fall into one of two configurations. The first configuration is the pneumatic balloon valve. In the pneumatic balloon valve a flexible balloon valve or diaphragm selectively engages a rigid seat in response to an externally generated pilot pressure. The pilot pressure is adjusted as required to close the valve during inspiration and open the valve during expiration so as to achieve the desired proximal pressure.
However, the pneumatic balloon valve is subject to the disadvantage that flow turbulence across the seat area generates a substantial audible noise in the form of "honk" or "squeal." In addition, the inherent delays in the transmission of the pneumatic pilot signal render the systems sluggish and difficult to control in a closed loop system. Further, the pilot pressure system required to drive the exhalation valve is a sensitive, mechanically complex and therefore expensive system.
The second configuration employed in exhalation valves is the electromechanical linear actuator. In the typical exhalation valve employing the linear actuator, the linear actuator takes the place of the pilot pressure. The linear actuator controls the valve by regulating the motion of a diaphragm relative to a valve seat. The linear actuator can be driven by electronics in a closed loop system to perform the various tasks of a ventilator including regulation of the proximal pressure.
However, the electromechanical linear actuator closed loop systems are subject to the disadvantage that the actuator slides in a bearing which experiences static and dynamic friction. The dynamic sliding friction creates discontinuities in the motion thereby making the system difficult to control. In addition, steady state error and instabilities may be generated as result of the friction. Further, due to a lack of positional or velocity feedback of the actuator, the system tends to an unstable configuration.
Therefore, a need exists for a ventilator exhalation valve for which may be used in a closed loop system without generating audible noise resulting from flow turbulence. A need also exists for a ventilator exhalation valve which provides for a dampening of turbulence in the flow. In addition, the need exists for a exhalation valve in a closed loop system which is readily responsive to control signals. A further need exists for an exhalation valve which does not require mechanically complex, expensive mechanisms to provide for the regulation of the proximal pressure. A further need exists for a ventilator exhalation valve which exhibits reduced instabilities so that a feedback system may be employed in a stable configuration. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Chemotherapy has been widely used to administer cytostatic and antineoplastic agents to patients suffering from cancer. Although chemotherapy is efficient against some cancers, it is often exhausting for patients. Moreover, current chemotherapeutic agents have a number of adverse side effects due to their non-specific cytotoxicity, which usually affect not only tumor cells, but also normal cells having a high mitotic activity, such as epithelial cells. This is especially the case with alkylating agents, which are used in approximately half of all chemotherapy treatments to inhibit DNA replication of cancerous cells. Non-alkylating cancer chemotherapy drugs are also toxic to mammalian cells; they can inhibit multiple sites within a replicating cell, such as synthesis of nucleotides required for DNA replication and microtubule function required for mitosis.
Non limiting examples of non-alkylating cancer chemotherapy drugs and their adverse side effects are given below.
Classical Alkylating Agents Many of the agents are known as “Classical alkylating agents”. These include alkyl groups, and have been known for a longer time than some of the other alkylating agents. Examples include melphalan and chlorambucil. They destroy proliferating cancer cells by adding an alkyl group to DNA molecule and preventing its replication. The following three groups are almost always considered “classical”. Nitrogen mustards, like: Cyclophosphamide, Mechlorethamine or mustine (HN2) (trade name Mustargen), Uramustine or uracil mustard, Melphalan, Chlorambucil, Ifosfamide, Bendamustine, . . . Nitrosoureas, like: Carmustine, Lomustine, Streptozocin, . . . Alkyl sulfonates like: Busulfan, Thiotepa, . . .
Alkylating-Like Agents Platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs (termed platinum analogues) act in a similar manner. These agents do not have an alkyl group, but nevertheless damage DNA. They permanently coordinate to DNA to interfere with DNA repair, so they are described as “alkylating-like”. Some non limiting example of platinum analogues are: Platinum, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Nedaplatin, Oxaliplatin, Satraplatin, Triplatin tetranitrate, . . .
The alkylating agents all have numerous adverse side effects, but the predominant toxicities are on gastrointestinal tract (vomiting, nausea, diarrhea) and mucositis, a severe inflammation of the mucosa.
The toxicity of cancer therapy for epithelial cells accounts for many of the side effects commonly suffered by persons undergoing a regimen of chemotherapy. These complications can be so difficult to endure that it is not uncommon for patients to forego or discontinue recommended cancer therapy treatments.
Most common complications of chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, asthenia, fatigue, mucositis, alopecia, respiratory and cognitive disorders. Toxicity against various cells including blood cells, hepatic cells, nerve cells, lung cells and heart cells has also been reported. Blood cell poisoning may result in anemia and depression of the immune system leading to infections. Nerve cell damage may cause headache, inter alia, whereas lung cell poisoning typically results in coughing spells. To date, prophylactic treatments have been provided in order to reduce the severity or occurrence of some of the above adverse side effects. For instance, erythropoietin (EPO) is recommended to prevent anemia and granulocytic growth factors (GCSF) to boost the immune system. However, vomiting and nausea continue to be the most distressing side effects of cancer chemotherapy. They may ultimately result in weight loss, which is another adverse event associated with chemotherapy that may compromise a patient's chances of recovery, because his ability to fight disease may be reduced by a weakened state. It has especially been reported that platinum-based chemotherapy, and notably cisplatin has the highest emetogenicity effect among antineoplastic agents (Annals of Oncology, 21 (Supplement 5): v232-v243, 2010). To prevent acute nausea and vomiting, an anti-emetic drug regimen is recommended, including a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and/or dexamethasone and/or aprepitant, which is a selective antagonist of the neurokinin (NK)1 neurotransmitter receptor. Although these prophylactic treatments have proven to be rather efficient on vomiting, identification of anti-nausea agents remains a big challenge.
Moreover, chemotherapy is frequently administered concurrently with radiotherapy, which shares with chemotherapy several of the above adverse events, such as nausea and vomiting, asthenia, headache and cough. This is because radiation therapy achieves most of its cell killing properties by generating oxygen radicals within cells, which may also kill mammalian cells.
It would therefore be particularly useful to provide a single prophylactic treatment that would be efficient against many of these adverse side effects of chemotherapy, in order to avoid treating each of the above conditions separately. | {
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The present invention relates to a power field effect transistor (FET) device.
Known power FET devices comprise a semiconductor wafer substrate upon which a series of structures is defined, each structure forming a single FET element arranged such that all of the individual FET elements are connected in parallel. The semiconductor wafer defines first and second surfaces, a gate electrode extends over the first surface of the substrate, and a drain electrode extends over the second surface of the substrate. The known devices can generally be categorised as either of xe2x80x9ccellularxe2x80x9d design or xe2x80x9cstripexe2x80x9d design.
In cellular designs, the gate electrode defines a regular army of rows and columns of apertures, each aperture defining the location of one FET element. During fabrication, an FET body region of a first conductivity type is formed through each of the gate apertures such that an array of body regions is formed in the first surface of the substrate, each body region being located beneath a respective gate electrode aperture and extending laterally under the edges of the gate electrode defining that aperture. A source region of a second conductivity type is then formed in each of the body regions through the apertures in the gate electrode, the source regions extending laterally beneath the aperture edges into the body region. The source regions do not extend to the peripheral edges of the body regions and therefore channel regions are defined in the body regions around the source regions and beneath the gate electrode. The gate electrode is electrically isolated from the substrate by a layer of gate oxide.
Current flow through the device is controlled by controlling a voltage applied between the gate electrode and a source electrode which contacts each of the source regions through the apertures in the gate electrode. Current passes vertically through The substrate between the source and drain electrodes via the channel regions which extend around the circumference of each of the gate electrode apertures.
One known cellular design is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,725. In that design, a plurality of simple hexagonal-shaped body regions, each containing a source region, are closely packed on one surface of a semiconductor body. Gate electrodes extend between adjacent sources and control conduction from the source electrode through the channels and then to a drain electrode on the opposite surface of the semiconductor body. Each source overlies a p-type body region, the body regions of adjacent FET elements being separated by n-type material through which current flows between the source and drain after passing laterally through the channels beneath the gate electrodes. The use of a basic hexagonal structure makes it possible to ensure a constant spacing between adjacent edges of the sources and thereby enables a large number of small hexagonal source elements to be formed in a given area of semiconductor body.
In xe2x80x9cstripexe2x80x9d designs, rather than relying upon an array of rows and columns of cells, a single column of elongate structures is formed, each elongate structure defining one xe2x80x9cstripexe2x80x9d. The gate electrode defines a column of elongate slot-like apertures, each aperture defining the location of one FET element Body and source regions are forced through each of the apertures and extend laterally beneath the edges of the apertures.
It is known that the DC on resistance of FET""s is a function of the total peripheral source region edge length, which in turn is a function of the total length of the gate electrode aperture edge. This length can be made greater in cellular designs than in stripe designs, and therefore cellular designs have been preferred in applications in which DC on resistance is of primary importance. It is also known however that the AC switching performance of FET""s is a function of the gate/drain overlap area (the area beneath the gate electrode not occupied by body region). This area is greater in cellular designs than in stripe designs, and therefore stripe designs have been preferred in some applications in which AC switching performance is of primary importance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,410 describes an alternative design which seeks to achieve a relatively long gate electrode aperture edge by using complex elongate source region shapes. In that arrangement, square openings are formed in a gate electrode, and pairs of the square openings are connected by slits. With such an arrangement, although only a relatively small number of source regions can be provided in a given substrate area, the slits provide a relatively long source region edge. The body region of each basic double opening and slit arrangement extends by the same distance laterally relative to all of the structure and as a result the distance between adjacent body regions can be vent small (in one of the illustrated examples only 0.04 micrometers). In a practical device, given fabrication tolerances and errors, adjacent body regions might contact each other, but only to a limited and accidental extent.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved power FET device which may have a relatively large source region edge length per unit area and a relatively small gate/drain overlap area.
According to the present invention, there is provided a power FET device comprising a semiconductor wafer substrate defining first and second surfaces, a gate electrode extending over the first surface of the substrate, the gate electrode defining a regular array of apertures and being insulated from the substrate, a drain electrode extending over the second surface of the substrate, an FET body region of a first conductivity type formed in the first surface of the substrate beneath each gate electrode aperture and extending a first predetermined lateral distance from edges of the gate electrode defining the aperture, an FET source region of a second conductivity type formed within the body region beneath each gate electrode aperture, each FET source region extending a second predetermined lateral distance from the edges of the gate electrode defining the aperture, a source electrode interconnecting source contacts located beneath each of the gate electrode apertures, and an FET channel region defined around the periphery of each of the source regions beneath the gate electrode, each gate electrode aperture being separated from at least one adjacent gate electrode aperture by a strip of gate electrode the width of which varies along the length of the strip between a maximum which is substantially greater than twice the first distance and a minimum which is substantially greater than twice the second distance and substantially less than twice the first distance, whereby a single body structure extends continuously between the said adjacent gate electrode apertures at each position of minimum inter-aperture width due to lateral merging of the body regions at each such position.
The invention also provides a method for forming a power FET device, wherein a gate electrode is formed on a first surface of the semiconductor wafer substrate, the gate electrode defining a regular array of apertures and being insulated from the substrate, a drain electrode is formed on a second surface of the substrate, an FET body region of a first conductivity type is formed in the first surface of the substrate beneath each gate electrode aperture so as to extend beneath edges of the gate electrode apertures, an FET source region of a second conductivity type is formed within the body region beneath each gate electrode aperture so as to extend beneath the edges of the gate electrode apertures, and a source electrode is formed to interconnect source contacts located beneath each of the gate electrode apertures, an FET channel region being defined in the body region around the periphery of each of the source regions beneath the gate electrode, the edges of the gate electrodes being shaped and positioned such that each gate electrode aperture is separated from at least one adjacent gate electrode aperture by a strip of gate electrode the width of which varies along the length of the strip between a maximum and a minimum, the body regions being formed such that each extends a distance beneath the aperture edges greater than half the minimum width but less than half the maximum width, whereby the body regions merge beneath minimum width portions of the strip, and the source regions being formed such that each extends a distance beneath the aperture which is less than half the minimum width.
Accepting that the width of the electrode strips between adjacent apertures is in parts less than twice the distance that the body region extends laterally beneath each aperture edge whereby a continuous body region is formed, means that adjacent structures can be very close to each other. Given that each electrode strip is of variable width, the edge length of each strip is relatively large as compared with the overall length of the strip. There is some loss of performance for the resultant channel width as a result of the merging of body portions of adjacent structures, which merging means that some current must flow from the channel regions laterally towards portions of the structure which are not occupied by the continuous body structure but it is believed that by appropriate selection of the detailed shape of the edges of the electrode strips, in situations in which the requirements of voltage capability, function depths and manufacturing line width tolerances are suitable this effect can be more than compensated for by the associated increase in source region edge length.
Each aperture edge may comprise aligned linear end portions on either side a central portion of for example rectangular configuration such that the strip edge length corresponds to the overall strip length plus twice the width of the rectangular central section. Alternative shapes are possible however. For example, the central portion could be generally triangular, or may comprise a first generally rectangular portion defined between a first pair of parallel edges and a second generally triangular portion defined by a second pair of edges which extend between the first pair. | {
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Dental plaque in the form of a film, a combination of bacteria and sticky bacterial products, a by-product of microbial growth is found on the teeth even a few hours after cleaning. Its source is the natural bacteria in the mouth of which more than 300 different species have been identified. When newly formed in small amounts plaque is invisible and relatively harmless. However when it accumulates, plaque is seen as a whitish deposit as the harmful species in the plaque grows. It consists of a mass of microorganisms embedded in a polysaccharide matrix. Plaque adheres firmly to dental surfaces and once the dental plaque buildup is allowed to develope it is difficult to remove.
Periodontal disease Gingivitis and Periodontitis are the most commonly used terms that refer to disease that is caused by the buildup of dental plaque. The Periodontium are the tissues that surround and support the teeth. They include the gums, the gingiva, the bone of the tooth socket, and the periodontal ligament, the thin layer of connective tissue that holds the tooth in its socket and acts as a cushion between tooth and bone.
Inflamation or infection of the gums is called Gingivitis. Infection of the bone is Periodontitis. The plaque that causes Gingivitis is found at or above the gum line and is referred to as supragingival plaque. In time areas of supragingival plaque become covered by swollen gum tissue and spread below the gum line, forming subgingival plaque where harmful bacteria within the plaque proliferate stimulating chronic inflammatory response and the periodontal ligament and bone of the tooth socket are destroyed.
Among the species of bacteria found in the mouth that have been identified as a primary cause of dental plaque buildup and dental caries are Aerobic Gram-Positive Cocci, Streptococcus Mutans and Streptococcus Sanguis. Other bacteria found in the mouth are Aerobic Gram-Negative bacteria Neisseria Sicca found in the nasal pharynx and mouth. Anaerobic Gram-Positive Cocci, PeptococcusMagnus inhabit the mouth as does Anaerobic Gram-Negative Cocci Veillonella Parvula and Gram-Negative Non-Sporeforming Anaerobic Bacilli, Fusobacterium Nucleatum, Bacteroides Fragilis, Leptotrichia Buccalis and Bacteroides Melaninogenicus and many others such as Gram-Positive Non-Sporeforming Anaerobic Bacilli Actinomyces Israelii found in dental Caries, and Calculus. See: The Science of Biology (3d Ed. 1967) pg. 240; Villae, Claude A., Biology (3d Ed. 1957) Pg. 117 et Seq.
Plaque which forms on all parts of the tooth surface is found at the Gingival margin and in dental Calculus. It is this buildup of dental plaque that causes periodontal disease Gingivitis and Periodontitis as well as dental Caries and dental Calculus. Periodontal disease is often described as almost universal, a disease that can or will affect almost everyone. Mouthwashers have proven ineffective in reducing supragingival plaque and plaque related Gingivitis, and there is no evidence that any dental rinse can effect subgingival plaque or Periodontitis. Even the antimicrobial formulation containing Chlorhexidine, a prescription mouthwash shows ineffective reduction of Gingivitis reputed at best to be about 41%. Regular brushing does not prevent plaque buildup for most persons and its removal by a dentist is currently the only safeguard against serious Periodontal disease Gingivitis and Periodontitis.
Researchers are currently studying techniques involving the Immune System function in controlling the types, quantities and location of bacteria in a person's mouth. As plaque consists of about eighty percent live bacteria in a polysaccharide matrix it is necessary that an oral composition to be effective in controlling, eliminating or retarding significantly the growth of bacterial colonies present in plaque, it must have antibacterial properties.
There is therefore a definite need in the Art for an oral hygiene composition with antibacterial properties that stimulates and increases significantly the Immune System Response to control, combat and destroy the plaque causing bacteria found in the mouth and thereby aid in the reduction of Caries formation, development of Calculus and oral diseases Gingivitis and Periodontitis.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a fast acting oral hygiene composition with antibacterial properties that will stimulate the Immune System Response to control, combat and destroy the plaque causing bacteria found in the mouth thereby by preventing plaque buildup that results in Caries formation, Calculus and Periodontal disease Gingivitis and Periodontitis.
Phenolphthalein has long been known as one of a group of primary diphenylmethane cathartics. The cathartic effect of the drug Phenolphthalein was reportedly discovered in 1902 and since that time it has been widely employed in laxative formulas. It is also reported that Phenolphthalein is relatively nontoxic. See: Goodman & Gillman Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (4th Ed. 1977) Pgs. 1021 and 1022. Phenolphthalein is also used as an indicator in the titration of mineral and organic acids and most alkalis.
Applicant also disclosed methods and uses of Phenolphthalein as an antiviral drug in Treatment of Herpes Simplex Infections and Acne, U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,763 filed Sep. 19, 1978 and issued Mar. 17, 1981; and as an antiviral drug for treating mammalian inflammatory viral infections in U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,744, Filed Jan. 27th, 1981 and issued May 13, 1986. Applicant disclosed methods and uses of Phenolphthalein as an antibacterial drug in U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,307, filed Mar. 24, 1983 and issued Jul. 10, 1984. Applicant disclosed Treatment of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) HTLV111/LAV infections with Phenolphthalein as an antiviral drug, U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,233 filed Aug. 4, 1987 and issued Nov. 13, 1990.
Phenolphthalein is a potent stimulant of Prostaglandin Biosynthesis. Prostaglandins function primarily as agents of bodily defense in response to injurious stimulus. Prostaglandins a naturally occurring group of substances represent a diverse family of oxygenated derivatives formed from certain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The biosynthesis of Prostaglandins consists of many steps that involve a variety of different enzymes and cofactors.
It is well established that Prostaglandins are important immunoregulators and their role in immune response is currently being investigated. The stimulation of Prostaglandin Synthesis by Phenolphthalein will greatly increase the issue of metabolites to act as local immunoregulators at all physiological and pathological situations in the body.
Immune responses are complex often requiring cooperation between several cell types, genetic and other immune-controlling influences, operating at a number of levels, providing an extremely complex regulatory system that is only beginning to be understood.
Prostaglandins are not normally stored in the tissues but are biosynthesized from fatty acids as and when required on injurious stimulus. Prostaglandins are involved in many physiological and pathological situations. They are involved in the protection of renal function against excessive activity of the pressor hormones, remaining dormant until challanged. The Lungs are involved in the metabolism of Prostaglandins but little is known about the biological activity of the metabolites that are formed. Prostaglandins have potent effects upon Bronchial and Pulmonary Vascular smooth muscle and the lungs have evolved enzyme systems in response to their biological activity.
Prostaglandins are metabolized by tissues to a variety of products in enzymatic reactions, everywhere in the body resulting from injurious stimulus including the nasal pharynx and the mouth. They are synthesized and released from various regions of the body, including for example the Central Nervous System, the Cerebro Spinal Fluid, Coronary Arteries, all layers of the Heart, the Spleen, the Brain, the Kidneys, the Liver, the Nasal Pharynx and the mouth and Semen, a total body defense system activated instantly on localized pathogenic stimulus
But like Human Interferon the Prostaglandins at their normal synthesized levels of concentration are not strong enough to inhibit the growth of the invading pathogens. The invading colonies of bacteria found on the teeth and in the oral cavity causing the dental plaque buildup is an example of this condition. What is needed is an excitant to stimulate the rate of Prostaglandin Biosynthesis to levels many times higher than that now occurring naturally. It is believed that Phenolphthalein will provide that needed stimulant.
Prostaglandin Synthesis stimulated by the oral administration of effective dental rinses of Phenolphthalein will cause metabolic formulations, in powerful concentrations at high levels of Prostaglandins effective against among other infections, dental Caries, Calculus and Periodontal disease Gingivitis and Periodontitis.
It is therefore an object of this present invention to provide a method and composition of matter comprising administration of a fast acting oral hygiene composition with antibacterial properties consisting of 800 Mgs. Phenolphthalein dissolved in about Two (2) Milliliters of Triethanolamine and Eight (8) Ozs. of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in the form of a dental rinse, administered by taking one (1) tablespoon full and rinsing it around in the mouth on the teeth surfaces and gums, thereby stimulating and increasing the rate of Prostaglandin synthesis in the mouth and oral cavity, and ability to resist bacterial infection, to levels many times higher than that now occurring naturally, and thereby to enhance and reconstitute the Immune System Response to effectively control, combat and destroy dental plaque causing bacterial found in the mouth and prevent plaque buildup that results in Caries formation, Calculus and Periodontal disease Gingivitis and Periodontitis.
It is well known that Phenolphthalein is highly insoluble in water and the high proof alcohol necessary to dissolve the drug has restricted In Vitro and In Vivo clinical studies and testing to an extant that little is known of the drug's antiviral, antibacterial and hormonal stimulating propensities. Inventor herein has discovered that Triethanolamine, an alkalizer, is an especially effective solvent for Phenolphthalein. As little as one milliliter of Triethanolamine will dissolve 400 Mgs. of the drug Phenolphthalein. When this drug is ingested into the human body, less than 15% of the active drug is absorbed into the blood stream. The rest of the drug is excreted in the feces. It is an object of this invention to provide a methodology for rendering the drug Phenolphthalein readily soluble. This solubility not only enhances the drugs ingestibility by and injectability into the human organism, but also allows for high concentrations of the drug in topical applications, carriers and dental rinses.
Preferred embodiment of the dental rinse formulation comprises an alkaline solution with a pH of about 7.5 or above which includes, in a homogeneously admixed liquid alkaline carrier, Pure White Phenolphthalein dissolved in Triethanolamine and additional ingredients Sodium Salicylate or Allantoin as healing agents. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing system, an image processing apparatus and an information processing method which enable to promptly perform printing even in a case where authentication information for printing by a printing apparatus has not been set to a print job, and a program for achieving the information processing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a printing apparatus system which has functions of performing various processes to a print job. As one of the functions, there is the function of storing a print job for which a series of processes has been completed in the printing apparatus system mainly for the purpose of subsequent reprinting (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-305331). In the print job, various print settings related to printing, e.g., a user information setting, a print paper setting, an image process setting, a finishing setting and the like have been designated as print attribute information. The printing apparatus system performs a printing process based on the print attribute information like this, and, after completing the overall printing process, stores the print job together with the print attribute information in the printing apparatus system. Besides, there is a workflow of storing print jobs in the printing apparatus system without performing printing of these print jobs and then performing, by an operator, printing of the stored print jobs in a lump.
Besides, there is a printing apparatus system which has a function of performing authentication to a print job and performing a process according to the result of the authentication (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-018654). In the printing apparatus system like this, in a printing process of the print job, for example, the user authentication is performed using user information set to the print job. In the printing apparatus system, the printing process is continued and performed only when the set user information coincides with user information previously set in the printing apparatus system, whereas the printing process is stopped when the set user information does not coincide with the user information previously set in the printing apparatus system.
However, in a case where the printing apparatus system is constituted by an image processing apparatus and a printing apparatus and user authentication is necessary for printing in the printing apparatus, there is a problem that, when PDL (page description language) data or the like of the print job stored in the image processing apparatus is printed by the printing apparatus, the printing cannot actually be performed if the authentication information for the printing by the printing apparatus has not been set to the PDL data. This is because the authentication information for the printing by the printing apparatus is unnecessary when the print job is stored in the image processing apparatus. Accordingly, when the operator performs the printing of the print jobs stored in the image processing apparatus in a lump, he/she has to confirm the authentication information for the printing apparatus in each print job. Then, when there is no authentication information, the operator has to input the authentication information every time and then perform the printing, thereby taking much time. | {
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Submergible pumping systems are used for raising fluids, such as petroleum, through a wellbore drilled into the earth. The production fluids enter the wellbore via perforations formed in a well casing adjacent a production formation. Fluids, e.g. petroleum, contained in the formation collect in the wellbore and may be raised by the submergible pumping system to a collection point in another zone or above the surface of the earth.
Commonly, the produced fluid is a mixture of liquid and gas components. The gas component distributed through the fluid can reduce the efficiency of the submergible pump, and potentially can damage or reduce the life of the pump. Gas separators have been used to separate the gas component from the fluid prior to its entering the submergible pump of the submergible pumping system. Thus, the gas component can be routed around the pump and vented to the surface through, for example, the annulus formed between the wellbore casing and the tubing utilized to carry the produced fluid. Once the gas is separated, the liquid component may be pumped through, for instance, the production tubing or coiled tubing used to deploy the submergible pumping system.
A conventional gas separator uses an inducer to induce the produced fluid into a circular flow pattern as it moves through the hollow interior of the gas separator. Specifically, the inducer draws fluid from the wellbore into the gas separator where it is circulated along an interior wall of the gas separator as it moves upwardly into a separation chamber. A vortex generator, such as a propeller or a cylinder, is disposed in the separation chamber and is used to promote the circulation of fluid and the creation of a vortex. The centrifugal force created by the circulation causes the heavier liquid component to move to a radially outward position, while the lighter gas component remains in a more centralized radial position. Appropriate outlet channels are used to vent the gas component and to direct the liquid component to the submergible pump.
Generally, the gas separator is connected between a submergible electric motor and the submergible pump. A drive shaft connects the submergible electric motor with the submergible pump and provides power thereto. The drive shaft extends through the hollow interior of the gas separator, and often is used to rotate the inducer. Typically, the drive shaft is composed of individual sections in each system component. For example, the gas separator may include a self-contained section of the drive shaft designed to matingly engage a section of the drive shaft disposed in the submergible pump.
The gas separator also may include a propeller or rotating cylinder mounted to the shaft above the inducer. This propeller or rotating cylinder helps create a vortex within the gas separator to facilitate separation.
A problem with conventional gas separators, however, is that the separation chamber is not long enough to allow sufficient separation of the gas and liquid as the fluid circulates through the chamber. On the other hand, the separation chamber is not readily lengthened because the drive shaft cannot be allowed to extend unsupported through a lengthened chamber. In the latter situation, vibrations develop in the shaft that can damage the gas separator or reduce its effective life.
It would be advantageous to have multiple, consecutive separation chambers to facilitate a greater separation of the gas and liquid components, while supporting the drive shaft to reduce or eliminate detrimental vibration. | {
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Hand-held blade tools are used in a wide variety of cutting and scraping activities in daily use.
For efficient operation, it is desirable that such tools be maintained with a sharp edge. For this purpose, it is known in the prior art for blade tools to utilize inexpensive disposable blades. For reasons of safety in storage, it is desirable that the blades of such tools may be shielded when not in use; for this purpose, it is known in the prior art for tools to employ a blade carrying member that is retractable within a housing and upon which a single disposal blade may be removably mounted. Examples of such prior art blade tools, for use in cutting and scraping operations, respectively, are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,882 (Silverstein), issued Aug. 9, 1988, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,601,723 (Keller), issued Jul. 1, 1952.
These types of single blade tools are known to be relatively economical to purchase and use, and to be relatively reliable in operation. However, in relation to both such tools, when the blade becomes worn, the operator is exposed to danger of injury from the sharpened edges of the blades during their replacement. As well, the blade replacement operation is relatively cumbersome and time-consuming, and typically requires the operator to cease whatever activity he or she is engaged in to effect the replacement of the blade.
Accordingly, a number of blade tools are known in the prior art which attempt to provide, in a safer, quicker and more convenient manner, for a replacement supply of new blades to be interchanged as required.
One example of such a prior art blade tool is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,888 (Szabo), issued Jul. 14, 1981, which discloses a utility knife having a magazine in which a plurality of blades are stacked, a blade changing device which pushes a blade from the top of the stack into an operating position, and pulls said blade underneath the stack when it has become worn. Such an arrangement resolves the aforementioned safety concern to a large extent, and provides for relatively quick blade exchange, albeit, requiring two hands to effect such exchange. However, this design suffers from undue complexity of assembly, and unduly high production costs. As well, this design suffers in that utility knives are often used for tasks wherein the blades become soiled or coated with foreign material, which soiling and coating tends to impair the reliability of the blade exchange operation. Finally, the utility knife disclosed in this patent provides only for sequential access to the replacement blades, which can result in a blade which is slightly worn, but still acceptable for normal use, being prematurely exchanged in circumstances where a very sharp edge is required for a particular and infrequent use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,118 (Ihata), issued Oct. 7, 1986, discloses another common type of utility knife. The knife described in the Ihata patent comprises a magazine portion which can be fitted into a magazine storage cavity that extends within a rear portion of the knife. A plurality of strip-like blades having pre-stamped lines of breakage at uniform spacing are fitted within the magazine. A respective one of the blades may be selectively extended so as to present a front portion of the blade for use. When said front portion of the blade has become worn and unusable, the blade may be broken along the foremost line of breakage, and an unused portion of the blade may then be extended for use. This type of knife is economical to purchase and operate, and provides for convenient retraction of the blade for storage. However, the danger of injury in the prior art is continued in this design, as the spent strip blades must be fully extended to the front of the knife and manually removed, so that the next strip blade may be engaged. As well, the removal of the blade sections exposes the user to the additional risk of injury from metal fragments.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,984 (Shepherd et al.), issued Feb. 25, 1997, shows another prior art utility knife. The utility knife disclosed in the Shepherd patent comprises a cylindrical blade magazine removably mounted in a manually holdable housing and rotatable about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing, the housing having a slidable transport mechanism which carries a blade from the magazine into an operative position, and returns same to the magazine for storage. Rotation of the blade magazine causes the retracted blade to be removed from the transport mechanism, and a new blade to be engaged by the transport mechanism, for subsequent movement of the new blade from the magazine into the operative position. The Shepherd knife resolves the aforementioned safety concern, and as well, allows for selective, non-sequential and relatively convenient access to the plurality of blades stored in the magazine. However, this knife maintains the problem of unduly high production costs, and also suffers from the requirement that the rear portion of the knife must be of a rather large bulbous shape to contain the cylindrical magazine, which is an impediment to the production of an ergonomically friendly and aesthetically pleasing knife. As well, the complexity of the blade magazine employed in this knife necessitates a high-replacement value, resulting in unduly high operating costs for this knife.
Moreover, none of the known prior art blade tools having a plurality of blade members which may be conveniently exchanged without risk of injury provide for scraper blades of the type shown in the Keller patent, wherein the sharpened edge of the blade in use is presented in an orientation normal to the handle. Rather, such prior art blade tools provide for the sharpened edge of the blade in use to be presented in an orientation substantially parallel to the handle, only, which does not particularly suit them for use in scraping operations. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to wagering games, gaming machines, gaming systems, and associated methods. More particularly, the invention relates to convertible in-revenue and out-of-revenue gaming machines, systems and related methods which provide an interactive bonus feature for the players.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various gaming systems have been developed to provide in-revenue and out-of-revenue gaming. Most of those systems are either dedicated to in-revenue operation or out-of-revenue operation. An example of in-revenue operation is a gaming machine or system in which game play is initiated with a money (or equivalent) wager by a player. An example of out-of-revenue operation is a gaming machine or system in which game play doesn't require a wager (e.g. tournament or free play).
There continues to be a need for innovative methods and gaming systems which provide convertibility between in-revenue and out-of-revenue gaming operation. There is also a need for innovative methods and systems for presenting tournament games in different ways to generate player interest and excitement. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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General electronic devices accept users' operations via mechanical key input units or touch panels. Upon an operation of such an electronic device, each user needs to operate a key input unit or a touch panel while checking an operation position of the key input unit or an indication of the touch panel to reliably operate the electronic device as intended. Hence, in some cases, each user takes a time to operate an electronic device or makes an operation mistake when each user needs to suddenly operate the electronic device or when each user operates the electronic device with the electronic device in a pocket or a bag.
Therefore, operation input methods of electronic devices that make it unnecessary to check an operation position have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Literatures 1 to 3). For example, according to operation input methods disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, an angular velocity sensor or an acceleration sensor is provided to each electronic device to detect an operation of tapping or shaking each electronic device. Further, according to an operation input method disclosed in Patent Literature 3, a touch screen is provided to an electronic device to detect relative motions of a plurality of fingers at arbitrary positions on the touch screen. PTL 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-129248. PTL 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-118700. PTL 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-108273.
However, according to the operation input methods disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, it is difficult to distinguish between an acceleration and an angular velocity produced by a user's intentional operation, and an acceleration and an angular velocity produced by a motion of an electronic device which is not intended by a user, and it is difficult to accurately detect a user's operation.
Further, according to the operation input method disclosed in Patent Literature 3, when, for example, a user tries to operate the touch screen while gripping an electronic device by one hand, the user needs to grip the electronic device by an irregular shape of a hand to place a plurality of fingers in contact with the touch screen. Therefore, user's operability for operating the touch screen by a plurality of fingers has been poor. | {
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This invention relates to a method of prescribing bifocal spectacles for the low vision patient and to the resultant spectacles which are then fabricated according to the method.
It is well known in the field of optometry that when working with patients with reduced visual acuity, sometimes referred to as low vision patients, that these patients should be able to read. In regard to accommodating such patients, one employs relative distance magnification to enable such patients to read. Essentially the print or reading material is brought closer to their eyes to create an enlarged retinal image. The practitioner then prescribes high plus lenses to enable such a patient to maintain a clear focus at the near working distance. In any event, there are many considerations which are involved in prescribing such lens systems for patients with reduced visual acuity or low vision patients.
Thus, for example, in addition to the increased accommodative demand, near reading distances require considerably more convergence than are ordinarily employed. For this reason it is generally agreed that binocularity cannot be achieved when the add power of a high plus lens exceeds 12 diopters or more. Thus, in order to reduce the convergence demand practitioners include prism in their prescriptions or simply decenter the lenses to create a prismatic effect. These techniques are accommodated by rules of thumb or employ standard magnification glasses with built in prisms that are commercially available.
In any event, regardless of how the prescription is devised it is absolutely unclear how much convergence is required and it is unclear how to implement or check the final spectacle product to see that it conforms to the prescription generated by the practitioner. As will be explained, an optometrist or practitioner generates a preseciption for a patient with reduced visual acuity which prescription is solely concerned with the measurement of the far interpupillary distance (p.d.). The term for interpupillary distance si sued in this specification to denote the distance between the eyes of the patient indicative of the distance between their center of rotation. This measurement is made by use of a trial frame and when the patient is viewing a distant object The term p.d. is well understood by those skilled in the art and is as defined above. The term "far" p.d. is employed in this specification to denote the conventional p.d. as distinguished from a near p.d. which is part of the teaching of the method of this invention.
Thus, according to prior art techniques and as will be explained, the patient is fitted with a conventional trial frame. Such trial frames are well known and essentially consists of a frame which can accommodate a plurality of trial lenses. The frame can be adjusted to accurately align the frame with the patient's eyes so that the geometrical center distance between the eyes is accurately indicated by adjustment of the frame by means of a calibrated scale located on the frame. This distance is known as the interpupillary distance (p.d.) which is made and measured when the patient is viewing an eye chart where this p.d. is determined at the condition of far viewing to enable the practitioner to record this distance during the examination. The trial frame accommodates various lenses which are inserted into the frame in front of each of the patient's eyes and such corrective lenses are inserted in various combinations until the patient achieves optimum visual acuity indicative of a far or distant prescription.
As one can also ascertain, after a far or a distant prescription is achieved, the practitioner then inserts a high add lens for providing the patient with bifocal viewing. This high add lens is necessary to enable the patient to read at a closer working distance than the distance used for far viewing. As is well known, when high add lenses are used, such as lenses ofj 4 to 12 diopters one cannot obtain binocular viewing with such lenses due to the extremely short focal lengths. Thus the practitioner or optometrist mathematically computes the amount of base prism required. The base in prism is required to bend the light rays to enable the patient to achieve binocularity at these short focal lengths. Based on the extreme difficulties of such procedures, very few practitioners prescribe for binocularity in the high add range because it is too complicated and cumbersome.
For an example of some of the considerations, reference is made to an article entitled "Determining The Convergence Demand For A Patient Who Reads At A Close Working Distance" by Paul B. Bither published in the American Journal of Optometry and Physiological Optics, Vol. 64, No. 5, pp. 355-360 (May, 1987). This article describes the considerations that a practitioner must involve himself in when attempting to provide comfortable reading spectacles for a patient with reduced visual acuity. The article further contains a bibliography of other pertinent articles which address this problem. As indicated from the article, the author clearly shows and attempts to show the mathematics involved and presents certain charts whereby a practitioner, when obtaining the far interpupillary distance can now determine the amount of base in prism required in regard to various work distances for high add lenses. As the article indicates, while it is clear that the benefits of decentration can be considered, he clearly acknowledges the fact that these techniques are limited.
Thus, one will ascertain by perusing the prior art that a practitioner attempts to mathematically compute the amount of prism required to accommodate a high plus lens needed by a patient to enable the patient to read by means of a bifocal combination. This mathematical computation determines the amount of prism required to enable the patient to achieve binocularity at short focal lengths due to the high add lenses. The prior art attempted are relatively unsuccessful and hence many low vision patients cannot read with binocularity.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method in which a low vision patient is tested for near distance reading ability utilizing a conventional trial frame and based on the utilization of the trial frame bifocal spectacles, which accommodate both the far distance prescription as well as a near reading prescription, can be fabricated.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a pair of high add bifocal spectacles having unique optical properties to enable a person with reduced visual acuity to be able to both read and to perceive objects at a distance.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method which a practitioner can employ to determine both the near and distant prescriptions to be employed in providing spectacles for a patient with reduced visual acuity. | {
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The literature on such catalysts and processes is quite extensive. Certain technical areas have been addressed as of particular interest as is readily apparent based on the large numbers of patents on certain technical topics, e.g., the use of certain zeolites in hydrocracking catalysts. Representative of the patents in this area are those relating to the use of ZSM-type zeolites in hydrocracking and include: U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,934 (ZSM-5); U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,993 (ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-12 and ZSM-21); U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,886 (ZSM-5); and U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,403 (ZSM-5 in combination with zeolite Y) of and U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,983 (ZSM-20).
Although the aforementioned patents on the use of ZSM-type zeolites in hydrocracking catalysts are of interest, the use of these zeolites has not been of significant commercial interest to date. The commercially significant activity in the hydrocracking area has been for the most part directed to further elaboration on the basic hydrocracking technology which has arisen in relation to zeolite Y, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,007.
The development of hydrocracking catalysts based on a Y-type zeolite has taken many directions. Illustrative of the various processes which have arisen are those disclosed in the following patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,293,192 discloses a "synthetic ultra stable zeolitic aluminosilicate of the Y-type (see: U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,331 which discloses that Z-14HS is zeolite Y) which has been prepared by calcining a low alkali metal Y zeolite and successively base exchanging the calcined product with a base solution containing ammonium or complex amino salts until the alkali content is less than 1 weight percent and the calcining this product.
Although there has been extensive development of Y-type hydrocracking catalysts there has been little development of truly new hydrocracking catalysts based on the development of new molecular sieve components. This paradox, the lack of new catalytic materials despite the sizable economic interest, is readily understood by an appreciation of the fact that the work horse of the commercial hydrocracking business is zeolite Y. As a result, the patent literature discloses the clear preference towards improving zeolite Y.
The existence of zeolite Y and its use as a catalyst for hydrocracking processes is now well accepted if not, in fact, legendary. Still, the state of the art relating to zeolite Y and its use in hydrocracking catalysts has been generally limited to ion-exchange techniques, aluminum extraction techniques, catalyst formulation techniques and to secondary treatment processes which tend to remove aluminum from zeolite Y.
The instant invention is distinguished from the hydrocracking catalysts and processes of the prior art by employing a novel family of non-zeolitic molecular sieves which may be employed alone or in conjunction with the catalysts traditionally employed in hydrocracking processes. These novel non-zeolitic molecular sieves are unique in their ability to provide products with product distributions different from those obtained by use of catalysts derived from zeolitic aluminosilicates. | {
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Roll-on, roll-off and other containers of many sizes and types are known and are often used in the collection and transportation of numerous materials including waste materials; residential, commercial and industrial refuse or debris; bulk materials; finished products; parts; or components. Generally, a container is transported by a truck to the site where it is to be filled. The container is unloaded by the truck in some cases by tilting the bed and setting the container on the ground with the aid of a container retrieving hoist mechanism. The container is then filled while sitting on the ground, floor, or other surface before being reloaded onto a truck and transported elsewhere to be emptied or the like.
Prior art containers have been designed with standardized fittings that are specific to facilitate transport by a certain size and/or type of transport means, i.e., truck. The container fittings are permanently positioned to be engaged by the hook or other element of a container retrieving hoist mechanism at a defined height. It is a problem that only a specific truck having a container retrieving mechanism with a minimum hook or other element height can matingly engage or retrieve a container with a specific hook-receiving support or connector member height.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,505 relates to a self-packing and ejecting roll off container has a top door and two side doors slightly spaced from a first closed end. A concave packing and ejecting blade having a replaceable edge with a downward extending, friction reducing strip is mounted on a frame which is supported on guides spaced upward from the bottom of the sidewalls. The frame and curved blade are homed at the first closed end with the blade near the door openings. The frame and blade are moved by a multiple stage hydraulic cylinder. The container is completed by a power drive tailgate which closes the container and by a seal which extends inward from the tailgate against the open end to tightly seal the container. The base of the container has hooks at opposite longitudinal ends so that the container may be rolled on and rolled off trucks at either end.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,882 relates to a reversible roll-off container for use with a truck chassis. The truck chassis has a rearwardly directed frame and means for hoisting and positioning a container thereon. The container has an improved frame engaging means thereon providing for bidirectional loading of the container and automatic securing or holding of the container on the truck during transport or unloading of the container contents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,619 relates to a removable support with a transverse hooking bar for equipping a front panel of a container, having a front panel and an upper panel, to receive a hook of a swinging cross piece bracket, adapted to fit a transportation and handling vehicle, wherein a transverse hooking bar of the movable support receives a handling hook which is connected to the vehicle. The hooking bar is thereby disposed on the front panel, connected to the removable support. The container is locked into place by an eclipsible lock, but at the same time the removable support can be unlocked, allowing access to the front panel of the container. The removable support can pivot about an axis to a horizontal position on the upper panel of the container where it may be locked into place. The support is vertically moveable on the front panel and may be secured at the top or bottom of the panel by means of the eclipsible lock. A swinging door located on the front panel is made accessible by use of the removable support.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,194 relates to a container which has a support member which ascends and descends and is provided at back of a container body, a top connecting member which is fixed at front of the container body and can couple and decouple with a carrier, a bottom connecting member which is provided at the front of the container body so as to be able to move and which couples and decouples with the carrier, and transmitting members which transmit the movement of the bottom connecting member to the support member and raise and lower the support member. When this container is loaded on the carrier, it is reportedly possible to synchronize the front and back of the container body so that the container remains level by raising the front of the container by lifting the top connecting member at the front of the container body by means of a member of the carrier, and holding the bottom connecting member at the front of the container fixed with respect to the ground, transferring the motion of the bottom connecting member relative to the container body to the support member at the back of the container by means of the transmitting members, and extending the support member at the back of the container down to raise the back of the container.
The prior art fails to solve the problem of having to monitor the mateability between trucks and containers of various sizes and thus creates an economic burden on container transporters. For example, even though one transport truck may be located in an area where a full container is waiting to be picked up, the truck is not able to mate with or be able to retrieve the container due to differing connection heights, such as when the truck has a minimum hook or other implement height, and the container has hook-receiving support with a vertical height below the truck hook height. In this case, another truck which is mateable with the container has to be sent out, resulting in a waste of time and resources. | {
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Fluid-carrying vessels exist in a wide number of systems, including those physiological systems found, for example, in the human body. The assembly, modification, or repair of such systems frequently involves the connection or anastomosis of two or more vessels to define a fluid path. To assist in anastomosis of physiological vessels, an internal support or stent may be employed at the vessel junction. The stent maintains the desired orientation of the vessels and provides rigidity to the vessels at the point of connection, or anastomotic site. In addition, the stent may reduce leakage at the anastomotic site by by confining the fluid to a passage extending through the stent.
Given the nature of physiological vessels, their connection frequently requires the use of a stent only until the vessel tissue reorganizes to provide a continuous, healed conduit. One stent designed to provide such temporary support to physiological vessels is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,218. There, a cylindrical support made of polyglycolic acid is disclosed for use in connecting a variety of vessels including blood vessels, spermatic ducts, bile ducts, ureters and sinus tubes. This internal support is located at the anastomotic site and supports the vessel ends, which are held together by sutures or clamps of polyglycolic acid. In one embodiment, the support has tapered ends to make insertion into the vessel ends easier. In another embodiment, the ends are slightly expanded to hold the vessels in place about the support. The reference also notes that the diameter of the support may vary where vessels of different size are to be spliced.
While prior art supports have aided in the connection of physiological vessels, several problems may still be encountered. First, because a physiological vessel is a relatively sensitive structure, it can be easily damaged by a support arrangement that applies pressure to fixed portions of the vessel for extended periods. Further, when vessels of varying diameter are to be joined, the sharp transition in diameter at the anastomotic site may lead to puckering of the vessel ends and misalignment of the joined vessels. Finally, the ability of a particular support to be inserted into, and seal, a vessel may vary significantly with even minor variations in vessel size. In light of these observations, it would be desirable to produce an anastomosis stent that does not significantly injure the vessel, that allows a good connection to be produced between vessels of different size, and that is dimensioned to produce optimal insertion and sealing characteristics when used with the particular vessels to be joined. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, a wireless communication system, a wireless communication method, and a computer program.
2. Description of the Related Art
A method of building a wireless network by a plurality of wireless communication devices is generally used. Among them, WiMedia Distributed MAC Specification clearly describes a mechanism in which each wireless communication device builds a network in an autonomous distributed control. This specification describes determining a beacon period to a predetermined superframe cycle, and having each wireless communication device exchange beacon signals within the beacon period.
A method of grasping the connection relationship with each other, maintaining the network and implementing data transmission through exchange of the beacon signals is described. In other words, a method of exchanging its address information and address information of a communication device existing at the periphery, and information of a beacon slot being used on its beacon signal, as predetermined network management information, is described.
Furthermore, the specification discloses a configuration capable of implementing low power consumption operation of a certain extent by having the communication device repeat a dormant operation and an activity operation at a cycle of a certain extent for hibernation (dormant) operation. For the hibernation operation, the communication device in hibernation is assumed to have a configuration of continuously using a beacon slot in the beacon period even during hibernation. Specifically, other communication devices existing at the periphery of the communication device in hibernation operation have a configuration of notifying the other newly entered communication device of the continuous use of the beacon slot.
A technique related to hibernation operation is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-166196 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-124524. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-166196 describes a method of waking up the communication terminal device at low cost using a beacon of a pulse signal different from a data communication signal. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-124524 describes a method of using a low-speed clock to maintain time synchronization with the base station and using a high-speed clock to receive signals from the base station. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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GSM mobile radio systems allow communications connections to be set up to mobile subscribers by transmitting information by means of electromagnetic waves via a radio interface between a transmitting and a receiving radio station. In GSM mobile radio systems, electromagnetic waves are emitted with carrier frequencies in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz ranges. To distinguish between different signal sources at the location of the relevant receiver, a combination of frequency and time division multiplex methods is used. An important function is performed by base stations, which maintain the radio links within one or more cells with one or more subscriber stations. Connection-oriented and packet-oriented concepts can be used in order to transmit data. In connection-oriented data transmission, physical resources must be made available between the participants in the communication throughout the entire period. In contrast to this, in packet-oriented data transmission, physical resources need to be made available only during the actual transmission times. This method is based on the concept whereby the data are transmitted in short data packets, between which longer pauses may occur. The physical resources are available to other logical connections in the pauses between the data packets.
GSM mobile radio systems were originally designed to transmit voice, whereby one channel is reserved for continuous information transmission between the subscriber stations and the base station. However, in packet-oriented data transmission, one common channel is used for a plurality of subscriber stations for packet data transmission.
In some countries, for example the USA, numerous frequency bands are already used by GSM mobile radio systems for connection-oriented services and are therefore not available for packet-oriented data services, the implementation of which requires greater bandwidth. When setting up overlaid cellular radio networks for packet-oriented data transmission, which are known by the name of EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), certain carrier frequencies previously used by connection-oriented services are released for the overlaid radio networks. However, despite such measures, relatively few carrier frequencies are available to the overlaid radio networks. This results in a narrow repetition pattern of the carrier frequencies for the overlaid cellular radio networks, creating the risk of increased common channel interference. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The World Wide Web is well known today and comprises a vast multitude of web servers forming web sites. Client computers with web browsers are connected to the web servers via communication media, Internet Service Providers, firewalls, routers, etc. Upon request by a client computer, a web site can furnish a “home page” or other web pages to the client computer. The web browser on the client computer displays the home page or other web page for the user to view and enter data or make selections. Some of the selections are links to navigate through web pages in the same web site or other web sites.
Some complex web sites offer a local search engine to search through the web site based on key words entered by the user. The user can use the search engine to locate a web page of interest to the user. For example, the user may want to locate and display a web page containing information of interest to the user or a web page used to purchase a product. Some search engines are more effective than others, i.e. faster, more user friendly and better able to locate the web page of interest to the user.
Some web sites provide “support” to customers in their use of various hardware or software products. For example, Microsoft Corporation provides a web site to provide support or help to customers of various Microsoft operating systems. Likewise, IBM provides a web site to provide support or help to customers of various IBM program products such as Tivoli Storage Manager (“TSM”) web site and Lotus Notes web site. Many other software manufacturers also provide web sites for support or help to their customers.
An object of the present invention is to provide a program tool which automatically tests and determines usability of a web site.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a program tool which automatically tests and determines usability of a web site providing customer support or help for a manufacturer's hardware or software products. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to ratchet wrench construction, and more specifically to improvements to ratchet wrenches of the sectional socket type which are usable where limited access normally requires an open ended wrench.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are a number of applications in which a closed end or socket wrench is preferred for use in making up or breaking a high torque union. One of the most common jobs in which this situation occurs is in the making and breaking of pipe union connections in which pipe sections extend both above and below the union, thereby making it impossible to use the standard box end wrench or socket. Additionally, there are a number of jobs in which such pipe unions are disposed in relatively inaccessible locations, which limit the stroke range of back-and-forth manipulations required for making up or breaking the coupling or union. This situation is commonly encountered in domestic plumbing installations. In such installations, it is not uncommon to find a pipe coupling which is frozen in place and which requires the application of high torque to break the coupling loose. Because of the high torque requirements of such a situation, it would be desirable to apply the breaking torque through a closed end box wrench, and because of the limited access typically found in such installations, it would also be desirable to apply the torque through a ratchet assembly. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to plasma processing systems and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for controlling radio frequency delivery in a plasma reactor through monitoring and feedback of an electrical parameter, in particular a peak voltage.
2. Background Art
Ionized gas, or plasma, is commonly used during the processing and fabrication of semiconductor devices. For example, plasma can be used to etch or remove material from semiconductor integrated circuit wafers, and to sputter or deposit material onto semiconducting, conducting or insulating surfaces.
With reference to FIG. 1A, creating a plasma for use in manufacturing or fabrication processes typically begins by introducing various process gases into a plasma chamber 10 of a plasma reactor, generally designated 12. These gases enter the chamber 10 through an inlet 13 and exit through an outlet 15. A workpiece 14, such as an integrated circuit wafer is disposed in the chamber 10 held upon a chuck 16. The reactor 12 also includes plasma density production mechanism 18 (e.g. a TCP coil). A plasma inducing signal, supplied by a plasma inducing power supply 20 is applied to the plasma density production mechanism 18. The plasma inducing signal is preferably a radio frequency (RF) signal. A dielectric window 22, constructed of a material such as ceramic, incorporated into the upper surface of the chamber 10 allows efficient transmission of the first RF signal from the TCP coil 18 to the interior of the grounded chamber 10. This first RF signal excites the gas molecules within the chamber, generating a plasma 24.
The plasma 24 formed within the chamber 10 includes electrons and positively charged particles. The electrons, being lighter than the positively charged particles tend to migrate more readily, causing a sheath to form at the surfaces of the chamber 10. A self biasing effect causes a net negative charge at the inner surfaces of the chamber. This net negative charge, or D.C. sheath potential acts to attract the heavier positively charged particles toward the wall surfaces. The strength of this D.C. bias in the location of the workpiece 14 largely determines the energy with which the positively charged particles will strike the workpiece 14 and correspondingly affects the desired process (e.g. etch rate, or deposition rate).
The present invention will be more readily understood by bearing in mind the distinction between DC bias and DC sheath potential. DC bias is defined as the difference in electrical potential between a surface within the chamber 10 and ground. DC sheath, on the other hand is defined as the difference between the plasma potential and the potential of a surface within the chamber as measured across the plasma sheath.
The workpiece is held upon a chuck 16 is located at the bottom of the chamber 10 and constitutes a chuck electrode 26. A bias RF power source 28 supplies a biasing RF signal to the chuck electrode 16. Alternatively, in some systems the both the plasma density signal and bias signal are in fact a single signal produced by a single power source.
This second excitation signal, preferably in the form of a RF signal, at the second electrode increases the DC bias at the location of the workpiece, depending on the disposition of the RF electric field within the chamber 10, and this increases the energy with which the charged particles strike the workpiece. Variations in the RF signal supplied to the second electrode 16 produce corresponding variations in the D.C. bias at the workpiece affecting the process.
With continued reference to FIG IA, the bias RF power source 28 described above supplies a R.F. signal to the chuck electrode 26. This signal passes through a match network 30 disposed between the bias RF power source 28 and the chuck electrode 26. The match network 30 matches the impedance of the RF signal with the load exhibited by the plasma. A similar match network 31 is provided between the power inducing power source 20 and the TCP coil 18. As discussed above, the control and delivery of the RF signal at the chuck electrode 26 is of fundamental importance in plasma processing. Significant variance in actual power delivered may unexpectedly change the rate of the process. Unfortunately, the match network 30 generates significant losses in the RF signal. Furthermore, these losses are variable and, to a degree, unpredictable. Therefore, simply supplying a predetermined RF signal power from the RF power source 28 does not ensure that a predictable and consistent RF signal will be delivered at the electrode 26.
With continued reference to FIG. 1A, one method which has been used to attach the workpiece 14 to the chuck 16 has been to provide the chuck with clamps 32 which contact the surface of the workpiece along its edges to hold the workpiece to the chuck. Using such a chuck 16 (and to the extent that the workpiece is somewhat conductive) it is possible to measure the D.C. bias directly by installing a pickup 33 at the electrode 26 and transmitting a voltage signal to a voltage sensor 34. The power source could then be feedback controlled to maintain a constant measured D.C. bias. However, using such clamps 32 to attach the workpiece 14 to the chuck 16 presents multiple problems. For one, valuable surface area may be wasted on the workpiece due to its engagement with the clamps 32. In addition, any such contact of clamps 32 to the workpiece 14 is undesirable due the risk of damage to the workpiece 14, and the generation of particles.
With reference to FIG 1B, another method which has been used to hold the workpiece onto the electrode has been to provide an electrode in the form of an electrostatic chuck 36. In its most general sense an electrostatic chuck includes an electrode 38 which is covered with an insulator 40. The electrically conductive workpiece 14,which is generally semiconductive, sits on the electrically insulating material. When a DC voltage is applied to the electrode 38, the electrode and workpiece 14 become capacitively coupled resulting in opposite electrical charges on each, attracting the workpiece 14 and electrode 38 toward one another. This acts to hold the workpiece against the chuck 36.
More particularly, the electrostatic chuck 36 can be understood with reference to FIG. 1C in addition to FIG. 1B. In this bipolar implementation, the electrode 38 of the electrostatic chuck 36 includes first and second electrically conducive portions 42 and 44, which are electrically isolated from one another. A DC voltage from a D.C. voltage source 46, passes through a filter 47 before being applied between the first and second portions 42 and 44 of the electrode 38. This causes the desired electrostatic attraction between the electrode 38 and the workpiece 14, thereby holding the workpiece to the chuck 36.
With reference to FIG. ID, a simpler version of electrostatic chuck is illustrated. This simpler form of electrostatic chuck, termed a mono polar chuck 37 is shown in plan view in ID. By applying a DC potential between the workpiece 14 and the chuck an electrostatic charge on each holds the workpiece to the chuck. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous other forms of electrostatic chuck are possible as well.
However, use of such an electrostatic chuck 36 renders a direct measurement of the D.C. bias at the workpiece impractical. End users are averse to having their sensitive semiconductor products touched by any mechanical probe or electrically conductive item such as a voltage sensor. In addition, it would be difficult to maintain sensor accuracy and longevity in the plasma environment. Correlating the D.C. voltage by measuring the power of the RF signal at the electrode 16 is also difficult and does not provide an accurate measurement of the D.C. sheath potential due, in part, to the capacitive coupling between the electrode and the workpiece.
Therefore, there remains a need for system for controlling R.F. power at an electrode to maintain a consistent D.C. sheath potential. Such a system would preferably not involve contact with a workpiece, would not require placing a sensor with the plasma environment of the plasma chamber, and would account for variable and unpredictable power losses through a match network.
The present invention provides a plasma reactor having a chamber and a chuck supporting a workpiece within the chamber. The chuck includes a chuck electrode which receives a bias radio frequency (RF) signal from a bias RF power source. The RF signal at the electrode affects the plasma, and more particularly affects the DC bias. A sensor measures a parameter of the plasma, such as for example the peak voltage of the RF signal delivered to the electrode which is compared with the desired set point and from which an error signal is derived. The error signal is then amplified and used to control the RF power source.
Typically, a match network, located between the bias RF power source and the chuck, matches the impedance of the plasma load to that of the output (typically 50 Ohms) of the RF power source. The maintenance of a consistent RF signal at the electrode is of importance in maintaining a consistent DC bias at the workpiece and a correspondingly consistent process. For instance the RF delivery system is subject to losses such that process results may not be predictable and constant. For example, the match network generates substantial power losses in the RF signal, these losses being variable and, to an extent, unpredictable. By sensing the RF peak voltage near the electrode and using that sensed voltage to generate a corresponding error signal to control the power supply, a consistent D.C. bias can be maintained at the workpiece in spite of the variation in transmission, such as for example those generated by the match network.
More particularly, the present invention is preferably embodied in an inductive plasma reactor having a Transformer Coupled Plasma (TCP) reactor coil. This coil can be located outside of the plasma chamber and is separated from the plasma by a ceramic window, provided in wall of the chamber. A plasma generating RF source supplies a RF signal to the TCP coil. A gas flows through the chamber, and is ionized by RF current induced from the TCP coil. The RF current is coupled to the plasma primarily by magnetic induction through a dielectric window. The fundamental purpose of the TCP coil and the signal supplied thereto is to generate plasma density.
As the plasma is formed, the electrons, which tend to migrate more easily than the positive ionis, develop a net negative charge on the at the inner surfaces of the chamber as well as at the workpiece supported upon the chuck. This net charge generates a DC bias which determines the energy with which the positively charged particles strike the surface of the workpiece and thereby is a primary factor in determining the process results.
A pickup connected to the electrode receives the RF signal delivered to the electrode. This signal is then passed through a lead wire to the RF sensor which is located as close to the chuck electrode as is possible without risking arcing between the sensor and the chuck electrode. Placing the sensor close to the electrode minimizes the length of lead wire necessary to transmit the RF signal to the sensor, thereby minimizing inductive and resistive affects of the lead wire upon the signal.
Within the sensor, the RF signal is divided and separated into AC and DC components. If desired, the DC component can be used to monitor electrostatic chuck function. However that is not a necessary component of the present invention. The AC signal component then passes through a surge protection circuit before being fed to a balanced detector circuit. The balanced circuit ensures that the AC signal is symmetrically loaded about the zero volt axis, ensuring that the signal does not generate a spurious DC component which would induce error into the system. The AC signal is then passed through an amplifier circuit which includes a feedback circuit and incorporating rectification and peak hold circuitry to yield a DC equivalent of the RF peak voltage. Matched diodes in both arms of the amplifier circuit, together with the diode in the balance circuit, ensure that any non-linearity is largely compensated or in the DC equivalent signal at the output of the amplifier.
This DC equivalent signal is then passed through a differential buffer and an amplifier with gain and offset adjustment before being delivered as an output signal. This same signal is then compared with the desired setpoint to derive an error signal which is passed through a high gain amp and through a power limit circuit which protects the electrode from being damaged by a surge. The signal passes to the generator to provide a RF generator as a command to control the power produced.
Alternatively the present invention can be used with a capacitively coupled plasma reactor. In such an electrode capacitively coupled with the chuck electrode replaces the TCP coil described above. In addition, the present invention can be used with a mechanical chuck rather than an electrostatic chuck obviating the need to place a sensor within the plasma environment.
By detecting the RF peak voltage delivered at the electrode, the present invention accurately and efficiently controls the RF signal delivered to the chuck elecrode, allowing a consistent DC bias to be maintained. In this way, the plasma reactor can consistently produce high quality uniform workpieces.
While the invention has been described in terms of using RF peak voltages delivered to the electrode, it should be appreciated that other process parameters can be monitored as well and used in a feedback system to control the process. By way of example, the current supplied to the coil could be monitored and used in a feedback system.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following descriptions of the invention and a study of the several figures of the drawings. | {
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Semiconductor dice in a so-called fan out package (FOP) configuration are becoming a popular packaging option, particularly for use in mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets, as well as automotive applications, as the assemblies enable ultra-thin, high-density packages. The technique eliminates the use of a conventional interposer and is particularly suitable when a semiconductor die used in a chip scale package undergoes one or more shrinks, resulting in lack of space for the associated ball grid array (BGA). In FOP technology, a redistribution layer (RDL) comprising at least one level of conductive traces, is employed to provide external connection points, such as a BGA from the fine pitch of bond pads on a semiconductor die to a larger footprint with much larger pitch between the external connection points.
Conventionally, FOP fabrication is implemented from either a die-first or a die-last wafer level approach. In a die-first approach, an array of redistribution layers is fabricated on an array of previously singulated semiconductor dice encapsulated on a carrier substrate, and the encapsulated dice and each associated redistribution layer (RDL) are singulated from the array. In a die-last approach, an array of RDLs is fabricated on a carrier substrate, semiconductor dice are connected to the RDLs, the dice are encapsulated, and each semiconductor die and associated RDL are then singulated from the array. In some instances, multiple semiconductor dice are connected to the same RDL, but the fabrication process is the same.
For a conventional die-first process, die shift is a challenge, as are non-uniform edges and handing after RDL fabrication. The as-formed array of semiconductor dice and RDLs is undersized compared to conventional wafers, presenting handling problems and requiring modifications of the tools used for wafer handling. Conventional die-first fabrication techniques involve placing an array of semiconductor dice active-surface down on a carrier substrate having an adhesive thereon. The semiconductor dice are encapsulated by a dielectric molding material, after which the carrier substrate and adhesive are removed from the molded semiconductor dice array characterized as a reconstituted wafer, and residual adhesive is removed. The reconstituted wafer is then inverted and an RDL is formed over the active surfaces of the semiconductor dice, solder balls or other external connections are attached or formed, and the reconstituted wafer is then singulated.
The above-described die-first approach requires expensive adhesives and solvents to remove the adhesive, warping of the reconstituted wafer may occur due to shrinkage of the molding material during cure, and the reconstituted wafer presents handling problems due to being undersized compared to standard wafers for which handling equipment is designed. | {
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Continued advances in the design and manufacture of electric machines have enabled an increase in the types and number of applications which may take advantage of this technology. In particular, the use of electric machines, particularly electric motors and generators, in critical safety systems and medical and life support systems has been growing as a direct result of these advances. As can well be imagined, use of electric machines in these types of environments require a high level of reliability and, in many systems, a level of redundancy as well to prevent a single failure within the machine from causing a catastrophic failure in the overall system. In the past, it has not been uncommon for these systems to employ the use of multiple electric machines to ensure that the loss of any one machine would not result in a failure of the output and thus a catastrophic loss of the critical system.
However, as with all other areas of technology, there is a drive to reduce the size of the equipment used in these types of systems. Such a driving force no longer tolerates the crude systems of redundancy of the past which utilized multiple redundant machines to protect against a possible failure of one of them. In addition to requiring a larger physical size, these old systems of redundancy also were very expensive due to the requirement of having two or more physically separate electric machines.
In one area of technology of electric machines, that relating to electric motors and generators, a solution to the redundancy requirement, which has in the past been solved by having two separate electric motors or generators, has been found which does not require redundant machines to be used. In an electric motor or generator, the stator of the machine can be wound in such a manner to include multiple sets of stator windings. These multiple stator windings provide the redundant drive required to drive a given load, or the redundant source of electric power to supply multiple electric loads in the case of a generator configuration. Such a winding configuration allows for the use of a "single" electric motor or generator having a single rotor, a single stator, and a single housing, but utilizing multiple sets of stator windings to provide the required redundancy for the critical systems.
One such electric motor utilizing redundant windings is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,389 issued to Langley et al. on Feb. 28, 1984, entitled MOTOR WITH REDUNDANT WINDINGS. In this patent, an electric motor is described which is wound with redundant sets of stator windings which are energized by independent electric circuits. This enables the operation of the motor even in the presence of a failure of a winding or any particular energization circuit. The electric machine described in this reference utilizes a distributed phase winding system for each set of stator windings. These sets of stator windings are physically separated, allowing for no overlapping of the windings between each separate set. The description of this patent distinguishes its redundant motor design from a conventional motor in which adjacent winding sets are allowed to overlap.
Another electric machine utilizing redundant stator windings to increase its fault tolerance is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,267 issued to Vaidya on Oct. 29, 1995, for REDUNDANT MULTIPLE CHANNEL ELECTRIC MOTORS AND GENERATORS. As with the Langley et al. '389 patent, this patent also teaches the use of multiple redundant stator windings wound in a distributed winding configuration and having non-overlapping regions for the stator windings themselves. However, unlike the Langley et al. '389 patent, the redundant electric machine described in Vaidya '267 allows for a configuration where electromagnetic isolation may be compromised by allowing the windings within the two regions to overlap, although no description of such a configuration is included other than to mention is acceptability.
While the electric machines of each of the two above-referenced patents are directed at overcoming the requirement for separate electric machines to satisfy the redundancy requirements of critical systems, neither design is appropriate for the most highly critical applications, nor are they appropriate for use in the medical field. Specifically, each of the above referenced disclosures recognizes the problem of short circuits occurring within the stator windings as one of the failure conditions which necessitates the use of redundant stator windings. However, each of these references describe the use of a distributed wiring winding configuration used for each set of the distributed stator windings. Unfortunately, such a distributed wiring winding configuration significantly increases the probability of a phase-to-phase short circuit as will be described below with reference to FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a redundant electric machine 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the prior art utilizing a conventional distributed wiring winding configuration. This machine 10 requires a 24 slot stator 12, which is wound, in its simplest configuration, with two sets of stator windings 14, 16. The two halves are divided in FIG. 1 by the line 18 which has been included only to aid the understanding of this configuration, and does not represent any physical device actually included in this design. As may be seen even from this simplified schematic diagram, this distributed wiring winding configuration results in a significant number of phase wire crossings 20.
To determine the actual number of times that a phase wire crosses the wire from another phase, the types and number of wire crossings must be accounted for. The first type of wire crossing is the coil-to-coil crossing. In a three phase distributed wiring system there are six (6) wire crossings of this type. The number of crossings for each one of these crossings is the number of turns per coil for one phase times the number of turns per coil for the other phase. In a typical machine there will be 35 turns per coil. Therefore, the total number of coil-to-coil wire crossings is equal to 6(T.sub.c *T.sub.c) or 6(35*35) which equals 7,350 crossings.
The next type of wire crossing is that of an interpole loop to a coil. As with the coil-to-coil crossings, there are six (6) of these crossings. For each one of this type of crossing, the number of actual wire crossings is the number of turns per coil times the number of wires comprising the inter-pole loop. This is typically one (1). Therefore, the total number of inter-pole loop to coil wire crossings is equal to 6(T.sub.c *T.sub.ipl) or 6(35*1) which equals 210 crossings.
The final type of wire crossing resulting from the distributed wiring system used in the prior art is the inter-pole to inter-pole wire crossings. Unlike the above types of crossings, there are only three (3) crossings of this type. Also, since typically only one wire is used to construct the inter-pole loop, the number of actual wire crossings for each of these is only one (1). Therefore, the total number of inter-pole to inter-pole wire crossings is equal to 3(T.sub.ipl) or 3(1) which equals three (3) crossings.
After having calculated each of the component types of wire crossings resulting from the distributed wiring system of the prior art, these numbers must be added together and multiplied by the number of redundant windings utilized and by the number of ends on the stator. The simplest example uses only two sets of stator windings, and has only two ends. Therefore, the final calculation of the number of wire crossings resulting from a distributed winding system for a redundant machine is (7,350+210+3)(2)(2), which equals 30,252 individual wire crossings.
Unfortunately, each one of these 30,252 wire crossings presents an opportunity for the development of a short circuit of these wires. While such probability may be reduced by increasing the insulation on these wires, such serves to unacceptably increase the cost of manufacture of such a machine. Additionally, the number of wire crossings increases substantially as additional sets of redundant stator windings are added, further increasing the probability of an inter-phase short circuit. This is an unacceptable result in a system which demands increased redundancy to prevent catastrophic failure of the system. | {
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Hydrogels are cross-linked polymeric structures with dynamic swelling behavior in water. In particular, hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric networks formed from hydrophilic homopolymers, copolymers, or macromers crosslinked to form insoluble polymer matrices, that can retain large amounts of water1.
Due to their unique biocompatibility, compliant elasticity, flexible methods of synthesis, range of constituents, and desirable physic-characteristics, hydrogels have been the material of choice for many biomedical applications2, 3, 4, 5. Injectable hydrogels can be administrated via minimally invasive procedures and appropriately fill irregular-shaped defects by acting as three-dimensional scaffolds. Injectable hydrogels have received much attention due to their potential biomedical and biological applications in the fields of imaging, biosensing, drug delivery tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Recently, there is an increasing demand for the development of biodegradable hydrogels endowed with fluorescent imaging moieties to further enhance the functions of the materials16, 17.
Conventionally, synthetic hydrogels with photoluminescent properties can be prepared by conjugating or doping hydrogel matrix with fluorescent moieties such as organic dye, fluorescent protein, colloidal semiconductor nanocrystal, metal-ligand complex and lanthanide ions19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. However, among them, organic dye and fluorescent protein are subjected to certain limitations such as photo-bleaching and cellular toxicity25, 26. Semiconductor nanocrystals also pose risks to human health and the environment under certain conditions27. Similarly, toxicity from the heavy metal contents of metal-ligand complex and lanthanide ion imaging probes evokes significant safety concern for their biomedical applications especially for their long-term use in vivo28.
Recently, the attempt to fabricate an injectable hydrogel by using silk protein sericin has been explored19. The gel is found to exhibit photoluminescence due to the intrinsic auto-fluorescence of sericin polypeptide. Nevertheless, the low quantum efficiency, untunable fluorescence property, eliciting immune response and the use of toxic glutaraldehyde as the cross-linker raise concerns for its biomedical applications.
Very recently, the development of a biodegradable polymer with potential biomedical application as an implanted elastomer and drug-loaded nanoparticle has been reported29, 30, 31. This newly developed biodegradable polymer displays superior biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo, relative high quantum yields, photobleaching resistance, and tunable emission up to near infrared wavelengths and thus has potential biomedical applications, such as drug delivery nano-carriers and implanted scaffolds. However, the efforts to fabricate a hydrogel were unsuccessful due to the lack of functional cross-linking reactive moieties on the oligomers to form hydrogels.
Thus there still remains a need for a composition and method of preparing a hydrogel that contains both self-fluorescence and biodegradable characteristics without the above drawbacks. Furthermore there also remains a need in the art for a composition and method of preparing a hydrogel with the above properties that avoids eliciting an immune response and contributing to potential cytotoxicity and carcinogenesis. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to the field of measuring propagation delay, and more particularly, to measuring such delays with circuitry embedded in semiconductor chips.
All electrical signals transmitted through a conduction path experience a propagation delay. Propagation delays generally result from properties of the conduction path such as load capacitance and signal line length.
Propagation delays affect systems differently depending upon the nature of those systems, but most systems can be affected adversely by relative propagation delay, which is the difference in propagation speeds between two paths. For example, in synchronous (clocked) circuits, differences in propagation delays between clock signals on different lines leads to clock skew, which degrades the performance of the circuit. Likewise, in high-performance, asynchronous (non-clocked) pipelines, knowing the relative propagation delay between the control and data signals is an important step in ensuring that the signals arrive in their correct order at a pipeline stage.
Therefore, accurate measurement of propagation delay on a semiconductor chip is desirable when designing and testing fabricated semiconductor chips. Conventional technologies for measuring propagation delay time typically involve on-chip probing techniques. Usually, these techniques involve physically inserting a probe at points on the chip that are to be tested.
Today's high-speed semiconductor circuits may experience delay times in the sub-nanosecond or picosecond range. The shortness of these delay times makes accurate measurements exceedingly difficult, even with the most advanced on-chip probing techniques. There is a need, therefore, to accurately and reliably measure absolute and relative signal path propagation delay times on a semiconductor chip. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The inventor of the present application proposed, as set forth in the International Publication No. WO98/15983, a spherical semiconductor element having light reception or light emission capability and having positive and negative electrodes at opposite portions to each other with regard to the center and a solar battery module wherein a plurality of semiconductor elements are connected in series and two or more of the series-connected semiconductor elements are embedded in a synthetic resin material. The spherical semiconductor element has a spherical pn-junction in the surface part and the positive and negative electrodes are provided at the centers of the surfaces of p-type and n-type regions, respectively.
The inventor of the present application proposed, as set forth in the International Publication Nos. WO02/35612, WO02/35613, and WO03/017382, a solar battery module wherein the above described spherical semiconductor elements are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns and the semiconductor elements in each row are connected in parallel by conductive members and solder or conductive adhesive, the semiconductor elements in each column are connected in series by lead members and solder, and they are embedded in a synthetic resin material.
The inventor of the present application proposed in the International Publication No. WO02/35612 a rod-like semiconductor element having light reception or light emission capability wherein a cylindrical semiconductor crystal has a pair of end faces perpendicular to the axis, a pn-junction is formed near the surface of the semiconductor crystal containing one end face, and positive and negative electrodes are formed on either end face. The inventor of the present application proposed, as set forth in the International Publication No. WO03/036731, a semiconductor module having light reception or light emission capability wherein a plurality of semiconductor elements are embedded in a synthetic resin material.
In the photovoltaic array described in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,256, an n-type diffusion layer is formed on the surface of a filament consisting of a p-type silicon semiconductor having a diameter of 0.001 to 0.010 inch and a plurality of such filaments are arranged in parallel and in a plane. A plurality of P-connection wires and N-connection wires are arranged orthogonally and alternately on the top surface of the filament. The P-connection wires are ohmic-connected to the exposed parts of the p-type silicon semiconductors of the plurality of filaments and the N-connection wires are ohmic-connected to the n-type diffusion layers of the plurality of filaments. The plurality of P-connection wires are connected to P-buses and the plurality of N-connection wires are connected to N-buses. Highly strong insulating fibers are interwoven to form a mesh structure with the plurality of P-buses and N-buses, whereby a flexible solar battery blanket receiving the incident light from above for power generation is formed.
In the semiconductor fiber solar battery and module described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,736, a molybdenum conductive layer is formed on the surface of an insulating fiber and two, p-type and n-type, photovoltaic thin semiconductor layers and a ZnO conductive layer are formed on the molybdenum conductive layer around approximately ⅗ of the periphery. A plurality of such semiconductor fiber solar batteries are arranged in parallel and in a plane, a metal coating is formed on the back, and the metal coating is partially removed in a specific pattern to form a connection circuit connecting in series the plurality of semiconductor fiber solar batteries.
Recently, solar batteries are increasingly used as a renewable, clean energy source in view of environmental issues such as air pollution and global warming and depletion of fossil fuel. Light emitting diodes are also increasingly used as an illumination source for saving energy and resources. Saving in materials and resources and less production energy consumption are becoming requirements. Patent Document 1: International Publication No. WO98/15983; Patent Document 2: International Publication No. WO02/35612; Patent Document 3: International Publication No. WO02/35613; Patent Document 4: International Publication No. WO03/017382; Patent Document 5: International Publication No. WO03/036731; Patent Document 6: U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,256; and Patent Document 7: U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,736. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to an improved electrostatic copying machine for copying two original documents on the opposite sides of a copy sheet in superposition in such a manner that the centers of the two copies imaged on the opposite sides of the copy sheet are coincident with each other.
Electrostatic copying machines have been proposed heretofore which copy two different original documents on the opposite sides of a copy sheet in such a manner that the two copied images are superposed and centered on the copy sheet. However, it is often desired to copy in such a manner that the centers of the copied images on the opposite sides of the copy sheet are coincident with each other and that the copied images are offset from the center of the copy sheet, leaving a blank space at an edge of the copy sheet which can be used as a binding area for binding a number of copy sheets together in book form. An electrostatic copying machine capable of copying on both sides of a copy sheet and which is further capable of copying in such a manner that the two copied images are thus superposed but offset from the center of the copy sheet has not heretofore been invented.
It is further desirable to provide copy sheets of two different sizes in suitable cassettes in such a manner that the desired size can be selected merely by changing over a switch or lever. Such copy machines are known in the art. However, a copying process on both sides of a copy sheet requires that an intermediate sheet holder be provided to temporarily hold the copy sheet between the first and second copy operations. Where it is desired to change the sheet size, the sheet holders must be readjusted in conjunction with each other to accommodate the new size. This operation is time consuming and relatively difficult, and furthermore increases the chances of a sheet jam and due to improper adjustment. A copying machine which copies on both sides of a copy sheet and which furthermore allows changeover from one copy sheet size to another by a simple switching operation has not been available heretofore. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Surgical intervention of damaged or compromised bone sites has proven highly beneficial for patients, including, for example, patients with back pain associated with vertebral body damage. The vertebral damage may be due to injury and/or a degenerative condition such as, for example, aging and/or osteoporosis. The damage associated with these conditions may also affect long bones, the pelvis, and other bones. Compression fractures of the vertebrae may have direct impact on spinal nerves, causing pain and other impairment.
Bones of the human skeletal system include mineralized tissue that may be generally categorized into two morphological groups: “cortical” bone and “cancellous” bone. Outer walls of all bones are composed of cortical bone, which is a dense, compact bone structure characterized by a microscopic porosity. Cancellous or “trabecular” bone forms the interior structure of bones. Cancellous bone is composed of a lattice of interconnected slender rods and plates known by the term “trabeculae”.
During certain bone-related procedures, cancellous bone is supplemented by an injection of a palliative (or curative) material employed to stabilize the trabeculae. For example, superior and inferior vertebrae in the spine may be beneficially stabilized by the injection of an appropriate, curable material (e.g., PMMA or other bone cement or bone curable material). In other procedures, percutaneous injection of stabilization material into vertebral compression factors, by, for example, transpedicular or parapedicular approaches, has proven beneficial in relieving pain and stabilizing damaged bone sites. Such techniques are commonly referred to as vertebroplasty, or when implemented with a balloon, as kyphoplasty. In certain cases, vertebral augmentation may not alleviate targeted symptoms, and a spinal fusion procedure may be implemented to align the vertebrae in a manner intended to treat, and alleviate pain and other symptoms associated with, vertebral compression fractures.
A conventional vertebroplasty technique for delivering the bone stabilizing material entails placing a cannula with an internal trocar into the targeted delivery site, generally conducted in a bipedicular manner (i.e., via two pedicles of a vertebra, each of which is located as a thinner portion of cortical bone between the central spinous process and one of the transverse processes of a given vertebra). The cannula and trocar are used in conjunction to pierce the cutaneous layers of a patient above the hard tissue to be supplemented, then to penetrate the hard cortical bone of the vertebra, and finally to traverse into the softer, cancellous bone underlying the cortical bone. After the assembly is positioned in the cancellous bone, the trocar may be removed, leaving the cannula in the appropriate position for delivery of curable material that will reinforce and solidify the target site.
In spinal fusion procedures, metal plates and/or rods are typically attached to two or more adjacent vertebrae by metal screws. Bone graft material may be used to augment the fusion process. Recovery is often more time-consuming and intensive than for vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. Spinal fusion may be used to treat other conditions including spinal stenosis, disc injuries and degeneration, trauma, infection, and tumors.
There exists a need in the medical device field for improved systems and methods for fusing adjacent vertebrae. In particular, it would be desirable to provide apparatus and methods to provide a fusion method that provides bone augmentation to stabilize vertebrae.
It may be desirable to provide a system and method that provides advantages with regard to reduced complexity, reduced procedure time, and reduced recovery time and patient pain, while maintaining advantages known from kyphoplasty offering a further advantage of a single and/or smaller surgical wound sites rather than those associated with traditional spinal fusion procedures. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The invention relates generally to bracelets. More particularly, the invention relates to a tape of bracelets with tear lines defining the bracelets.
There is a great need for identification bracelets that can be used in various environments, such as sports events, hospitals, music concerts and the like. Over the years, many types of identification bracelets have been developed for these purposes. However, such bracelets have comfort issues relating to their use and/or waste material that needs to be discarded. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,843 discloses a roll of bracelets arranged end-to-end along a tape of uniform width. However, the roll includes waste areas along opposite sides of the strap portion of each bracelet which need to be separated from the bracelets and discarded. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,426 discloses a bracelet of uniform width along the length of the entire bracelet. However, while the width is useful in the central area to accommodate the placement of information, the width of the bracelet is likely to cause discomfort to the wearer. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,637 discloses a roll of bracelets arranged end-to-end along a tape of uniform width. However, this tape of bracelets also includes waste portions of the tape which need to be separated from the bracelets and disposed of.
Accordingly, there is a need for a bracelet that provides the wearer with a comfortable fit. There is a further need for a roll of bracelets where no part of the roll is wasted. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other related advantages. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor integrated circuits, and more particularly to a method for fabricating an array of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells with brush-shaped stacked capacitors to increase the capacitance. The brush-shaped capacitors are formed from a hemispherical grain polysilicon layer that is used as a hard mask to increase the surface area of the capacitor bottom electrodes.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) circuits (devices) are used extensively in the electronics industry, and more particularly in the computer industry for storing data in binary form (1 and 0) as charge on a storage capacitor. These DRAM devices are made on semiconductor substrates (or wafers) and then the substrates are diced to form the individual DRAM circuits (or DRAM chips). Each DRAM circuit (chip) consists in part of an array of individual DRAM storage cells that store binary data (bits) as electrical charge on a storage capacitor. Further, the information is stored and retrieved from the storage capacitor by means of switching a single access transistor (via word lines) on or off in each memory cell using peripheral address circuits, while the charge stored on the capacitor is sensed by means of bit lines and by read/write circuits formed on the periphery of the DRAM chip.
The access transistor for the DRAM device is usually a field effect transistor (FET), and the single capacitor in each cell is either formed in the semiconductor substrate as a trench capacitor, or built over the FET in the cell area as a stacked capacitor. To maintain a reasonable. DRAM chip size and improved circuit performance, it is necessary to further reduce the area occupied by the individual cells on the DRAM chip. Unfortunately, as the cell size decreases, it becomes increasing more difficult to fabricate stacked or trench storage capacitors with sufficient capacitance to store the necessary charge to provide art acceptable signal-to-noise level for the read circuits (sense amplifiers) to detect. The reduced charge also requires more frequent refresh cycles that periodically restore the charge on these volatile storage cells. This increase in refresh cycles further reduces the performance (speed) of the DRAM circuit.
Since the capacitor area is limited to the cell size in order to accommodate the multitude of cells on the DRAM chip, it is necessary to explore alternative methods for increasing the capacitance without increasing the lateral area that the capacitor occupies on the substrate surface. In recent years the method of choice is to build stacked capacitors over the access transistors within each cell area, rather than forming trench capacitors that need to be etched to increasing depths in the substrate to maintain the necessary capacitance. The stacked capacitors also provide increased latitude in capacitor design and processing while reducing cell area. More specifically, the stacked capacitors can be extended in the vertical direction (third dimension) to increase the stacked capacitor area, and therefore to increase the capacitance.
Many methods of making DRAM circuits using stacked capacitors have been reported in the literature. One method is to use polysilicon Hemispherical Shaped Grains (HSG) as a mask to etch deep vertical grooves in a capacitor bottom electrode. This MOdulated STacked (MOST) capacitor is described by Jun et al. in an article entitled "The Fabrication and Electrical Properties of Modulated Stacked Capacitors for Advanced DRAM Applications," IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. 13, No. 8, Aug. 1992, pages 430-432. Other methods in which hyperfine patterns are etched in the capacitor electrode using HSG structures are also taught by Jun et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,587 and by Jun in U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,800. Another method is described by Ahn, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,086 in which an HSG structure is replicated in a thin oxide mask over a polysilicon capacitor node electrode. The mask is then used to selectively etch the node electrode to increase the surface area.
There has been considerable work done to increase the capacitance area using hemispherical grain structures as etch masks to increase the area of the capacitor. However, it is still desirable to further improve on these capacitors using the hemispherical grain (HSG) structure as a hard mask, and including portions of the HSG structure in the capacitor to further increase the capacitance. | {
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