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The use of human urinary collection and disposal systems is known in the prior art. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,508 (Washington, 1989) discloses a ladies' external catheter assembly, however this device does not use a vacuum pump for drainage or utilize a moisture sensor. Also U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,675 (Triunfol, 1986) teaches a device for collecting fluid discharged from female organs that is designed solely for incontinent women, not female aircrew members and the design includes a pad, vacuum pump and liquid sensor, however, the pad is more invasive because it is formed of plastic and has ridges to move the labia to an open position for free flow of liquid. The vacuum pump of the Triunfol patent is powered by an electrical outlet and does teach battery operation of these devices. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,631 (Marx, Sep. 2, 1997) a male external catheter assembly with vacuum retention is disclosed wherein a male external catheter attachment incorporates a vacuum or a means to produce reduced pressure to aid in installing and keeping the device in place. U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,977 (Marx, Mar. 19, 1996) teaches another form of male external catheter with vacuum assist utilizing a rubber bulb that functions as a vacuum. As such, the basic concept of bladder discharge collection systems and their use are disclosed.
There are no acceptable bladder relief systems for incontinent adults. Urinary incontinence affects more than 13 million Americans in community and institutional settings. Thirty-eight percent of non-institutionalized patients older than 60 years of age experienced urinary incontinence, and almost 50 percent of institutionalized patients. The annual costs of bladder control problems in the United States for people older than 65 years of age was estimated at $26.3 billion in 1995, or $3,565 per affected person. Many incontinent males use commercially available diapers, which cannot contain urine from multiple urinations, and become heavy and uncomfortable when wet.
While each of these prior art patents disclose bladder relief systems which fulfill their respective particular objectives and requirements, and are most likely quite functional for their intended purposes, it will be noticed that none of the prior art cited disclose an apparatus and/or method that allow a user the comfort of automatic operation and large volume capacity. As such, there apparently still exists the need for new and improved bladder relief system to maximize the benefits to the user and minimize the risks of injury from its use.
There is also no acceptable bladder relief system for male aircrew members flying extended flight operations in single or dual-seat fighter and reconnaissance aircraft that do not have toilet facilities. Male aircrew members use two types of bladder relief devices, “piddle pack” bag systems and uncomfortable external catheters with tubing. The entire procedure for using the piddle pack takes several minutes. During this procedure the pilot is significantly distracted from flying the aircraft, which can place both himself and his aircraft in danger. The current piddle pack bag system can also be dangerous to use if the pilot needs to eject from the aircraft while urinating. The optimum bladder relief system would allow the pilot to eject from the aircraft even while urinating, which would require it to be hands-free and at least semi-automatic. In this respect, the present invention disclosed herein substantially fulfills this need.
An automated or semi-automated bladder relief device is important not just for the aircrew member's comfort, health and safety, but also for the safety of the aircraft and squadron. The system will significantly reduce the pilot's distraction or downtime during bladder relief, which will improve pilot and aircraft safety.
Similarly, there is also no acceptable bladder relief system for female aircrew members flying extended flight operations in aircraft that do not have toilet facilities. Male aircrew members use two types of bladder relief devices, piddle pack bag systems and external catheters with tubing. Female aircrew members cannot use the catheter/tubing assemblies designed for males. Instead, most use commercially available adult diapers. These diapers have the following drawbacks: 1 Neither the Disposable Absorption Containment Device (DACD) developed by NASA nor commercially available diapers have the capacity to hold the 1000 cc of urine produced during some long duration flights. 2 High g maneuvers force the female aircrew member downward into the seat, displacing urine from the diaper and leaving the female to sit in a wet flight suit and seat for the duration of the flight. 3 Prolonged exposure to urine can cause skin irritation and may develop into more serious conditions such as ulcers.In this respect, the present invention disclosed herein substantially corrects these problems and fulfills the need for such a device.
Lastly the present invention may also be effectively used by passengers in aircraft without toilet facilities, glider pilots, non-ambulatory patients, incontinent adults, astronauts, rescue workers in hazmat suits, and long-distance truckers and race car drivers. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The invention relates to the field of expanders, devices that extract work from pressurized gas while expanding the gas. Specifically, the invention relates to the field of positive displacement rotary expanders, more commonly known as rotary engines. More specifically this invention relates to a rotary steam engine. The invention also relates to the fields of gas compressors and pumps because positive displacement expanders generally can operate in reverse, and to the field of combustion engines having separate compressor, combustor, and expander sections as the expander of the present invention are also applicable to such engines.
Most engines for conversion of heat energy to mechanical energy involve expanding a heated, pressurized, gas by means of a device--an expander--that extracts work from the expansion of the gas. Examples include the traditional high pressure steam engine, wherein hot pressurized steam is expanded through an expander that extracts work, where that expander typically comprises a piston in a chamber or a turbine. Internal combustion engines also require an expansion of heated gas, as they involve a three stage process involving first compressing air, heating the air, and expanding the heated air while extracting work. A typical gas turbine engine (Brayton Cycle) involves separate areas for the compression, heating, and expansion of the gas, while a typical automobile engine (Otto Cycle) utilizes the same piston and cylinder for all three functions.
Expanders may be of the positive displacement type, where gas is admitted to a chamber, one or more walls of the chamber are then allowed to move under the influence of the gas pressure, thereby expanding the volume of the chamber. The moving wall can be called a piston, regardless of the actual shape or configuration of the parts that form the chamber. A positive displacement expander is often more efficient than a turbine at low speeds, while requiring less complex machining and cheaper materials than impulse and reaction turbines. Because of their slow rotation, positive displacement expanders may be less subject to metallurgical creep at high temperatures than are high speed turbines. Positive displacement expanders may also be less subject to erosion from impact of wet steam than are turbines because of the lower impact velocity.
Expanders of the positive displacement type repeatedly expand gas through the same components. Re-using the chamber in this manner requires valves whereby pressurized gas may be admitted to the chamber and expanded gas may be released from the chamber. Typically, a plurality of valves are required, at least one of which admits gas to the chamber and at least one of which releases gas from the chamber. Cylindrical rotary positive displacement expanders are those in which the chamber is formed by a central rotating element that rotates in a cavity. The rotating element is equipped with one or more protrusions or vanes that form the moving wall or piston of the chamber.
The prior art includes an extremely wide variety of rotary positive displacement engines which are testaments to human ingenuity. These devices utilize rotors, valves or other means to deliver the powering charge, such as pressurized steam, to a rotary expansion chamber, to extract work from the charge and to exhaust the spent charge. While such functions are common to all rotary positive displacement engines, the means for carrying out these functions, as embodied in the configuration of the moving parts are limited only by the imagination of the inventors. However many prior rotary positive displacement engine designs are victims of their own ingenuity in that the designs, while apparently functional on paper, are difficult if not impossible, to carry out in metal, as the machining and tolerances required to limit leakage are simply too complex to provide a practical rotary positive displacement engine at a competitive cost. Furthermore, many of the prior engine designs require clearances which are only achievable at ambient temperature, but not in operation at elevated temperatures.
The present invention is directed to a rotary positive displacement engine that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art which render the previous designs impractical. The first obstacle to practicality that the present invention overcomes is that of complexity. The present invention is based on a design that is simple to manufacture and reproduce in that all of the significant rotating components of the engine are cylindrical. Furthermore, the bores that these components rotate in are also cylindrical. This assures ease of manufacture as a cylinder is the easiest shape to machine.
The second obstacle to practicality that the present design overcomes is the necessity for compromising on the tolerances for the rotating parts. The present design provides that the clearances of the major rotating parts are adjustable at operating temperature, so that very tight clearances can be achieved. This assures the most energy efficient operation. The present invention is applicable to rotary positive displacement engine designs having single or multiple power rotors and barrier rotors, as well as to single or compound operation. The present design is also applicable to low or high pressure operation.
A rotary positive displacement engine in accordance with the present invention includes one or more power rotors, which are acted upon by a pressurized charge of gas, such as steam, and an annular barrier rotor geared for synchronous rotation with the power rotors. The rotors rotate within intersecting cylindrical bores in the engine housing. The power rotors have cylindrical outer surfaces from which vanes extend which are acted upon by the powering charge. The barrier rotor has an outer cylindrical surface, located in close proximity to the cylindrical surface of the power rotors, and ports for delivering the powering charge to the power rotors. The barrier rotor thus forms both a charge delivery mechanism and a barrier between the exhaust ports and the expanding gas powering the engine. Located within the barrier rotor is a stator which has ports in fluid communication with the ports in the barrier rotor when the respective ports are aligned. The location of the barrier rotor is adjustable with respect to the power rotors to permit the clearances between the confronting surfaces of the barrier rotor and the power rotors to be adjusted to extremely tight tolerances under operating conditions which provides highly efficient operation. | {
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An electrodeless discharge lamp does not have any electrode, and employs the principles of electromagnetic induction and gas discharge to emit light. The electrodeless discharge lamp mainly includes a ballast, at least one magnetic toroid core, and a lamp tube. The high-frequency ballast delivers energy, which passes through a main winding on the magnetic toroid core to generate high-frequency waves, which strike phosphor provided on an inner wall surface of the lamp tube, so that light is produced. Since the electrodeless discharge lamp does not have the problem of burned-out filament, it has prolonged service life. Further, the electrodeless discharge lamp produces less heat radiation during the operation thereof, has high working efficiency and does not flash. Therefore, the electrodeless discharge lamp has been widely developed. To further increase the starting efficiency and the working efficiency of the electrodeless discharge lamp, it has been tried to wind another set of auxiliary winding around the magnetic toroid core of the electrodeless discharge lamp, so that the electrodeless discharge lamp can be started at a further reduced input voltage. However, the provision of another set of auxiliary winding around the magnetic toroid core would often result in complicated and confused overall structure of the lamp to cause difficulty in installation thereof.
It is therefore desirable to develop a starter for electrodeless discharge lamp, so that the starter has simple structure and is easy to mount, and allows the ballast to start the electrodeless discharge lamp at a low voltage. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for detecting underground objects by a synthetic aperture method, and more particularly, to improvement of the resolution in the system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In FIG. 2 is shown a general form of the so-called synthetic aperture underground targets detecting system which is structured of a general form of the synthetic aperture processing in use for satellite-radar and airborne radar and, in addition thereto, means for geological correction indispensable to detection of underground targets. As examples of techniques to which a system as aforementioned is basically applied, there are known such as disclosed in a paper entitled "Electromagnetic Detection of Underground Objects", pages 308-311, Proceedings of the Institute of Electronics and Communication Engineers of Japan, Vol. 67, No. 3, March 1984. In the explanatory chart of the general form in FIG. 2, ST1 is a step of collecting reflected wave profile data, ST2 is a step of performing preprocessing in succession to step ST1, ST3 is a step of performing synthetic aperture processing in succession to step ST2, ST4 is a step of performing geological correction in succession to step ST3, and ST5 is a step of performing output processing in succession to step ST4.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the collection of the reflected wave profile data at the aforesaid step ST1, referring to which reference numeral 1 denotes a target such as a pipe, 2 denotes soil in which the target 1 is buried, 3 denotes a transmitter, 4 denotes a transmitting antenna for emitting a pulse signal from the transmitter 3 as an electromagnetic wave into the aforesaid soil 2, 5 denotes a receiving antenna for receiving the wave reflected by the target 1 of the electromagnetic wave emitted from the transmitting antenna 4, and 6 denotes a receiver connected to the receiving antenna 5, where the transmitting antenna 4 and the receiving antenna 5 are fixedly held at a predetermined mutual distance y and adapted to move in increments of a predetermined distance in a direction at right angles with the direction in which both the antennas 4, 5 are disposed, as indicated by the arrow X.
Below will be described the operations. First, at step ST1, collection of reflected wave profile data is performed on a plane cutting through the soil at right angles with the ground. That is, a monocyclic pulse, for example, is emitted from the transmitting antenna 4 at every increment in the movement and the reflected wave is received by the receiving antenna 5. The reflected wave from the target 1 is received in the shortest period of time when both the transmitting antenna 4 and the receiving antenna 5 are directly above the target 1 and the time becomes longer as the antennas separate from the position right above the target, and thus parabolically spreading reflected wave profile data are obtained for each of the targets 1.
Since the monocyclic pulse propagating through the soil 2 is greatly attenuated, largely distorted, and accompanied by noises at high level, and further, since there is a direct coupling between the transmitting antenna 4 and the receiving antenna 5, the direct coupling and noises, and further, the distortions are removed in the preprocessing at step ST2. At the following step ST3, such preprocessed reflected profile data are subjected to synthetic aperture processing. That is, the reflected wave profile data are provided with range migration correction and the hyperbolic data corresponding to each target 1 are made to cohere around the vertex portion, and thereby, image data thereof are obtained.
The thus obtained image data are still those expressed with respect to the scale of time. Therefore, geological correction is performed in the following step ST4 with dielectric constant .epsilon. S of the soil 2 used, and thereby, image data expressed with respect to the scale of length are obtained, and then, the image output of the detected targets is displayed on a display device or the like at step ST5.
Since the prior art underground target detecting systems have been constructed as above, there have been such problems with them that the target spots on the obtained image data have not been sharp ones and have been affected by noises, distortions, or the like that are not completely removed in the preprocessing and therefore sufficient resolution has not been obtained. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor and a method for fabricating the same, and more particularly, to a CMOS image sensor and a method for fabricating the same in which a metal barrier is formed to surround a periphery of a photodiode region so as to reduce loss of light that transmits through a microlens, thereby improving light-receiving efficiency of the photodiode region.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, a CMOS image sensor employs a switching mode that sequentially detects outputs of unit pixels using MOS transistors. The MOS transistors are formed in a semiconductor transistor to correspond to the number of unit pixels using CMOS technology that uses a control circuit and a signal processing circuit as peripheral circuits. That is, to display images, the CMOS image sensor sequentially detects the electrical signals of the respective unit pixels in the switching mode by forming a photodiode and MOS transistors in each unit pixel.
Since the CMOS image sensor uses CMOS technology, it has advantages in that low power consumption is required and process steps are simplified due to a relatively small number of photo processes. Also, the CMOS image sensor has an advantage in that a control circuit, a signal processing circuit, and an analog-to-digital converter can be integrated in one chip to easily obtain a slim sized device.
FIG. 1 is a structural sectional view illustrating incident light to a photodiode region in a related art CMOS image sensor.
As shown in FIG. 1, the related art CMOS image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate 10 including a photodiode region 10a, a device isolation film 11 formed in the semiconductor substrate 10 to isolate devices from each other, a gate electrode 21 formed on a transistor region of the semiconductor substrate 10, source and drain regions 12 formed in the semiconductor substrate 10 at both sides of the gate electrode 21, an interlayer dielectric layer 20 formed on an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 10 including the gate electrode 21, a first metal line 40 formed on the interlayer dielectric layer 20, a first contact 30 formed in the interlayer dielectric layer 20 to electrically connect the gate electrode 21 with the first metal line 40, an inter-metal dielectric layer 50 formed on an entire surface of the interlayer dielectric layer 20, a second metal line 70 formed on the inter-metal dielectric layer 50, a second contact 60 formed in the inter-metal dielectric layer 50 to electrically connect the first metal line 40 with the second metal line 70, an oxide layer 80 formed on the inter-metal dielectric layer 50 including the second metal line 70, a nitride layer 90 formed on the oxide layer 80, and a microlens 100 formed on the nitride layer 90 to condense light.
The aforementioned related art CMOS image sensor condenses light through the microlens 100 and transfers the condensed light to the photodiode region 10a of the semiconductor substrate 10 such that the condensed light is stored as an electrical signal in the photodiode region 10a. Therefore, a focal plane of the microlens 100 serves as a main factor that determines low illumination characteristics of the CMOS image sensor.
However, the related art CMOS image sensor has a drawback. If the focus of the microlens 100 is not exact, loss of the light condensed by the microlens 100 may occur. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, if the distance between the microlens 100 and the photodiode region 10a is longer than the originally designed distance, or if the focal distance of the microlens 100 becomes shorter than intended without being uniformly maintained, the light condensed by the microlens 100 may partially be beyond the photodiode region 10a, thereby causing loss of the light. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to techniques for operating software networks and in particular to techniques for running software networks for software applications which require services not provided by the network operating system.
2. Background of the Invention
Many different network software operating systems have been developed most of which are not completely compatible with each other making it difficult to operate network software and hardware devices designed for a first network operating system on a computer network utilizing a second, different network operating system.
What is needed are improved techniques for operating such network hardware and software design for use on the first network operating system on a computer network using the second operating system. | {
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With the development of complex and diversified applications executed on multi-core mobile platforms, the need for parallelism in terms of computation and memory access is growing incessantly. Indeed, to satisfy demanding execution constraints of certain platforms such as real-time systems for example, the execution of an application is split up into several processing blocks called tasks. This splitting makes it possible, by mobilizing several computation resources (cores, processors for example) in parallel, to reduce the computation time required for the execution of the application.
Nonetheless, memory sharing and the necessary coordination of the execution of the tasks require means for mutual synchronization of the tasks. In order to ensure effective parallelism in the execution of several tasks on one and the same platform, it is necessary to have efficient synchronization means, synchronization generally constituting the main bottleneck of shared-memory systems. Indeed, when the number of applications executed in parallel and the quantity of shared memory increase, then the time mobilized for synchronization management may increase so much as to be detrimental to the general performance of the system, notably because of polling effects, stated otherwise active standby, on account for example of the permanent polling of one or more shared variables.
An example of a difficulty occurring in the known systems is given hereinafter with regard to FIG. 1, for the implementation of a synchronization barrier, a procedure often used to create a synchronization point. For example, in an onboard system, a complex computation can be split into several less complex, parallel tasks 101, 102, 103, 104, 105. The partial results 110 obtained by the various tasks can be collected so as to carry out another computation through other tasks. The collection point 120 for various intermediate results represents a synchronization barrier. Synchronization barriers represent one of the procedures most used in parallel architectures for implementing this type of synchronization point. A task may finish its computation before the others, but it must wait for the end of all the tasks that participate in the barrier. Once all the tasks have crossed the barrier 120, they are notified and their execution is continued.
The difficulty of implementing such synchronization resides notably in the manner of managing the barrier initialization phase, the standby phase waiting for tasks that finish their computation before the others and especially notification of the end of standby. Most solutions use shared variables polled concurrently by the tasks which participate in the associated barrier. As soon as the number of tasks increases, performance degradation problems are noted. These problems are generally related to network overload and to the competing (polling) of various tasks for access to the variables associated with this kind of synchronization point. Moreover, in a dynamic operating mode, tasks which participate in a barrier may be preempted by the system for a given reason (e.g. priority). This kind of scenario can be frequent in today's onboard systems, which integrate more and more computational parallelism for more complex applications. The expression preemption of a task is intended to mean the action of the system which consists in suspending the execution of a task and dissociating it from its computation unit. When the execution of the task is resumed, the task is again associated with a computation unit (not necessarily the same as that associated before the preemption). The suspension of a task may be caused by the task itself. In general, one speaks of preemption only when the task is suspended by the system. However, subsequently, we shall speak of a preempted task to designate any task which is no longer currently executing and which is no longer associated with a computation unit.
Several known techniques make it possible to manage the concurrent access of several tasks to shared resources and to create synchronization points between several tasks (for example a synchronization barrier).
A first approach encompasses the software procedures. The latter ensure the synchronization of several tasks and mutually exclusive access to resources by using software means alone. These procedures may simply consist of a shared boolean variable indicating the status of a token: free or taken. A test loop for this variable is introduced into the code of the concurrent tasks and each task must execute this loop repeatedly until the token is obtained, before being able to access a shared resource. The token becomes free when the task which possesses it changes its state from “taken” to “free”. This type of procedure, sometimes called “Test-and-Set”, is rather inefficient, notably because of the contention phenomena that it causes. Indeed, all the tasks which attempt to obtain the token dispatch access requests at the same time and for one and the same memory location. These simultaneous requests give rise to rapid degradation in performance, not only at the level of the memory in which the token is stored, but also at the level of the connection network which ensures communication between the various hardware modules of the system. To reduce contention due to the phenomenon of active standby, several procedures have been proposed: the introduction of a test prior to the execution of the “Test-And-Set” instruction so as to avoid the systematic execution of the latter (a procedure sometimes designated by the name “Test-And-Test-And-Set”), the insertion of a lag between two successive access requests dispatched by each task, the use of tickets and/or of specific standby queues for each resource accessible concurrently. These procedures make it possible to limit the penalty in terms of execution latency introduced for certain basic synchronization mechanisms, but they reach their limits as soon as the number of processors increases appreciably. Moreover, in a dynamic operating context where the tasks can be placed on standby, preempted or migrated at any moment, while standing by waiting for a token to be obtained for example, the synchronization task becomes more complicated, since no physical resource is on active standby awaiting the event.
A second approach encompasses the hardware procedures. In order to avoid the execution latencies introduced by the software approaches, certain techniques propose to install the synchronization techniques hardware-wise. For example, according to a first technique, a network of connections dedicated solely to the synchronization operations is effected in addition to the customary networks for data transport and control. According to a second technique, certain synchronization mechanisms (such as barriers or mutexes) are implemented with logical operators (AND, OR, . . . etc.) connected together directly with physical connections. However, the hardware infrastructure used to implement the synchronization functions is generally expensive in terms of circuit area and rather inflexible, and therefore rather unsuited to the dynamic aspect of a system, notably in the distributing of the computation load over the various computation units.
A third approach encompasses the mixed software and hardware procedures. Notably, the AMO (“Activates Memory Operation”) technique moves certain computation operations, generally implemented processor side, to memory side so as to reduce the cost of interaction between these two elements. For example, Cray T3E provides a set of atomic operations implemented hardware-wise as “fetch&increment” and “compare&swap”, as described in the article by S. L. Scott “Synchronization and communication in the T3E multiprocessor”, published in ASPLOS-VII in September 1996. A second mixed technique, called TM for “Tagged Memory”, adds a bit to each data word stored in memory as latching flag for the synchronization. This technique allows fine-grain synchronization management, but it gives rise to a non-negligible cost overhead in terms of silicon area. A third mixed technique called LCU (“Lock Control Unit”) makes it possible to support preemption and migration of tasks for certain synchronization mechanisms. However, this technique requires a specific module per computation unit and this may entail a non-negligible cost overhead in terms of circuit area, in a hierarchical system with several multi-core clusters for example. Moreover, this LCU technique relies on transmissions of synchronization messages between these modules, and this may give rise to contention phenomena, in particular when the number of tasks and/or computation cores increases in dynamic operating mode, that is to say in an operating mode in which the tasks can be preempted and/or migrated. | {
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It is known that, in sports and competition bicycles using the so-called shoe brakes, the distance between the two brake shoes, which has to be very small in order to obtain a prompt and efficient braking, is normally less than the largest transversal dimension of the tire, and this prevents an easy wheel removal.
On the other hand, it is highly desirable in all the sports bicycles, and even essential in competition bicycles, for the wheels to be removed in an extremely easy and fast manner. Various expedients have thus been worked out in order to obtain a quick opening of the brake shoes allowing, in case of need, to remove the wheel without meeting any obstacles on the part of the brakes. | {
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1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a structure of a light-emitting device utilizing a light-emitting material, such as an organic electroluminescent (EL) material.
2. Related Art
As one type of active matrix light-emitting device, a structure in which a transistor that controls a current to be supplied to a light-emitting element (such a transistor is hereinafter referred to as a “drive transistor”) is provided for each light-emitting element is known. Another type of active matrix-light emitting device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,506 (FIG. 2) and JP-A-2004-133240 (FIGS. 2 and 3). In this structure, a transistor that compensates for errors of the threshold voltage of a drive transistor (such a transistor is hereinafter referred to as an “initializing transistor”) is disposed between the gate electrode and the drain electrode (or source electrode) of the drive transistor. In this structure, when the initializing transistor is turned ON to allow the drive transistor to be diode-connected, the gate electrode of the drive transistor is set to be a potential corresponding to the threshold voltage. In this state, the gate electrode of the drive transistor is changed to a potential in accordance with a desired grayscale level. Then, a current which is not influenced by the threshold voltage can be supplied to the corresponding light-emitting element.
The above-described structure requires wiring patterns for electrically connecting the components related to the light emission of the light-emitting elements, for example, wiring patterns for electrically connecting the drive transistors and the initializing transistors (hereinafter such wiring patterns are referred to as “connecting portions”), and wiring patterns for electrically connecting the drive transistors and the light-emitting elements (hereinafter such wiring patterns are referred to as “element continuity portions”). However, if such wiring patterns are formed in different processing steps, the manufacturing process becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost is increased.
One solution to solving this problem is to form the connecting portions and the element continuity portions simultaneously with the formation of other components (for example, power supply lines) in the same processing step by the patterning of one conductive film. In this method, however, it is necessary to form other components, such as power supply lines, so that they can physically avoid the connecting portions and the element continuity portions. Because of such a restriction, for example, a sufficient width of the power supply lines cannot be ensured, and as a result, the resistance of the power supply lines cannot be sufficiently reduced. | {
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FIG. 1 is an illustration of a prior art electronic package 100. The electronic package 100 includes a die 102, a die substrate 104, a package substrate 106, solder elements 108 and a molding compound 110. The die 102 is mounted on the die substrate 104. The die substrate 104 is mounted on the package substrate 106. The purpose of the solder elements 108 is to electrically couple the die substrate 104 to the package substrate 106. The molding compound 110 encapsulates the electronic connections. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the die substrate 104 is encapsulated by the molding compound 110 on only one side of the die substrate 104. During the curing of the molding compound 110, the molding compound 110 shrinks and subjects the die substrate 104 to stress that causes the die substrate 104 to bow. A bowed die substrate 104 causes open connections at the solder elements 108 which increases the electrical failure rate of the electronic package.
For these and other reasons there is a need for an electronic package that resists bowing. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to programmable chip systems. More specifically, the invention relates to mechanisms and techniques for booting FPGA-based embedded systems.
2. Description of Related Art
The central processing unit (CPU) of an embedded system must start up or “boot” when it first receives power and then again whenever it receives a reset pulse. Usually, the instructions that the processor executes are stored in nonvolatile memory (e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, or ROM) or in a nonvolatile memory on the micro-controller device.
In embedded systems that contain a field programmable gate array (FPGA), the FPGA must configure itself when it first receives power and then again whenever it receives a reconfigure pulse. Usually, the configuration data for an FPGA is also stored in a separate nonvolatile memory.
Although storing the CPU instructions and the FPGA configuration data on separate nonvolatile memories is typical for most FPGA-based embedded systems, storing them together on a single nonvolatile parallel configuration memory may suffice as well.
To further elaborate on the above, one approach has an external nonvolatile memory that contains FPGA configuration data, and the configured FPGA contains a boot ROM in its design. In this case, the data for the FPGA's ROM is stored as part of the FPGA configuration and is loaded into the FPGA's RAM, which then acts like a boot ROM. The CPU just needs to boot normally by accessing instructions in the boot ROM. The disadvantage of this approach is that it uses relatively expensive on-chip RAM to hold the CPU instructions.
Another approach has an external nonvolatile parallel memory that contains both FPGA configuration data and CPU boot instructions written to non-overlapping locations. A CPU that is part of the configured FPGA retrieves instructions directly from the external nonvolatile parallel memory. This approach has the advantage that no on-chip RAM is needed for boot memory, but it has the disadvantage that accessing external nonvolatile memory is slow.
Another approach instructs the CPU to copy the boot instructions to external SRAM or SDRAM to enhance the performance of the executing system. The CPU then transfers execution to the copy of the boot code in SRAM or SDRAM. These kinds of memory are much less expensive than on-chip RAM and faster than off-chip nonvolatile memory, but they have many address and data pins which must be connected to corresponding FPGA pins, thereby adding to the FPGA cost.
Yet another approach has an external configuration controller that configures the FPGA with data from an external nonvolatile parallel memory. The disadvantage of this approach is that it uses an additional external logic device.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide improved methods and apparatus for booting FPGA-based embedded systems in order to better utilize FPGA resources, improve system performance, and/or minimize associated costs. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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As integrated circuits are produced with greater and greater levels of circuit density, efficient testing schemes that guarantee very high fault coverage while minimizing test costs and chip area overhead have become essential. However, as the complexity of circuits continues to increase, high fault coverage of several types of fault models becomes more difficult to achieve with traditional testing paradigms. This difficulty arises for several reasons. First, larger integrated circuits have a very high and still increasing logic-to-pin ratio that creates a test data transfer bottleneck at the chip pins. Second, larger circuits require a prohibitively large volume of test data that must be then stored in external testing equipment. Third, applying the test data to a large circuit requires an increasingly long test application time. And fourth, present external testing equipment is unable to test such larger circuits at their speed of operation.
Integrated circuits are presently tested using a number of structured design for testability (DFT) techniques. These techniques rest on the general concept of making all or some state variables (memory elements like flip-flops and latches) directly controllable and observable. If this can be arranged, a circuit can be treated, as far as testing of combinational faults is concerned, as a combinational or a nearly combinational network. The most-often used DFT methodology is based on scan chains. It assumes that during testing all (or almost all) memory elements are connected into one or more shift registers, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,537. A circuit that has been designed for test has two modes of operation: a normal mode and a test, or scan, mode. In the normal mode, the memory elements perform their regular functions. In the scan mode, the memory elements become scan cells that are connected to form a number of shift registers called scan chains. These scan chains are used to shift a set of test patterns into the circuit and to shift out circuit, or test, responses to the test patterns. The test responses are then compared to fault-free responses to determine if the circuit under test (CUT) works properly.
Scan design methodology has gained widespread adoption by virtue of its simple automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) and silicon debugging capabilities. Today, ATPG software tools are so efficient that it is possible to generate test sets (a collection of test patterns) that guarantee almost complete fault coverage of several types of fault models including stuck-at, transition, path delay faults, and bridging faults. Typically, when a particular potential fault in a circuit is targeted by an ATPG tool, only a small number of scan cells, e.g., 2-5%, must be specified to detect the particular fault (deterministically specified cells). The remaining scan cells in the scan chains are filled with random binary values (randomly specified cells). This way the pattern is fully specified, more likely to detect some additional faults, and can be stored on a tester.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional system 10 for testing digital circuits with scan chains. External automatic testing equipment (ATE), or tester, 12 applies a set of fully specified test patterns 14 one by one to a CUT 16 in scan mode via scan chains 18 within the circuit. The circuit is then run in normal mode using the test pattern as input, and the test response to the test pattern is stored in the scan chains. With the circuit again in scan mode, the response is then routed to the tester 12, which compares the response with a fault-free reference response 20, also one by one. For large circuits, this approach becomes infeasible because of large test set sizes and long test application times. It has been reported that the volume of test data can exceed one kilobit per single logic gate in a large design. The significant limitation of this approach is that it requires an expensive, memory-intensive tester and a long test time to test a complex circuit.
These limitations of time and storage can be overcome to some extent by adopting a built-in self-test (BIST) framework as shown in FIG. 2. In BIST, additional on-chip circuitry is included to generate test patterns, evaluate test responses, and control the test. For example, a pseudo-random pattern generator 21 is used to generate the test patterns, instead of having deterministic test patterns. Additionally, a multiple input signature register (MISR) 22 is used to generate and store a resulting signature from test responses. In conventional logic BIST, where pseudo-random patterns are used as test patterns, 95-96% coverage of stuck-at faults can be achieved provided that test points are employed to address random-pattern resistant faults. On average, one to two test points may be required for every 1000 gates. In BIST, all responses propagating to observable outputs and the signature register have to be known. Unknown values corrupt the signature and therefore must be bounded by additional test logic. Even though pseudo-random test patterns appear to cover a significant percentage of stuck-at faults, these patterns must be supplemented by deterministic patterns that target the remaining, random pattern resistant faults. Very often the tester memory required to store the supplemental patterns in BIST exceeds 50% of the memory required in the deterministic approach described above. Another limitation of BIST is that other types of faults, such as transition or path delay faults, are not handled efficiently by pseudo-random patterns. Because of the complexity of the circuits and the limitations inherent in BIST, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to provide a set of test patterns that fully covers hard-to-test faults.
Some of the DFT techniques include compactors to compress the test responses from the scan chains. There are generally two types of compactors: time compactors and spatial compactors. Time compactors typically have a feedback structure with memory elements for storing a signature, which represents the results of the test. After the signature is completed it is read and compared to a fault-free signature to determine if an error exists in the integrated circuit. Spatial compactors generally compress a collection of bits (called a vector) from scan chains. The compacted output is analyzed in real time as the test responses are shifted out of the scan chains. Spatial compactors can be customized for a given circuit under test to reduce the aliasing phenomenon, as shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,562 and in few other works based on multiplexed parity trees or nonlinear trees comprising elementary gates such as AND, OR, NAND, and NOR gates.
Linear spatial compactors are built of Exclusive-OR (XOR) or Exclusive-NOR (XNOR) gates to generate n test outputs from the m primary outputs of the circuit under test, where n<m. Linear compactors differ from nonlinear compactors in that the output value of a linear compactor changes with a change in just one input to the compactor. With nonlinear compactors, a change in an input value may go undetected at the output of the compactor. However, even linear compactors may mask errors in an integrated circuit. For example, the basic characteristic an XOR (parity) tree is that any combination of odd number of errors on its inputs propagates to their outputs, and any combination of even number of errors remains undetected.
An ideal compaction algorithm has the following features: (1) it is easy to implement as a part of the on-chip test circuitry, (2) it is not a limiting factor with respect to test time, (3) it provides a logarithmic compression of the test data, and (4) it does not lose information concerning faults. In general, however, there is no known compaction algorithm that satisfies all the above criteria. In particular, it is difficult to ensure that the compressed output obtained from a faulty circuit is not the same as that of the fault-free circuit. This phenomenon is often referred to as error masking or aliasing and is measured in terms of the likelihood of its occurrence. An example of error masking occurs when the spatial compactor reads two fault effects at the same time. The multiple fault effects cancel each other out and the compactor output is the same as if no faults occurred.
Unknown states are also problematic for error detection. An unknown state on one or more inputs of an XOR tree generates unknown values on its output, and consequently masks propagation of faults on other inputs. A common application of space compactors is to combine the observation points inserted into the CUT as a part of design-for-testability methodology. The spatial compactors can be also used to reduce the size of the time compactors by limiting the number of their parallel inputs.
Undoubtedly, the most popular time compactors used in practice are linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs). In its basic form, the LFSR (see FIG. 3) is modified to accept an external input in order to act as a polynomial divider. An alternative implementation (called type II LFSR) is shown in FIG. 4. The input sequence, represented by a polynomial, is divided by the characteristic polynomial of the LFSR. As the division proceeds, the quotient sequence appears at the output of the LFSR and the remainder is kept in the LFSR. Once testing is completed, the content of the LFSR can be treated as a signature.
FIG. 5 shows another time compactor (which is a natural extension of the LFSR-based compactor) called a multiple-input LFSR, also known as a multiple-input signature register (MISR). The MISR is used to test circuits in the multiple scan chain environment such as shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,537. MISRs feature a number of XOR gates added to the flip-flops. The CUT scan chain outputs are then connected to these gates.
FIG. 6 shows an example of a pipelined spatial compactor with a bank of flip-flops separating stages of XOR gates. A clock (not shown) controls the flip-flops and allows a one-cycle delay before reading the compacted output.
The limitation of spatial compactors, such as the one shown in FIG. 6, is that unknown states can reduce fault coverage. Time compactors, such as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, are completely unable to handle unknown states since an unknown state on any input can corrupt the compressed output generated by the compactor. With both time compactors and spatial compactors, multiple fault effects can reduce fault coverage. Additionally, if a fault effect is detected within the integrated circuit, these compactors have limited ability to localize the fault.
An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an efficient compactor that can select which scan chains are analyzed. This ability to select allows the compactor to generate a valid compressed output even when receiving unknown states or multiple fault effects on its inputs. The compactor can also be used diagnostically to determine the location of faults within an integrated circuit. | {
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Computer systems such as personal computers (PCs), servers, workstations, and mainframes are well known in the art. Computer systems have attained widespread use for providing computing power to many segments of today's modern society. One important function for computer systems is to access, modify, and share information. To accomplish this, information is often stored in a database so that it may be shared among many computer systems. Databases typically have a database manager to facilitate access, manipulation, or storage of the information in the database by other computer systems. The database manager may typically execute on a database server while computer systems using the database may serve as database clients in a client-server relationship. Example database managers include International Business Machine Corporation's (IBM®'s) DB2® database management system, Microsoft Corporation's Microsoft® SQL Server system, Oracle Corporation's Oracle® database management system, or Sybase, Inc.'s® database management system. Database servers and their clients may run on various operating system platforms and database clients (and their applications) communicate with the database server in order to obtain data from the server.
A database administrator (DBA) may be responsible for managing the environmental aspects of a database such as recoverability, resource management, integrity, security, availability, performance, and development and testing support. Database server support commonly offers the ability for the database server to notify the DBA of events (such as table locks) for which the DBA has requested notification as well as sending return codes (such as error, warning or informational codes) to a connected application. Often, a DBA wishes to inform database client users of particular events, such as when the database needs to be taken down or recycled for maintenance, when the database has performance problems, or other occurrences. By informing database client users of the problem (as well as estimated timelines for completion or workarounds), the DBA may provide better service to database clients and reduce the frustration some database client users feel when the database becomes unavailable for reasons unknown to them.
One solution to this problem is to use instant messaging (IM) systems to send messages from the DBA to database client users. This solution, however, suffers from a significant problem in that the DBA must know the IM identity of the database client users who are connected to the database in order to send them an IM message. In a typical large database, the DBA will not know which particular database client users are connected at any given time and therefore cannot effectively send them IM messages. Moreover, DBAs and database client users often change (such as for different shifts) and are often remote, increasing the difficulty of knowing which database client users are presently using the database. Such a solution may also rely on the availability of an IM server to forward the message, as well as both sender and receiver being logged on, further limiting the usefulness of IM.
Another problem is that database client users do not have an effective and efficient mechanism to communicate with a DBA. As database client users often do not know the identity of DBAs, they cannot easily contact the DBAs via phone, e-mail, or IM message. Even if a database client user knows the identity of a DBA, they may not know whether the DBA is on-shift or working from an alternative location, making it more difficult to communicate with the DBA. There is, therefore, a need for an efficient and effective mechanism for providing two-way communication between database client users and administrators. | {
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Robotic-assisted surgical systems have been developed to improve surgical precision and enable the implementation of new surgical procedures. For example, robotic systems have been developed to sense a surgeon's hand movements and translate them to scaled-down micro-movements and filter out unintentional tremors for precise microsurgical techniques in organ transplants, reconstructions, and minimally invasive surgeries. Other robotic systems are directed to telemanipulation of surgical tools such that the surgeon does not have to be present in the operating room, thereby facilitating remote surgery. Feedback-controlled robotic systems have also been developed to provide smoother manipulation of a surgical tool during a procedure than could be achieved by an unaided surgeon.
However, widespread acceptance of robotic systems by surgeons and hospitals is limited for a variety of reasons. Current systems are expensive to own and maintain. They often require extensive preoperative surgical planning prior to use, and they extend the required preparation time in the operating room. They are physically intrusive, possibly obscuring portions of a surgeons field of view and blocking certain areas around the operating table, such that a surgeon and/or surgical assistants are relegated to one side of the operating table. Current systems may also be non-intuitive or otherwise cumbersome to use, particularly for surgeons who have developed a special skill or “feel” for performing certain maneuvers during surgery and who find that such skill cannot be implemented using the robotic system. Finally, robotic surgical systems may be vulnerable to malfunction or operator error, despite safety interlocks and power backups.
Spinal surgeries often require precision drilling and placement of screws or other implements in relation to the spine, and there may be constrained access to the vertebrae during surgery that makes such maneuvers difficult. Catastrophic damage or death may result from improper drilling or maneuvering of the body during spinal surgery, due to the proximity of the spinal cord and arteries. Common spinal surgical procedures include a discectomy for removal of all or part of a disk, a foraminotomy for widening of the opening where nerve roots leave the spinal column, a laminectomy for removal of the lamina or bone spurs in the back, and spinal fusion for fusing of two vertebrae or vertebral segments together to eliminate pain caused by movement of the vertebrae.
Spinal surgeries that involve screw placement require preparation of holes in bone (e.g., vertebral segments) prior to placement of the screws. Where such procedures are performed manually, in some implementations, a surgeon judges a drill trajectory for subsequent screw placement on the basis of pre-operative CT scans. Other manual methods which do not involve usage of the pre-operative CT scans, such as fluoroscopy, 3D fluoroscopy or natural landmark-based, may be used to determine the trajectory for preparing holes in bone prior to placement of the screws. In some implementations, the surgeon holds the drill in his hand while drilling, and fluoroscopic images are obtained to verify if the trajectory is correct. Some surgical techniques involve usage of different tools, such as a pedicle finder or K-wires. Such procedures rely strongly on the expertise of the surgeon, and there is significant variation in success rate among different surgeons. Screw misplacement is a common problem in such surgical procedures.
Image-guided spinal surgeries involve optical tracking to aid in screw placement. However, such procedures are currently performed manually, and surgical tools can be inaccurately positioned despite virtual tracking. A surgeon is required to coordinate his real-world, manual manipulation of surgical tools using images displayed on a two dimensional screen. Such procedures can be non-intuitive and require training, since the surgeon's eye must constantly scan both the surgical site and the screen to confirm alignment. Furthermore, procedural error can result in registration inaccuracy of the image-guiding system, rendering it useless, or even misleading.
Certain force feedback systems are used by surgeons in certain procedures; however such systems have a large footprint and take up valuable, limited space in the operating room. These systems also require the use of surgical tools that are specially adapted for use with the force feedback system, and the training required by surgeons to operate such systems can be significant. Moreover, surgeons may not be able to use expertise they have developed in performing spinal surgeries when adapting to use of the current force feedback systems. Such systems, while precise, may require more surgical time and more operating room preparation time to ready placement of the equipment for surgery. Thus, there is a need for systems, apparatus, and methods that provide enhanced precision in performing surgeries such as spinal surgeries. | {
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A variety of luminescent compounds are known in the art. Green and red luminscent compounds are not uncommon, but blue luminescent metal ions and molecules are rare and generally expensive.
Two types of blue luminescent inorganic coordination compounds are known in which a heterocyclic chromophore includes a metal center coordinated by nitrogen and oxygen atoms of organic ligands. One type is based on 8-hydroxyquinoline and derivatives thereof, and the other is based on azomethine and derivatives thereof. Both the 8-hydroxyquinoline- and azomethine-based systems usually require several steps of synthesis and modification in order to achieve blue luminescence. The usefulness of these two systems in practical electroluminescence applications is limited, and blue luminescent materials with improved properties are desirable.
Production of devices based on electroluminescent display, and in particular on flat panel display, is a rapidly growing, billion dollar industry. Blue luminescent materials, as one of the key color components for electroluminescence display devices, are among the most sought-after materials by industry around the world. | {
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Primary services offered by commonly used telecommunication systems include allowing a calling party to connect to a called party through a telecommunication network. Commonly used telecommunication networks include landline networks such as Public Switched Telephone Networks and Wireless Communication Networks such as Cellular Networks.
Typically, Telecommunication Service Providers (TSPs) provide telephone and related communication services to subscribed users of telecommunication services. Apart from providing traditional services (for example, voice calls, fax transmissions and the like); nowadays telecommunication service providers also provide subscribed users with a number of value added services such as Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), call forwarding, ring back tone etc. In a telecommunication network, when a caller makes a call to a callee using a communication terminal, the caller hears a call progress tone. The call progress tone is heard by the caller till the callee responds to the call and initiates a conversation with the caller. The call progress tone may include, without limitation, a ring back tone (RBT), a call busy tone and a call waiting tone. RBT is usually a monotonous sound heard by a caller while waiting for a callee to respond to a call. An RBT may be replaced by other tones, for example, songs, personalized messages, advertisements, music, news, sports commentary etc.
Nowadays, telecommunication service providers allow a user to set an RBT of his or her choice by subscribing to an RBT service. The RBT service enables the RBT subscriber to choose a particular tone as the RBT. The chosen RBT of the user may be a song, an advertisement, a personalized message by the user or even an interactive game with a caller. Currently there is no active participation of an RBT subscriber (either caller or callee) in promoting and popularizing the RBT (especially if the RBT is an advertisement) and various other Value Added Services (VAS) that may be advertised in an RBT. In current RBT service implementations, a subscriber, such as a callee/caller may get financial benefits for setting advertisements as RBTs. However, receiving financial benefits alone may not be motivational enough for a callee/caller to take an initiative for letting the usage of his RBT service for playing advertisements as RBT. Further, a caller who listens to an advertisement as RBT, while a call to a callee is being connected, does not receive any additional benefit (apart from listening to the advertisement).
Due to the highly competitive nature of telecommunication industry, telecommunication service providers are constantly motivated to increase advertising revenues. Thus, there exists a need to encourage RBT subscribers (callee as well as caller) to actively participate in promoting and using advertisements as RBTs by providing RBT subscribers with benefits. | {
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This invention is related to the field of fumigation processes that use sulfuryl fluoride as a fumigant.
It is well known that insects and other pests are very destructive to property and that they can endanger human life. It has been estimated that termites alone cause more than 750 million dollars in damage every year, much of this damage is done to homes where families live.
Fumigation is the use of certain gases to control insects and other pests that are present in enclosed, or enclosable, areas where they are not desired, such as, family homes. Currently, the fumigant of choice is sulfuryl fluoride. The preferred source for sulfuryl fluoride is Dow AgroSciences LLC., which sells a specialty sulfuryl fluoride product under the trademark Vikane® gas fumigant.
During fumigation it is important to know the amount of sulfuryl fluoride in the air of the enclosed area. This is because a certain level of sulfuryl fluoride is needed in the air of the enclosed area in order to rid such area of the insects and other pests that are present therein. Consequently, a Fumiscope is used to determine this amount.
A Fumiscope is a portable instrument that will quantitatively measure the gas concentration in air by sampling the atmosphere of the enclosed area. However: there are certain problems with using a Fumiscope. In particular, most, if not all, Fumiscopes that measure sulfuryl fluoride are sensitive to the amount of water vapor in the air. That is, the amount of water vapor adversely affects the detection capabilities of the Fumiscope. One preferred method to overcome this problem is to use a drying material such as, anhydrous calcium sulfate to absorb the water vapor. However, this solution is not optimal. First, these types of dryers can remove other gases, such as sulfuryl fluoride, from the sample thereby making the Fumiscope give an inaccurate reading. Second, these types of dryers are used up during the monitoring, and consequently, the effectiveness of these dryers decreases over time and the baseline of the Fumiscope drifts. This means that the dryers must be replaced often during monitoring and the Fumiscope must be re-zeroed during monitoring in order to get accurate readings. These procedures are time consuming and labor-intensive and prevent the unattended operation of the Fumiscope.
Consequently, in light of the above the inventors provide the following solution to this problem. | {
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Optical networks require a reliable transport mechanism to transport information between optical nodes (switches) forming a bi-directional ring network. A reliable transport mechanism typically includes diverse transport paths to deliver information signals from one optical node to another optical node. The optical nodes forming the ring network transmit information over the shortest path to an intended recipient. However, if the transmission path fails, then the node will re-transmit the information over the other diverse path to the intended recipient. In this sense, one path provides protection for the other path when a failure occurs. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device and method for automatically detecting and announcing error on booting a motherboard and, more particularly, to a speech device and method that performs automatic error detection for every element on the motherboard and announces the detected error.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the hardware structure of a conventional motherboard for a personal computer. The motherboard comprises a processor 110, a north-bridge 120, a south-bridge 130, an AC97 codec 140, a BIOS 150 and a detection output device 170. The BIOS 150 is connected to the south-bridge 130 via an LPC bus 160. When the motherboard is turned on, the processor 110 executes some diagnostics to decide if elements on the motherboard are functioning correctly. If an element on the motherboard is functioning correctly, the processor 110 sets the corresponding operating parameters for this element; if this element fails the diagnostic, the processor 110 outputs a corresponding code and the detection output device 170 plays a corresponding audio signal or displays a corresponding error message.
The detection output device 170 is used to output a detection result when the motherboard is booting, and whether the detection output device 170 can be working properly or not depends on the processor status at booting procedure. However, the typical motherboard is assembled with different name brands of processors having different clock settings, and so when the processor is malfunctioning or has an incorrect clock setting, the detection output device 170 will not receive an error message from the processor 110. Therefore, the detection output device 170 cannot inform the user of any potential errors.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a device and method for automatically detecting and announcing error on booting a motherboard to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stretch blow molding machine for manufacturing plastic articles. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus which can continuously perform injection molding of a synthetic resin flat preform and stretch blow molding to create wide mouth cup-like containers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An injection stretch blow molding machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,391. It comprises stages for injection molding of a preform, bringing the preform to a temperature suitable for stretch blow molding, stretching the preform into a blow mold and air-blowing the preform into a container such as a bottle, and removing the container. A neck mold or lip mold, which forms part of an injection mold, also serves as a holder. The mold moves together with a periodically rotating disk, transferring the preform and container from one stage to another.
In the aforementioned molding machine, the preform, which serves as a neck portion of a container, is transferred with an upper end thereof held on a neck mold and then subjected to stretching blow molding. However, where one is making a cup-like container which has no neck portion as in other containers such as bottles, it has been extremely difficult to perform injection stretch blow molding using conventional molding machinery, unless some circumferential portion of the preform is held by some means.
Generally, the means for holding a flat injection molded preform is designed so that an undercut groove is formed in an inner peripheral portion of a securing mold corresponding to a neck mold, and a preform peripheral edge serving as an open edge of a cup-like container is formed by this groove.
However, there is a disadvantage in forming such a groove in a securing mold. In addition, an undercut cannot be formed deeply to a sufficient extent even where the securing mold is split to remove an open edge from the groove, when the container is released, for example. Therefore, the peripheral edge of a preform occasionally slips partly out of the groove, as a result of the pressure produced when the preform is stretched by a stretching rod or when compressed air is introduced in the mold, causing a failure in the molding process.
Furthermore, where the preform is held by an undercut, protruding lines corresponding to the undercuts are formed annularly on the inside or outside or on both surfaces of the open edge. These lines create a difficulty in bonding a sealing material to the open edge.
Moreover, since the preform is held by the undercut, the material cannot be released unless the holder is divided. Because of the previously insurmountable difficulties in creating an alternative method of holding the preform, apparatus equivalent to container molds are presently used. | {
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The present invention relates to mixtures which, inter alia, are suitable for electrochemical cells with electrolytes containing lithium ions; the use of these, e.g. in solid electrolytes, separators and electrodes; solid electrolytes, separators, electrodes, sensors, electrochromic windows, displays, capacitors and ion-conducting films which comprise a mixture of this type; electrochemical cells with such solid electrolytes, separators and/or electrodes; and also the use in electrochemical cells of the solids present in the mixtures, for improving cycle stability.
Electrochemical cells, in particular those which are rechargeable, are well known, for example from Ullmann""s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5th ed., Vol. A3, VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim, 1985, pages 343-397.
Due to their high specific energy storage density, lithium batteries and lithium ion batteries occupy a particular position among these cells, especially as secondary cells.
As described, inter alia, in the above extract from xe2x80x9cUllmannxe2x80x9d, the cathodes of such cells contain lithiated compound oxides of manganese, cobalt, vanadium or nickel; these may be described in the stoichiometrically simplest case as LiMn2O4, LiCoO2, LiV2O5 or LiNiO2.
These compound oxides react reversibly with substances, such as graphite, which are capable of incorporating lithium ions into their lattice, the lithium ions being removed from the crystal lattice and the metal ions within this, such as manganese, cobalt or nickel ions, being oxidized. In an electrochemical cell this reaction can be used to store electrical energy by separating the compound accepting lithium ions, i.e. the anode material, from the lithium-containing compound oxide, i.e. the cathode material, by means of an electrolyte through which the lithium ions from the compound oxide can migrate into the anode material (charging).
The compounds suitable for reversible storage of lithium ions are usually secured to collector electrodes by means of a binder.
During charging of the cell, electrons flow through an external voltage source and lithium cations through the electrolyte toward the anode material. When the cell is used, the lithium cations flow through the electrolyte, but the electrons flow from the anode material to the cathode material through a load.
In order to avoid a short circuit within the electrochemical cell, a layer which is electrically insulating but permeable co lithium cations is located between the two electrodes. This may be what is known as a solid electrolyte or a conventional separator.
As is well known, solid electrolytes and separators are composed of a carrier material, incorporated into which are a dissociable compound which contains lithium cations and serves to increase lithium-ion conductivity, and also usually other additives, such as solvents.
Solid electrolytes based on polyalkylene oxides are known, and are described, for example, in EP-A 559 317, EP-A 576 686, EP-A 537 930, EP-A 585 072 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,910. The polyethers described in these references are modified at their end groups or functional groups, for example by means of (meth)acryloyl groups, and are crosslinked by introducing energy (heat or light) before they are used as solid electrolyte. They generally also contain a conducting salt, e.g. LiPF6, to improve their conductivity. The use of a solid to improve the mechanical, thermal and electrical strength of the solid electrolyte is not described in these references. Accordingly, and in spite of crosslinking, the systems described in these references do not always have satisfactory properties with regard to mechanical strength and the porosity of the resultant films, and short-circuit protection.
The solvents used hitherto in Li storage batteries have been predominantly alkyl ethers, such as dimethyl ether, and alkene carbonates, such as ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC). Such systems are described, inter alia, in JP 08 273 700 and JP 09 115 548.
Electrolyte solutions based on various esters are also known.
For example, WO97/16862 describes an electrolyte solution which comprises borates of the following formulae (A) to (D):
where X is halogen, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are straight-chain or branched-chain aliphatic or aromatic alkyl which may be substituted with substituents of various electronegativities, and Z is a straight-chain or branched-chain aliphatic or aromatic alkyl or siloxane group.
J. Electrochem. Soc., 143, 1996 pp. 4047-4053 describes an electrolyte solvent for rechargeable lithium and lithium-ion batteries based on a borate termed BEG-1 and having the formula (E) below, combined with EC and/or PC.
EP-B-0 599 534 describes carbonate compounds of the following formula (F)
R1xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2R2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(F)
where R1 is hydrogen, alkyl or alkyl substituted with one or more halogen atoms, and R2 is allkyl with no hydrogen in the xcex1 position or alkyl with no hydrogen in the xcex1 position and substituted with one or more halogen atoms, with the proviso that R1 is not identical with R2, excluding the compound C2H5xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94(CF2)4xe2x80x94H and also its use in a non-aqueous electrolyte solution.
EP-A 0 698 933 relates to a non-aqueous secondary cell which encompasses a specific eletrolyte solution including, inter alia, phosphoric triesters of the formula RO)3Pxe2x95x90O, where each of the groups R is identical or different and is C1-C6-alkyl or two RO groups may form a ring, together with the phosphorus atom to which they are bonded. Alkyl phosphates of this type and their use in non-aqueous electrolyte solutions and in secondary cells are likewise described in EP-A 0 696 077.
The use of phosphates of the formula Oxe2x95x90P(xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94(CH2CH2O)qR2)3, where n and q are from 1 to 10 and R2 is C1-C4-alkyl, as electrolyte in zinc batteries is described in JP 07 161 357.
Other phosphates having hydrocarbon groups, and also the use of these as electrolyte in lithium ion batteries, are described in JP 58 206 078.
JP 61 256 573 describes an electrolyte based on a polymer of a phosphate containing at least one polymerizable group.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages described and to provide a mixture which is suitable in particular for producing solid electrolytes and separators, but can also be used for producing electrodes in electrochemical cells and for other applications described herein.
We have found that this object is achieved by means of the novel mixture in which a solid III as defined below is present; the use of the novel mixture gives solid electrolytes, separators or electrodes which, in comparison with the systems known hitherto, have improved short-circuit protection, increased compressive strength, in particular at above 120xc2x0 C., and also greater porosity. and are moreover capable of sustained suppression of Li dendrite formation. The presence of the solid also provides electrochemical cells with improved cycle stability and higher current capacities. If the preferred basic solids are used, the acid formed during operation of an electrochemical cell is moreover scavenged or neutralized.
By using the esters present in the mixture and having the formulae (E1) to (E5) as defined herein, the mechanical properties of the films produced from the mixture and also the ease with which they can be peeled from temporary carriers are improved.
At the same time, the esters used also have electrolyte properties.
One embodiment of the present invention therefore provides a mixture Ia, comprising a mix IIa composed of
a) from 1 to 95% by weight of a solid III, preferably a basic solid III, with a primary particle size of from 5 nm to 20 xcexcm and
b) from 5 to 99% by weight of a polymeric composition IV, obtainable by polymerizing
b1) from 5 to 100% by weight, based on the composition IV, of a condensation product V of
xcex1) at least one compound VI which is capable of reacting with a carboxylic acid or with a sulfonic acid or with a derivative or a mixture of two or more of these, and
xcex2) at least 1 mol per mole of the compound VI of a carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid VII which has at least one functional group capable of free-radical polymerization, or of a derivative thereof or of a mixture of two or more thereof and
b2) from 0 to 95% by weight, based on the composition IV, of another compound VIII with an average molecular weight (number average) of at least 5000 having polyether segments in its main or side chain and
at least one ester of the formula (E1) to (E5)
where each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 is identical with or different from the others and, independently of the others, is linear or branched-chain C1-C4-alkyl, (xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94O)nxe2x80x94CH3, where n is from 1 to 3, C3-C6-cycloalkyl or an aromatic hydrocarbon group, which may in turn be substituted, with the proviso that at least one of the groups R1, R2, R3 or R4 is (xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94O)nxe2x80x94CH3, where n is from 1 to 3.
The above mixture Ia preferably comprises a mix IIa composed of
a) from 1 to 95% by weight of a solid III, preferably a basic solid III, with a primary particle size of from 5 nm to 20 xcexcm and
b) from 5 to 99% by weight of a polymeric composition IV, obtainable by polymerizing
b1) from 5 to 100% by weight, based on the composition IV, of a condensation product V of
xcex1) a polyhydric alcohol VI containing carbon and oxygen in its main chain and
xcex2) at least 1 mol per mole of the polyhydric alcohol VI of an xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated carboxylic acid VII and
b2) from 0 to 95% by weight, based on the composition IV, of another compound VIII with an average molecular weight (number average) of at least 5000, having polyether segments in its main or side chain.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a mixture Ib, comprising a mix IIb composed of
a) from 1 to 95% by weight of a solid III, preferably a basic solid, with a primary particle size of from 5 nm to 20 xcexcm and
b) from 5 to 99% by weight of a polymer IX, obtainable by polymerizing
b1) from 5 to 75% by weight, based on the polymer IX, of a compound X capable of free-radical polymerization and differing from the carboxylic acid or the sulfonic acid VII or from a derivative thereof, or of a mixture of two or more thereof and
b2) from 25 to 95% by weight, based on the polymer IX, of another compound VIII with an average molecular weight (number average) of at least 5000, having polyether segments in its main or side chain, and
at least one ester of the formula (E1) to (5)
where each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 is identical with or different from the others and, independently of the others, is linear or branched-chain C1-C4-alkyl, (xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94O)nxe2x80x94CH3, where n is from 1 to 3, C3-C6-cycloalkyl or an aromatic hydrocarbon group, which may in turn be substituted, with the proviso that at least one of the groups R1, R2, R3 or R4 is (xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94O)nxe2x80x94CH3, where n is from 1 to 3.
The solids III used are mainly inorganic solids, preferably inorganic basic solids selected from the class consisting of oxides, compound oxides, silicates, sulfates, carbonates, phosphates, nitrides, amides, imides and carbides of the elements of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th main group or the 4th subgroup of the periodic table; a polymer selected from the class consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyamides and polyimides; a solid dispersion comprising a polymer of this type; or a mixture of two or more of these.
Particular examples are: oxides, such as silica, calcium oxide, alumina, magnesium oxide and titanium dioxide, compound oxides, for example of the elements silicon, calcium, aluminum, magnesium and titanium; silicates, such as ladder-type silicates, ino-, phyllo- and tectosilicates, preferably wollastonite, in particular hydrophobicized wollastonite; sulfates, such as those of alkali metals and alkaline-earth metals; carbonates, for example those of alkali metals and alkaline-earth metals, for example calcium. magnesium, barium, lithium, polassium or sodium carbonate; phosphates, such as apatites; nitrides; amides; imides; carbides; polymers, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene and polyvinylidene fluoride: polyamides; polyinides; and other thermoplastics, thermosets and microgels, and solid dispersions, in particular those which comprise the polymers mentioned above, and also mixtures of two or more of the abovementioned solids.
According to the invention, the solids III preferably used are inorganic Li-ion-conducting solids, more preferably an inorganic basic Li-ion-conducting solid.
Particular mention may also be made of: lithium borates, such as Li4B6O11* xH2O . Li3(BO2)3, Li2B4O7*xH2O, LiBO2, where x can be a number from 0 to 20; lithium aluminates, such as Li2O * Al2O3*H2O, LiAl2O4, LiAlO2; lithium aluminosilicates, such as lithium-containing zeolites. feldspars, feldspathoids, phyllo- and inosilicates, and in particular LiAlSi2O6 (spodumene), LiAlSi4O10 (petullite), LiAlSiO4 (eucryptite), micas, such as K[Li,Al]3[AlSi]4O10(Fxe2x80x94OH)2,/K[Li,Al,Fe]3 [AlSi]4O10(Fxe2x80x94OH)2; lithium zeolites, in particular those whose form is fiber-like, sheet-like or cube-like, in particular those of the formula Li2/zO*Al2O3*xSiO2*yH2O where z is valence-related, x is from 1.8 to about 12 and y is from 0 to about 8; lithium carbides, such as Li2C2, Li4C; Li3N; lithium oxides and compound lithium oxides, such as LiAlO2, Li2MnO3, Li2O, Li2O2, Li2MnO4, Li2TiO3; Li2NH; LiNH2; lithium phosphates, such as Li3PO4, LiPO3, LiAlFPO4, LiAl(OH)PO4, LiFePO4, LiMnPO4; Li2CO3; lithium silicates in the form of ladder-type silicates, ino-, phyllo- and tectosilicates, such as Li2SiO3, Li2SiO4 and Li6Si2; lithium sulfates, such as Li2SO4, LiHSO4, LiKSO4; the Li compounds mentioned during the discussion of the cathode compound, the presence of conductive carbon black being excluded from the mixture when these are used as solid III; and also mixtures of two or more of the Li-ion-conducting solids mentioned above.
Basic solids are particularly suitable here. For the purposes of the invention, basic solids are those whose mixture with a liquid, water-containing diluent, which itself has a pH of not more than 7, has a higher pH than this diluent.
The solids should advantageously be very substantially insoluble in the liquid used as electrolyte, and also be electrochemically inert in the battery medium.
Particularly suitable solids are those which have a primary particle size of from 5 nm to 20 xcexcm, preferably from 0.01 to 10 xcexcm and in particular from 0.1 to 5 xcexcm, the particle sizes given being determined by electron microscopy. The melting point of the solids is preferably above the usual operating temperature of the electrochemical cell, and melting points of above 120xc2x0 C., in particular above 150xc2x0 C., have proven particularly advantageous.
The solids here may be symmetrical in their external shape, i.e. have a dimensional ratio of height : width: length (aspect ratio) of about 1 and be shaped as spheres or pellets, be approximately round in shape, or else be in the shape of any desired polyhedron, such as a cuboid, tetrahedron, hexahedron, octahedron or bipyramid, or may be distorted or asymmetric, i.e. have a dimensional ratio of height: width: length (aspect ratio) which is not equal to 1 and be, for example, in the form of needles, asymmetrical tetrahedra, asymmetrical bipyramids, asymmetrical hexa- or octahedra, lamellae or plates, or have fiber-like shape. If the solids are asymmetric particles, the upper limit given above for the primary particle size refers to the smallest axis in each case.
Compounds which may be used as compound VI, which is capable of reacting with a carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid VII or with a derivative or mixture of two or more thereof, are in principle any of the compounds which fulfill this criterion.
Compound VI is preferably selected from the class consisting of: mono- or polyhydric alcohols which have exclusively carbon in their main chain; mono- or polyhydric alcohols which, in their main chain, have, besides at least two carbon atoms, at least one atom selected from the class consisting of oxygen, phosphorus and nitrogen; silicon-containing compounds; amines having at least one primary amino group; amines having at least one secondary amino group; aminoalcohols; mono- or polyfunctional thiols; compounds having at least one thiol and at least one hydroxyl group; and mixtures of two or more of these.
Among these, preference in turn is given to compounds VI which have two or more functional groups able to react with the carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid.
When using compounds VI which contain amino groups as functional group, it is preferable to use those which have secondary amino groups, so that after condensation/ crosslinking, mixture la contains either no free NH groups at all or only small amounts of such groups.
Individual preferred compounds which may be mentioned are:
mono- or polyhydric alcohols having exclusively carbon in their main chain and having from 1 to 20 alcoholic OH groups, preferably from 2 to 20 alcoholic OH groups and in particular from 2 to 10 alcoholic OH groups, in particular di-, tri- and tetrahydric alcohols, preferably having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butenediol, 1,4-butynediol, 1,6-hexanediol, neopentyl glycol, 1,2-dodecanediol, glycerol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, sugar alcohols, hydroquinone, novolak and bisphenol A, but as apparent from the definition above it is also possible to use monohydric alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol and tert-butanol; it is moreover also possible to use polyhydroxyolefins, preferably those having two terminal hydroxyl groups, such as xcex1,xcfx89-dihydroxybutadiene;
polyester polyols, as known, for example, from Ullmann""s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 4th ed., Vol. 19, pp. 62-65 and obtained, for example, by reacting dihydric alcohols with polybasic, preferably dibasic polycarboxylic acids;
mono- or polyhydric alcohols which in their main chain contain, besides at least two carbon atoms, at least one oxygen atom, preferably polyetheralcohols, such as polymerization products of alkylene epoxides, for example isobutyleae oxide, propylene oxide, ethylene oxide, 1,2-epoxybutane. 1,2-epoxypentane, 1,2-epoxyhexane, tetrahydrofuran and styrene oxide, use of polyether alcohols modified at the end groups, for example polyether alcohols modified with NH2 end groups, also being possible; these alcohols preferably have a molecular weight (number average) of from 100 to 5000, more preferably from 200 to 1000, and in particular from 300 to 800; compounds of this type are known per se and are commercially available, for example, under the trademarks Pluriol(copyright) or Pluronic(copyright) (BASF Aktiengesellschaft);
alcohols as defined above in which some or all of the carbon atoms have been replaced by silicon, in particular polysihoxanes or alkylene oxide/siloxane copolymers or mixtures of polyether alcohols and polysiloxanes. as described, for example, in EP-B 581 296 and EP-A 525 728, where that which has already been said above applies to these alcohols, also with respect to their molecular weight;
alcohols as defined above, in particular polyether alcohols in which some or all of the oxygen atoms have been replaced by sulfur atoms, where that which has been said above applies likewise to the molecular weight of these alcohols;
mono- or polyhydric alcohols which contain in their main chain, besides at least two carbon atoms, at least one phosphorus atom or at least one nitrogen atom, for example diethanolamine and triethanolamine; lactones which are derived from compounds of the formula HOxe2x80x94(CH2)zxe2x80x94COOH, where z is a number from 1 to 20, for example xcex5-caprolactone, xcex2-propiolactone, xcex3-butyrolactone and methyl-xcex5-caprolactone;
silicon-containing compounds, such as di- and trichlorosilane, phenyltrichlorosilane, diphenyldichlorosilane and dimethylvinylchlorosilane; silanols, such as trimethylsilanol;
amines having at least one primary and/or secondary amino group. for example butylamine, 2-ethylhexylamine, ethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamiue, diethylenetriamine, tetraethylenepentamine, pentaethylenehexamine, aniline and phenylenediamine;
polyether diamines, such as 4,7-dioxydecane-1,10-diamine and 4,11-dioxytetradecane-1,14-diamine;
mono- or polyfunctional thiols, such as aliphatic thiols, e.g. methanethiol, ethanethiol, cyclohexanethiol and dodecanetliol; aromatic thiols, e.g. thiophenol, 4-chlorothiophenol and 2-mercaptoaniline;
compounds having at least one thiol group and at least one hydroxyl group, such as 4-hydroxythiophenol, and also monothio derivatives of the polyhydric alcohols defined above;
aminoalcohols, such as ethanolamine, N-methylethanolaniine, N-ethylethanolamine, N-butylethanolamine, 2-amino-1-propanol, 2-amino-1-phenyletlianol, and mono- or polyaminopolyols having more than two aliphatically bonded hydroxyl groups, such as tris(hydroxymethyl)-methylamine, glucamine and N,Nxe2x80x2-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine.
It is also possible to use mixtures of two or more of the compounds VI defined above.
According to the invention, the compounds VI mentioned above are condensed with a carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid VII which has at least one functional group capable of free-radical polymerization, or with a derivative thereof or a mixture of two or more thereof, at least one and preferably all of the groups which are free and capable of condensation within the compounds VI being condensed with the compound VII.
For the purposes of the present invention, the carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid VII used may in principle be any carboxylic or sulfonic acid which has at least one functional group capable of free-radical polymerization, or also derivatives of these. The term xe2x80x9cderivativesxe2x80x9d used here encompasses both compounds which are derived from a carboxylic or sulfonic acid modified at the acid function, such as esters, acid halides and anhydrides, and also compounds which are derived from a carboxylic or sulfonic acid which has been modified on its carbon skeleton, such as halocarboxylic and halosulfonic acids.
Compounds VII which may be mentioned here in particular are:
xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated carboxylic acids and xcex2,xcex3-unsaturated carboxylic acids.
Particularly suitable xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated carboxylic acids here are those of the formula
where R1, R2 and R3 are hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl, and where among these preference is in turn given to acrylic acid and methacrylic acid; successful use may also be made of cinnamic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid or p-vinylbenzoic acid, and also derivatives of these, such as anhydrides, e.g. maleic or itaconic anhydride;
halides, in particular chlorides, such as acryloyl or methacryloyl chloride;
esters, such as (cyclo)alkyl (meth)acrylates having up to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical, e.g. methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, hexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, stearyl, lauryl, cyclohexyl, benzyl, trifluoromethyl, hexafluoropropyl and tetrafluoropropyl (meth)acrylate, polypropylene glycol mono(meth)acrylates, polyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylates, poly(meth)acrylates of polyhydric alcohols, for example glycerol di(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane di(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol di- and tri(meth)acrylate, diethylene glycol bis(mono(2-acryloxy)etbyl)carbonate, and poly(meth)acrylates of alcohols which themselves in turn have a group capable of free-radical polymerization, for example esters of (meth)acrylic acid and vinyl and/or allyl alcohol;
vinyl esters of other aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids, e.g. vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl hexanoate, vinyl octanoate, vinyl decanoate, vinyl stearate, vinyl palirtate, vinyl crotonoate, divinyl adipate, divinyl sebacate, vinyl 2-ethylhexanoate and vinyl trifluoroacetate;
allyl esters of other aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids, e.g. allyl acetate, allyl propionate, allyl butyrate, allyl hexanoate, allyl octanoate, allyl decanoate, allyl stearate, allyl palmitate, allyl crotonoate, allyl salicylate, allyl lactate, diallyl oxalate, diallyl malonate, diallyl succinate, diallyl glutarate, diallyl adipate, diallyl pimetate, diallyl cinnamate, diallyl maleate, diallyl phthalate, diallyl isophthalate, triallyl benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, allyl trifluoroacetate, allyl perfluorobutyrate and allyl perfluorooctalioate;
xcex2,xcex3-unsaturated carboxylic acids or derivatives of these, e.g. vinylacetic acid, 2-methylvinylacetic acid, isobutyl 3-butenoate, allyl 3-butenoate, allyl 2-hydroxy-3-butenoate and diketene;
sulfonic acids such as vinylsulfonic acid, allyl- and methallylsulfonic acid, and also esters and halides of these, vinyl benzenesulfonates and 4-vinylbenzenesulfonamide.
It is also possible to use mixtures of two or more of the carboxylic and/or sulfonic acids described above.
Mention may be made of the following individual compounds X capable of free-radical polymerization and of being used to prepare the polymer IX:
olefinic hydrocarbons, such as ethylene, propylene, butylene, isobutene, hexene and higher homologs, and vinylcyclohexane;
(meth)acrylonitrile;
halogen-containing olefinic compounds, such as vinylidene fluoride, vinylidene chloride, vinyl fluoride, vinyl chloride, hexafluoropropene, trifluoropropene, 1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,2-difluoroethylene and tetrafluoroethylene;
vinyl alcohol, vinyl acetate, N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinylimidazole and vinylformamide;
phosphorus nitrile chlorides, such as phosphonitrile dichloride and hexachlorotriphosphazene, and also derivatives of these substituted to some extent or fully by alkoxy, phenoxy, amino or fluoroalkoxy, i.e. compounds which can be polymerized to give polyphosphazenes;
aromatic olefinic compounds, such as styrene and xcex1-methylstyrene;
vinyl ethers, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, 2-etbylhexyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl, trifluoromethyl, hexafluoropropyl and tetrafluoropropyl vinyl ether.
It is, of course also possible to use mixtures of the above compounds X, this then giving rise to copolymers which, depending on the preparation method, contain the monomers in random distribution or are formed as block copolymers.
These compounds X, like the condensation products V, are polymerized in the conventional way well known to the person skilled in the art, preferably by free-radical polymerization; in relation to the molecular weights obtained that which is said in the text below concerning compound VIII is applicable.
Compounds VIII are mainly compounds with an average molecular weight (number average) of at least 5000, preferably from 5000 to 20,000,000, in particular from 100,000 to 6,000,000, and capable of solvating lithium cations and of functioning as a binder. Examples of suitable compounds VIII are polyethers and copolymers which have at least 30% by weight, based on the total weight of compound VIII, of the following structural unit:
where R1, R2, R3 and R4 are aryl or alkyl, preferably methyl, or hydrogen, and may be identical or different, and may contain heteroatoms, such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur or silicon.
Compounds this type are described, for example, in: M. B. Armand et al., Past Ion Transport in Solids, Elsevier, N.Y., 1979, pp. 131-136, and in FR-A 7832976.
Compound VIII may also be composed of mixtures of two or more compounds of this type.
The polymer composition IV defined above and/or the polymer IX may also be a foam, the solid II then being distributed as such therein.
According to the invention, the mixes IIa should be composed of from 1 to 95% by weight, preferably from 25 to 90% by weight and in particular from 30 to 70% by weight, of a solid III and of from 5 to 99% by weight, preferably from 10 to 75% by weight and in particular from 30 to 70% by weight, of a polymeric composition IV, where the compound VIII in the polymeric composition IV should advantageously have an average molecular weight (number average) of from 5000 to 100,000,000, preferably from 50,000 to 8,000,000. The polymeric composition IV may be obtained by reacting from 5 to 100% by weight, preferably from 30 to 70% by weight, based on the polymeric composition IV, of a compound V and from 0 to 95% by weight, in particular from 30 to 70% by weight, based on the polymeric composition IV, of a compound VIII.
According to the invention, the mixes IIb should be composed of from 1 to 95% by weight, preferably from 25 to 90% by weight, and in particular from 30 to 70% by weight, of a solid III and of from 5 to 99% by weight, preferably from 10 to 75% by weight and in particular from 30 to 70% by weight, of a polymer IX, where the compound VIII in the polymer IX advantageously has an average molecular weight (number average) of from 5000 to 100,000,000, preferably from 50,000 to 8,000,000. The polymer IX may be obtained by reacting from 5 to 75% by weight, preferably from 30 to 70% by weight, based on the polymer IX, of a compound X and from 25 to 95% by weight in particular from 30 to 70% by weight, based on the polymer IX, of a compound VIII.
The novel mixture also contains at least one ester of the formulae (E1) to (E5) as defined at the outset.
Among the esters mentioned above of the formulae (E1) to (E5), preference is given to the use of the phosphates of the formula (E3).
Examples of groups R1 and R2 and, if present, R3 and/or R4 are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and benzyl, and also (xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94O)nxe2x80x94CH3 where n is from 1 to 3, care being taken as mentioned above however that at least one of the groups R1, R2, R3 or R4 is (xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94O)nxe2x80x94CH13, where n is from 1 to 3, preferably 1 or 2.
It is also preferable to use esters of the formulae (E1) to (E5) in which R1, R2 and, if present, R3 and/or R4 are identical and are xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2Oxe2x80x94CH3 or (xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94O)2xe2x80x94CH3, the corresponding phosphates being preferred here once again.
Examples of compounds whose use is particularly preferred are those of the formulae (E1a) to (E5a):
Because of their properties, the esters used here are exceptionally suitable as plasticizers in mixtures according to the invention, and generally have a viscosity at room temperature of xe2x89xa610 mPas, preferably xe2x89xa65 mPas and in particular xe2x89xa63 mPas. They generally have boiling points of about 200xc2x0 C. or above, preferably about 250xc2x0 C. or above, and in particular about 300xc2x0 C. or above, measured in each case at atmospheric pressure, and have a sufficiently low vapor pressure of from about 10xe2x88x925 to about 10 mbar at the temperatures of from about xe2x88x9250xc2x0 C. to about 150xc2x0 C. at which they are used. Their high boiling points mean that they can be distilled and can therefore be prepared with high purity. These esters are, furthermore, liquid at atmospheric pressure over a wide temperature range, generally remaining liquid down to about xe2x88x9230xc2x0 C., preferably down to about xe2x88x9240xc2x0 C. The esters described for this purpose may be used as solvents in electrolyte systems for Li-ion storage batteries at at least about 80xc2x0 C., preferably at at least about 120xc2x0 C., and more preferably at at least about 150xc2x0 C.
It is, of course, also possible to use the esters used according to the invention as mixtures with the plasticizers mentioned below.
Preference is given to solvent combinations which have sufficiently low viscosity, are capable of powerful solvation of the ions of the conducting salts, are liquid over a wide temperature range and are adequately electrochemically and chemically stable and resistant to hydrolysis.
The content of the esters in the novel mixture is generally from 1 to 200% by weight, preferably from 2 to 100% by weight and more preferably from 2 to 70% by weight, based in each case on the mix IIa/IIb.
The esters used according to the invention are prepared by conventional processes, as described, for example, by K. Mura Kami in Chem. High Polymers (Japan), 7, pp. 188-193 (1950) and in H. Steinberg, Organoboron Chemistry, Chapter 5, J. Wiley and Sons, N.Y., 1964. The starting materials here are generally the acids, anhydrides or acid chlorides on which the esters are based, for example boric acid, C(O)Cl2, POCl3, SO2Cl2 and SiCl4, and these are reacted in a known manner with the corresponding mono- or polyhydric alcohols or etherols.
The novel mixtures Ia and Ib and the mixes IIa and IIb are discussed together below and are termed, respectively, xe2x80x9cnovel mixturexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cnovel mixxe2x80x9d.
The novel mixture comprises the novel mix and the ester in amounts of from 1 to 100% by weight, preferably from 35 to 100% by weight, based in each case on the novel mixture. To prepare the same, use may be made of a mix made from: a solid III, a condensation product V and, if desired, a compound VIII, or of a mix made from: a solid III, a compound X, a compound VIII, and at least one ester of the formula (E1) to (E5), as well as, if desired, of usual additives, such as other plasticizers, preferably those comprising polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide.
Other plasticizers used may be aprotic solvents, preferably those which solvate Li ions, for example dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, diisopropyl carbonate, dibutyl carbonate, ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate; oligoalkylene oxides, such as dibutyl ether, di-tert-butyl ether, dipentyl ether, dihexyl ether, diheptyl ether, dioctyl ether, dinonyl ether, didecyl ether, didodecyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, 1-tert-butoxy-2-methoxyethane, 1-tert-butoxy-2-ethoxyethane, 1,2-dimethoxypropane, 2-methoxyethyl ether, 2-ethoxyetliyl ether, diethylene glycol dibutyl ether, dimetylene glycol tert-butyl methyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether, xcex3-butyrolactone and dimethylformamide; hydrocarbons of the formula CnH2n+2 where 7 less than n less than 50; organic phosphorus compounds, in particular phosphates and phosphonates, such as trimethyl phosphate, triethyl phosphate, tripropyl phosphate, tributyl phosphate, triisobutyl phosphate, tripentyl phosphate, trihexyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphate, tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate, tridecyl phosphate, diethyl n-butyl phosphate, tris(butoxyethyl) phosphate, tris(2-methoxyethyl) phosphate, tris(tetrahydrofuryl) phosphate, tris(1H,1H,5H-octafluoropentyl) phosphate, tris(1H,1H-trifluoroetlyl) phosphate, tris(2-(diethylamino)ethyl) phosphate, diethyl ethylphosphonate, dipropyl propylphosphonate, dibutyl butylphosphonate, dihexyl hexylphospbonate, dioctyl octylphosphonate, ethyl dimethylphosphonoacetate, methyl diethylphosphonoacetate, triethyl phosphonoacetate, dimethyl 2-oxopropylphosphonate, diethyl 2-oxopropylphosphonate, dipropyl 2-oxopropylphosphonate, ethyl diethoxyphosphinylformate, trimethyl phosphonoacetate, triethyl phosphonoacetate, tripropyl phosphonoacetate and tributyl phosphonoacetate; organic sulfur compounds, such as sulfates, sulfonates, sulfoxides, sulfones and sulfites, for example dimethyl sulfite, diethyl sulfite, glycol sulfite, dimethyl sulfone, diethyl sulfone, diethylpropyl sulfone, dibutyl sulfone, tetramethylene sulfone, methylsulfolane, dimethyl sulfoxide, diethyl sulfoxide, dipropyl sulfoxide, dibutyl sulfoxide, tetramethylene sulfoxide, ethyl methanesulfonate, 1,4-butanediol bis(methanesulfonate), diethyl sulfate, dipropyl sulfate, dibutyl sulfate, dihexyl sulfate, dioctyl sulfate and SO2ClF; and nitriles, such as acrylonitrile;
dispersants, in particular those with surfactant structure;
and mixtures of these.
The mixtures according to the invention may be dispersed or dissolved in an inorganic or preferably an organic liquid diluent, where the mixture according to the invention should have a viscosity of preferably from 100 to 50,000 mPas, and may then be applied in a manner known per se, such as spray coating, casting, dipping, spin coating, roller coating, relief printing, gravure printing or planography or screen printing onto a carrier material. Further processing can take place in the usual way, e.g. by removing the diluent and curing the mixture.
Suitable organic diluents are aliphatic ethers, in particular tetrahydrofuran and dioxane, hydrocarbons, in particular hydrocarbon mixtures such as petroleum spirit, toluene and xylene, aliphatic esters, in particular ethyl acetate and butyl acetate, and ketones, in particular acetone, ethyl methyl ketone and cyclohexanone. It is also possible to use combinations of diluents of this type.
Carrier materials which may be used are those usually used for electrodes, preferably metals, such as aluminum and copper. It is also possible to use temporary carriers, such as films, in particular polyester films, such as polyethylene terephthalate films. Such films may advantageously be provided with a release layer, preferably of polysiloxanes.
The solid electrolytes and separators may likewise be produced thermoplastically from the mixture according to the invention, for example by injection molding, melt casting, compression molding, kneading or extrusion, if desired followed by a calendering step.
After the mixture according to the invention has formed a film, volatile components, such as solvents or plasticizers. may be removed.
The crosslinking of the mixture according to the invention may be done in a manner known per se, for example by irradiating with ionic or ionizing radiation, or an electron beam, preferably with an acceleration voltage of from 20 to 2000 kV and a radiation dose of from 5 to 50 Mrad, or UV or visible light, and it is usually advantageous here to add an initiator, such as benzil dimethyl ketal or 1,3,5-trimethylberzoyltriphenylphosphine oxide in amounts of in particular at most 1% by weight, based on the polymeric composition IV and the polymer IX, respectively, and the crosslinking may generally be carried out within from 0.5 to 15 minutes, advantageously under an inert gas, such as nitrogen or argon; by thermal free-radical polymerization, preferably at temperatures above 60xc2x0 C., it being possible and advantageous to add an initiator, such as azobisisobutyronitrile, generally in amounts of at most 5% by weight, preferably from 0.05 to 1% by weight, based on the polymeric composition IV and the polymer IX, respectively; by electrochemically induced polymerization; or by ionic polymerization, for example by acid-catalyzed cationic polymerization, possible catalysts being primarily acids, preferably Lewis acids, such as BF3 or in particular LiBF4 or LiPF6. Lithium-ion-containing catalysts, for example LiBF4 or LiPF6, here may advantageously remain as conducting salt in the solid electrolyte or separator.
If the mixture according to the invention is to be used as a solid electrolyte or a separator in an electrochemical cell, a dissociable compound containing lithium cations, known as a conducting salt, and other additives if desired, such as in particular organic solvents, known as an electrolyte, may be incorporated.
The addition of these materials to the mixture may take place to some extent or completely during the production of the layer, or they may be introduced into the layer after it has been produced.
The conducting salts which may be used are those which are well known and described, for example, in EP-A 0 096 629. It is preferable according to the invention for the conducting salt used to be LiPF6, LiBF4, LiClO4, LiAsF6, LiCF3SO3, LiC(CF3SO2)3, LiN(CF3SO2)2, Li(CnF2n+1)SO3, LiC[(CnF2n+1)SO2]3, LiN(CnF2n+1SO2)2, where n is from 2 to 20, LiN(SO2F)2, LiAlCl4, LiSiF6, LiSbF6 or a mixture of two or more of these, use of LiBF4 as conducting salt being preferred. Particular preference is given to the combination of the esters of the formulae (E1a) to (E5a) with LiBF4 as conducting salt, and particular preference is given to the combination of the ester of the formula (E3a) with LiBF4 as conducting salt.
Possible electrolytes, besides the esters present in the mixture, are the compounds discussed above under xe2x80x9cplasticizersxe2x80x9d, preference being given to the use of the usual organic electrolytes, preferably esters, such as ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate and diethyl carbonate or mixtures of compounds of this type.
The novel solid electrolytes, separators and/or electrodes suitable for electrochemical cells should advantageously have a thickness of from 5 to 500 xcexcm, preferably from 10 co 500 xcexcm. more preferably from 10 to 200 xcexcm and in particular from 20 to 100 xcexcm.
If the novel mixture is to be used as, or for preparing, a cathode, then one of the conventionally used electron-conducting, electrochemically active compounds (cathode compound) is incorporated, preferably a lithium compound. Particular examples of these are:
LiCoO2, LiNiO2, LiNixCoyO2, LiNixCoyAlzO2, where 0 less than x,y,zxe2x89xa61, LixMnO2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61), LixMn2O4 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa62), LixMoO2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa62), LixMnO3 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61), LixMnO2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa62), LixMn2O4 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa62), LixV2O4 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa62.5), LixV2O3 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa63.5), LixVO2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61), LixWO2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61), LixWO3 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61), LixTiO2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61), LixTi2O4 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa62), LixRuO2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61), LixFe2O3 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa62), LixFe3O4 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa62), LixCr2O3 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa63), LixCr3O4 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa63.8), LixV3S5 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61.8), LixTa2S2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61), LixFeS (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61), LixFeS2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61), LixNbS2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa62.4), LixMoS2 (0 less than xe2x89xa63), LixTiS2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa62), LixZrS2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa62) LixNbSe2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa63), LixVSe2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61), LixNiPS2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61.5), LixFePS2 (0 less than xc3x97xe2x89xa61.5).
For use as an anode, the anode material incorporated is a conventional electron-conducting, electrochemically active compound (anode compound) known from the prior art, of which the following in particular may be mentioned:
lithium, lithium-containing metallic alloys, micronized carbon black, natural and synthetic graphite, synthetically graphitized carbon dust and carbon fibers, oxides, such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, molybdenum oxide and tungsten oxide, and carbonates, such as titanium carbonate, molybdenum carbonate and zinc carbonate.
When the novel mixture is used as, or for producing, an anode, it contains an addition of up to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the mixture, of conductivity black and, if desired, the usual additives mentioned above. If the mixture is used as, or for producing. a cathode, it contains, based on its total weight, from 0.1 to 20% by weight of conductivity black.
The novel mixtures may be used in electrochemical cells as sole solid electrolyte and/or separator and/or electrode, or in a mixture with other solid electrolytes, separators and/or electrodes.
The present invention moreover provides a composite which can be used in particular in electrochemical cells, preferably in the form of a film, more preferably in the form of a film with an overall thickness of from 15 to 1500 xcexcm, in particular with an overall thickness of from 50 to 500 xcexcm, encompassing at least one first layer which comprises an electron-conducting, electrochemically active compound, and at least one second layer which comprises the novel mixture defined above and is free from electron-conducting, electrochemically active compounds.
The present invention also describes a process encompassing the following stages for producing a composite of this type:
(I) producing at least one first layer, as defined above;
(II) producing at least one second layer, as defined above; and
(III) then bringing together the at least one first layer with the at least one second layer by means of a conventional process for providing layers.
It is preferable to produce the at least one second layer on a temporary carrier. According to the invention, use may be made here of conventionally used temporary carriers, such as a release film made from a polymer or from a preferably coated paper, e.g. a siliconized polyester film. It is, however, also possible to produce this second layer on a permanent carrier, such as a collector electrode, or else even entirely without a carrier.
The bringing together and the production of the layers defined above takes place by means of atmnospheric-pressure processes for providing layers or for the production of films, such as casting or doctoring, or also by process methods at superatmospheric pressure, such as extrusion, lamination, calendering or compression molding. The composite thus produced may, if desired, be crosslinked and/or hardened by radiation, electrochemically or thermally.
Besides the second layer defined above, the first layer defined above may, of course, also comprise the novel mixture.
As apparent from the above, this method makes it possible with ease to provide a composite with the constituents release film/separator (second layer)/electrode (first layer).
It is also possible, by double-sided coating, to provide a composite with the constituents anode/sepa-rator/cathode.
An example of a procedure for this is:
Anode materials, e.g. tin oxide, conductivity black, the novel mixture, a conducting salt and a plasticizer, e.g. propylene carbonate, are firstly mixed with one another and the resultant blend is cast onto a collector electrode and then irradiated with UV light (component 1). A cathode material, e.g. LiMn2O4, is then applied to a collector electrode coated with conductivity black, and onto this is cast a blend of the novel mixture, a conducting salt and a plasticizer. This composite, too, is then UV-irradiated (component 2). Bringing together the two components described above gives a composite which, combined with any desired solid and/or liquid electrolyte, can be used as an electrochemical cell.
It is also possible to produce an anode/separator/cathode composite as described above even without using a carrier and/or the collector electrodes, since the resultant composite composed of a first and a second layer, as defined above, has sufficient mechanical stability in its own right for use in electrochemical cells.
The filling of composites of this type with an electrolyte and conducting salt may take place either before the layers are brought together or else, preferably, after they are brought together, if desired after contact has been established with suitable collector electrodes, e.g. with a metal film, and can even take place after the composite has been introduced into a battery casing; die specific microporous structure of the layers when the mixture according to the invention is used, resulting in particular from the presence of the solid defined above in the separator and, if present, in the electrodes, makes it possible for the electrolyte and the conducting salt to be absorbed and the air in the pores to be displaced. The filling may be carried out at from 0 to about 100xc2x0 C., depending on the electrolyte used.
The novel electrochemical cells may be used in particular as automobile battery, appliance battery, flat-type battery or all-plastics battery.
As apparent from the above, the present invention also provides the use of the novel mixture or of the composite described above for producing a solid electrolyte, a separator or an electrode, or in a sensor, in an electrochromic window, in a display, in a capacitor or in an ion-conducting film; it also provides a solid electrolyte, a separator, an electrode, a sensor, an electro-chromic window, a display, a capacitor and an ion-conducting film, each of which comprise the novel mixture or the composite described above.
The invention further provides an electrochemical cell encompassing a solid electrolyte, a separator or an electrode, as defined above, or a combination of two or more of these, and also the use of the electrochemical cell defined above as an automobile battery, appliance battery or flat-type battery. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates to novel gonanes and the like, processes for producing same as well as starting materials, and methods of using compounds for their antigestagenic activity. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Hot melt adhesives are applied to a substrate while in its molten state and cooled to harden the adhesive layer. Such adhesives are widely used for various commercial and industrial applications such as product assembly and packaging, and have been widely used in the non-woven industry to make baby diapers and adult incontinence products. In these applications, adhesive is applied to at least one polyolefin non-woven substrate, at least one elastic, such as spandex, and/or at least one polyolefin film to bind the substrates together.
While hot melt adhesives are conventionally used in the non-woven applications, there continues to be a need for adhesives formulated to more effectively bond certain types of substrates for certain end use applications together. The current invention addresses this need. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention.
The invention described and claimed herein is generally related to lighting fixtures. More particularly, the present invention is related to luminarias.
There is a traditional Hispanic custom, practiced in the State of New Mexico and elsewhere, of placing candles in small paper bags to form decorative outdoor Christmas holiday lights. Such lights are called luminarias, and are occasionally also referred to as farolitos. They are traditionally prepared in substantial numbers, typically a few tens or even a hundred or more, and placed in rows along sidewalks or driveways, where they are lit at night. They are also placed along the edges of rooftops, along porches or balconies, and in various other outdoor locations. A small amount of sand, or a brick, is typically placed in the bottom of each bag, to weight the bag and prevent it from being blown over by the wind. The sand, or brick, also functions as a fireproof support for the candle. The top of the bag is frequently folded over to form a cuff for additional stability.
2. Description Of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97-1.99
In recent years electric luminarias have begun to replace traditional luminarias, for several reasons. First, traditional luminarias, despite the precaution of using sand or bricks to stabilize the bag and support the candle, can occasionally catch fire and thereby form a potential fire hazard, particularly in windy conditions. Also, traditional luminarias require considerable time and effort to prepare and deploy. Each candle must be lit by hand, which is awkward because the candle must be either lit while inside the confines of the bag, or alternatively must be lit while outside the bag and then carefully placed inside the bag. Moreover, each luminaria is typically lit every night over a period of at least several nights during the Christmas holiday season. Finally, a moderate wind or a rainstorm can disturb and extinguish traditional luminarias, necessitating they be manually re-lit during the dark hours of the evening.
The electric luminarias available to date typically consist of strings of spaced electric lights, similar or identical to the commonly available strings of outdoor Christmas lights. The lights are adapted to be placed in either traditional paper bags or special plastic bags or sleeves which are produced for this purpose.
At least one fixture has been previously available in the prior art for supporting electric lights in a paper or plastic bag. This prior art fixture is illustrated in FIG. 7. This prior art fixture suffers from certain disadvantages. For example, it does not allow for uniform illumination of the bag; it does not accommodate lamp sockets of widely varying sizes and shapes; it does not retain the bag in windy conditions; and it is not easily affixed to a supporting surface for stability. Details of the structure and function of this prior art fixture are discussed below in relation to the structure and function of the present invention. | {
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Document processing devices include printers, copiers, scanners and e-mail gateways. More recently, devices employing two or more of these functions are found in office environments. These devices are referred to as multifunction peripherals (MFPs) or multifunction devices (MFDs). As used herein, MFPs are understood to comprise printers, alone or in combination with other of the afore-noted functions. It is further understood that any suitable document processing device can be used.
Earlier on, MFPs were operated by users via electromechanical switches, such as pressing a dedicated “copy” button, or by dialing a fax number and hitting a “send” switch when a connection was made to a remote facsimile machine. MFPs have become substantially more powerful, and, correspondingly, more complex for users to operate. MFP devices now typically employ a touchscreen user interface. Various functions and controls can be displayed and selected by a screen having touch-selectable areas. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to network system security, and more particularly relates to systems and methods for automatic detection, monitoring and reporting of network vulnerabilities.
2. Description of the Related Art
The reliability and security of a network is essential in a world where computer networks are a key element in intra-entity and inter-entity communications and transactions. Various tools have been used by network administrators, government, security consultants, and hackers to test the vulnerabilities of target networks, such as, for example, whether any computers on a network can be accessed and controlled remotely without authorization. Through this intensive testing, a target network can be “hardened” against common vulnerabilities and esoteric attacks. Existing testing systems, however, produce inconsistent results, use techniques that are unproven or that damage the target network, fail to respond to changing network environments or to detect new vulnerabilities, and report results in difficult to understand, text-based reports.
Well-known network security tools now exist to test network paths for possible intrusion. From a testing point, simple commands such as traceroute and ping can be used to manually map a network topography, and determine roughly what network addresses are “alive” with a computer “awake” on the network (i.e., determine which computers are on and are responding to network packets). A tool such as a port scanner can be used to test an individual target computer on the target network to determine what network ports are open. If open ports are found, these ports may provide access for possible intrusion, and potentially represent a vulnerability that can be exploited by a malicious hacker.
Some suites combining various network tools attempt to follow a quasi-automated process to test target computers on a target network. These suites provide variations on the tools described above, and provide long-form text-based output based on the outcome of this testing. The output of these security tests are extremely technical, and require extensive knowledge of network communications in order to interpret and provide advice based on the results. Thus, these partially automated suites do not provide comprehensive security to an entity seeking to “harden” its network.
Further, some security suites actually risk substantial damage to the target network. For example, while the use of malformed network packets to test a target computer can provide extensive information from the target and feedback on the security of the target, these malformed packets can destabilize the target computer in unpredictable ways. This sometimes results in a short-term loss of information to the target computer or, in more serious cases, a complete crash of the target computer operating system or hardware.
In other cases, the testing method used by existing suites is not reliable. If a network port scanning method employed on a target computer is, for example, 80% accurate over time, then a complete test of all 216 ports on a single computer may result in approximately 13,000 ports incorrectly identified as potentially running vulnerable services. Over an entire target network, such “false positives” make it virtually impossible to determine the true security level of the target network.
Existing testing methods lack a standard, quantitative method for objectively comparing the security of a target network or target computer to other systems. Typically, a target network or target computer is ranked only as “high risk,” “medium risk,” or “low risk.” However, such a three-tier system alone provides very little substantive feedback or comparative information about changes in the network over tune, the relative weight of different vulnerabilities in determining the resulting risk level, or objective assessments of network security among otherwise heterogeneous network environment. | {
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1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same, more particularly to a semiconductor device with symmetric epitaxial structures and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of the semiconductor technology, the speed of transistors is unceasingly increased. However, the speed of transistor is still limited to the mobility of electrons and holes in the silicon channels. Accordingly, one way to improve the device performance is to adjust the mechanical stresses of the channels and thereby raise the mobility of electrons and holes in the channels.
A prior-art method of adjusting the mechanical stress is to form a strained semiconductor material, such as silicon germanium alloy (SiGe), as the major material of source/drain (S/D) regions. The method includes removing portions of the substrate at the predetermined positions of the S/D regions to form trenches and then filling SiGe into the trenches with selective epitaxial growth (SEG). Because the effective electron mass and the effective hole mass are smaller in germanium than in silicon, the mobility of electrons and holes can be raised by forming the S/D regions mainly from SiGe. Thereby, the performance of the device can be improved.
However, if the epitaxial structures formed at two sides of the gate of a transistor are asymmetric, the transistor can not gain an appropriate stress effect therefrom. | {
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The present invention relates to a cleaning agent which comprises an oxidizing agent and a chelating agent and to a process for producing semiconductor devices and substrates for liquid crystal display panels using said cleaning agent.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a cleaning process which comprises removing a layer of a photoresist and residues formed from a photoresist in the process for producing semiconductor integrated circuits, a process for cleaning glass substrates for liquid crystal display panels in the process for producing substrates for liquid crystal display panels and a cleaning process which comprises removing residues formed by dry etching in the production of thin film circuit devices made of materials such as tantalum, aluminum, chromium, niobium and indiumtin oxide (referred to as ITO, hereinafter) which are used for producing substrates for liquid crystal display panels.
Lithography has generally been used in the production of semiconductor devices such as IC and LSI and substrates for liquid crystal display panels. When semiconductor devices and substrates for liquid crystal display panels are produced in accordance with the lithography, in general, the following series of procedures are conducted: an insulation film such as a film of silicon oxide and a conductive thin film for conductive wirings such as a metal film are formed on a silicon wafer or a substrate made of a material such as glass; the thus formed films are uniformly coated with a photoresist and a photosensitive layer is formed on the films; the photosensitive layer is treated by selective exposure to light and development and a desired pattern of the photoresist is formed; using the formed pattern of the photoresist as a mask, the films of the lower layers are selectively etched and a pattern is formed; and then the pattern of the photoresist is completely removed. In recent years, semiconductors and substrates for liquid crystal display panels are integrated to greater degrees and formation of patterns having dimensions of a quarter micron or smaller are required. As the dimension of working becomes extremely small, dry etching is mainly used for the selective etching and ashing with oxygen plasma is used for the removal of the pattern of the photoresist.
However, in the dry etching, it is known that residues derived from the dry etching gas, the photoresist and the conductive thin film (referred to as resist residues, hereinafter) are formed in portions around the formed pattern. When the resist residues are present in portions around the pattern, in particular, inside and around via holes, undesirable phenomena such as an increase in resistance and short circuits arise. Therefore, to obtain semiconductor devices and substrates for liquid crystal display panels having high qualities, removal of the resist residues is very important.
Moreover, as the surface area of glass substrates for liquid crystals which are used for liquid crystal panels becomes greater, display devices tend to have a greater number of pixels. Under such circumstances, the degree of cleaning of the entire surface of glass substrates for liquid crystals is directly related to the yield of the production and, as the result, improvement in the cleaning ability is strongly desired.
As the cleaning agent for glass substrates for liquid crystals, alkali cleaning agents such as inorganic alkalis and organic alkalis and acid cleaning agents such as sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid and buffered hydrofluoric acid are currently used. However, the cleaning agents using inorganic alkalis have a problem in that alkali ions are adsorbed to the substrates and remain there after the cleaning and the residual alkali ions occasionally cause problems on electric properties of the substrates, in particular, the substrates of thin film transistors (TFT). The cleaning agents using organic alkalis have a problem in that a sufficient effect of cleaning cannot be obtained and adhesion of thin films formed in the succeeding steps occasionally becomes poor. Moreover, when the cleaning is conducted using a conventional cleaning agent, minute roughness of the surface of glass substrates as damages formed by the etching and minute particles also formed by the etching are not completely removed. These problems are becoming crucial as the liquid crystals are more highly integrated and the surface area of the glass substrates increases. It is strongly desired that an effective method to overcome these problems is developed.
As the process for removing resist residues, cleaning liquids of organic amine which comprise mixtures of alkanolamines and organic solvents are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Showa 62(1987)-49355 and Showa 64(1989)-42653. These cleaning liquids have drawbacks in that the cleaning liquids are flammable because relatively high temperatures are required for the treatment and flammable organic compounds in the cleaning liquids are vaporized and that metal films are corroded because the organic amines are alkaline when rinsing is conducted with water alone without an organic solvent such as an alcohol after the removal of resist residues and, therefore, rinsing with an organic solvent such as an alcohol is necessary. Aqueous solutions of fluorine comprising fluorine compounds, organic solvents and corrosion inhibitors which exhibit greater ability to remove resist residues than the cleaning liquids of organic amines do and can be used at lower temperatures are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Heisei 7(1995)-201794 and Heisei 8(1996)-20205.
In recent years, the conditions are becoming harder in treatments such as dry etching and ashing in the process for producing semiconductor devices and substrates for liquid crystal display panels. Photoresists have greater transformation due to this change in the conditions and complete removal of resist residues cannot be achieved by using the above cleaning liquids of alkalis or the above aqueous solutions of fluorine. When the resist residues are not removed completely and left remaining, electrical troubles such as an increase in resistance, breaking of wirings, short circuits and disorder in wirings arise. Therefore, a cleaning agent which can achieve complete removal of resist residues is strongly desired.
Moreover, when the cleaning liquids of organic amines are used, residues containing tantalum left after dry etching are hardly removed. To remove the residues containing tantalum completely, a cleaning agent containing fluorine such as buffered hydrofluoric acid is used after the dry etching. However, the cleaning agent containing fluorine has a problem in that materials of switching devices such as amorphous silicon and polysilicon and glass substrates are corroded.
An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning agent which can effectively remove resist residues formed in the process for producing semiconductor devices and residues derived from conductive thin films of metals formed, photoresist films used as the etching mask and contaminants on glass substrates in the process for producing substrates for liquid crystal display panels.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning process in which a photoresist forming a mask on inorganic or plastic substrates and resist residues remaining after dry etching can be removed in a short time in the wiring process of semiconductors used in semiconductor integrated circuits while no wiring materials or insulating materials are corroded.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a process for cleaning glass substrates for liquid crystals which are used in the process for producing liquid crystal display panels.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning process in which residues formed by dry etching for formation of thin circuits on glass substrates are removed easily while the glass substrates, the thin film circuit devices or the wiring materials are not corroded at all and substrates for liquid crystal display panels can be cleaned very efficiently.
As the result of intensive studies by the present inventors to achieve the above objects, a cleaning agent which comprises an oxidizing agent and a chelating agent and a process for cleaning using this cleaning agent were discovered. The present invention has been completed based on the knowledge.
As the first embodiment of the present invention, a cleaning agent comprises 0.1 to 60% by weight of an oxidizing agent and 0.0001 to 5% by weight of a chelating agent.
As the second embodiment of the present invention, a process for cleaning semiconductor devices comprises coating an inorganic or plastic substrate with a photoresist film, forming a mask with the photoresist film, dry etching portions of the substrate which are not covered with the mask and removing residues of the photoresist formed by the dry etching and/or the photoresist film forming the mask with a cleaning agent described above. In the above process, where desired, ashing may be conducted after the dry etching and resist residues formed by the dry etching may be removed with the above cleaning agent thereafter.
As the third embodiment of the present invention, a process for cleaning substrates for liquid crystal display panels comprises forming a conductive thin film on a glass substrate; forming a prescribed pattern with a photoresist on the conductive thin film; using the pattern of the photoresist as an etching mask, removing portions of the conductive film which are not covered with the pattern of the photoresist by dry etching; and removing residues derived from the conductive thin film which are formed by the dry etching with a cleaning agent described above. In the above process, where desired, ashing may be conducted after the dry etching and residues may be removed with the above cleaning agent thereafter. | {
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In general, with an anti-lock control device for a vehicle, anti-lock control is effected by means of a microcomputer such that hold valves and decay valves are opened and closed on the basis of electrical signals representing wheel speeds detected by wheel speed sensors, thereby increasing, holding or decreasing the brake hydraulic pressure, for the purpose of securing improved steering performance and running stability, while at the same time reducing the braking distance of the vehicle.
FIG. 1 shows control state diagrams as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,580 which illustrate the changes in the wheel speed Vw, the wheel acceleration and deceleration Vw and the brake hydraulic pressure Pw, as well as a hold signal HS and a decay signal DS for opening and closing the hold valves and the decay valves.
In a state of the vehicle in running where no brake is operated, the brake hydraulic pressure Pw is not increased and both of the hold signal HS and the decay signal DS are in the off-state, so that the hold valve is in the open state whereas the decay valve is in the closed state. However, with a brake operation, the brake hydraulic pressure Pw increases rapidly from time point t0 (normal mode), reducing the wheel speed Vw. There is set up a reference wheel speed Vr which is lower by a predetermined amount .DELTA.V than the wheel speed Vw and follows the latter with such a speed difference. The reference wheel speed Vr is set up so that when the wheel deceleration (negative acceleration) Vw of the wheel attains a predetermined threshold value, -1G, for instance, at a time point t1, it decreases linearly in time from the time point t1 with a slope .theta. for the deceleration of -1G.
At a time point t2 when the wheel declaration Vw reaches a predetermined value -Gmax with maximum absolute value, the hold valve closes by turning on the hold signal HS to hold the brake hydraulic pressure Pw.
With the holding of the brake hydraulic pressure Pw in such a manner, the wheel speed Vw further decreases to become less than the reference wheel speed Vr beyond a time point t3. At that time point t3 the decay signal DS is turned on to open the decay valve to start reducing the brake hydraulic pressure Pw. As a result of the pressure reduction, the wheel speed Vw is shifted from decrease to increase at a time point t4 when a low peak Vl of the wheel speed Vw occurs. At the time point t4 of the low peak, the decay signal DS is turned off to close the decay valve, so that the reduction of the brake hydraulic pressure Pw is completed and the brake hydraulic pressure Pw is held at the value at that time.
Next, when the wheel speed Vw attains a high peak Vh at a time point t7, an increase in the brake hydraulic pressure takes place again. The pressure increase in the brake hydraulic pressure Pw and the decrease in the wheel speed Vw in this stage is arranged to take place gradually by a repetition of turning on and off of the hold signal HS mincingly. Starting at a time point t8 (corresponding to t3) a decompression mode is generated again.
It is to be noted that during the above operation, a time point t5 is detected at which the wheel speed Vw is recovered to a speed Vb(=Vl+0.15Y) where Vl is the wheel speed at the low peak and Y is the difference between the wheel speed Va at the time point t3 and the low peak speed Vl, so that Vb represents the wheel speed at which 15% of the speed difference Y is gained from the low peak value Vl. Also, a time point t6 is detected at which the wheel speed increases to Vc(=Vl+0.8Y) where 80% of the speed difference Y is gained from the low peak speed Vl. Further, the interval Tx of the first pressurization which starts at the time point t7 is determined by the judgment of the friction coefficient .mu. of the road surface as obtained based on the computation of the average acceleration (Vc-Vb)/.DELTA.T for the period .DELTA.T between the time points t5 and t6. In addition, the holding periods or the pressurization periods that follow are determined based on the vehicle deceleration Vw that are detected immediately before each holding or pressurization. Through a combination of augmentation, holding and reduction of the brake hydraulic pressure Pw as described in the above, it is possible to reduce the vehicle speed by controlling the wheel speed Vw without causing the locking of the wheels.
Now, as is clear from the above description, in the conventional anti-lock control method, the threshold value of deceleration at which the reference wheel speed Vr is to be changed to have a certain deceleration slope in order to increase the S/N rate in consideration of the road surface noise and the like, is selected at a value, -1 G, for example, which has a greater absolute value than that of the vehicle speed generated in the normal deceleration. Then, the reference wheel speed Vr is reduced starting with the time point t1 with the deceleration slope .theta. for -1G based on the detection of the predetermined threshold value -1G of deceleration of the wheel speed Vw, and the reduction of the brake hydraulic pressure Pw starts from the time point t3 at which the wheel speed Vw becomes equal to the reference wheel speed Vr. Because of this, if a gentle braking is performed such that the wheel speed Vw decreases with a deceleration Vw which will not attain the predetermined value of -1G, -0.7 G, for example, the reference speed Vr which merely follows the wheel speed Vw with a speed difference of .DELTA.V will never come to cross the wheel speed Vw. Then, speed reduction will continue independent of the vehicle speed without detecting the pressure reduction point for the brake hydraulic pressure Pw. As a result, there was a possibility of generating a premature locking of the wheels in case when the vehicle runs on a road surface with a small value of friction coeficient .mu.. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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With continuous development of display technology, customers' demands for display devices are unceasingly increased. Thin film transistor-liquid crystal display is widely used in electronic products, such as a cell phone, a liquid crystal display, a tablet PC and the like. Furthermore, with wide application of display devices, the demands for color quality, contrast, viewing angles, response speed, low power consumption of a display device is rising. Accordingly, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display device has attracted a great deal of attention.
In conventional techniques, it usually takes 6 to 8 lithography masking processes to manufacture an array substrate. Therefore, it spends a long time on research & development and mass production, and the array substrate is costly. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and more particularly to a method of fabricating a phase change memory device.
2. Information
Advances in semiconductor process technology generally result in increasingly dense, higher capacity electronic devices, such as memory. Increased density may lead to decreases in feature sizes, or critical dimensions (CD) of such electronic devices. Though higher-density electronic devices are a welcome advance, producing such devices involves challenges. For example, increased density, resulting in an increased aspect ratio (L/D) of semiconductor structures such as contact-like holes, may lead to void (keyhole, seam) issues during a gap-fill process. Such a void may adversely impact phase change memory (PCM) more than for other electronic devices: a PCM memory cell may include a heater to which voltage may be applied in order to produce heat to induce a phase change of chalcogenide material contacting the heater. Voids in a heater may not only physically damage the heater during an operating cycle of a memory cell, but may also affect the extent to which the heater is able to change the phase of chalcogenide materials in the PCM memory cell. Accordingly, such voids may lead to reliability issues of a PCM. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In many diagnostic and therapeutic applications, there is great need to objectively quantify the optical density, shape and size of various ocular tissue, such as the crystalline lens and cornea. Regarding the crystalline lens, it is well known that the presence of a cataract at particular locations on the crystalline lens can effect the visual acuity and function of the eye. It is also known that the optical density of the cataract is related to the amount of light diffusion caused by increased size and coagulation of protein molecules in the crystalline lens, and that the more posterior the cataract the greater its affect on vision.
For years, prior art descriptions of cataracts have generally consisted of a morphologic statement, such as, nuclear, cortical, or posterior subcapsular. Such morphologic descriptions have been based primarily on the patient's potential visual acuity estimated using an acuity scope.
Prior art techniques in practice today are discussed in the paper "The Objective Assessment of Cataract," by Nicholas A. P. Brown. Among such prior art techniques is the use of a slit-lamp microscope for subjectively observing the visible features of the crystalline lens, which are recorded using the Oxford Clinical Cataract Classification and Grading System.
Recently, several different methods of photodocumentation and grading of lens opacities have been described for clinical and epidemiological use. For example, in the paper entitled "The Multi-Purpose Camera: A New Anterior Eye Segment Analysis System" published in Vol. 22 of Ophthalmic Research (1990), Saski et al. disclose a system for forming Scheimpflug slit images and retroillumination images of the lens using a Xenon flash lamp, a slit projection system and a CCD camera. In the paper entitled "Evaluation of Photographic Methods for Documentation of Lens Opacities," published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Vol. 31, No. 6, Jun. 1990, Lee et al. disclose a method of forming photographic slit and retroillumination images of the lens using the Oxford Cataract Camera from Halofax, of Hereford, England, and the Neitz Cataract Camera from Kowa Optical, of Torrance, Calif.
In general, while these prior art methods and systems can produce images of crystalline lens, both techniques and resulting images suffer from significant shortcomings and drawbacks.
In particular, with such prior art slit-lamp photo-imaging techniques, the depth of field and focus of these systems are severely limited and, therefore, permit focused illumination of only on the center of a lens nucleus while all other surrounding structure is illuminated with diverging unfocused light. Also, with prior art slit-lamp photo-imaging systems, neither the slit width or the luminance of the light beam can be maintained uniformly constant from image to image, or photo-examination session to photo-examination session. Consequently, comparative results cannot be made from one image to another to determine if the optical density of the lens is worsening in response to drug exposure, or disease process.
Furthermore, prior art slit-lamp photo-imaging techniques are incapable of providing accurate cross-sectional images of the eye which have correct spatial relationships between ocular structures. Also, such images are characterized by reflections occurring at optical interfaces within the eye which often distort important structural features.
Thus, there is great need for a method and apparatus that is capable of producing in vivo images of ocular tissue in a way which is free from the shortcomings and drawbacks accompanying the prior art.
Accordingly, it is primary object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for in vivo imaging and analysis of ocular tissue in an objective, quantitative manner.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus, from which cross-sectional images of ocular tissue can be formed over a high depth of field extending far beyond the thickness of the crystalline lens.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a method and apparatus, from which accurate cross-sectional images of ocular tissue can be formed, with correct spatial relationships between ocular structures.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for precisely measuring the physical dimensions of ocular structures and their correct spatial relationships within the eye.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for forming cross-sectional images of ocular tissue which enable precise localization of zones of increased optical density, such as cataract formation, in various locations of the crystalline lens.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a laser-based ocular tissue analysis system in which cross-sectional digital images of the crystalline lens and surrounding ocular structures can be formed and from which the precise degree and location of optical density of the crystalline lens can be objectively determined using digital image analysis.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide such an ocular tissue analysis system in which the luminance and cross-sectional dimension of the laser illumination used to visualize the lens and form cross-sectional ocular images, can be maintained essentially uniformly constant from image to image, and photo-examination session to photo-examination session.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide such an ocular tissue analyzing system which includes a microscope and an image detector that uses laser illumination for visualizing and forming perfectly focused cross-sectional images entirely through the ocular tissue comprising the cornea and crystalline lens.
These and other objects of invention will become apparent hereinafter and in the claims. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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It is known that 1-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-1-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5-isobenzofurance-carbonitrile (INN citalopram) is a well-known antidepressive pharmaceutical active ingredient (DE 2,657,103). The optically active (S)-citalopram having also antidepressive effect is described in EP 346,066.
Several synthetic procedures are known for the preparation of citalopram (WO 98/19512 and WO 98/19513).
It is known from the information leaflet of products containing citalopram—e.g. “Celexa Side Effects Celexa Drug Interactions Citalopram-Rx List Monographs”—that in the course of treatment of depression with citalopram hypotension may occur as an undesirable side effect.
However, this does not mean that citalopram is declared as a product normalizing the blood pressure of patients suffering from hypertension. Firstly: the above mentioned reference does not relate to hypertonic patients. Secondly: it was disclosed that “although the reported cases occurred in the course of treatment carried out with CELEXA™ (citalopram), it is not necessary that said side effect was caused by” CELEXA™ (“CELEXA™” is the trademark of a product containing citalopram). Thirdly: the fact that hypertension, i.e. the opposite to hypotension, was also given as an undesired side effect, strongly supports the statement that the reference contained no unambiguous teaching for hypotension caused by citalopram. Fourthly: the undesired induction of hypotension is not a blood pressure normalizing effect because hypotension is an abnormal blood pressure per Se. For the reasons stated above, the cited reference contains no teaching or disclosure of the use of citalopram for the treatment of hypertension, normalization of blood pressure or decrease of elevated blood pressure respectively.
The aforesaid also relates to the information leaflet of a “SEROPRAM product, active ingredient CITALOPRAM”, wherein the postural type of hypotension was mentioned as undesired side effect. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Blast protection appliqués are used on tactical and combat ground vehicles as a method of deflecting or mitigating the effects of anti-vehicular mine blasts or attack by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The appliqués essentially comprise armor plating attached to the outer surfaces of the bottom and sides of the vehicle. The armor plating may be made of various high strength and blast resistant materials such as steel, titanium, or various composite materials including ceramic composites.
A critical and limiting element of these appliqués is the fastener joints. Currently, industrial bolts are commonly used for attaching blast protection appliqués to vehicles due to their simplicity and availability. The fasteners used are typically selected for strength and ability to transmit externally applied loads. The vast majority of commercially available high strength fasteners are made of carbon steel. Examples include ASTM A325 high-strength carbon steel bolts, ASTM A490 alloy steel bolts, and SAE J429 graded bolts, such as Grade 5 and Grade 8. However, under blast conditions these bolts often fail, resulting in secondary fragments and projectiles which may inflict additional damage and injury to the vehicle personnel. In addition the performance of vehicle armor attachment joints under blast threat or ballistic impact is poorly understood, in part because the blast and ballistic loadings are wide range dynamic events.
Accordingly a need exists for innovative methodology and/or material with which blast protection appliqués could be attached so as to withstand blast forces and pressures of an anti-vehicular mine blast. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pre-mix beverage dispensing valves and more particularly to solenoid operated beverage dispensing valves.
2. Background
Pre-mix beverage dispensing valves are well known in the art, and serve to dispense carbonated drinks such as soda pop and beer. These valves are designed to dispense a carbonated drink with a minimum of carbonation loss, to the atmosphere and by minimizing foaming. This result is accomplished primarily with a compensator positioned upstream of the valve seat that helps to reduce the pressure on the pre-mix, generally 50 to 80 pounds per square inch, to that of atmosphere. Prior art pre-mix valves have typically been manually operated wherein a lever is pulled toward the operator to dispense a drink. A spring provides for assisting in moving the valve back to the closed position and maintaining the valve closed and seated.
Various attempts have been made at making a pre-mix valve electrically operable, such as through the use of a solenoid. However, the initial force needed to overcome the pressure on the pre-mix beverage, as well as that of the shaft spring, has presented problems. An electrically operated valve is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,155 wherein a leveraged solenoid system utilizing a spring linkage is used to reduce the size and power consumption of the solenoid. However, further improvements involving lessening of the initial force required to open a pre-mix valve are required to insure long term reliable operation.
The present invention comprises a solenoid operated pre-mix beverage dispensing valve having low opening force requirements. The valve includes a valve body having an actuating shaft slideably mounted along a central axis thereof. The shaft includes a first contact end extending outward of a front end of the valve, and a second end positioned within the valve body. A spring is positioned around the shaft first end and between a spring retainer and the valve body. The valve body includes a radiussed circular seat surface tapering to a smooth cylindrical surface area. A quad-ring is retained in an annular grove extending around the actuating shaft and provides fluid tight sealing between the actuating shaft and the cylindrical surface area of the valve body. The actuating shaft also includes four stop tabs extending radially and equidistantly from and around a common perimeter of the actuating shaft. In the closed position of the valve the four tabs are in contact with the radiussed surface of the valve body and the quad ring is in sealing relationship with the cylindrical valve body surface.
A compensator housing is secured to an attachment end of the valve body and a compensator is positioned within the housing. The compensator includes a cylindrical bore for sealably receiving the second end of the actuating shaft. A further quad ring extending around the second end of the actuating shaft provides for fluid tight sealing between the second end and the compensator bore. An air pressure equalization channel extends axially through the center of the actuating shaft and provides air communication between the compensator bore and a transverse channel in the valve body. The transverse channel provides air communication to ambient air pressure.
A frame is secured to the exterior of the valve body and the frame structure provides for pivotal mounting thereto of a first lever arm. A second lever arm is pivotally secured to the frame and has a first end positioned between the first lever and the contact end of the actuating shaft. A solenoid is secured to a top surface of the valve body and includes an armature having an external end thereof for engaging with the first end of the first lever arm. A cup contact lever is pivotally suspended below the valve body and is operable to actuate a switch for energizing and de-energizing the solenoid.
In operation, the cup lever is moved to operate the switch, which then energizes the solenoid. The armature is then drawn into the solenoid thereby operating the first lever. The first lever then contacts the second lever which, in turn, moves against the contact end of the actuating shaft. The actuating shaft is made to then move against the biasing force of the spring and move the first quad-ring out of contact with the valve cylindrical surface and the four stop tabs out of contact with the radiussed surface. As a result thereof, beverage is permitted to flow between the actuating shaft and the valve body to the dispense nozzle.
Those of skill will recognize that the valve of the present invention uses a compound lever system to gain a mechanical advantage for substantially lessening the force required to initiate dispensing. In addition, the air pressure equalization system is improved over the prior art to further lessen the initial force required to open the valve. As a result of the lessened opening force, a lower power solenoid can be used resulting in a substantial increase in the reliability and longevity of the valve. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The field of this invention relates to warning device and more particularly to a warning device in the form of a portable stanchion which can be individually programmed by the particular user for a particular warning message.
The use of warning devices of different types have long been known. A simple form of warning device is a brightly colored cone which is commonly used in conjunction with roadways to warn human beings in motor vehicles that they are approaching a potentially dangerous situation. In the past, such brightly colored cones have also been used to warn human beings in commercial establishments of wet floors, open elevator shafts, men at work, and other potentially hazardous conditions.
However, such a passive warning device may not impart its message to certain individuals. For example, a blind person may not perceive that there is a dangerous situation. Also, it has been known that certain individuals may be preoccupied and just may not see the danger. The only sense a passive warning device is appealing to is the sense of sight. If the warning device could appeal also to the sense of hearing, the use of the warning device could be greatly expanded. Typical expanded usage could be to warn an individual of a work area, a wet paint area, a potentially overhead condition, and possibly a piece of equipment being out of order.
A warning device could also be used to be informative. Informative devices would be most helpful having to do with pedestrian control, for promotion of products or sevices, warning of no smoking areas, informing individuals of certain security restrictions as well as instructing the public such as by giving directions.
In the past, such warning devices may frequently utilize some form of trigger device so when stepped on or pass over a certain beam, that the warning device would be activated. The inherent problem with these prior art devices is that such were not self-contained. Other than the warning device itself, it was necessary to utilize a separate triggering mechanism that has to be connected as by a wire to the warning device. Not only did this require additional equipment, but many times the use of the separate trigger actuation device would prevent usage of the warning device within certain areas. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,480, issued Apr. 4, 1989 to L. E. Branovich et al, there is disclosed and claimed a method of making a long life high density cathode from a mixture of tungsten and iridium powders that uses as the impregnant barium peroxide alone, or a mixture of barium peroxide with iridium, or a mixture of barium peroxide with osmium, or a mixture of barium peroxide with rhodium. Also, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,767, issued June 20, 1989 to L. E. Branovich et al, there is described and claimed a method of making a long life high current density cathode from a mixture of tungsten and iridium powders using a barium iridiate formed from barium peroxide and iridium oxide as the impregnant. Although desirable in many aspects, the difficulty with the method of the inventions in these patents is that the chemical reaction is not sufficiently rapid and the resulting emission over a set time period is not sufficient.
The general object of this invention is to provide an improved method of making a long life high current density cathode. A more particular object of the invention is to provide such a method that will be rapid and in which the resulting emission over a set time period will be sufficient.
It has now been found that such a method can be provided by making such a cathode from a mixture of tungsten and iridium powders to form a porous billet and using a reaction product formed from reacting barium peroxide with an excess of tungsten as the impregnant for the porous billet.
By an excess of tungsten is meant that the molar ratio of barium peroxide to tungsten in forming the impregnant is less than 3 to 1. This is because in a 3:1 molar ratio of BaO.sub.2 to W, the resulting product formed is barium tungstate, Ba.sub.3 WO.sub.6 according to the reaction: EQU 3BaO.sub.2 +W.fwdarw.Ba.sub.3 WO.sub.6
If an excess of tungsten as for example an 0.1 molar excess of tungsten is added to the reactants, the resulting product is Ba.sub.3 WO.sub.6 with excess tungsten dispersed throughout the impregnant. Since the impregnant must react with the wall of the porous billet that is composed of tungsten or tungsten/iridium, the amount of surface area in the 3:1 molar BaO.sub.2 /W with 0.1 molar excess of tungsten is increased giving greater surface to surface contact of the impregnant to react with the tungsten within the impregnant as well as with the wall of the porous tungsten or tungsten/iridium impregnated billet. Therefore, a faster chemical reaction occures and there is greater emission over a set period of time.
A small amount of iridium may also be included in the impregnant. This may be about the same amount as the excess of tungsten included in the impregnant. Osmium or rhodium can be substituted in lieu of iridium. Moreover, it is also within the scope of the invention to substitute molybdenum or aluminum for part or all of the tungsten in the impregnant. It is also important that the average particle size of the impregnant powders be smaller than the average pore size of the billet. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a method for assisting a vehicle to start on a slope wherein a vehicle brake torque is changed corresponding to an estimated vehicle driving torque in consideration of a downgrade torque.
The term ‘starting on a slope’ implies starting to drive uphill and downhill as well as starting to drive on a horizontal roadway.
A starting aid is meant to assist the driver when starting to drive uphill. The purpose of starting aids when driving uphill is to simplify the complicated handling of brake, parking brake, clutch and engine. In addition, the vehicle must be prevented by all means from rolling backwards in order to avoid e.g. a collision with vehicles positioned downhill. To this end, an assistance system of this type is required to determine the driving torque transmitted by way of the clutch to the driving axle apart from the downgrade torque and the brake torque.
WO99/20921 discloses a method, which in accordance with the determined driving torque and the determined downgrade torque, influences the brake torque in such a manner that when starting to drive uphill the sum of brake torque and determined driving torque will always exceed the downgrade torque. In this arrangement, the estimation of the driving torque is evaluated directly, that means absolutely, in an observer.
The shortcoming of this method is that errors that possibly exist in the driving torque estimation will be included in the balancing operation, and a premature or too late release of the brake will occur during the starting maneuver depending on the type of error. When there are errors in determining the driving torque, the vehicle will consequently roll away in opposition to the desired driving direction (brake is released too early), or the vehicle is held in position too long and the driver is hindered when starting to drive.
Possible errors in determining the driving torque may be due to the following causes: Mechanically and/or electrically induced loads in the vehicle are not taken into account in the model-based determination of the driving torque. These loads may be powerful electric consumers such as a seat heating, or other retrofitted accessories. The internal combustion engine installed into the vehicle has a definitely different friction torque compared to other engines of the same construction (production variations, aging, etc.). Additional torques (such as ISAD moment, load moment of the air-conditioning compressor, etc.) of already provided control devices are determined and made available. However, said additional torques may be faulty. For example, the load moment of the air-conditioning compressor is mostly considered only as a static maximum value in the lost torque supplied by the engine control unit.
An object of the present invention is to disclose a more accurate method for assisting a vehicle to start and to provide a corresponding device. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Small computer systems generally have at least the following three features; a computer processor unit, a monitor, and a keyboard. Other features, such as a mouse, a removable disk drive, and the like, may optionally be provided. Of the first three listed features, it is known in the art to combine two, or even all three, of these in a single housing, although the computer processor unit, monitor and keyboard are also frequently provided each in its own separate housing. An advantage of separate segregated components is that each such component is readily accessible for adding to or removing subcomponents therefrom. Moreover, if one of such segregated components fails, it can more easily be serviced and, if necessary, replaced. Indeed, a segregated component can easily be temporarily replaced while a failed component is serviced. In short, separate components provide a greater degree of flexibility.
On the other hand, more integrated units provide several distinct advantages. First, such units can be made more attractive to better fit aesthetically into a home or office environment, and such systems also generally take up less overall space. Moreover, the number of external connections and cables are minimized. External cables are generally unsightly and provide an additional source off failure in that the cables and connectors readily come loose and/or are damaged as components are moved around. Also, for many users, the very fact that there is no need to figure out where external cables are to be connected is, in and of itself, a primary advantage.
It would be useful to find a way to maximize the advantages both of segregated and integrated type computer systems. However, to the inventors' knowledge, no method or apparatus for adequately accomplishing this has existed in the prior art. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a device and method for scalable block data storage using content addressing, and, more particularly, but not exclusively to such a device and method optimized for RAM data storage devices.
Storage systems in general, and block based storage systems specifically, are a key element in modern data centers and computing infrastructure. These systems are designed to store and retrieve large amounts of data, by providing data block address and data block content—for storing a block of data—and by providing a data block address for retrieval of the data block content that is stored at the specified address.
Storage solutions are typically partitioned into categories based on a use case and application within a computing infrastructure, and a key distinction exists between primary storage solutions and archiving storage solutions. Primary storage is typically used as the main storage pool for computing applications during application run-time. As such, the performance of primary storage systems is very often a key challenge and a major potential bottleneck in overall application performance, since storage and retrieval of data consumes time and delays the completion of application processing. Storage systems designed for archiving applications are much less sensitive to performance constraints, as they are not part of the run-time application processing.
In general computer systems grow over their lifetime and the data under management tends to grow over the system lifetime. Growth can be exponential, and in both primary and archiving storage systems, exponential capacity growth typical in modern computing environment presents a major challenge as it results in increased cost, space, and power consumption of the storage systems required to support ever increasing amounts of information.
Existing storage solutions, and especially primary storage solutions, rely on address-based mapping of data, as well as address-based functionality of the storage system's internal algorithms. This is only natural since the computing applications always rely on address-based mapping and identification of data they store and retrieve. However, a completely different scheme in which data, internally within the storage system, is mapped and managed based on its content instead of its address has many substantial advantages. For example, it improves storage capacity efficiency since any duplicate block data will only occupy actual capacity of a single instance of that block. As another example, it improves performance since duplicate block writes do not need to be executed internally in the storage system. Existing storage systems, either primary storage systems or archiving storage systems are incapable of supporting the combination of content based storage—with its numerous advantages—and ultra-high performance. This is a result of the fact that the implementation of content based storage scheme faces several challenges:
(a) intensive computational load which is not easily distributable or breakable into smaller tasks,
(b) an inherent need to break large blocks into smaller block sizes in order to achieve content addressing at fine granularity. This block fragmentation dramatically degrades the performance of existing storage solutions,
(c) inability to maintain sequential location of data blocks within the storage systems, since mapping is not address based any more, and such inability causes dramatic performance degradation with traditional spinning disk systems,
(d) the algorithmic and architectural difficulty in distributing the tasks associated with content based mapping over a large number of processing and storage elements while maintaining single content-addressing space over the full capacity range of the storage system.
A number of issues arise with respect to such devices, and it is necessary to consider such issues as performance, lifetime, resilience to failure of individual devices, overall speed of response and the like.
Such devices may be used in highly demanding circumstances where failure to process data correctly can be extremely serious, or where large scales are involved, and where the system has to be able to cope with sudden surges in demand.
One challenge is to avoid performance bottlenecks and allow performance scalability that is independent of user data access patterns.
A second challenge is to support inline, highly granular block level deduplication without degrading storage (read/write speed) performance. The result should be scalable in both capacity—which is deduplicated over the full capacity space—and performance.
A further challenge is to address flash-based SSD write/erase cycle limitations, in which the devices have a lifetime dependent on the number of write/erase cycles. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
In textile machinery, broken yarn ends which hug the yarn package or bobbin can pose a problem and, for example, in German Patent Document - Open Application DE-OS 25 43 767, a method of an apparatus for the releasing and evacuation of such broken yarn ends is described.
In this system, a suction device is disposed axially above the bobbin and the broken yarn end is extracted from the package surface by a blast of compressed air generated by two nozzles trained with different inclinations against the spindle and offset about the periphery thereof. The nozzle orifices are located at a considerable distance from one another generally on a fork which passes at least to a significant extent around the bobbin.
For various reasons this device has proved to be awkward to utilize and has presented problems largely because of the fork construction. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
To access network services such as a social network service, sports websites, and so on, users are required to login multiple times using conventional techniques. For example, a user may access a website of a network service, e.g., a social network service, via a browser and therefore provide a user name and password to access an account of the user.
The user may also access the network service via a dedicated application, such as an application coded by a provider of the web site to upload a photo to the social network service. To obtain this access, the dedicated application is also forced to provide the user name and password to access the account of the user. This is because under conventional techniques the browser and the application are segregated on separate “islands” by an operating system, typically to reduce a chance of exploitation by malicious parties. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a draw vice, and more particularly to such a draw vice, which comprises a center tube, a center tube rotating device adapted to rotate the center tube and the workpiece attached to the center tube with less effort, and a center tube locking device adapted to stop the center tube against rotary motion.
A variety of draw vices have been disclosed, and have appeared on the market. Regular draw vices commonly comprise a center tube adapted for coupling to the workpiece through an adapter. When installed, the center tube is rotated upwards or downwards, enabling the workpiece to be dismounted or installed. According to conventional designs, rotating the center tube takes much time and labor. Further, in conventional designs, no locking means is provided for locking the center tube against rotary motion.
The invention has been accomplished to provide a draw vice, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. According to one aspect of the present invention, the draw vice comprises a center tube mounted in the body thereof and driven to rotate the workpiece, a center tube rotating device pivoted to the body and controlled to rotate the center tube with less effort. The center tube rotating device comprises a shell pivoted to the handles, an input gear, an output gear coupled to the center tube, a knob coupled to the input gear and adapted to rotate the center tube, and at least one transmission gear means coupled between the input gear and the output gear for enabling the center tube and the output gear to be rotated at a speed of rotation higher than the input gear. According to another aspect of the present invention, the draw vice further comprises a center tube locking device adapted to lock the center tube against rotary motion. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The most common implement for dental hygiene is the toothbrush. The mechanical action of the toothbrush bristles aids in the removal of food particles, plaque, and the like. The toothbrush is normally used with a toothpaste. Prior to about 1955, a typical toothpaste consisted of a surfactant and an abrasive material. These products were simply intended to augment the mechanical action of the brushing.
In 1955, CREST.RTM. toothpaste with fluoride, a Trademark of The Procter & Gamble Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, was introduced and the toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste combination proved to be a suitable means to deliver a fluoride treatment to the teeth surfaces. Subsequently, other active ingredients, such as tartar control agents, have been added to toothpaste to provide further dental hygiene benefits. Consumers have also turned their attention to the cosmetic aspects of dental care, such as teeth straightening and whitening.
Given the success of delivering chemicals which provide therapeutic benefits for oral care, it is reasonable to expect similar success in accomplishing the cosmetic benefit via routine brushing. However, people who are serious about whitening their teeth and who have been disappointed by the results of whitening dentifrices, often resort to professional help for whitening their teeth.
Professional teeth whitening programs provided by dentists generally fall into two categories: an in-office bleaching procedure and an outside-the-office bleaching procedure. The in-office procedure involves several visits, each of which begins with the fabrication of a specially fitted rubber dam within the mouth to prevent the bleaching chemicals, typically hydrogen peroxide, from contacting the soft oral tissue. The strength of the peroxide bleach mandates the use of the dam.
The outside-the-office bleaching program differs in that the patient applies the bleaching agent to his or her own teeth using a lower strength chemical over an extended period of time, typically several hours a day for several weeks. The outside-the-office program typically requires an initial fitting in the dentist's office for an appliance which is specific to the particular patient. The appliance is a device that is fabricated to fit precisely onto the patient's teeth and is used to deliver to the patient's teeth a bleaching gel. The patient is responsible for measuring and applying the bleaching agent to the surfaces of the teeth using the appliance as the means for delivery and containment.
Because the appliance is reused, it must be sufficiently robust to endure repeat handling, cleaning, filling, installation, and wearing. Such appliances are relatively rigid in order to maintain fit during repeat use. Typically, a patient uses the device in time periods when social contact can be avoided.
There are now non-professional programs available to persons interested in whitening their teeth using commercial products available at drug stores. The commercial products provide a kit which includes a generic appliance and a container of bleaching gel. The obvious appeal is the lower cost of the program. A major disadvantage of this "one size fits all" appliance is the greater void between the interior walls of the appliance and the teeth versus the professionally fitted appliance. Hence, in order to insure intimate contact of the bleaching gel and the teeth surfaces, more bleaching gel is required. Furthermore, the poorer fit means a greater loss of bleaching gel onto the gums, into the oral cavity, and eventual ingestion. The commercial kits, like the outside-the-office professionally administered program, require the user to clean and to reuse the appliance. Since generic appliances are not fitted to the individual user, they are even more bulky in the mouth than the fitted appliances and thus they restrict social discourse to a greater degree.
One attempt to remedy some of the problems of the commercial kits is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,654, issued to Fontenot on Nov. 19, 1996. Fontenot discloses a prepackaged moldable dental appliance, adapted to fit a wide range of variously sized dental arches, which contains a premeasured amount of medicinal or bleaching agent. In use, the dental appliance is removed from the packaging, aligned in a parallel fashion to the edges of the teeth and pushed over the teeth in the direction of the periodontal tissue until it covers the teeth surfaces.
Another solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,563, issued to Curtis et al. on May 10, 1994. Curtis et al. disclose a putty-like material which is formed by pressing against the teeth. It is held in place by mechanical engagement with undercut surfaces and by friction. The composition encapsulates the active.
Other methods are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,953, issued to Sintov et al. on Jun. 20, 1995. Sintov et al. discloses a liquid polymer composition for bleaching of the teeth. The liquid polymer composition forms a film after applied to the teeth. Other references which disclose using a film in the oral cavity include U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,243 issued to Schiraldi et al. on Dec. 15, 1987, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,835,628, issued to Saffir on May 20, 1958.
What is needed is a low cost commercial delivery system, which has a customized fit for a minimal volume of a tooth whitening substance, and which is in conformable contact with the appropriate tooth surfaces and interstitial tooth spaces for rapid delivery of an active in such substance. In addition a delivery system is needed which does not require extensive user placement manipulation to be certain of good contact. Furthermore, what is needed is a non-bulky active containment means that will permit the wearer to use the system during social discourse without interfering with the wearer's speech or appearance. Also needed is a containment means that will protect the tooth whitening substance from erosion from contact with inner mouth surfaces and saliva. | {
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The design of orthopedic implants has progressed through the development of plates or other stabilization means, including for example rods and or mesh, intended for application to specific bones, and for use with characteristic types of fractures. These plates are optimally designed to correspond to a generalized shape of the bone and further include fixation means, which are generally screws or pegs, that hold the plate to the bone, and further hold fragments of the bone to the plate in association with other fragments so that the fragments will fuse together.
In position on the bone, the plate, fasteners and bone form a construct that accepts dynamic loading. The interaction of the screws or pegs with the bone, and with the plate is a complex matter. Typically, screws include a threaded shaft and pegs may include a threaded shaft or may simply be cylindrical and be devoid of threads about the shaft. Bone has a hard cortical surface and a porous cancellous internal portion and the variable nature of bone must be taken into consideration in the design of an implant system. Further, as bone lives, it reacts to loading and to motion of the fasteners so that threads can loose purchase over time as the bone shifts away from the threads. Further loading between fragments influences fusion of the fragments. Thus, the design of the plate/fastener interface includes considerations of loading as well as accommodation of typical patterns of fragmentation and the intention to capture cortical surfaces and to avoid surrounding soft tissue.
Typically, locking screws or pegs, are locked into a relationship with a plates, and may also lock the bone into that relationship, or in the event that the peg does not include a threaded shaft, the peg may act more as a support for a fragment. Alternatively, if the screw or peg is threaded about its shaft, it may lock the bone fragment, and in the event that the relationship with the plate is not a locking relationship, the fastener may have a certain amount of play relative to the plate, which further accommodates variations in angles that a surgeon may wish to achieve, but which does not inhibit the fastener from backing out of the plate. Fasteners, which lock into the plate, are less likely to back out and provide proud surfaces that could cause irritation to surrounding soft tissue.
There are advantages to providing locking fasteners at selected angles that are designed to capture typical fragments and secure their relationship to the plate. However, it is even more advantageous to provide these locking fasteners with locking fasteners that can be inserted at variable angle and subsequently locked into that position. While other systems have provided locking mechanisms that allow a variable angle fastener to be inserted into a threaded locking hole, these systems do not provide acceptable holding power of the angle of the variable angle fasteners. The present invention meets that need by providing a plate and locking and variable locking fasteners, the plate having a first set of at least one fastener opening that is set in the plate at a selected angle through the plate and that is internally threaded to accept the externally threaded head of a locking fastener, and the plate further having a second set of at least one fastener opening that is not internally threaded, but which has a concavely rounded internal surface that mates with a corresponding convexly rounded external surface of a locking insert at a selected variable angle, the locking insert accepting a fastener and wherein the fastener has means to lock the insert at the selected variable angle relative to the plate. As examples of the locking means, the locking insert may include one or more expansion slots that allow the locking insert to be expanded in the opening in the plate so as to secure it in the plate. More particularly, the locking insert may also include a cam raceway that accepts a camming member on the head of the fastener that causes the locking insert to expand radially, or the locking insert may include internal threads that mate with external threads of the fastener. In this instance, the fastener used in the fixed locking openings may be the same fastener that is used in the variable locking opening, which provides an inventory advantage (it requires fewer fastener types for the surgery).
The present invention can be used in any number of surgical applications, including for example, for small bone plates such as radial plates, tibial plates, and calcaneal plates; for long bone plates, and for the spine or pelvis. | {
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The Internet of Things (IoT) allows for the internetworking of devices to exchange data among themselves to enable sophisticated functionality. For example, assistant devices configured for home automation can exchange data with other devices to allow for the control and automation of lighting, air conditioning systems, security, etc. Existing solutions require users to select individual devices and ascribe settings to them one-by-one, potentially within a menu format. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains generally to computers. In particular, it pertains to clock logic in digital circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
The growing demand for higher performance in devices such as central processing units (CPU) and dynamic random access memories (DRAM) requires faster clocks to drive the circuits in such devices. Synchronizing the operation of different parts of a device can present a major challenge, since the few nanoseconds required to propagate a signal from one circuit to another, or from one part of the integrated circuit to another, may be equivalent to a major part of a single clock cycle. A conventional approach to this dilemma is to generate the different clocks inside the individual circuits, and synchronize those clocks to a reference clock using phase-locked loop (PLL) or delay-locked loop (DLL) circuits.
However, in many cases, it is required that the regenerated clock is not only capable of synchronizing to the reference clock, but is also delayed from that clock by a predetermined amount of time. Simple PLL and DLL circuits are not suited for this because they do not compensate for additional delays that may occur after the synchronized clock signals are produced. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains, in general, to an insulating film having improved adhesive strength and a printed circuit board having the same. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an insulating film for use in an insulating layer of a multilayer printed circuit board, in which a portion adjacent to CCL (copper clad laminate) is different in composition from a desmear-treated portion adjacent to a plating layer to increase an adhesive strength between the insulating layer and the plating layer upon preparation of the multilayer printed circuit board by the build-up process, and a printed circuit board having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In accordance with a recent trend of minaturized and digitalized high-frequency electronic apparatuses, electronic parts and boards have been required to have high integration and high-density properties. Conventionally, there is known a process for manufacturing a multilayer printed circuit board, in which copper foils are laminated in a press on an internal layer circuit board having a circuit formed thereon by using as insulating bonding layers several prepreg sheets each prepared by impregnating glass cloth with an epoxy resin, and semi-curing it. This process has, however, had problems including a high cost incurred by large-scale equipment and a long period of time required for molding under heat and pressure by a laminating press, the formation of a fine pattern made difficult by an increased copper thickness due to through-hole plating on an external layer, and high dielectric constant of the circuit board.
Attention has recently been drawn, as means for solving those problems, to the technique by which organic insulating layers are formed alternately on conductor layers of an internal layer circuit board for making a multilayer printed circuit board of the build-up type. Therefore, via holes are formed and thus a wiring density is increased according to the build-up process. Additionally, the circuit board having high density and made by a thinner sheet has been formed by a laser process. Conventionally, liquid insulation resins and photo-sensitive insulation resins have been used as the insulating layers in the multilayer board of the build-up type. However, because of the formation of an uneven surface on the insulating layers, and the limited selection of the insulating materials for the preparation of the board, it is preferred that a semi-solid dry film type insulating materials are used. In the case of liquid insulation resins, the insulating layer can be easily formed through coating process, however, upon coating on a board, the uneven surface on the insulating layer is generated owing to foaming and also productivity is lowered caused by sectional processing. The photo-sensitive insulation resins can collectively form greater numbers of holes, but suffers from the disadvantages of being expensive, and size limitation of fine via holes (minimum 80 xcexcm). The dry film type insulation resins have the advantages of easily controlling a thickness of the insulating layer, thinning a board, and good process efficiency by simultaneously processing both sides of the layer. In addition, fine holes (50 xcexcm or lower) can be formed because of processing the board with laser. But the insulation resins are disadvantageous in terms of insufficient adhesive strength between an insulating layer and a conductive layer.
Further, as a pretreatment process of copper plating, the desmear process is carried out, whereby the internal layer circuit is smoothly plated with the external layer circuit due to removal of any smear of resin generated upon drilling, and roughness becomes high on the resin surface, thus increasing the adhesive strength of the plating layer versus the insulating layer. In the desmear process, the insulating layer is swelled with oxidizing agents, such as permanganate, bicromate, hydrogen peroxide and the like, thereby removing the filler in the insulating layer and increasing the roughness on the insulating layer. Therefore, upon electrolytic or electroless plating, the plating layer is smeared between the convexoconcave portions formed on the insulating layer, so improving the adhesive strength between the plating layer and the insulating layer.
Recently, U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,377 of Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Japan, discloses a process for increasing fine roughness by thermosetting a phenol epoxy resin including a triazine ring, in preparation of dry film type insulation resins. According to the process of Ajinomoto Co. Inc, the adhesive strength between the insulating layer and the plating layer is improved, without mechanical grinding process or chemical swelling process. However, when the board is practically prepared, chemical swelling process in which the desmear treatment is performed and the filler in the insulating layer is discharged is carried out, thus increasing the adhesive strength between the layers.
With the problems encountered in the prior art in mind, the present invention has an object of providing an insulating film having improved adhesive strength by effectively performing the desmear treatment.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a printed circuit board having the insulating film being improved in an adhesive strength with a plating layer.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an insulating film for use in an insulating layer of a multilayer printed circuit board, the insulating film comprising: a first coating layer comprising an epoxy resin, a rubber, and a filler and a second coating layer, located on the first layer and comprising an epoxy resin, a rubber, and a filler, wherein the first coating layer having a greater amount of rubber and filler and a smaller amount of epoxy resin than the second coating layer.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multilayer printed circuit board having the insulating film. | {
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Gesture recognition systems typically include high sensitivity cameras including a wide field of view, multiple cameras, tracking systems, or any combination of the above. Such systems typically require custom system hardware systems to allow for proper image acquisition. When being employed to assist in monitoring medication adherence, it may not be possible or convenient to provide such a specialized device to each user.
Employing gesture recognition as well as object recognition and tracking to monitor medication adherence may result in the monitoring of individuals and medication. These individuals and the medication they are holding or administering may be improperly positioned within a field of view of the camera. While the higher quality gesture recognition systems noted above may be able to capture necessary images in spite of such variability, standard camera systems that may be provided in a standard computer or laptop configuration may not be sufficient for performing gesture recognition. Furthermore, mobile devices, typically including an even lower resolution camera and lower computing power may have more difficulty in implementing such a gesture recognition system.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus and system that allow for proper gesture recognition in such a context, even employing lower quality hardware components and processing power, and that overcomes other drawbacks of the prior art. | {
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This invention relates to archery targets and, more particularly, to an archery target constructed of multiple foam layers stacked in face-to-face engagement with one another and heat integrated to provide a self-supporting archery target capable of use in a stand-alone arrangement, as a removable insert and/or a removable insert that can also be used as a stand-alone arrangement.
Various styles of archery targets are available to safely capture arrows. A common essential feature for layered archery targets is that the layers must be sufficiently compressed against each other in order to safely capture an arrow and prevent the arrow from escaping through the layers. Compression of the layers is achieved by different means. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,465,977 and 5,865,440, band retainers are secured around the target to maintain compression and retain the layers in contact to one another. One disadvantage of this configuration is that only two out of four side surfaces may be used as target faces since the side surfaces having the bands could not be used without the risk of striking and damaging a band.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,764 B2 discloses a layered foam archery target that uses cables at each corner of the target to maintain a compressive force between the layers. Each cable end is connected to a top and bottom support member. Although this design enables a user to utilize all four sides of the target as target faces, there is still a risk of striking and disconnecting the cables located at the corners of the target. Furthermore, support members are essential to secure the cables and maintain a compressive force.
Other forms of archery targets are available where the target is inserted into a structure such as three-dimensional animal-like figures. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0140623 A1 shows an archery target secured within an animal shell. The archery target is locked inside the animal shell by a pivoting top cover. Thus, an additional rigid component is needed to secure the archery target which will cause arrow damage.
Thus, a need exists for a self-supporting archery target capable of maintaining a compressive force between the layers without additional components and also capable of being used as an easily removable insert. | {
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The present invention generally relates to a laptop stand for a laptop computer. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adjustable laptop stand for a laptop computer where the adjustable laptop stand includes a leg configured to be set at a variety of angles with respect to a platen to angle the platen at a variety of angles with respect to a work surface where the platen is configured to contact the laptop computer.
Laptop stands for laptop computers are devices that hold a laptop computer for ease of use of the laptop computer. These laptop stands are often configured for a variety of uses. For example, a first type of laptop stand is configured for use on a person's lap to inhibit heat transfer from the supported laptop computer to the user's legs. In this way, these laptop stands operate as heat barriers. Often these laptop stands also include heat transfer devices, such as fans and vents, which are configured to move heat away from a laptop computer. Another type of laptop stand for laptop computers are fixed devices that are configured for desktop use and support a laptop computer at a fixed angle for comfortable use. Still another type of laptop stand for laptop computers provides adjustable platens so that the user may set a comfortable angle for use of a laptop computer.
Manufacturers of laptop stands continue to strive to develop new laptop stands that are slim for easy transport, easy use, and provide multiple angular settings for comfortable laptop computer use. | {
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This application is based upon and claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-326932 filed on Nov. 17, 1999, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, and particularly to a method for manufacturing an SOI (Silicon On Insulator) substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an SOI substrate in which an element formation wafer and a support wafer are bonded together, an SOI layer having a required thickness is provided by polishing a surface of the element formation wafer after bonding the two wafers with an oxide film interposed therebetween. As a conventional polishing method for the SOI substrate, a thickness of the SOI layer is measured after polishing is carried out for a predetermined time, and this polishing and measurement are repeated until the SOI layer has a required thickness. In this method, however, the polishing process must be stopped and the SOI substrate must be detached from a polishing apparatus every time the thickness is measured. Thus, complicated work is required. Besides, because the measurement is not performed continuously, a failure occurrence rate is liable to be increased due to excessive polishing.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring a thickness of an SOI layer when an SOI substrate is polished.
According to the present invention, when a surface of a semiconductor substrate, which is composed of a first layer and a second layer having different refractive indexes from each other, is polished at a side of the first layer, a thickness of the first layer is measured based on a relation between an intensity and a wavelength of a light that is irradiated to the substrate and is reflected by the substrate at a side of the second layer.
Thus, since the thickness of the first layer can be measured by light irradiated to and reflected from the substrate, the thickness can be measured when the surface of the substrate is polished. The substrate may be an SOI substrate having a semiconductor layer as the first layer and an oxide layer as the second layer.
The surface of the substrate can be polished by a polishing machine that is composed of a wafer support head having an attachment surface for holding the substrate, and a pad that is disposed to face the attachment surface for polishing the SOI substrate. The attachment surface may have a window portion penetrating the wafer support head for allowing the light to be irradiated to the substrate from the side of the wafer support head when the substrate is attached to the attachment surface. | {
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Currently there are devices that capture range information for a scene. One example of such a device is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device. LIDAR devices are sometimes referred to in the art as laser detection and ranging (LADAR) devices, although both acronyms refer to the same device. A LIDAR captures range information for a scene by emitting a flash of coherent light and measuring the amount of time it takes the coherent light to travel from the LIDAR to objects within the field of view of the LIDAR and back to the LIDAR. This is known as a flash LIDAR. Another type of LIDAR is a scanning LIDAR where a single beam of light is scanned across a scene. In either case, the LIDAR returns packets of timing information which may then be compiled into a matrix (referred to herein as a range matrix). Each data point of the range matrix corresponds to the amount of time taken by the coherent light to bounce off of an object located at that data point. The range matrix produced from the output of the LIDAR is a 2-dimensional map of the range information received.
Many devices also exist that capture optical information for a scene. One of the most common examples of a device that captures optical information is a traditional camera. Cameras capture optical information in the form of a 2-dimensional map of the optical information received at the camera from within the field of view of the camera. For example, a visual spectrum optical camera captures and records light within the visual spectrum that reflects off of objects within the field of view of the camera.
Visual spectrum optical cameras have been used to create stereo vision systems in an attempt to better replicate the human vision experience of viewing the world from two perspectives (a left and a right eye). Images or videos created in this manner are sometimes referred to as 3-dimensional (3D) images or videos. These 3D optical images are based on taking two 2D optical images of a single scene from two different perspectives. One optical image is taken from a perspective of a left eye and the other image is taken from a perspective of a right eye. A typical 3D camera consists of two lenses which are spaced apart at approximately the distance of a human's eyes. The 3D camera takes two 2D images simultaneously, one with the left lens and one with the right lens.
Special techniques are used to display the two images on a single screen and to give the viewer the impression that the left eye is viewing one image and the right eye is viewing the other image. For example, one method of viewing the two images requires the viewer to wear glasses having one red colored lens and one blue colored lens. Then the left eye image is shown in blue simultaneous with right eye image which is shown in red. With the glasses on, the viewer's left eye picks up on the left blue images and the viewer's right eye picks up on the right red images. The viewer's brain then puts them together to create the real life 3D effect. This effect can be used in either a still photograph or a video setting.
Another method of viewing 3D images is similar except that instead of red and blue images for the left and right eye, polarized images are used. Here, the left images are polarized in one direction and the right images are polarized at a 90 degree angle from the left images. The user then wears glasses with a left lens matching the polarization of the left image and a right lens matching the polarization of the right image.
A third method for viewing 3D videos involves alternating the left and right images from the camera on the viewing screen. Here, the viewer's brain forms the alternating images into a 3D image. | {
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This invention relates to a circuit for providing an intermittent drive signal of variable magnitude and frequency to a driven device and in particular to the needle assembly of a tattoo machine. The subject circuit permits the operator of the driven device to manually regulate the power and frequency of the drive signal within a pulse of variable duration during utilization of the device.
The expanding numbers of people electing to carry xe2x80x9cbody artxe2x80x9d on their anatomy has created the demand for efficient and effective equipment to imprint the desired design in an accurate manner. Typically, the process employs a tattoo machine which drives one or more components of a needle assembly in a manner which embeds dye into the user. The needle assembly may utilize a single-ended needle or a multiple-ended needle array to provide a wide variety of artistic effects and differing coloration and shading. The needle assembly includes a reservoir for the dye being used for the particular portion of the display being imprinted. At present, the moveable components of the needle assembly are driven from a dc power supply which provides a variable output in the range of 1 to 15 volts across the parallel combination of a nonlinear impedance such as a varistor and pair of series connected coils. The coils are inductively coupled to an armature which is connected to the needle assembly. The variations in the magnetic field in the coils impart the movement to the needle assembly. Variation of the power supply voltage provides the operator of the machine with the ability to vary the intensity of the motion imparted to the needle. The repetition rate of the movement of the needle is determined by the electrical characteristics of the nonlinear impedance and the coils. Thus, the frequency of the needle stroke per unit time is fixed and not under the control of the operator.
As the complexity of the images to be depicted increases, the need for increased operator control of the operation becomes more important. The effects of different coloration schemes, nonpermanent dyes and shading features have created a need for an operator to exercise control over both the intensity of the needle stroke and the frequency of the strokes during the time interval that the operator is imparting the design to the skin. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a circuit for providing a drive signal to the driven device or needle assembly which permits the operator to establish the envelope or pulse width of a the strokes and the power and frequency of the strokes taking place within that pulse.
The present invention is directed to a circuit which permits operator control of an intermittent pulsed signal of variable magnitude and frequency to a driven device such as the needle assembly of a tatoo machine.
The circuit includes a rectifier which is coupled to the external ac supply. A series combination of an operator-variable impedance and an operator-controlled switch is coupled between the rectifier and a circuit output terminal. A circuit-controlled switch is coupled between a circuit output terminal and the rectifier with a variable oscillator providing the actuating signal to the switch. An operator-variable frequency controller is coupled to the variable oscillator to permit adjustment of the frequency of the actuating signal.
In operation, the operator-controlled switch establishes the pulse width or interval during which the operator will be making an imprint. The variable impedance enables the operator to control the voltage and the intensity of the movement of the needle. The adjustment of the frequency controller allows the operator to select the number of needle strokes within the pulse width. Thus, the operator has control of the three functions of the driven device needed to imprint complex patterns with varying visual characteristics.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. | {
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Human fibroblast interferon (IFN-β) has antiviral activity and can also stimulate natural killer cells against neoplastic cells. It is a polypeptide of about 20,000 Da induced by viruses and double-stranded RNAs. From the nucleotide sequence of the gene for fibroblast interferon, cloned by recombinant DNA technology, Derynk et al. (Nature, 285:542-547, 1980) deduced the complete amino acid sequence of the protein. It is 166 amino acid long.
Shepard et al. (Nature, 294:563-565, 1981) described a mutation at base 842 (Cys-Tyr at position 141) that abolished its anti-viral activity, and a variant clone with a deletion of nucleotides 1119-1121.
Mark et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 81(18):5662-5666, 1984) inserted an artificial mutation by replacing base 469 (T) with (A) causing an amino acid switch from Cys—Ser at position 17. The resulting IFN-β was reported to be as active as the ‘native’ IFN-β and stable during long-term storage (−70° C.).
Covalent attachment of the hydrophilic polymer polyethylene glycol, (PEG), also known as polyethylene oxide, (PEO), to molecules has important applications in biotechnology and medicine. In its most common form, PEG is a linear polymer having hydroxyl groups at each terminus:HO—CH2—CH2O(CH2CH2O)nCH2CH2—OH
This formula can be represented in brief as HO—PEG—OH, where it is meant that —PEG— represents the polymer backbone without the terminal groups:“—PEG—” means “—CH2CH2O(CH2CH2O)nCH2CH2—
PEG is commonly used as methoxy-PEG—OH, (m-PEG), in which one terminus is the relatively inert methoxy group, while the other terminus is a hydroxyl group that is subject to chemical modification.CH3O—(CH2CH2O)n—CH2CH2—OH
Branched PEGs are also in common use. The branched PEGs can be represented as R(—PEG—OH)m in which R represents a central core moiety such as pentaerythritol or glycerol, and m represents the number of branching arms. The number of branching arms (m) can range from three to a hundred or more. The hydroxyl groups are subject to chemical modification.
Another branched form, such as that described in PCT patent application WO 96/21469, has a single terminus that is subject to chemical modification. This type of PEG can be represented as (CH3O—PEG—)pR—X, whereby p equals 2 or 3, R represents a central core such as lysine or glycerol, and X represents a functional group such as carboxyl that is subject to chemical activation. Yet another branched form, the “pendant PEG”, has reactive groups, such as carboxyl, along the PEG backbone rather than at the end of PEG chains.
In addition to these forms of PEG, the polymer can also be prepared with weak or degradable linkages in the backbone. For example, Harris has shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 06/026,716 that PEG can be prepared with ester linkages in the polymer backbone that are subject to hydrolysis. This hydrolysis results in cleavage of the polymer into fragments of lower molecular weight, according to the reaction scheme:—PEG—CO2—PEG—+H2O−—PEG—CO2H+HO—PEG—
According to the present invention, the term polyethylene glycol or PEG is meant to comprise all the above described derivatives.
The copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide are closely related to PEG in their chemistry, and they can be used instead of PEG in many of its applications. They have the following general formula:HO—CH2CHRO(CH2CHRO)nCH2CHR—OHwherein R is H or CH3.
PEG is a useful polymer having the property of high water solubility as well as high solubility in many organic solvents. PEG is also non-toxic and non-immunogenic. When PEG is chemically attached (PEGylation) to a water insoluble compound, the resulting conjugate generally is water soluble, as well as soluble in many organic solvents.
PEG-protein conjugates are currently being used in protein replacement therapies and for other therapeutic uses. For example, PEGylated adenosine deaminase (ADAGEN®) is being used to treat severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCIDS), PEGylated L-asparaginase (ONCAPSPAR®) is being used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and PEGylated interferon-α (INTRON(R) A) is in Phase III trials for treating hepatitis C.
For a general review of PEG-protein conjugates with clinical efficacy see N. L. Burnham, Am. J. Hosp. Pharm., 15:210-218, 1994.
A variety of methods have been developed to PEGylate proteins. Attaching PEG to reactive groups found on the protein is typically done utilizing electrophilically activated PEG derivatives. Attaching PEG to the α- and ε-amino groups found on lysine residues and the N-terminus results in a conjugate consisting of a mixture of products.
Generally, such conjugates consist of a population of the several PEG molecules attached per protein molecule (“PEGmers”) ranging from zero to the number of amino groups in the protein. For a protein molecule that has been singly modified, the PEG unit may be attached at a number of different amine sites.
This type of non-specific PEGylation has resulted in a number of conjugates that become almost inactive. Reduction of activity is typically caused by shielding the protein's active binding domain as is the case with many cytokines and antibodies. For example, Katre et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,106 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,888 describe the PEGylation of IFN-β and IL-2 with a large excess of methoxy-polyethylene glycolyl N-succinimidyl glutarate and methoxy-polyethylene glycolyl N-succinimidyl succinate. Both proteins were produced in microbial host cells, which allowed the site-specific mutation of the free cysteine to a serine. The mutation was necessary in microbial expression of IFN-β to facilitate protein folding. In particular, the IFN-β used in these experiments is the commercial product Betaseron®, in which Cys17 residue is replaced with a serine. Additionally, the absence of glycosylation reduced its solubility in aqueous solution. Non-specific PEGylation resulted in increased solubility, but a major problem was the reduced level of activity and yield.
European Patent Application EP 593 868, entitled PEG-Interferon Conjugates, describes the preparation of PEG-IFN-α conjugates. However, the PEGylation reaction is not site-specific, and therefore a mixture of positional isomers of PEG-IFN-α conjugates are obtained (see also Monkarsh et al., ACS Symp. Ser., 680:207-216, 1997).
Kinstler et al. in European Patent Application EP 675 201 demonstrated the selective modification of the N-terminal residue of megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF) with mPEG-propionaldehyde. This allowed for reproducible PEGylation and pharmacokinetics from lot to lot. Gilbert et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,944 demonstrated that PEGylation of IFN-α with an optimal level of activity could be produced. In this instance a laborious purification step was needed to obtain the optimal conjugate.
The majority of cytokines, as well as other proteins, do not possess a specific PEG attachment site and, apart from the examples mentioned above, it is very likely that some of the isomers produced through the PEGylation reaction be partially or totally inactive, thus causing a loss of activity of the final mixture.
Site-specific mono-PEGylation is thus a desirable goal in the preparation of such protein conjugates.
Woghiren et al. in Bioconjugate Chem., 4(5):314-318, 1993, synthesized a thiol-selective PEG derivative for such a site-specific PEGylation. A stable. thiol-protected PEG derivative in the form of an parapyridyl disulfide reactive group was shown to specifically conjugate to the free cysteine in the protein, papain. The newly formed disulfide bond between papain and PEG could be cleaved under mild reducing conditions to regenerate the native protein.
Citation of any document herein is not intended as an admission that such document is pertinent prior art, or considered material to the patentability of any claim of the present application. Any statement as to content or a date of any document is based on the information available to applicants at the time of filing and does not constitute an admission as to the correctness of such a statement. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wood splitters.
Various types of power operated wood splitters have been used and generally comprise trailer mounted splitting elements which require the wood to be loaded thereon for splitting. In addition, prior devices operate in a small area and this requires either constant shifting of the splitting mechanism or shifting of the wood that has been split. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
One type of controller enclosures (CEs) provided to storage apparatuses is known, wherein midplanes (MPs) are provided in the central part of housings and multiple modules can be mounted to and unmounted from the MPs, from the front and/or rear of the housings.
Additionally, techniques to provide such CEs with redundancy by duplicating modules which are inserted into or are removed from the MPs have been known. In such a configuration, when one of the duplicated modules fails, a hot replacement of the failed module can be carried out, without stopping the operation of the storage apparatus.
Patent Document 1: Japanese National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2002-516493
Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-217519
Patent Document 3: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-49716
Patent Document 4: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-155392
In storage apparatuses as described above, however, since an MP is not duplicated, in the case of a failure of the MP, the operation by the storage apparatus is stopped for making a replacement of MPs. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a process used to deposit thin films for semiconductor fabrication. CVD typically includes introducing one or more reagents (e.g., precursors) to a substrate in a processing chamber. The reagents react and/or decompose to deposit the films. Longer CVD processing times (i.e., longer exposure to reagents) typically increase layer thickness. Plasma enhanced CVD (PECVD) uses plasma in the processing chamber to increase the reaction rates of the reagents and can allow deposition at lower temperatures. Plasma species can also be used to modify the resulting film properties.
Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a process used to deposit conformal layers with atomic scale thickness control during various semiconductor processing operations. ALD may be used to deposit barrier layers, adhesion layers, seed layers, dielectric layers, conductive layers, etc. ALD is a multi-step self-limiting process that includes the use of at least two reagents. Generally, a first reagent (which may be referred to as a precursor) is introduced into a processing chamber containing a substrate and adsorbs on the surface of the substrate. Excess of the precursor is purged and/or pumped away. A second reagent (e.g., water vapor, ozone, or plasma) is then introduced into the chamber and reacts with the adsorbed layer to form a deposited layer via a deposition reaction. The deposition reaction is self-limiting in that the reaction terminates once the initially adsorbed layer is fully reacted with the second reagent. Excess second reagent is then purged and/or pumped away. The aforementioned steps constitute one deposition or ALD “cycle.” The process is repeated to form the next layer, with the number of cycles determining the total deposited film thickness. Plasma enhanced ALD (PEALD) is a variant of ALD that uses plasma as the second reagent, where plasma constitutes a quasi-static equilibrium of ions, radicals and neutrals derived from the constituent feed gases.
CVD and ALD can be performed using a processing chamber that includes a showerhead above a substrate. The reagents are introduced to the substrate through the showerhead. For plasma enhanced processes, plasma can be generated using a radio frequency (RF) or direct current (DC) discharge between two electrodes in the chamber. The discharge is used to ignite reacting gasses in the chamber.
Semiconductor research and development is typically performed by using production tools. Therefore, to explore new CVD and ALD techniques or to evaluate materials deposited using CVD or ALD, a layer must be deposited over an entire wafer. The process of investigating semiconductor processes and materials in this way can be slow and expensive.
Thus, what is needed are improvements in semiconductor development using combinatorial plasma enhanced deposition techniques. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multifunctional remote control device, more particularly to a memory card control circuit thereof instantly reads the audio/visual data in the memory card after a memory card is being inserted in the memory card slot.
2) Description of the Prior Art
As shown in FIG. 1, the functions of the conventional remote control (B) are limited in volume control and channel switching of the television set (A). However, it is the era of information digitalization. Most of the image and music are digitalized. However, a digital product, digital camera for example, needs to be connected to a computer when viewing the files inside, which is very inconvenient. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates generally to bearing assemblies, and particularly to self-aligning clutch release bearing assemblies in automobile friction disc clutches.
A common problem in typical automobile friction disc clutches arises from a misalignment or eccentricity between the engine crankshaft or clutch input shaft axis and the transmission shaft axis. With clutch release bearings having a fixed axis of rotation, this eccentricity subjects the clutch release bearing to chafing and vibration when engaged by the clutch release levers to actuate, i.e. disengage, the clutch. It has been common for the release bearing to be engaged only during clutch actuation by the vehicle operator. However, in some applications it has been found desirable to have the bearing engaged continuously and hence to be lightly or more forcefully engaged with the clutch release levers depending upon whether the clutch is actuated or not. In this situation the problems of chafing, etc., due to eccentricity are even more aggravated since the rotatable race member of the clutch release bearing will be in continuous rotating engagement with the clutch release levers whenever the engine is running.
The present invention provides a novel clutch release bearing assembly which is self-aligning and has special utility with the constantly engaged clutch bearing design. With prior self-aligning bearings, some type of retaining spring or mechanical retaining structure is used to hold the bearing in the aligned position when the clutch is engaged. In the present invention, no such device is used, and if the bearing were disengaged from the clutch release levers, it would move out of the aligned position. The present invention, however, converts the otherwise undesirable effects of the constantly engaged clutch bearing design into a valuable asset for aligning and maintaining alignment of the clutch release bearing with the input shaft axis of the clutch without the need for a retaining spring or mechanical structure. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a self-aligning clutch release bearing for use with a constantly engaged clutch bearing design, which is of simple design, durable in operation, and which is of economical manufacture. With prior self-aligning bearing assemblies, the retaining spring inhibits rotation of the bearing assembly. In the present invention, where a retaining spring is not utilized, a simple sleeve with an interlocking tab and slot structure is used to prevent rotation and at the same time to provide a means for holding the components of the self-aligning bearing assembly in an assembled relationship. Thus, it is another object of the present invention to provide a novel self-aligning bearing assembly having a unique anti-rotation construction.
In accordance with the present invention, a resilient retainer sleeve is interposed between the bearing and a tubular bearing carrier, and the bearing is constructed to provide a predetermined annular radial clearance between an inner race member of the bearing and the retainer sleeve. The retainer sleeve serves to hold the bearing in an assembled relationship with the bearing carrier, as well as to prevent the rotation of the inner race member with respect to the bearing carrier. The predetermined radial clearance permits the bearing to shift radially with respect to the bearing carrier, such that the bearing axis can be aligned with the input shaft axis. This radial shifting movement occurs automatically since the radial chafing force exerted by the rotating clutch release levers will force the bearing to shift radially and assume the axis of the input (flywheel) of the clutch. It will be appreciated that a number of transient forces may act upon the bearing assembly to cause temporary misalignments. Accordingly, the alignment of the bearing axis with the clutch input axis will typically not be static, but rather dynamic in character. However, as long as the clutch release levers are rotating, the constant engagement of these levers with the bearing will continuously provide the force required to dynamically maintain the bearing in alignment with the clutch input axis. Another advantage of the resilient retainer member is that it serves to reduce noise which may result from the radial shifting movement of the bearing with respect to the bearing carrier.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in view of the drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to motion detection systems and, more particularly, passive infrared motion detectors that have an adjustable field of view to facilitate their mounting in either a corner or on a wall.
2. Description of the Related Art
Passive infrared (PIR) motion detectors are well known in the art and are used to detect the presence of a human intruder by sensing the thermal energy radiated by the intruder. Generally, such PIR detectors are designed to have a horizontal field of view that has an angular range of between 85 and 90 degrees. Using this range for the field of view allows the detector to be mounted in an interior corner. By utilizing a horizontal field of view that is slightly less than 90 degrees, false alarms caused by objects on the adjacent walls can be reduced.
Oftentimes, it is desirable to mount detectors on planar walls rather than interior corners. Unfortunately, the corner-adapted detectors have a horizontal field of view of only 90 degrees. As a result, when mounted on planar walls, such detectors fail to provide coverage in the areas to the side of the detector. Accordingly, detectors having a 180 degree field of view have been proposed. Although effective for wall mounting, these detectors are not effective in interior corner mount situations. The 180 degree field intersects the walls forming the interior corner and, therefore, detects changes in thermal energy of objects on the walls. Objects on the wall, such as windows, curtains and blinds, often experience a significant change in thermal energy as the sun heats these objects. Such changes in thermal energy can be detected by the 180 degree, corner-mounted detector creating false alarms. Consequently, a need remains for an improved detector that may be effectively used in either corner and wall mounting applications and which includes a means for properly adjusting the field of view of the detector and inhibiting the incorrect installation of the detector. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a two-member connecting structure for connecting via a lock ring a first member, which is provided with a first lock groove in an outer periphery of the first member, and a second member, which includes a connection hole permitting insertion of the first member therethrough, the second member being provided with a second lock groove opened to an inner periphery of the connection hole, and the lock ring being formed in a substantially C shape while having a circular section, and engaging with the first and second lock grooves.
Description of the Related Art
As for a decompression valve, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2014-10784 has made known a connecting structure for connecting via a lock ring a holding plate as a first member, which is provided with a first lock groove in its outer periphery, and a diaphragm rod as a second member, which includes a connection hole permitting insertion of the holding plate therethrough, and which is provided with a second lock groove opened to an inner periphery of the connection hole, the lock ring being formed in a substantially C shape while having a circular section, and engaging with the first and second lock grooves. The configuration of the connecting structure is as follows. When the lock ring is in engagement with the second lock groove, a half or more of the section of the lock ring is inside the second lock groove. When the holding plate and the diaphragm rod are acted on by external force which separates the holding plate and the diaphragm rod from each other, force in an axial direction which is part of force acting on the lock ring from the holding plate is received by a side surface, located on an open end side of the connection hole, which is one of the opposite side surfaces of the second lock groove in the axial direction, and force in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction is received by a groove bottom surface of the second lock groove. Movement of the lock ring is restricted by the one side surface of the second lock groove and the groove bottom surface. Thereby, the holding plate and the diaphragm rod are kept connected to each other.
Furthermore, an outer diameter of the lock ring under a load-free condition where no external force acts on the lock ring is set larger than a diameter of the groove bottom surface of the second lock groove which is opened to the inner periphery of the connection hole. When the holding plate is inserted into the connection hole with the lock ring engaging with the first lock groove, the lock ring comes into contact with an inner periphery of a part of the connection hole which is located short of the second lock groove in an insertion direction of the holding plate into the connection hole, and thus reduces its diameter. When the lock ring reaches the second lock groove, the lock ring increases its diameter, and engages with the second lock groove. Thereby, the holding plate is connected to the diaphragm rod.
In the connecting structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2014-10784, however, a depth from an inner peripheral surface of the part of the connection hole, which is located short of the second lock groove in the insertion direction of the holding plate into the connection hole, to the groove bottom surface of the second lock groove is larger than a radius of the circular section of the lock ring. When the holding plate and the diaphragm rod are connected together, the diameter of the lock ring needs to be largely reduced from a diametrical dimension of the circular section of the lock ring. For this reason, larger force is needed to insert the holding plate into the connection hole while reducing the diameter of the lock ring, and ease of assembly is degraded. Furthermore, if the lock ring is deformed into a plastic deformation range, there is likelihood that: the lock ring no longer returns to the original outer diameter even under a load-free condition; and an engagement failure occurs so that strength of connection between the holding plate and diaphragm rod decreases. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Aerosol is a form of packing in which a gas under pressure, or a liquified gas which has a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure at ordinary temperatures, is used to spray a liquid. The result of spraying is to produce a mist of small liquid droplets in air. Numerous products such as paints, air fresheners, deodorizers, insecticides, waxes, cleaners, personal care products--shaving creams, deodorants, etc. are dispensed with aerosols. A typical aerosol package is a sealed unit to avoid leakage. The vapor phase consists primarily of the propellant, whereas the liquid phase is propellant dissolved in active ingredients. The contents of an aerosol contain surface active agents, stabilizers and solvents. Aerosols usually operate at pressures between 30-50 psig and may contain as much as 90% propellant.
Chlorofluorocarbons and liquified petroleum gases are two types of chemicals popular for use as aerosol propellants. In the refining of crude oil, the overheads product mainly contains mixed butanes, which can through distillation produce suitable "cuts" for the propellant industry. A typical LPG propellant will mainly contain isobutane and butane, with small amounts of propane.
The main source of propellants is the petroleum refineries and natural gas processing plants. Often the butanes are catalytically isomerized to produce isobutane. There are always traces of sulfur and other compounds that make the direct use of butanes impossible, without further treatment. These trace contaminants are removed by various means. U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,916 has revealed a method for eliminating unsaturated hydrocarbons by treating with concentrated sulfuric acid. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,351,980; 4,425,226 and 4,491,563 have discussed the use of transition metals and clays for deodorizing through various means.
The technical literature attributes odor to a variety of chemical species such as unsaturates, ketones, alcohols, etc. Although the boiling points of the odor causing four carbon atom compounds are far enough apart, separation by distillation is not economically feasible, rarely required, and sometimes not possible.
Through various contamination processes, oxygen and oxygenated compounds are formed in butanes. One mechanism by which oxygen is introduced into the system is through walls of the pressure vessel used to transport butane. When empty or during inspections the walls of the pressure vessels are exposed to atmospheric oxygen. The surface is coated with rust, which gradually releases oxygen. Also during transfer operations, line filled oxygen ends up in the butane.
Oxygen in the presence of naturally occurring catalyst like, iron form a series of compounds like acetone, tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, methanol and isobutylene. Most of oxygenated products have a characteristic odor and are soluble in water.
It is this water soluble property that is used in the present invention to deodorize liquified petroleum gases.
Although there is abundance of butanes, only the preferred feedstocks meet rigid requirements of personal care products industry. And a high price is paid for odor free aerosol propellants. The present disclosure provides a process and a preferred embodiment to refine LPG gases and upgrade them. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an optical receiver circuit used in optical communication.
2. Related Prior Art
A variety of transmission rates of optical signals are stipulated in transmission standards for optical communication. In recent years, there are demands for optical receiver circuits capable of receiving an optical signal with a variable transmission rate, i.e., optical receiver circuits applicable to multi-rate communication.
Receivers applicable to multiple transmission rates are known in the field of wireless communication. For example, the receiver disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,304 is provided with sets of a filter and an amplifier for the respective transmission rates to receive radio signals. A switch for determining the destination of a radio signal is installed ahead of the filters and amplifiers. The operation of this switch is controlled according to the transmission rates, thereby supplying a radio signal to the filter and amplifier set suitable to the transmission rate of the radio signal. However, when the technology described in the patent document 1 is applied to optical receiver circuits, received data are lost during deciding the transmission rate and while changing the state of the switch.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical receiver circuit capable of receiving an optical signal with a variable transmission rate without loss of data. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The invention relates to a yo-yo apparatus and a method for playing with a yo-yo.
It is known to provide a yo-yo having first and second body halves, an axle joining the body halves, and a string attached to and windable about the axle. When using such known yo-yos, the player secures the free end of the string to one of the player""s fingers, releases or throws the yo-yo body to cause the string to unwind, and performs tricks with the yo-yo as the yo-yo body spins at the end of the string.
The present invention provides an improved yo-yo and an improved method for using the yo-yo. The yo-yo includes a yo-yo body having first and second halves, an axle joining the halves, and a string interconnected with and windable about the axle. Additionally, the yo-yo includes a solid body secured to the free end of the string. Preferably, the solid body is a die or rubber ball, but any suitable solid body may be used.
A method for using the above-described yo-yo includes spinning the yo-yo body at the end of the string while holding onto the solid body in the player""s hand, and selectively releasing and holding the solid body while the yo-yo body is spinning. Preferably, the method includes supporting the yo-yo by holding the string at a point between the solid body and the yo-yo body while moving the yo-yo body and/or the solid body with respect to the point.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is the concept of a “secondary” or “bonus” game that may be played in conjunction with a “basic” game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completely different from the basic game, which is entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome in the basic game. Generally, bonus games provide a greater expectation of winning than the basic game and may also be accompanied with more attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio. Bonus games may additionally award players with “progressive jackpot” awards that are funded, at least in part, by a percentage of coin-in from the gaming machine or a plurality of participating gaming machines. Because the bonus game concept offers tremendous advantages in player appeal and excitement relative to other known games, and because such games are attractive to both players and operators, there is a continuing need to develop gaming machines with new types of bonus games to satisfy the demands of players and operators.
Video-based slot machines allow for flexibility in game design and do not require any additional hardware for implementing different games, such as bonus games. With respect to flexibility in game design, the video display of a video-based slot machine can depict complex and entertaining graphical images, animations, and play sequences that cannot be employed in mechanical slot machines. Video-based slot machines do not require any additional hardware for implementing bonus games because the bonus game may be depicted on the primary video display and executed by the same game controller used to execute the video slot game.
Video-based slot machines and mechanical slot machines generally appeal to different segments of the market. Although many players are attracted to the complex and entertaining graphical images, animations, and play sequences afforded by video-based slot machines, many players are still drawn to mechanical slot machines because they are simplistic machines that often only pay on a single pay line and only require a pull of a handle to initiate a spin of the reels. Part of the reason that these players avoid video-based slot machines is that the simulated reels on the video-based machines are different in looks than standard mechanical reels. This is primarily due to the nature of the video screen displaying the images.
It would be beneficial to incorporate some of the features of the video-based slot machines into a traditional mechanical slot machine because of the flexibility that these video-based machines offer. A need exists for a slot machine having video-based capabilities, while still preserving the simplistic rotation of mechanical reels that traditionalists appreciate in the traditional mechanical slot machine. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A communication device (e.g., a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a computing device, etc.) may experience a technical problem, such as a dropped call, a low network signal, a fluctuating network signal, or the like. Technicians tasked with addressing the problem may gather information about the problem, the communication device, a user associated with the communication device, or the like. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
With the proliferation of small engine driven tools such as string trimmers, blowers, brush cutters, lawn mowers and similar appliances, concerns have arisen with regard to their environmental impact on air and ground contamination. The use of such tools creates gases which add to the overall level of air pollution and their refueling may result in spills which on a cumulative basis could cause damage. There is therefore a need to provide fuel in a prefilled container which will minimize the need for user interaction. This would avoid spillage and the improper use of fuels. In the case of two cycle engines an accurate fuel to oil mixture could be supplied thereby improving the emissions of such tools.
It is therefore, the purpose of this invention to construct a fuel tank which may be filled with a fuel that is optimized for the particular tool or application including oil and other additives. This will result in improved engine performance, reduced maintenance, longer life, and reduced emissions. The tank is designed to be easily installed in the tool and removed when empty. Another purpose is to construct a low cost fuel tank which is disposable and preferably recyclable. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Li-ion batteries in portable electronic devices typically undergo different charging, discharging and storage routines based on their use. Batteries that employ Li-ion cell chemistry will produce gas when they are electrically overcharged beyond established safety limits. This gas may be used to trigger pressure activated safety devices to improve the reliability and safety of batteries. A current interrupt device (CID) is typically employed to provide protection against any excessive internal pressure increase in a battery by interrupting the current path from the battery when pressure inside the battery is greater than a predetermined value. The CID typically includes a rupture disc and a pressure disc in electrical communication with each other. The rupture disc and the pressure disc are, in turn, in electrical communication with an electrode and a terminal of the battery, respectively. The pressure disc separates from (e.g., deforms away or is detached from) the rupture disc of the CID when pressure inside the battery is greater than a predetermined value, whereby a current flow between the electrode and the terminal is interrupted.
Generally, however, CIDs known in the art activate at a relatively high pressure, for example, at an internal gauge pressure greater than about 15 kg/cm2. Typically, when any excessive internal pressure increase that triggers such CID activation occurs, the internal temperature of the battery is also relatively high, causing additional safety issues. High temperatures are a particular concern in relatively large cells, such as cells larger than “18650” cells (which have an outer diameter of about 18 mm and a length of 65 mm).
Further, CIDs typically are fabricated in conjunction with fabrication of the remainder of the battery and require a low tolerance for variation to ensure activation at an appropriate pressure. In some designs the surface area available for welding of a tab from the jelly roll of a battery typically is limited due to need to provide gas pressure conduits. The gas pressure conduits in the disc often includes at least one through-hole that must not be blocked during welding of tabs from the jellyroll to the rupture disc.
The surface area of the pressure disc is one of the factors that affect its actuation or reversal pressure, material thickness being another. In prismatic or non-circular cells, the shortest side of the cell typically dictates the maximum size of a circular pressure disc that can be used. Within the envelope of any given prismatic cell design, it is possible to achieve lower activation or reversal pressures by using an elongated pressure disc (oblong, oval, etc.) compared to a circular pressure disc of the same material thickness.
Therefore, there is a need for CIDs for batteries, particularly relatively large lithium-ion batteries, that can reduce or minimize the aforementioned problems. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
It is well known by those skilled in the art that internal combustion engines burning a lean mixture of fuel and air consume significantly less fuel than when operating at a stoichiometric mixture of air and fuel. Presently, there are very few lean burn gasoline engines in production due to difficulties in meeting emission requirements. The difficulty is that conventional precious metal catalyst oxidizes CO and hydrocarbons and reduces NOx at high efficiency when the air-fuel mixture is very close to stoichiometric; but, NOx conversion efficiency drops off substantially when the exhaust gases are lean.
It is known in the art to use a lean NOx trap (LNT) aftertreatment system for processing the products of lean combustion. During lean combustion, NOx is trapped in the LNT. When the LNT is full, the engine is operated rich for a short period of time. The rich exhaust gases cause the absorbed NOx to desorb from catalyst surfaces. Furthermore, the rich exhaust gases contain CO and unburned hydrocarbons that reduce NOx to N2. Although commonly called a lean NOx trap, the LNT actually stores only NO2 to a high degree. Because NOx coming from the engine is predominantly comprised of NO and very little NO2, an oxidation catalyst is provided upstream to cause NO to oxidize to NO2.
The inventors of the present invention have recognized a difficulty in relying on an oxidation catalyst to perform the oxidation of NO to NO2. Specifically, the oxidation catalyst is only partially active below a temperature of about 200° C. Thus, during warm up or at very low power conditions, the reaction from NO to NO2 is marginal. Consequently, NO proceeds through the LNT and out the vehicle tailpipe unprocessed.
A known problem with lean NOx traps is their susceptibility to SOx contamination. Most hydrocarbon fuels contain some sulfur. The sulfur oxidizes mostly to SO2 during the combustion process in the combustion chamber. If an oxidation catalyst is placed upstream of the LNT, the SO2 is further oxidized to SO3. SO2 can pass through the exhaust system with no harmful effect. However, SO3, in the presence of water vapor in the exhaust, forms particulates containing sulfuric acid. These become absorbed in the LNT and reduce its conversion efficiency. To overcome sulfur degradation of LNT performance, it is known to periodically regenerate the trap, commonly called deSOx. The SOx can be desorbed and made to exit the LNT when its temperature is raised to a high temperature, in the range of 700–800° C., for a period of time, typically greater than a minute. The inventors of the present invention have recognized several problems with sulfur contamination: first, the LNT operates at less than its optimal efficiency for much of the time due to the sulfur contamination and secondly, the deSOx operation is cumbersome, penalizes fuel economy, and the deSOx temperature is near the temperature at which permanent damage to the LNT occurs making control of deSOx regeneration a challenge. Furthermore, deSOx regeneration is not completely reversible. The propensity of an oxidation catalyst to oxidize SO2 to SO3 is harmful to the LNT. Some LNTs contain precious metals, such as platinum, in their formulation. In such LNTs, the oxidation of SO2 to SO3 happens regardless of whether there is an oxidation catalyst upstream or not.
The inventors of the present invention have further recognized that it is desirable to provide any aftertreatment system with an onboard diagnostic procedure to detect system deficiencies. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
(Not Applicable)
(Not Applicable)
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to the field of computer driven user interfaces, and more particularly, to speech based computer driven user interfaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
Speech recognition is the process by which an acoustic signal received by microphone is converted to a set of text words by a computer. These recognized words may then be used in a variety of computer software applications for purposes such as document preparation, data entry, and command and control. Improvements to speech recognition systems provide an important way to enhance user productivity.
Speech recognition systems also can function as a user interface to another computer based system. As such, speech recognition systems enable users to interact with computer based systems in a more natural and less mechanistic manner. A common example of a speech interface can be a speech menu interface for enabling an end user to verbally select an item from an audible set of prompts or speech menu items. A speech menu interface typically operates over a communication connection, such as a conventional telephone connection, to provide end users with a series of menu items from which to choose. For example, a speech menu interface can be incorporated within a system for routing incoming telephone calls based on an end user specified call destination.
Speech menu interfaces can be implemented using several different methods. One method is to associate each menu item with a numeric value which the user can choose by speaking the number into the telephone or pressing the corresponding number button on the telephone. Such implementations, called representative style presentation, are beneficial when the speech menu items are long, complex, or difficult to remember. For example, a speech menu interface can present the following items to an end user: xe2x80x9cFor the Communications Product Hardware and Software Department press 1, For the Personal Computer Product Department including Hardware and Software press 2xe2x80x9d. Notably, the department names among which the end user is choosing are long and difficult to remember. By providing a numeric value associated with each item, the end user need only remember the number associated with the desired item rather than the entire item name.
Another method of implementing a speech interface is to allow the end user to directly speak the desired item into the telephone. This implementation, called literal style presentation, is beneficial when the menu items are short, less complicated, or easier to remember. Notably, literal style presentation can be a more desirable and direct method of allowing an end user to choose a menu item. For example, a speech menu interface can provide the following menu items to an end user: xe2x80x9cPlease say one of the following departments: Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Accountingxe2x80x9d. In this case, the end user need only say a department name for the end user""s call to be forwarded to the specified department.
Both representative style presentation and literal style presentation implementations of speech menu interfaces offer advantages. Accordingly, a system designer can plan and implement the proper speech interface in situations where the menu items are known in advance to the designer. However, some computer based systems generate menus dynamically, extracting menu items from a database of possible menu items. In this case, a design decision is made by the system designer even though the menu items which ultimately will be presented to the user are not known. Because the system designer must choose an implementation, i.e., representative style presentation or literal style presentation, without knowing which menu items ultimately will be presented to a user, the resulting speech menu can sound confusing and overly complicated. Thus, the benefits of a speech menu interface can be lost.
The invention concerns a method for adjusting a speech menu interface as a function of attributes of speech menu items or prompts. The method of the invention can select a presentation style for presenting speech menu items after dynamically selecting the speech menu items from a database of possible speech menu items. The selection of a presentation style can be based upon speech menu item attributes corresponding to the complexity of a speech menu item. Speech menu item complexity can correspond to the level of difficulty experienced by users in pronouncing the speech menu item or in remembering the speech menu item. Thus, the attributes can reflect complexity indicators such as length information of speech menu items, length information of individual text strings within speech menu items, or both. Additional complexity indicators can include whether the menu item includes acronyms, foreign words, words of art such as medical or legal terms, or any words determined through an empirical study to be complex. Based on the speech menu item attributes, a presentation style can be selected for presenting the items through the speech menu interface.
The inventive method taught herein can begin by identifying one or more speech menu items (menu items) from a data structure in memory for presentation using the speech menu interface. The method further can include retrieving the one or more menu items from the data structure. The step of reading at least one attribute corresponding to the menu items can be included. Notably, the method can include determining the attributes corresponding to the menu items. The attributes can be a binary indicator or a score corresponding to the complexity of the menu items. The reading step can include comparing the attributes corresponding to the menu items with menu item criteria. Notably, the menu item criteria can be one or more threshold values. Based on the reading step, the method can include selecting a presentation style for presentation of the one or more menu items using the speech interface. The presentation style can be literal style presentation or representative style presentation. Further, the method can include presenting the one or more menu items through the speech menu interface using the selected presentation style.
Another embodiment of the invention can be a method of adjusting a speech menu interface. In that case, the method can include identifying one or more menu items from a data structure in memory for presentation using the speech menu interface. The step of retrieving one or more menu items from the data structure can be included. The additional step of reading at least one attribute corresponding to the menu items can be included. The reading step also can include comparing the attributes with menu item criteria, where the menu item criteria can include one or more threshold values. Based on the reading step, the method can include selecting a presentation style for presentation of the one or more menu items using the speech menu interface. Additionally, the step of presenting the one or more menu items through the speech menu interface using the selected presentation style can be included.
Another aspect of the invention can be a machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform a series of steps. The steps can include identifying one or more menu items from a data structure in memory for presentation using the speech menu interface. The step of retrieving the one or more menu items from the data structure and reading at least one attribute corresponding to the menu items can be included. Notably, the step of determining the attributes corresponding to the menu items can be included. The attributes can include a binary indicator or a score corresponding to the complexity of the menu items. The reading step can include comparing the attributes corresponding to the menu items with menu item criteria, which can include one or more threshold values. Based on the reading step, the step of selecting a presentation style for presentation of the one or more menu items using the speech interface can be included. The presentation style can be literal style presentation or representative style presentation. Further, the step of presenting the one or more menu items through the speech menu interface using the selected presentation style can be included. | {
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The conventional fluorescent lamp lighting circuits include a starting lamp type, a rapid starting type and an electronic type. The fluorescent lamp used in such lighting circuits is superior over the incandescent lamp, because the fluorescent lamp has a higher light emitting efficiency and a longer life expectancy than the incandescent lamp. However, a starting time for lighting the fluorescent lamp is lengthy. If the fluorescent lamp is operated to repeatedly blink, its life is greatly decreased. For this reason, fluorescent lamps could not be used for the case where the lamps continuously blink as in an advertising panel.
Further, a fluorescent lamp is greatly influenced by various external factors such as the lighting circuit, the performance of the starting switch(grow starter) and the ambient temperature. Consequently, the light flux are easily decreased, and the starting ability is easily degraded.
Further, during the lighting of the lamp, the starting voltage alteration and the fluctuation of the current act as impact pulses to the filament, thus resulting in a decrease of the light emission and the formation of dark specks. Accordingly the life expectancy of a fluorescent lamp largely depends on the number of lighting manipulations.
Korean Utility Model Publication No. 90-2834 (issued Apr. 4, 1990) discloses an attempt to overcome the above described disadvantages of the conventional fluorescent lamp lighting circuits. In this publication, if a fluorescent lamp is used as an ordinary illuminating means, lighting is started with a blocking oscillation voltage by using a DC power source without using a grow starter lamp, and a small AC voltage is applied to the fluorescent lamp heater so that the heater may not be damaged. In the case where the fluorescent lamp is used as an automatically blinking lamp, a low AC voltage is applied to the lamp heater all the time, thereby preventing the shortening of the fluorescent lamp life expectancy and the occurrence of dark specks. Thus a low voltage is applied to the lamp heater by an AC transformer all the time in order to prevent the damage of the heater. This reduces shortening of the life of a fluorescent lamp that would otherwise be caused by the damage of the heater during the lighting of the lamp. Therefore, a low AC voltage is made to be induced on the heater during the lighting of the lamp, and the polarity of the heater is continuously changed, thereby protecting the heater and extending the life expectancy of the heater.
However, the lighting circuit proposed by Korean Utility Model Publication No. 90-2834 has many problems in applying it to the practical use.
First, a power of 60 Hz is continuously supplied to the heater during the operation, and therefore, the power loss is very large. Further, the operating temperature of the fluorescent lamp is elevated, and this brings adverse effects such as the decrease of the light emitting efficiency and the shortening of the life expectancy.
Second, a flickering phenomenon inevitably occurs due to the connection characteristics of the oscillating circuit and the choke coil.
Third, the initiating current has to be very large, and therefore, the initiation becomes very unstable, as well as shortening the life expectancy.
Fourth, even during the time when the automatic blinking is not carried out, the AC power source continuously supplies the triggering pulses, with the result that the transistor connected to it is degraded and apt to malfunction. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to novel amide derivatives and dermatologic preparations containing the same. More particularly, it relates to dermatologic preparations capable of fundamentally improving the barrier functions of the horny layer, namely, exerting effects of maintaining normal barrier functions and restoring damaged barrier functions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The skin, in particular, the horny layer is an extremely thin epidermic constituent which is located on the outermost side of the body. It not only protects the body from external irritation and invasion of foreign substances but also inhibits the loss and evaporation of the constituents and moisture contained in the body. Those protecting effects, i. e. , the barrier functions of the horny layer are important in controlling the homeostasis in the physiological functions of the skin.
When these barrier functions of the horny layer are weakened by some internal or external reasons, for example, the skin frequently suffers from troubles such as inflammation, chapping or the acceleration of aging. Therefore, it is needless to say that the maintenance and reinforcement of the barrier functions of the horny layer are highly important for the skin and, in its turn, for our healthy daily life.
To prevent the occurrence of these skin troubles or to remedy the same, there have been employed dermatologic preparations containing various natural and synthetic ingredients. However, most of these dermatologic preparations aim at humidifying the skin and making up for the barrier functions by forming a coating on the surface of the skin. Namely, these dermatologic preparations merely make up for the barrier functions of the skin by forming a temporary coating on the surface of the skin. Thus they cannot be expected too much in the effects of essentially improving (maintaining and restoring) the barrier functions.
Thus, the present applicant has formerly proposed dermatologic preparations containing amide derivatives represented by the following general formula as dermatologic preparations capable of essentially improving the barrier functions of the skin (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 306952/1990). Further, Scott et al. have proposed cosmetic compositions containing amide derivatives of similar structures (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 225907/1992). Although these amide derivatives act on the horny layer and thus exert effects of essentially improving the barrier functions of the skin, the application of them to dermatologic preparations still involves some problems relating to the solubility in bases and oxidation stability. ##STR2## (wherein R.sup.1 represents a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group carrying 10 to 40 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents a straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon group carrying 3 to 39 carbon atoms; and R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atoms, a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group carrying 10 to 40 carbon atoms or an acyl group). | {
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State-of-the-art manufacturing technology for microwave and millimeter wave circuits is based on rigid and semi-rigid printed wiring board technology in which panelized sections are produced for subsequent singulation into individual circuit assemblies.
Such circuit assemblies, however, are relatively high in cost. Moreover, their rigidity makes them undesirable in applications where physical flexibility is required, for example, where conformation to a curved surface is required.
Continuous film processing technology is currently used in connection with the manufacture of microelectronic packaging, such as chip scale packaging (CSP) and ball grid array (BGA) packaging, and in the manufacture of flexible circuit assemblies, such as those found in many small consumer appliances. Such devices are made by continuous roll-to-roll processing methods, which employ patterned metal films in flex and rigid-flex assemblies, and also employ micro-via technology where appropriate.
Although continuous film processing technology in the above technologies is well developed, it is not known that such technology is in use in the production of microwave and millimeter wave circuits and microwave and millimeter wave devices, such as microwave and millimeter wave sensors and communication devices. Nor is it known to manufacture such microwave and millimeter wave circuits and devices in flexible form. | {
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This invention relates to an apparatus for detecting a drop-out in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, in which an audio signal is recorded.
Recently, in a general type of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, that is, a video tape recorder (hereinafter, VTR), the video signal is recorded on a magnetic tape as oblique record tracks by rotary heads, and the audio signal is recorded on the edge of the magnetic tape as a longitudinal track by a stationary head. In the VTR, it is desired to record the video signal for a time period which is as long as possible in the magnetic tape, especially in the consumer type VTR. In order to increase the number of recording hours, it is necessary to make the recording density high. Accordingly, it is necessary to make the track width narrow and to make the tape feeding speed slow. As a result, the tape running velocity thereof has to be much slower than the velocity of a compact cassette recorder for an audio signal, that is, about 4.5 cm/s. This slow velocity does not effect the recording/reproducing of the video signal, because the rotary velocity of the rotary heads predominates over the tape running velocity in the relative velocity of the rotary heads to the magnetic tape. However, it effects the recording/reproducing of the audio signal by the stationary head so that it is difficult to maintain the necessary quality of the reproduced audio signal, for example, a reproducing frequency characteristic and a wow and flutter characteristic.
The recording of the audio signal together with the video signal has been investigated. In such a method of recording, only a small part of the broad band for the video signal is alotted to the audio signal to maintain the necessary quality mentioned above so that the high quality of the reproduced audio signal can be obtained. In one of the methods, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the audio signal (A) is frequency modulated, and the frequency modulated (hereinafter FM) audio signal is inserted between the band for an FM luminance signal (Y) and the low band for a down-converted chrominance signal (C1) (FIG. 1A), or inserted below the low band for a down-converted chrominance signal (C2) (FIG. 1B). Further, in another method in which the chrominance signal is time-multiplexed with the luminance signal, the FM audio signal is superimposed below the FM video signal. Hereinafter, these audio signal recording systems are called an FM audio superimposed system. In the FM audio superimposed system, it is necessary to cope with a drop-out. As record tracks are very narrow, defects of the magnetic tape or dust easily cause the drop-out, which raises a discontinuity of the FM signal which generates large amplitude noises, so that the quality of the reproduced audio signal becomes inferior.
Therefore, in general, in order to compensate for the drop-out, a generating period of the drop-out is detected by tracing the amplitude of the reproduced FM audio signal, and a level of the demodulated audio signal which occurs just before the generation of the drop-out is held during the generating period of the drop-out.
FIG. 2 shows a general block diagram of the audio signal recording/reproducing circuit in the FM audio superimposed system containing a compensating circuit for the drop-out. In FIG. 2 during a record mode, the audio signal supplied from an input terminal 1 is emphasized in a high band by a pre-emphasis circuit 2, and modulated by a frequency modulator. The FM audio signal, an unnecessary part of which is eliminated by a band pass filter (hereinafter BPF) 4, is adjusted by a level regulator 5. After that, the FM audio signal is added with the FM video signal supplied from an input terminal 7 by an adder 6 and recorded on the magnetic tape 9 by a magnetic head 8. In playback mode, the reproduced signal reproduced from the magnetic tape 9 by the magnetic head 8 is amplified by a pre-amplifier 10. One part thereof is supplied to a video signal reproducing circuit, which is not shown in FIG. 2, from an output terminal 11. Another part thereof is supplied to a BPF 12 which extracts only the FM audio signal. Some of the extracted FM audio signal is limitedly amplified by a limiter 13 with the rest thereof being detected by an amplitude detector 19.
The FM audio signal limitedly amplified by the limiter 13 is demodulated by a FM demodulator 14 and supplied to a hold circuit 16 through a low pass filter (hereinafter LPF) 15, which eliminates FM carrier components, etc. In order to compensate for the drop-out and the noise generated at the exchange point of the rotary heads, the hold circuit 16 samples the demodulated audio signal just before the noise generates and holds it during the noise generating period.
The hold circuit 16 is controlled by an output of an adder 22. The adder 22 adds an output of a drop-out detector 21 to a signal indicating the exchange points of the rotary heads supplied from an input terminal 23. The drop-out detector 21 is constructed by the amplitude detector 19 which detects an amplitude of the reproduced FM audio signal and a drop-out discriminator 20 which discriminates the drop-out generating period from the output of the amplitude detector 19. The demodulated audio signal compensated at the hold circut 16 is supplied through a de-emphasis circuit 17 to an output terminal 18 as a reproduced audio signal.
As mentioned above, the circuit shown in FIG. 2 can compensate for the noise raised by the drop-out, but has some problems, which are mainly due to the fact that the detection of the drop-out is made by directly tracing the amplitude of the reproduced FM audio signal. Namely, the drop-out is detected by discriminating whether the amplitude of the reproduced FM audio signal is large or not, but, in fact, the amplitude fluctuates due to factors as listed below, for example:
(1) A fluctuation in the recording level of the FM audio signal; PA0 (2) a fluctuation in the reproducing level according to a fluctuation of the recording/reproducing characteristic of the magnetic heads, for example, a gap length, a track width, etc.; PA0 (3) a fluctuation of a gain of the pre-amplifier; and PA0 (4) a fluctuation of the characteristic of the magnetic tape. PA0 (5) a fluctuation in the reproducing level according to a tracking error, which cannot be cancelled by the level adjustments. PA0 (1) a fluctuation of the gain of the pre-amplifier; and PA0 (2) a fluctuation of the noise of the pre-amplifier.
It is, therefore, at least necessary to adjust an input level of the amplitude detector 19 or a discriminating level of the drop-out discriminator 20 to compensate for such fluctuations. Further, in consideration of the compatability of each VTR, which is the most important factor, the following fluctuation must be considered:
In addition to the fluctuation of the level of the reproduced FM signal, there is also a fluctuation of the noise level. As impedance noises dominate in the fluctuation of the noise level, the following fluctuations have to be mainly considered:
The example for these fluctuation factors are listed in Table 1.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Factors Examples ______________________________________ Signal 1 Recording level .+-.2 dB 2 Magnetic head .+-.4 dB 3 Pre-amp. gain .+-.3.5 dB 4 Magnetic tape .+-.2 dB 5 Tracking error .+-.6 dB Total (3.delta.) .+-.8.5 dB Noise 1 Pre-amp. gain .+-.3.5 dB 2 Pre-amp. noise .+-.5 dB Total (3.delta.) .+-.6.1 dB ______________________________________ .delta.: a standard deviation
Apparently, from Table 1, the fluctuation of the reproduced FM signal is about .+-.8.5 dB, and the fluctuation of the noise level is about .+-.6.1 dB.
Generally, in the FM audio superimposed system, in order to reduce an interruption of the FM audio signal to the FM video signal, the recording level of the FM audio signal has to be lower than the recording level of the FM video signal, for example, about -25 dB in comparison with the latter. Therefore, a S/N ratio of the reproduced FM audio signal to the noise level does not become large. Assuming that the S/N ratio is about 20 dB, the S/N ratio varies as shown in FIG. 3A due to the fluctuations described above. Therefore, at the worst case, the S/N ratio becomes about 5.5 dB.
Now, it may be considered to use an auto gain control circuit (hereinafter, AGC for removing the fluctuations of the reproduced FM audio signal. However, the use of the AGC generates a new problem. That is, since the S/N ratio cannot be made large, the fluctuation of the level of an output noise due to the AGC causes mistakes in the drop-out detection, and as the AGC becomes to have a large gain and amplifies the noise at the portion in which the FM audio signal is not recorded, it becomes impossible to detect the drop-out.
There is a type of VTR which can vary the recording density, that is, the width of the recording tracks by changing the tape running velocity. In this type of VTR, the level of the reproduced FM audio signal varies in response to the variation of the width of the recording tracks. For example, in VTR which can double the recording density by setting the tape running velocity to be half of the normal velocity, the width of the recording tracks becomes half of the normal one, so that the level of the reproduced FM audio signal goes down about 6 dB. Accordingly, the S/N ratio of the reproduced FM audio signal to the noise level, which include fluctuations of the reproduced FM audio signal and fluctuations of the noise level, is represented in FIG. 3B.
Apparently, from FIG. 3B, the S/N ratio becomes -1 dB at the worst case, so that it would be almost impossible to detect the drop-out by the method of detecting the amplitude of the reproduced FM audio signal. Further, this method cannot detect a drop-in due to the noise which jumps into the reproduced FM signal.
As described above, there are some problems in the method for detecting the drop-out or the drop-in by detecting the amplitude of the reproduced FM audio signal. | {
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FIG. 10 depicts a top end stop 100 disclosed in Patent Document 1. The top end stop 100 is attached to enlarged cores, each of which is formed on a respective edge of fastener tapes. The top end stop 100 has a pair of legs 102 extending from both ends of a base 101, and is fastened to the core by crimping the pair of legs 102 in the state in which the core is received in a receptacle 103 that is surrounded by the base 101 and the legs 102. A stop portion 104, which protrudes from a respective leading end of the legs 102, serves to stop a slider that is sliding.
In addition, a projection 105, by which the core of the fastener tape is correctly positioned, is formed on the inner surface of the base 101. A cavity 106 is formed between the projection 105 and the respective base of the legs 102, and serves to facilitate the deformation of the core inside the receptacle 103 so that the core is trapped when the legs 102 are crimped. In addition, a plurality of protrusions 107 is formed on the inner surface of the legs 102, so that the core arranged inside the receptacle 103 is correctly trapped by the plurality of protrusions 107.
In addition, FIG. 11 depicts a bottom end stop 200 for a slide fastener, which is attached to cores of fastener tapes, disclosed in Patent Document 2. In the bottom end stop 200, after the cores 202 of the fastener tape 201 are inserted into openings formed in both sides of the bottom end stop 200, the cores 202 are held due to pressing, which is caused by deforming legs 204 of a lower plate 203 toward an upper plate 205, so that a slider that is sliding comes into contact with the bottom end stop 200. This, as a result, stops the sliding of the slider.
In addition, projections 207 are provided on both left and right sides of the base 206 in order to prevent the base 206 from being damaged when the lower plate 203 is deformed. Furthermore, a plurality of protrusions 209 and 210 is provided on the inner surface of the legs 204 of the lower plate 203 and legs 208 of the upper plate 205 in order to prevent the attached core from slipping from the bottom end stop 200. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a recording sheet to be used for ink jet recording and a method of ink jet recording using the same.
2. Related Art
Ink jet recording is a recording method with which the ink contained in an ink chamber is subjected to fluctuations of pressure through mechanical vibration or displacement of the ink chamber by means of a piezoelectric device to produce ink droplets, which are ejected from nozzles toward a recording sheet that receives them for printing. The technique has been attracting public attention because it enables printing to be affected at low noise level and high speed even in color.
A recording sheet to be used for ink jet recording has to meet, among others, the following requirements.
(1) It should accurately produce an intended ink density once ink droplets are deposited on its surface.
(2) It should absorb ink at an elevated rate.
Since ink droplets reaches its surface at an elevated rate, it has to be capable of temporarily and rapidly absorbing ink in its paper layer. The higher the rate of absorption, the greater can be the printing speed. Thus, a recording sheet normally contains or is coated with an appropriate mixture of highly absorbent filler materials (additives) and hydrophilic resins.
(3) It should have high image resolving power.
The size of an dot formed by ink droplets on the surface of a recording sheet will be twice or three times as large as the diameter of an ink droplet. The image resolving power of a recording sheet is a function of the shape (roundness) and the size of the dot formed by ink droplets on its surface and the shape of the dot is closer to a circle on a coated recording sheet than on a noncoated recording sheet.
(4) Other requirements that have to be met include glossiness, clear hues, no stains due to splashed ink nor blots due to uneven dots, no shrinkage of paper at or around printed areas and water/light resistive recorded images.
While there exist no recording sheets that satisfy all the above listed conditions, coated recording sheets provided with a particular coating layer formed by combining fine silica particles and a water soluble binder agent normally show an excellent ink absorbing capability, a remarkable ink color reproducibility and an ability to produce even and circular dots. Fine silica particles can adsorb and hold pigments contained in ink and therefore impart sharpness and clearness to printed color images. Coated recording sheet provided with a coating layer comprising clay or calcium carbonate are also popular although they may be less ink absorbent, less remarkable for ink color reproduction and less capable of producing sharp and clear images. Any of these recording sheets show a cross section as illustrated in FIG. 2, where a fibrous paper substrate 1 carries a coating layer 2.
However, known recording sheets as described above are accompanied by a number of problems as listed below which are particularly significant when they are employed for color printing using more than one primary color inks.
In a multi-color ink jet recording apparatus using recording sheets, the number of different color inks stored in the system is limited (to, for instance, four or yellow, magenta, cyan and black) and a desired color other than these (e.g., red, blue, green) is produced by appropriately combining any of the inks and applying them sequentially to a particular area of a recording sheet. Consequently, such an area eventually can carry a disproportionally large amount of inks, which can permeate into the paper substrate 1 through the coating layer 2 to swell the former, entailing the problem of shrinkage. When the paper substrate shrinks to produce wrinkles, the surface of the recording sheet is corrugated and the ridges of the corrugation can eventually touch any of the jet nozzles of the print head for ejecting ink of the ink jet recording apparatus arranged very close to the surface of the recording sheet to stain the recording sheet and destruct the nozzles of the print head. Even if only an ink is used for printing, wrinkles can appear on the recording sheet when ink is densely or daubingly applied to its surface. | {
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In general, light olefins are produced by a contact cracking process in which naphtha, a gasoline component obtained from distillation of petroleum at normal pressure, is thermally cracked at 750-850° C. to produce a basic source of petrochemicals, including ethylene, propylene, benzene, and the like.
Especially, ethylene and propylene are used in various fields. Specifically, ethylene is used to produce various useful materials including vinyl chloride, polyethylene, acetic acid, synthetic paints, etc., due to its high reactivity. Propylene is obtained from a liquefied petroleum gas and is used as a raw material for the production of polymer gasoline and other petrochemicals, including isopropyl alcohol, acetone, propylene oxide, propylene glycol, allyl alcohol, glycerol, acrylonitrile, phenol acetone, dodecylbenzene, and the like. Besides, it is used to produce polypropylene through addition polymerization reaction, which is used to prepare a synthetic fiber.
Therefore, development of a process for the production of light olefins with superior yield and selectivity is highly required.
A commonly used technique to improve the selectivity for light olefins is to increase the thermal cracking reactions at higher reaction temperatures. However, at elevated reaction temperatures, the catalysts exhibit inferior long-term stability and feed conversions. Moreover, the high temperature operation can cause an accelerated coke generation on the catalyst that eventually leads to a lower catalytic activity and lower feeding rate of raw material. These factors can limit the production of ethylene and propylene at high yields. Another method to improve selectivity for light olefins is to add a chemical component to modify the activity of the catalyst. One such example is the modification of cracking activity of the ZSM-catalyst by adding phosphorus so as to convert the primary cracking product into C2-C4 light olefins.
At present, many research groups are actively working for the production of light olefins through cracking reactions.
Korean Patent Publication No. 2002-7006467 discloses a highly efficient catalyst composite for the production of light olefins through a conventional fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process. The catalyst composition selective for olefins is prepared by treating a zeolite catalyst with a compound containing 10 wt % P2O5.
Korean Patent Publication No. 2000-7012182 discloses a cracking process for selectively producing C2-C4 light olefins. First, the gas oil and residual oil feeds are converted in a zeolite based FCC process to obtain low boiling point products that include a hydrocarbon stream that boils in naphtha range. Then, the products are fractionated based on boiling points and only the naphtha boiling range stream is transferred to the second step. A product resultant from the second step reaction is stripped to obtain C2-C4 light olefins with high selectivity. The principle involved in the currently employed contact cracking process is to provide a fluid contact between the thermally pre-treated feed and a heated catalyst for the cracking reaction (fluid contact). The fluid contact technique requires a stripping process for removing coke and other hydrocarbon materials because they may adhere to the catalyst particles during cracking and result in reduced catalytic activity and selectivity.
U.S. Unexamined Patent Application No. 2006/0116544 A1 discloses a catalyst for producing olefins with high selectivity and yield, where a catalyst comprising pentasil type zeolite containing rare earth element is used to improve light olefin selectivity in catalytic cracking.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,936 discloses a method for improving selectivity for propylene using a two-step reactor. In the first step, propylene, ethylene and butane are produced in high yield from a hydrocarbon feed through catalytic cracking. After separating the propylene from the product stream, ethylene and butene are further treated in the second step for the production of propylene through olefin metathesis reaction.
U.S. Unexamined Patent Application No. 2007/0083071 discloses a zeolite based process that operates in a fixed or fluidized-bed reactor for the production of light olefins. While supplying a catalyst periodically or continuously into a catalytic cracking reactor, a hydrocarbon feed and steam are fed into the reactor to carry out cracking. The product is separated based on the boiling point, and C2-C3 paraffinic hydrocarbons are recovered for undergoing thermal cracking to produce C2-C3 olefins. C4 or higher hydrocarbons are recycled to the catalytic cracking step along with a feedstock.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,106,697 and 6,258,257 disclose a two-step process for improving yield of light olefins. In the first step, gas oil or residual oil (resid) is reacted in a FCC unit containing a large pore zeolite catalyst to produce a mixture of hydrocarbons. In the second step, the hydrocarbons are passed through a reaction zone, a stripping zone and a catalyst regeneration zone to improve selectivity for C2-C4 olefins.
In the aforesaid techniques, FCC process is used for the production of light olefins and the selectivity to light olefins is improved by recycling the undesired product or treating the product stream after the separation of light olefins. However, the cracking reaction is sensitive to various catalysts and process parameters such as reaction temperature, activity of the catalyst and contact time, etc., that requires a precise control to optimize such parameters for selective production of ethylene and propylene. | {
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As a color image forming apparatus with an electrophotographic system, there are the apparatuses, for example, from those designed for office use such as a color printer or a color copier to those used in the commercial printing field, which are called desk-top publishing (DTP) and on-demand publishing. In this commercial printing field, preferably employed are those such as pre-press machines which are employed in the preparatory stages before preparing plates for mass-printing, and apparatues performing quick printing of a small lot such as several thousand prints to several ten thousand prints.
Incidentally, in commercial printing of color images, demanded are commercial photographs and background images exhibiting subtle tone and excellent granularity. In the electrophotographic method, specifications in recording density have been increased year after year because of the progress of an optical source such as laser, a LED or the like, and an optical system thereof, but problems concerning a photographic image and halftone granularity have been left over since no developing stability can be followed with respect to the dot diameter of color toner.
Further, also in the case of color reproduction, there was a problem such that corporate color and logo mark of each enterprise, and coloring of most of trademarks and products were not covered within the color reproduction range of printing standard color. In this way, one of the reasons is that no coverage within the color reproduction range leads to what each enterprise or association exercises its ingenuity in color to transmit a message to viewers via color tone. Accordingly, it is not rare that in the past, corporate color, logo mark, trademark or the like has been output by using a specific one called special color toner.
In such the way, since there is still a gap between the printing standard color and the human perceivable color gamut range, technology development to fill the foregoing gap is in progress in the field of displays such as a TV and the like so as to obtain reasonably comfortable color images to the sight. Specifically, the following Patent Documents 1 and 2 can be cited, but techniques disclosed in these documents remain at the level of conventional commercial printing, and color reproduction demanded in the present situation where digitalization is promoted has not been realized. For example, when preparing halftone images in which comfortable image quality is specifically desired, textured image quality feeling originated by area tone with dots is undeniable, whereby uniform image quality with no unevenness has been demanded. Further, since insufficient appearance of solidity is obtained when outputting photographic images, there are quite a few users feeling short on the images.
(Patent Document 1) Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 2005-315058
(Patent Document 2) Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 11-338190 | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Electronic communication devices require one or more antennas to receive incoming communication signals or transmit signals to other devices or systems. The size and shape of an antenna affects the frequency of operation as well as an associated gain, beam shape and other parameters. | {
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Methods for amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence that may be present in a test sample are, by now, well known in the art. Such methods include the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which has been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195 and 4,683,202, the ligase chain reaction (LCR) described in EP-A-320 308, gap LCR (GLCR) described in European Patent Application EP-A-439 182, multiplex LCR described in International Patent Application No. WO 93/20227 and the like. These methods have found widespread application in the medical diagnostic field as well as the fields of genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry. Unfortunately, one drawback of nucleic acid amplification reactions is that they are mostly qualitative.
The nature of amplification reactions makes it difficult for them to be used to quantitatively detect the presence of a target sequence which may be present in a test sample. Accordingly, while traditional amplification reactions are useful for detecting the presence of a minute quantity of a target sequence in a test sample, traditional amplification reactions generally cannot be employed to determine the quantity of a target sequence in a test sample. However, variations of traditional amplification reactions have been developed which enable quantitative amplification reaction analysis.
One quantitative amplification reaction is called "competitive amplification." This method is commonly applied to PCR. According to competitive amplification reactions, a standard nucleic acid sequence competes with a target sequence during the amplification reaction. Generally, the standard sequence and a sample suspected of containing a target sequence are combined in a dilution series in which the amount of the standard sequence is constant in all members of the series. Alternatively, the standard sequence and sample sequence are combined in a dilution series in which the amount of standard sequence is varied among the members of the dilution series. In any case, the concentration of the standard sequence in the members of the dilution series, is known. PCR is then performed on all members of the dilution series and results in the production of a mixture of two nucleic acid sequence species. One species derived from the standard sequence and one species derived from the sample sequence. The concentration of each species in a particular dilution depends on the number of copies of the standard and sample sequences in the dilution prior to amplification. During the amplification reaction, detectable groups are typically introduced into both types of sequences. After amplification, the two species are separated and the amount of detectable group incorporated into each species is determined. This detection procedure is performed for each member of the dilution series. A competition curve can then be generated and the amount of sample sequence can be extrapolated based on the known amounts of standard sequence.
Methods of competitive amplification have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,727; Kinoshita T., et. al., Analytical Biochemistry 206: 231-235 (1992); and Jalava T., et. al., BioTechniques15:(1), 134-205 (1993). While these competitive amplification techniques have shown utility, they require substantial amounts of sample preparation as well as technician interaction and a concomitant risk of sample contamination. In addition, the use of a standard sequence adds an additional reagent not generally a requirement of traditional amplification reactions. Moreover, performing amplification on members of a dilution series requires more reagents than performing amplification on a single sample. All of these factors add to the costs of performing competitive amplification reactions.
Another quantitative amplification reaction is "kinetic amplification analysis". This method takes advantage of a dye's ability to bind double stranded nucleic acid sequences. For example, PCR generally produces double stranded nucleic acid sequences. In the presence of a dye, such as ethidium bromide, which binds double stranded nucleic acid sequences, an increase in fluorescence is observed with successive rounds of PCR amplification. The greater the amount of target nucleic acid sequence in a test sample, the earlier a rise in fluorescence will be observed.
Kinetic amplification analysis has been described in Higuchi R., et. al., Bio/Technology 11: 1026-1030 (1993). Unfortunately, the efficiency of an amplification reaction can vary from sample to sample. Hence, while two samples may contain equivalent target sequence concentrations, different fluorescent rates for the two samples may be obtained in a kinetic amplification analysis. Accordingly, this method is not always useful in a clinical setting because of the wide variety of samples which are assayed.
Thus there is a need for a method of quantitatively performing an amplification reaction which does not require excess technician manipulation or reagents, and can be employed in a clinical laboratory setting. | {
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The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and to a technique for the manufacture thereof. More particularly, it relates to a technique that is applicable to a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory, such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or a flash memory, or a method of manufacturing the same.
A nonvolatile memory cell that was studied by the present inventors has, other than a floating gate electrode and a control gate electrode, a third gate electrode, which is referred to as an assist gate electrode. Over the principal surface of a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of assist gate electrodes, each in the form of a band, as seen in plan configuration, are arranged in such a manner as to abut one another. In an insulating film covering the plurality of assist gate electrodes, trenches are formed between each of the adjacent assist gate electrodes, and a floating gate electrode, which is convex as seen in cross section, is provided on the side and bottom of each trench. Over the floating gate electrode, a control gate electrode is provided via an interlayer film.
Incidentally, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-188346, discloses an NAND type flash memory cell configured such that, between adjacent STI regions for isolation formed over the principal surface of a semiconductor substrate, a floating gate electrode, which is convex as seen in cross section, is provided, and a control gate electrode is provided via an interlayer film in such a manner as to cover the surface. (Patent Document 1). [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-188346 | {
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This invention relates to fiber-reinforced composites and processes for making them.
Composites are well known in the art and are described, for example, in Kirk-Othmer Ency. Chem., Tech.--Supp., Composites, High Performance, pp. 260-281 (J. Wiley & Sons 1984). A composite typically comprises a plurality of fibers (reinforcing fibers) embedded in a plastic (the matrix). Typically, the fibers give strength and/or stiffness to the composite, and the matrix maintains fiber orientations and spacings, transmits shear loads between layers of fibers so that they resist bending and compression and protects the fiber from surface damage.
Current matrix materials include the thermosets, such as polyesters, epoxy resins, phenolic, vinyl ester, polyimide, and silicone. The thermosets provide good chemical environmental durability, dimensional stability and good high temperature properties, but they are brittle, have limited shelf life and are time-consuming to process. Some thermoplastic resins are also used in composites, such as, for example, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and thermoplastic polyimide. The polyimide made in an uncrosslinked thermoplastic form by a condensation reaction has lower use temperature than the thermoset polyimide. The polyetheretherketone is expensive and has lower use temperature than epoxy. Composites prepared from the reaction product of a diglycidyl ether monomer and a multifunctional amine curing agent are also known. However, since the multifunctional curing agent causes the resulting polymer to crosslink, such composites are typically brittle and cannot be reshaped after fabrication. Metal, carbon and ceramic matrix composites are also known. However, ceramic and carbon matrix materials are expensive and brittle, and metal matrix materials are heavier than polymer matrix materials.
It would be desirable to provide a fiber-reinforced composite that is as processable as conventional epoxy thermosets but has thermoplastic-like thermoformability when fully cured. | {
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The present invention relates in general to a device and method for laser marking. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable laser marking device having a small marking head which is suitable for deep and permanent marking of hard-to-reach components of assembled products, items having variable sizes, items dispersed over a wide area and/or stationary items, which marking is both very difficult to alter, and if altered, the alteration is readily detected by a casual observer.
The need to mark objects ranges from the simple requirement such as (i) for putting a name tag on an object for recognition by its owner (e.g., a school bag for a child, or a garment sent for dry cleaning), (ii) for conveying certain information to a user of the object (e.g., expiration date on a manufactured food item), and (iii) for marking an object for future identification (e.g., in case of theft) or authentication (e.g., in case of art items).
Many methods for marking objects presently exist, the most common being printing the information either directly on the object, or on a separate sticker which is thereafter attached to the object. In many cases this level of marking is satisfactory, either because the duration of time the marking is expected to survive is limited, such as in the case of short lived shelf items, or in cases where there is no significant risk involved if the marking is altered.
However, other situations exist, where permanent marking is necessary, such that it is both very difficult to alter the marking, and if such an alteration is attempted, it may be readily detected by a casual observer.
It is clear that a detachable sticker cannot serve the purpose of a permanent marking means, as it can be removed, or replaced by another sticker. Even if the removal and replacement of the sticker can eventually be traced and detected in a laboratory, the purpose of immediate detection by an observer is not fulfilled.
Theft of motor vehicles is a well known problem all over the world. The standard way to combat theft is by making it difficult to start and move a parked vehicle by a variety of active and passive protection schemes, and indeed many such schemes are presently marketed globe wise. The usefulness of these schemes, however, is limited, and even though the vast majority of vehicles are protected, the epidemic of vehicle theft is ongoing and increasing. The stolen vehicles are used for joyrides and/or resale, but mostly for the stripping of parts for resale of the stripped parts. The stolen vehicles are therefore disassembled, and the parts are resold as spare parts.
Law enforcing agencies find it difficult to stop this trade in stolen property, as it is virtually impossible to prove that a certain spare part (e.g., a vehicle door) was stolen from a specific vehicle, and therefore it is very difficult to convict the thief, the merchant or the user of the stolen goods.
Engine blocks, chassis, and possibly other components may be marked by the original producer, but these markings are located in difficult places, and may not be directly related to the declared identity of the vehicle (referred hereinafter as the vehicle identification code, typically the vehicle identification number (VIN) and/or its license plate number), and are therefore not very useful for immediate identification of stolen property in the field.
Few years back a sand-blasting based marking method was developed and employed for marking a vehicle identification code on various parts thereof. Nevertheless, this method failed as an anti-theft approach, since as far as metal surfaces are of concern, sand blasting is limited to highly superficial marking which can be easily disguised by simple procedures (e.g., repainting the surface, etc.).
Laser systems are known for quite a while and are used in many fields such as but not limited the field of medicine, weapon systems, detection systems, etc. Laser systems are also used for marking various information on objects. Presently used laser marking systems are based on a relatively large stationary chassis, where the marking head is fixed in space and the objects to be laser marked are fed (manually or automatically) into the laser system. The marking is usually done on a single plane and the entire object to be marked enters the system, thus limiting laser marking to small size objects.
Such a prior art laser system 10 is depicted in FIG. 1 and typically includes (i) a control cabinet 12, which houses the laser power supply and a computer, and is connected to an external water system; (ii) a laser head 14, which is connected to control cabinet 12 by electrical and internal water cooling lines, indicated by 16; and (iii) a marking head 18, typically formed as an integral part and in continuation to laser head 12, from which marking head 18 a laser beam 20 emits.
The operation of system 10 is as follows. Laser head 12 and marking head 18 are stationary placed above a marked field in which an object 22 to be marked is placed.
Two alternative methods are used for marking, both methods employ a two dimensional displacement system to generate a relative displacement between laser beam 20 and object 22, to enable obtainment of two dimensional laser marks.
According to the first method, object 22 is placed on a conveyor 24 which displaces object 22 along a first Cartesian displacement mode, say X, as indicated by arrows 26 and 28, whereas marking head 18 is capable of changing the direction of beam 20 such that beam 20 may follow a second Cartesian displacement mode, say Y, as indicated by arrows 30 and 32. Thus, as conveyor 24 displaces object 22 along displacement mode X, beam 20 is displaced at displacement mode Y and a two dimensional mark is formed on object 22. The first method is suitable for marking products on manufacturing lines such as last marketing date on food items and expiration date on medicines.
According to the second method, object 22 is stationary placed relative to marking head 18. In this case marking head 18 is capable of changing the direction of beam 20 along both the first (X) and the second (Y) Cartesian displacement modes to form a two dimensional mark on object 22. The second method is suitable for marking items which are not manufactured in lines.
According to both methods, the relative displacement along the first and second Cartesian displacement modes between beam 20 and object 22 is under the control of the computer housed in control cabinet 12.
Nevertheless the prior art marking systems suffer limitations rendering them not suitable for some marking purposes. First, such systems require an external water cooling system, employ large laser heads which require stationary support and are therefore robust and non-portable. Typical dimensions of such systems (in mm) are indicated in FIG. 1. Second, as a result of the robustness and non-portability of the systems, such systems are not suitable for marking hard-to-reach components of assembled products such as vehicle parts, items which have varying sizes, items dispersed over a wide area and/or stationary items.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a portable laser marking system having a small marking head which is suitable for deep and permanent marking of hard-to-reach components of assembled products, items having variable sizes, items dispersed over a wide area and/or stationary items, which marking is both very difficult to alter, and if altered, the alteration is readily detected by a casual observer.
According to the present invention there is provided a portable device and method for deep and permanent laser marking of hard-to-reach components of assembled products, items having variable sizes, items dispersed over a wide area and/or stationary items, which marking is both very difficult to alter, and if altered the alteration is readily detected by a casual observer.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below, the laser marking device comprising (a) a control cabinet including a built-in laser generating unit; (b) a marking head formed as a portable unit for marking the object with the laser mark; and (c) a flexible laser delivery system optically connecting said laser generating unit and said marking head.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments provided is a laser marking head for permanently marking a laser mark on an object, the marking head comprising (a) a two dimensional laser scanning system; (b) a collimating optical system for collimating a laser output of a laser delivery system and directing the laser output at the two dimensional laser scanning system; (c) a focusing system for receiving the laser output from the two dimensional laser scanning system and focusing the output onto the object; and (d) a focusing support for keeping the object at a focus distance from the marking head. According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the control cabinet is portable.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the device further comprising a computer system for controlling marking of the object.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the built-in laser generating unit is air-cooled.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the built-in laser generating unit generates Q-switched laser pulses generated by a I flash lamp or a diode pumped laser.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the flexible laser delivery system is selected from the group consisting of an articulated Irm (e.g., seven knee type arm) and an optical fiber.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the optical fiber has a low numerical aperture.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the optical fiber is all-silica fiber.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the marking head includes a collimating optical system for collimating a laser output of the flexible laser delivery system.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the marking head includes a two dimensional laser scanning system.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the two dimensional laser scanning system includes a first and a second rotatable mirrors rotating about a first and a second axes, respectively.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the first mirror is rotated via a first motor, whereas the second mirror is rotated via a second motor.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the first and second motors are closed loop galvanometric motors.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the marking head includes a focusing system.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the focusing system is a focusing lens of an F-theta type, which serves at focusing the laser beam onto the marked object.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the marking head includes a focusing support for keeping the surface of the marked object at a focus distance.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the focusing support includes at least three prongs.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the device further comprising at least three sensors (e.g., microswitches) serving as interlocks to ensure operation only when the marking head is held in place and at a correct focus distance from the marked object.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the marking head includes a handle equipped with a marking on/off control device.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments provided is a method of laser marking an object comprising the steps of (a) predefining at least one position on the object; (b) using a laser marking device for marking a laser mark of a predefined design onto the object, the laser mark including a positive identification information related to the object (such as the vehicle identification code when the object is a vehicle, etc.), the laser mark being of such depth and clarity such that an attempt to alter (e.g., remove, change, damage and/or cover) the mark is detectable by an observer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the method further comprising the step of (c) identifying the object as laser protected.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the object is a component of a vehicle and the design is the vehicle identification code (e.g., the vehicle identification number and/or the license plate number of the vehicle).
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments provided is a method of laser marking a vehicle for anti-theft purposes comprising the steps of (a) pre-defining at least one position on the vehicle; (b) using a laser marking device for marking a laser mark including the vehicle identification code onto the vehicle, the laser mark being of such depth and clarity such that an attempt to alter (e.g., remove, change, damage and/or cover) the mark is detectable by an observer.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the method further comprising the step of (c) identifying the vehicle as laser protected.
The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the presently known configurations by providing a portable laser marking system having a small marking head which is suitable for deep and permanent marking of hard-to-reach components of assembled products, items having variable sizes, items dispersed over a wide area and/or stationary items, which marking is both very difficult to alter, and if altered is readily detected by a casual observer. | {
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Athletic training sleds have been used for decades to provide resistance training to athletes wishing to run faster. Typically, the sleds are attached to the user via static non-extending stretch cord straps attached to sled on one end, and to the user by means of a harness. The sleds typically include a vertically oriented bar that passes through weights that rest on top of the sled. In this configuration, the user walks to the point where slack is removed from the straps, and then when he or she is ready, runs linearly so that the weight of the sled and any weights placed on top of it resist his or her efforts. The purpose of this training is to provide resistance training to the users to increase strength in the muscles used for running.
These sleds, however, provide resistance only to the backward motion of the user's legs. Running involves many other coordinated movements by the arms and legs that are not resisted while using the devices. While running, each of the user's arms move in both forward and backward directions to balance the movement of the opposite leg. It is well understood that as a runner's legs become faster and more powerful, the arms must also become faster and more powerful to properly balance the runner. Indeed, a runner's speed may be limited by arms that are not sufficiently strong or fast to maintain balance with the opposite legs. Moreover, the sleds train each leg only as it pushes against the ground (ground stroke) to move in the opposite direction of the force application. After the ground stroke is completed, the leg must return to its forward most position as quickly as possible to begin another cycle. As a runner is accelerating, the proper running mechanics dictate bringing the knee forward and upwards to a point where the length of the stride (stride length) is optimized and the knee is sufficiently elevated to maximize the force that may be applied to the ground during the ground stroke. Without any resistance to the forward movement of a leg returning to this point, the current systems fail to train an important component of the running movement pattern.
There are training sleds that provide resistance to running by requiring pushing rather than pulling the devices. One example is the blocking sled in which football players push the sled using their shoulders, sometimes with a coach riding on the sled to add additional weighted resistance. These sleds, however, have only this single function in which the users push the sled. Other devices allow the user to push the device using his or her hands on a handle. Such devices are of limited training value because the hands are occupied with pushing the devices resulting in unnatural movement patterns and failing to train or exercise the arms dynamically.
In addition to training sleds, there are athletic training systems utilizing stretch cords, tubes or bands (hereinafter, all such stretch items shall be referred to as stretch cords for simplification herein only) attached to a system of rollers that provide resistance to both running and jumping by means of attachment to the user's ankles and/or wrists. Typically, the user attaches stretch bands that are running through a pulley system attached to a static non-extending stretch cord board or box, and performs athletic movements such as running or jumping so that the stretch bands resist those movements.
The present embodiments meet these needs. Current training systems include sleds that provide weighted resistance opposing running forces to increase the athletes' force application and rotations per minute in normal (non-sled resisted) running applications. These systems, however, provide no resistance for the athletes' arms so that the upper body is not trained with resistance. As a consequence, current sled training systems ignore a vital component in running faster—moving the athletes' arms and shoulders faster and with more power to counter the forces created by the lower body.
The invention solves this problem by creating resistance of varying levels depending on the athletes' training level to the arm and shoulder movements.
A second problem with sled training systems in the prior art is that when they resist a user pushing the sled, the user must use his hands as the nexus with the apparatus, thereby preventing the user from moving his or her arms. Running without moving one's arms is unnatural and fails to adequately train the athlete to utilize his or her entire body as he or she would in competition. The current invention solves this problem by including an attachment that allows the user to push the sled with his or her shoulders at the trapezius, thereby freeing his or her arms to move freely and naturally. Moreover, when the present invention is used with this attachment the stretch bands are attached as usual to the user's ankles and wrists, but provide stretched resistance to movements of the arms as they move backwards and the legs as the push backwards through the ground stroke. Therefore, resistance to arm movement may be applied in both the forward and backward directions, developing strength and power in the full range of arm movement. Moreover, imbalances in force application on the ground are corrected by the user's arms. For instance, if the user is applying greater force with his or her right foot, he or she may correct this by applying more force with his or her left hand on the device. By pushing with the shoulders, the user must use proper running techniques and maintain balanced ground force application with each foot. The attachment arm is attached to the device by sliding into the pole attached to the sled for attaching weights, and also includes a protractor attachment with holes and corresponding collapsible pegs to allow adjustment of the arm's height for users of different statures. | {
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The present invention relates to a viscous liquid dispensing apparatus which permits a measuring of the liquid to be dispensed.
It is known that viscous liquids are often difficult and messy to measure for dispensation, since the liquid is difficult to pour into a measuring cup and slow to remove from the measuring cup. It is therefore desirable to have an apparatus which is able to dispense a measured quantity, so that the use of a measuring cup or the like is avoided.
Some of the viscous liquids which are advantageously dispensed from an apparatus capable of measuring are: liquid detergent, shampoo, oil, syrup and honey. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to an imaging apparatus having an object detection function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-96963 discusses a video camera system that includes a configuration for detecting a person's face from a captured video image and a configuration for tracking a predetermined object included in the video image by using pattern matching.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-5110 discusses a single-lens reflex camera that includes a second image sensor in addition to an image sensor intended for image capturing. Light transmitted through a focusing screen for an object image to be formed on and a display unit for displaying a selected focusing frame is incident on the second image sensor. In the single-lens reflex camera discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-5110, the second image sensor generates a video signal and the acquired video signal can be processed to track a predetermined object.
The foregoing techniques can be combined into the configuration that includes a second image sensor on which light transmitted through a focusing screen and a display unit for displaying a focusing frame is incident, and that detects a person's face from a video signal obtained by the second image sensor.
Since the light incident on the second image sensor has been transmitted through the display unit for displaying a focusing frame, the video image obtained from the second image sensor also includes a display of a selected focusing frame. If the focusing frame overlaps a person's face, the face is partially hidden and may become incapable of precise detection.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating a problem that occurs when a displayed focusing frame hides a part of a face. The camera can detect the faces of the two persons by using a video signal obtained from the second image sensor in a phase where no focusing frame is displayed.
If a plurality of faces is detected, the camera determines an evaluation value of each of the faces based on the size of the face, the position of the face, and the degree of reliability of the face. The camera then selects a face of the highest evaluation value as a main object. The degree of reliability of a face refers to a value that indicates the probability of an area being a face. The camera determines an area where the probability exceeds a predetermined threshold to be a face area.
The camera determines the right face to be a main object because the right face is greater in size, is closer to the image plane center, and has a higher degree of reliability of a face than the left face. As illustrated in FIG. 11A, the camera selects a focusing frame that lies in a position overlapping the right face, and displays the focusing frame in color.
The focusing frame in color makes the right face undetectable or significantly reduces the degree of reliability of the right face. As a result, the camera may determine the left face to be a main object as illustrated in FIG. 11B.
In other words, if there is a plurality of faces and a focusing frame is displayed over a face that is selected as a main object, it becomes difficult to select the same face to be a main object again.
The foregoing description has been given in the context of the function of detecting a face as an object. A similar problem can occur if a camera has a function of detecting a predetermined particular object (for example, a particular person, or a particular animal or physical object like a dog and a car). | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compact cylindrical radial gap type motor having a rotor comprised of permanent magnets, and more particularly, to a DC brushless motor in which the motor characteristics are improved by appropriate establishment of the form of the salient poles for a motor with a concentrated winding armature structure using a bobbin for each of the salient poles, said salient poles having a distributed structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Patent Application 306115 of 1998 describes a laminated, inner rotor type brushless DC motor structure in which the armature is constructed of a ring section and multiple salient pole sections, where the length of each salient pole in the axial direction is practically the same as the length of its opposing rotor magnet.
The invention described in Japanese Patent Application 306115 of 1998 does not explain the dimensional relationship between the lead winding section and the opposing section of the salient pole magnet, nor does it explain the dimensional relationship between the width in the circumferential direction of the salient pole and the rotor magnetic pole pitch. Accordingly, it has the drawback that it does not clearly indicate which shape of salient pole improves the motor efficiency. As a result, even though a unique armature structure is presented, there is the drawback that a suitable effect cannot be obtained. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flat panel display apparatus and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a field emission display (FED) apparatus including high aspect ratio spacers which have improved structures for maintaining a gap between an upper substrate and a lower substrate and to a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As the recent trend in the field of display apparatus is to make a large-sized display apparatus with a high definition, the main emphasis of the research and development has been turned from a cathode ray tube (CRT) to new flat panel display devices such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an electroluminescent display (ELD), a plasma display panel (PDP) or a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD). The new flat panel display devices have many advantages and disadvantages in comparison with the CRT.
However, the FED, one of the new flat panel display devices, has been anticipated to resolve most of all the disadvantages of the above devices. The FED has such advantages as a simple structure of electrodes therein, a reduced power consumption, a high operation speed, a capability of a multiplexed addressing, a high definition, a wide viewing angle and a perfect color expression. Also, the FED can have a big size display panel since it adopts inner supporters.
The FED generally comprises a lower substrate on which cathode electrodes with emitter tips and gate electrodes are formed, an upper substrate on which anode electrodes and fluorescent materials are formed, and spacers formed between both substrates. The spacers maintain the space between the upper substrate and the lower substrate and the space has the highly vacuumed condition. As an intense electric field is developed among the cathode, the gate and the anode electrodes when the space is maintained in the high vacuum condition, electrons are emitted from the emitter tips by an electric field emission and a tunneling effect.
In the conventional FED, the spacer is generally formed according as a sealant is accumulated to a predetermined height and then sintered by a screen printing technique. Also, the spacer is formed by arranging pre-manufactured glass balls by a predetermined interval, by growing optical fiber between both substrates or by standing bar-shaped glass or ceramic material between the two substrates. Furthermore, the spacer is formed by a plating method using a photoresist pattern or the spacer is mounted by inserting into a groove formed on the upper substrate or on the lower substrate.
The screen printing technique is limited because the width of the spacer becomes substantially wide when the spacer has a height of above 200 xcexcm. When the spacer is made of the glass ball, the spacer has a low aspect ratio of about 1 due to the low aspect ratio of the glass ball with reference to U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,517.
In the method using the optical fiber, it is difficult to cut and fix the fiber for forming the spacer. The manufacturing process is very complicated in the plating method.
In the method that the spacer having a bar shape or a xe2x80x9cTxe2x80x9d shape is inserted into the groove as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos., 5,578,325 and 5,708,325, it is difficult to form the groove on the upper substrate or the lower substrate where the spacer is inserted. Further, it is more difficult to expose the electrodes and to coat the fluorescent material on the electrodes. When the spacer is made of the bar-shaped glass, the spacer may be bent during the sintering process or the emitter tip may be damaged by the falling of the spacer.
In general, the spacer of the FED preferably has not only a sufficient strength for maintaining the space between both substrates against an external pressure (that is, the atmospheric pressure) but also a minimized area for maximizing the active region of the FED. If the width of the spacer increases to maintain the space against the external pressure, the active region decreases due to the increased area of the spacer. However, the strength of the spacer is lowered if the width of the spacer decreases. In particular, the spacer should have a height of about 1,000 xcexcm when the fluorescent materials for a high voltage are coated on the electrodes so that the aspect ratio of the spacer (that is, the ratio of height over width) must be more than 10.
Considering the above-mentioned problems, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a flat panel display apparatus comprising high aspect ratio spacers having supporting walls and supporting legs which are integrally formed by exposing and etching processes and by using a photosensitive material.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a flat panel display apparatus comprising high aspect ratio spacers having supporting walls and supporting legs integrally formed by exposing and etching processes and by using a photosensitive material.
It is a third object of the present invention to provide a flat panel display apparatus comprising a latticed spacer having supporting posts and connecting walls whose heights are lower than those of the supporting posts thereby accomplishing smooth evacuation of a space between an emitter panel and a display panel.
It is a forth object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a flat panel display apparatus comprising a latticed spacer having supporting posts and connecting walls whose heights are lower than those of the supporting posts thereby accomplishing smooth evacuation of a space between an emitter panel and a display panel.
To accomplish the first object of the present invention, a flat panel display apparatus comprises an emitter panel, a display panel, a plurality of spacers and a sealing member. The emitter panel has a lower substrate, cathode electrodes formed on the lower substrate and gate electrodes formed on the cathode electrodes. The display panel has an upper substrate, transparent anode electrodes formed on the upper substrate and fluorescent materials coated on the anode electrodes. The spacers maintains the emitter panel and the display panel by a predetermined gap. The spacers comprises supporting walls having high aspect ratio and supporting legs respectively protruded from the supporting walls.
Preferably, the supporting legs protruded from the supporting walls in a first perpendicular direction and in a second perpendicular direction in order to support the supporting walls. The sealing member keeps vacuum sealing peripheral regions of the emitter panel and the display panel.
The spacers are formed by exposing and etching a photosensitive material. The cross sections of the supporting walls have rectangular shapes, hexagonal shapes or trapezoid shapes and the cross sections of the supporting legs have triangular shapes by a tilt exposure method or rectangular shapes by a vertical exposure method. If the cross sections of the supporting walls have the trapezoid shapes, the upper ends of the supporting walls are attached to the display panel. The heights of the supporting legs are lower than heights of the supporting walls.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lengths of the supporting walls are longer than a display region of the display panel and the supporting legs are formed at both lateral portions of the supporting walls which lie at the peripheral region of the display panel so that the spacers have bar shapes which are longer than the display region of the display panel.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the lengths of the supporting walls are shorter than the display region of the display panel and the supporting legs are formed at lateral portions of the supporting walls which lie at the peripheral region of the display panel so that the spacers have half bar shapes which are shorter than the display region of the display panel.
According to other embodiment of the present invention, the lengths of the supporting walls are shorter than the display region of the display panel and a plurality of supporting legs are formed at lateral portions of the supporting walls by predetermined intervals so that the spacers have rib shapes.
Preferably, the flat panel apparatus further comprises a plurality of fixing jigs having recesses for receiving lateral portions of the supporting walls where the supporting legs are formed in order to fix the spacers. The jigs are formed at the peripheral region of the display panel.
To accomplish the second object, a method for manufacturing a flat panel display apparatus comprising the steps of:
providing an emitter panel having a lower substrate, cathode electrodes formed on the lower substrate and gate electrodes formed on the cathode electrodes;
providing a display panel having an upper substrate, transparent anode electrodes formed on the upper substrate and fluorescent materials coated on the anode electrodes;
exposing and etching a photosensitive material to form a plurality of spacers comprising supporting walls having high aspect ratio and supporting legs respectively protruded from the supporting walls in order to support the supporting walls;
arranging the spacers between the emitter panel and the display panel by a predetermined interval for maintaining the emitter panel and the display panel by a predetermined gap; and
sealing peripheral regions of the emitter panel and the display panel and evacuating a space between the emitter panel and the display panel.
Preferably, the step of exposing and etching the photosensitive material to form a plurality of spacers further comprises the substeps of:
providing the photosensitive material having a predetermined thickness;
placing an exposing mask above the photosensitive material, wherein the exposing mask includes a pattern having a supporting line having a predetermined length and subsidiary lines protruded from the supporting line and the subsidiary lines have lengths shorter than a length of the supporting line;
exposing the photosensitive material by using the exposing mask;
heat-treating the exposed photosensitive material; and
etching an exposed portion of the photosensitive material to form the supporting walls formed according to the supporting line and the supporting leg formed according the subsidiary lines, wherein the supporting walls and the supporting legs are simultaneously formed.
More preferably, the substep of exposing the photosensitive material is performed by a tilt exposure method according to the following equation:
xcex8 less than tan(w/2H)
wherein xcex8, w and h respectively represent a tilt angle of the tilt exposure method, widths of the subsidiary lines and a thickness of the photosensitive material.
Also, the substep of exposing the photosensitive material is performed by a tilt exposure method according to the following equation:
xcex8 greater than tan(w/2h)
wherein xcex8, w and h respectively represent a tilt angle of the tilt exposure method, widths of the subsidiary lines and a thickness of the photosensitive material.
Furthermore, the substep of exposing the photosensitive material is performed by a tilt exposure method according the following equations:
xcex81 less than tan(w/2h) and xcex82 greater than tan (w/2h)
wherein xcex81 represents left and right tilt angles of the supporting line, w means width of the subsidiary lines, h represents a thickness of the photosensitive material and xcex82 represents left and right tilt angles of the subsidiary lines.
The substep of exposing the photosensitive material further comprises:
placing the exposing mask under the photosensitive material corresponding the step of placing the exposing mask above the photosensitive material; and
exposing the photosensitive material by using the exposing mask and by a tilt exposure method according to the following equation:
xcex81 less than tan(w/2h)
wherein xcex81, w and h respectively represent the left and right tilt angles of the supporting line, the widths of the subsidiary lines and the thickness of the photosensitive material.
The photosensitive material is composed silicon oxide (SiO2), lithium oxide (Li2O), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), sodium oxide (Na2O), silver oxide (Ag2O) and cerium oxide (CeO2), and the photosensitive material has a thickness of between about 0.2 mm and about 2.0 mm.
The step of providing the display panel further comprises:
forming a plurality of fixing jigs having recesses at the peripheral region of the display panel; and
forming at least one alignment mark for aligning the display panel and the emitter panel at the peripheral region of the display panel, wherein the fixing jigs and the alignment mark are simultaneously formed and the spacers are fixed by inserting lateral portions of the spacers into the recesses of the jigs.
To accomplish the third object, a flat panel display apparatus comprises an emitter panel having a lower substrate, cathode electrodes formed on the lower substrate and gate electrodes formed on the cathode electrodes, a display panel having an upper substrate, transparent anode electrodes formed on the upper substrate and fluorescent materials coated on the anode electrodes, a latticed spacer comprising a plurality of supporting posts having high aspect ratio and a plurality of connecting walls, wherein the supporting posts are respectively formed at lattice points in a display portion of the display panel, the connecting wall are respectively formed between the supporting posts, and a sealing means for vacuum sealing peripheral regions of the emitter panel and the display panel.
The latticed spacer is formed by a tilt exposing and etching a photosensitive material and heights of the connecting walls are lower than heights of the supporting posts.
Finally, to accomplish the forth object, a method for manufacturing a flat panel display apparatus comprising the steps of:
providing an emitter panel having a lower substrate, cathode electrodes formed on the lower substrate and gate electrodes formed on the cathode electrodes;
providing a display panel having a transparent upper substrate, transparent anode electrodes formed on the upper substrate and fluorescent materials coated on the anode electrodes;
exposing and etching a photosensitive material to form a latticed spacer comprising a plurality of supporting posts having high aspect ratio and a plurality of connecting walls, wherein the supporting posts are respectively formed at lattice points in a display portion of the display panel and the connecting walls are respectively formed between the supporting posts;
fixing the latticed spacer between the emitter panel and the display panel for maintaining the emitter panel and the display panel by a predetermined gap; and
sealing peripheral portions of the emitter panel and the display panel and evacuating a space between the emitter panel and the display panel to vacuumize the space.
Preferably, the step of exposing and etching the photosensitive material to form the latticed spacer further comprises the substeps of:
providing the photosensitive material having a predetermined thickness;
placing an exposing mask having a latticed pattern above the photosensitive material;
exposing a top and a bottom of the photosensitive material in a first direction and in a second direction by using the exposing mask;
heat-treating the exposed photosensitive material; and
etching an exposed portion of the photosensitive material in order to form the supporting posts having high aspect ratio and the connecting walls having heights lower than the heights of the supporting posts.
The substep of exposing the photosensitive material is performed by a tilt exposure method according to the following equation:
tan(w/2h) less than xcex8 less than tan(w/h)
wherein xcex8, w and h respectively represent a tilt angle of the tilt exposure method, a width of the latticed pattern and a thickness of the photosensitive glass. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a power source device for an ink jet printer which is of the type having a plurality of separate deflection electrodes and, more particularly, to one capable of supplying the respective deflection electrodes with voltages which are so controlled as to eliminate discharging across the separated deflection electrodes.
In a charge and deflection type ink jet printer, ink supplied to a head is ejected from a nozzle of the head to be separated into a drop at a predetermined position. A charging electrode is located at the position where the separation of the ink into a drop occurs and supplied with charging voltages to selectively charge the drops. The charged drops are deflected by a deflection electrode to impinge on a paper laid on a platen so as to print out characters and/or figures thereon. The other drops left uncharged by the charging electrode are collected by a gutter.
In an ink jet printer having such a construction, as the distance from the nozzle of the head to the recording surface on the platen increases, the influence of Coulomb force acting between adjacent drops, air resistance and the like becomes significant to cause distortions in the printed characters and pictures. While the distortions may be eliminated by reducing the distance between the nozzle of the head and the recording surface on the platen, such cannot be implemented unless a higher deflection voltage is applied across the deflection electrode. The higher deflection voltage, however, enhances the tendency toward distortions in deflection and leaks at the deflection electrode.
To solve the problem discussed above, there has been proposed and put to practical use a charge and deflection type ink jet printer in which the deflection electrode is divided into a plurality of deflection electrodes, such as two, and different deflection voltages are applied to the respective deflection electrodes. This type of ink jet printer furnished with two separate deflection electrodes is capable of suppressing distortions in deflection and, additionally, setting up considerable amounts of deflection.
However, the ink jet printer with two deflection electrodes requires at least two high-tension power source sets which proportionally add to the cost. Moreover, if the two deflection voltages do not build up or down equally to each other, the voltage across the deflection electrodes will be increased to invite a leak or, in the worst case, discharging. Such would damage other circuitries installed in the printer and/or entail malfunctions thereof. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process and a plant for the gasification of solid fuels, especially coal, via partial oxidation at temperature above the respective ash melting points and pressures between 10 and 200 bar.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The principal processes for the gasification of coal which are of interest today are those operating at raised pressure, as it brings certain advantages. The reaction periods are reduced, the production efficiencies per unit time are increased and the combustion is simultaneously increased. Furthermore, the production efficiency (relative to unit volume of the gasification chamber) increases approximately proportionally to the pressure. As the plants in which synthesis gas is usually employed require high pressure, for example the ammonia, Fischer-Tropsch or Oxo plants, a considerable proportion of the compression costs is therefore saved.
When various types of coal, such as bituminous, high ash and caking coal, are to be processed in a single coal gasification plant, then the coal is fed into the gasification reactor in powdered or pulverized form and gasified at a temperature above the respective ash melting point. By this means almost complete gasification and a controlled slag discharge are guaranteed.
When gasifying coal at raised pressure, the powdered or pulverized coal is mixed with water and injected into the gasification reactor (c.f., U.S. Pat. No. 3,607,157). It is characteristic of these coal dust gasification plants that fuel and oxygen are fed in a co-current. With the process described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,607,157 the supply of oxygen and fuel is fed from above via a combined jet.
In order to remove the liquid slag remaining after the pressure gasification in the pressurized reaction chamber, it is dropped into a water bath and thereby granulated. The water-slag suspension is then fed through a lock out of the pressure chamber. The slag carried with the gas is washed out in a scrubber.
The process described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,607,157 operates under optimal gasification conditions and allows a perfect discharge of the slag. However, with this process, the sensible heat present in the synthesis gas is not recovered and is lost for further utilization at the cooling stage, which operates by injecting water into the hot gas in a scrubber. The method mentioned in the above patent is unsatisfactory with regard to heat technology and thus also from the economic viewpoint.
Furthermore, the resulting discharge of the synthesis gas from the reaction chamber, which takes place in the above-named process during the separation of slag and gas at rightangles to the down dip of the slag, leads to blockages in the pipe connected to the gasification reactor. These obstructions are caused by liquid and viscous slag particles, which are swept along with the gas flow and adhere to the walls of the pipe on impact.
It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a process for the gasification of all types of coal at raised pressure and simultaneously to utilize the sensible heat present in the resulting synthesis gas to the extent possible.
It has, however, to be taken into account that the utilization of the heat via steam generation in a waste heat plant, for example in power stations and other gasification plants, cannot be directly applied to the coal gasification described here, which takes place at raised pressure and at very high temperatures. The gasification must be carried out at high temperatures in order to liquefy the slag, yet the required process must also allow for a cooling of the synthesis gas, containing the originally liquid and viscous slag particles. In this context, care must be taken that the pipe system of the waste heat plant does not become blocked by deposits of the liquid or viscous slag particles, which are carried in the gas. Additionally, due to the further development of the pressure gasification process, in which the synthesis gas and all the slag leave the reaction together at the bottom of the gasification reactor, the part of the slag which is in the form of large liquid or viscous agglomerates and can only be solidified by indirect cooling causing unjustifiable expense, must be separated from the gas flow.
One possible solution to the problem is to remix the hot synthesis gas straight after its production with cooled synthesis gas. By this means slag particles in the gas solidify before entering the cooling system and thus do not block the cooling pipes. The disadvantages of this solution lie in the considerable loss of temperature gradient in the cooling plant and the necessary enlargement of the heating surfaces. The reintroduction of large amounts of cooled gases also necessitates the use of a fan operating at raised pressure. Additionally, cyclones or other mechanical separators are required for the discharge of the increased amount of solid slag particles. This is expensive due to the high pressure and, in each case, requires an additional discharge lock. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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FIG. 1 illustrates a known circuit for performing a zero detection, via a zero detection circuit 12, for an adder 10. The zero detection circuit 12 is required to wait on the completion of the addition in adder 10 before generating the output. If the carry-in input to the adder arrives late relative to the input operands, the delay for the output of the zero detection circuit is a function of the carry-in delay, the completion of the adder once the carry-in signal is stable, and the delay through the zero detection logic. Using conventional static circuitry, this added time can be excessive for circuitry in which the all.sub.-- zero signal of FIG. 1 is in the critical path. The presence of the zero detection circuit in the sum data path adds loading to the outputs of the adder, which can create additional delay for the resolution of the sum.
Another known method for performing zero detection is performed parallel with the addition, however, no capability exists for inclusion of a carry-in from an operation on lower order bits of operands A and B. The exclusion of the carry-in bit results in an inability to perform zero detection on a select group of bits, out of the two operands A and B. Instead, all bits of the two operands A and B must be input to the zero detect logic which increases the surface area of circuitry. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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It has become increasingly common for companies to lease portable walk-in storage and moving containers to commercial entities and individuals. Such storage containers provide sheltered and secure storage space to business entities and individuals at relatively low costs. Additionally, the portable nature of walk-in storage and moving containers also makes such containers convenient for moving items and for storing items off-site.
Lessors of storage and moving containers often simply deliver and retrieve the containers to lessees premises. This allows the lessees to load or unload the containers at times most convenient to the lessees. This also avoids costs associated with having the lessors perform the loading and unloading of items into and out of the containers. Still further, items can be stored long-term in portable walk-in storage and moving containers economically. In many cases, lessors of storage and moving containers offer off-site long-term storage services. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed, in general, to a brake interface to an electronic air brake (EAB) or magnet valve (i.e., electrically controlled pneumatic) and, more specifically to a multi-input brake enforcement module (MBEM) utilizing multiple switching power supplies.
2. Description of Related Art
Prior art locomotive air brakes, whether an EAB system or a magnetic valve system, require voltage on an input to hold off a penalty brake application. The EAB and magnet valve have different voltage requirements and, as a result, require individually monitored power supplies. Therefore, most brake interfaces are designed to interface to one or the other using a single simple switching power supply or use a mechanical relay method of interrupting power to initiate a penalty brake application. The use of a single apparatus to interface both the EAB and magnetic valve previously required a complex and complicated switching power supply. Furthermore, the use of mechanical relays in vital brake systems must be built such that failures, especially welded contacts, are highly improbable. In addition, mechanical relays must be inspected regularly and calibrated every two to six years.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system that can interface to either an EAB or magnetic valve without any type of modification and without the use of relays. A further need exists for a system that periodically tests important components to ensure that power can be removed from the locomotive air brake system regardless of component failure and without disrupting operability. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The walking of a dog on a leash is a common practice. This is usually done at least once a day, every day. A leash is a desirable item to keep the dog within a safe distance of its owner, and is often required in many localities. However, a dog may often dart out in various directions causing a substantial shock or jerk on both the dog's neck and the owners arm and shoulder when the dog reaches the end of the length of the leash. Further, there is a need for a comfortable handle and a means to be able to hold the dog firmly when danger is near, such as close traffic. Further, some owners have multiple dogs and a coupler having some or all of the features would be desirable. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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While lasers have been used for many years for industrial purposes such as drilling and cutting materials, it is only recently that surgeons have begin to use lasers for surgical operations on living tissue. To this end, laser energy has been used to repair retinal tissue and to cauterize blood vessels in the stomach and colon.
In many surgical situations, it is desirable to transmit laser energy down an optical fiber to the surgical location. If this can be done, the optical fiber can be included in a catheter which can be inserted into the body through a small opening, thus reducing the surgical trauma associated with the operation. In addition, the catheter can often be maneuvered to surgical sites which are so restricted that conventional scalpel surgery is difficult, if not impossible. For example, laser energy can be used to remove atherosclerotic plaque from the walls of the vasculature and to repair defects in small-diameter artery walls.
A problem has been encountered with laser surgery in that prior art lasers which have been used for industrial purposes often have characteristics which are not well suited to percutaneous laser surgery. For example, a laser which is conventionally used for scientific purposes is an excimer laser which is a gas laser that operates with a gas mixture such as Argon-Fluorine, Krypton-Fluorine or Xenon-Fluorine. Another common industrial laser is the carbon dioxide or CO.sub.2 laser.
Both the excimer laser and the CO.sub.2 laser have been used for surgical purposes with varying results. One problem with excimer lasers is that they produce output energy having a wavelength in the range 0.2-0.5 micrometers. Blood hemoglobin and proteins have a relatively high absorption of energy in this wavelength range and, thus, the output beam of an excimer laser has a very short absorption length in these materials (the absorption length is the distance in the materials over which the laser beam can travel before most of the energy is absorbed). Consequently, the surgical site in which these lasers are to be used must be cleared of blood prior to the operation, otherwise most of the laser energy will be absorbed by intervening blood before it reaches the surgical area. While the removal of blood is possible if surgery is performed on an open area it is often difficult if surgery is to be performed via a catheter located in an artery or vein.
An additional problem with excimer lasers is that the output energy pulse developed by the laser is very short, typically about ten nanoseconds. In order to develop reasonable average power, pulses with extremely high peak power must be used. When an attempt is made to channel such a high peak power output into an optical fiber, the high peak power destroys the fiber. Thus, excimer lasers have a practical power limit which is relatively low. Consequently, when these lasers are used for biological tissue removal, the operation is slow and time consuming.
The CO.sub.2 generates output energy with a wavelength on the order of 10 micrometers. At this wavelength, the absorption of blood hemoglobin is negligible but the absorption by water and tissue is relatively high. Scattering at this wavelength is also very low. Although these characteristics of the CO.sub.2 laser are favorable for surgical applications, the CO.sub.2 laser suffers from the same drawback as excimer lasers in that the absorption length is relatively short due to the high absorption of the laser energy in water. Thus, the surgical area must be cleared of blood prior to the operation.
Unfortunately, the CO.sub.2 laser also suffers from a serious additional problem. Due to the long wavelength, the output energy from the carbon dioxide laser cannot be presently transmitted down any optical fibers which are suitable for use in percutaneous surgery (present fibers which can transmit energy from a CO.sub.2 laser are either composed of toxic materials, are soluble in water or are not readily bendable, or possess a combination of the previous problems) and, thus, the laser is only suitable for operations in which the laser energy can be either applied directly to the surgical area or applied by means of an optical system comprised of prisms or mirrors.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a laser catheter system which uses laser energy of a wavelength that is strongly absorbed in water, in bodily tissues and atherosclerotic plaque.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a laser catheter system which is capable of providing laser energy that can be transmitted through existing silica-based optical fibers.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a laser catheter system in which optical scattering is minimized and which has a medium-length absorption length to confine the energy to the area of interest.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an optical catheter system with a laser that can be operated on either a pulsed mode or a continuous wave mode.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a laser catheter system which can be used for biological material removal and biological material repair.
It is still another further object of the present invention to provide a laser catheter system which can be used for removal of atherosclerotic plaque within a living body. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus configured to measure the film thickness of a film formed on a substrate on the basis of a plurality of imaged substrate images, a method of measuring the film thickness, and a non-transitory computer storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a photolithography process in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, for example, a series of treatments such as a resist coating treatment of applying a resist solution onto a wafer to form a resist film, exposure processing of exposing the resist film to a predetermined pattern, a developing treatment of developing the exposed resist film and so on are performed in sequence to form a predetermined resist pattern on the wafer. The series of treatments are performed in a coating and developing treatment system being a substrate treatment system including various treatment units that treat the wafer, transfer mechanisms that transfer the wafer and so on.
The resist pattern formed by the above-described photolithography processing defines the processing shape of a base film in a subsequent process in manufacture of the semiconductor device, and it is very important to form the resist pattern with a desired lien width.
One of causes affecting the line width of the resist pattern is the film thickness of the resist film. Therefore, in the photolithography processing, for confirming whether or not the film thickness of the resist film is uniform within a plane of the wafer, film thickness measurement of the resist film on the wafer after application of the resist is performed by a film thickness inspection apparatus.
For the measurement of the film thickness, for example, a reflectance spectroscopic film thicknessmeter as disclosed in Japanese Translation of PCT International Application Publication No. 2002-506198 or the like is used. This film thicknessmeter radiates light to a film being a measurement object and measures the film thickness from the wavelength or the like of its reflected light.
Incidentally, the film thickness measurement using the above-described reflectance spectroscopy or the like counts predetermined positions on the wafer as points, point by point and therefore, when performing the film thickness measurement in detail for the wafer entire surface, requires time of 30 minutes or more, for example, for one 300 mm wafer. Therefore, generally, for example, about 50 measurement points are set as representative points on the wafer, and the film thickness measurement is performed for the representative points to thereby implement quality confirmation of the film thickness.
However, there is a risk that a film thickness abnormality occurring at a point other than the measurement points cannot be detected in the measurement of the representative points, so that the measurement time and the quality securement are in a trade-off relation. Further, with an increase in diameter of the wafer size to 450 mm in recent years, the rate of points not measured in the case where the measurement at 50 points as in the prior art is performed significantly increases as compared with the case of the 300 mm wafer, thereby making it more difficult to balance the quality securement and the measurement time. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing a core member to be embedded within a trim for improving the shape-retentivity thereof.
Conventionally, the core member of the trim is made of a band-shaped metallic thin plate wherein transversely extending long slots are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction thereof. And this core member is covered with a covering material such as rubber and synthetic resin. Then, the covered core member is subjected to a bending work in the transverse direction thereof into a desired shape such as a U-shape. The obtained trim is used for protecting or sealing corner portions or joining portions of automobiles and furnitures.
The above described core member of the conventional trim has been produced by punching the long slots by means of a press machine, in general.
However, the punching work has drawbacks that it is troublesome to dispose of produced scraps and that a considerable of material is wasted. And the punching speed is only about 6 m/min. at most, even by a high speed press machine. Thus, the work efficiency is not good.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for producing a core member of a trim, whereby the conventional method can be sped up and the work efficiency is improved.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for producing a core member of a trim, whereby the material is prevented from being wasted and the material cost can be decreased and slitting rolls are provided with improved durability. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Heart valve disease continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, resulting from a number of ailments including rheumatic fever and birth defects. Currently, the primary treatment of aortic valve disease is valve replacement. Worldwide, approximately 300,000 heart valve replacement surgeries are performed annually, and about one-half of these patients received mechanical heart valves, which are composed of rigid, synthetic materials. The remaining patients received bioprosthetic heart valve replacements, which utilize biologically derived tissues for flexible fluid occluding leaflets.
The most successful bioprosthetic materials for flexible leaflets are whole porcine valves and separate leaflets made from bovine pericardium stitched together to form a tri-leaflet valve. However, flexible leaflets formed of polymeric, fiber-reinforced, and other synthetic materials have also been proposed. The most common flexible leaflet valve construction includes three leaflets mounted to commissure posts around a peripheral non-expandable support structure with free edges that project toward an outflow direction and meet or coapt in the middle of the flowstream. A suture-permeable sewing ring is provided around the inflow end.
Bioprosthetic heart valves are packaged in jars filled with preserving solution for shipping and storage prior to use in the operating theater. To minimize the possibility of damage to the relatively delicate bioprosthetic heart valves, they are stabilized with bracketing structure to prevent them from striking the inside of the jar. Prior to implantation in a patient, the valve is removed from the jar and then rinsed in a shower or immersed and agitated in a bath.
The majority of prosthetic valves are destined for either the mitral or aortic position, though to a much lesser extent tricuspid and pulmonary replacements are made. The conventional surgical delivery path for mitral and aortic replacements is from above; down the right atrium for mitral valves and down the ascending aorta for aortic valves. (Of course, these directions are relative to the upright human, and with the patient lying supine up and down become horizontal). The blood flow direction in these two positions is opposite, with blood flowing down from the right atrium through the mitral valve and into the left ventricle, and then up from the left ventricle through the aortic valve and into the ascending aorta. Therefore, the mitral valve is normally distally advanced with the inflow side up (or proximal), and the aortic valve is advanced with the outflow side up. Prosthetic valves typically have a valve holder centrally located and sutured thereto, and the holders used for both are attached to the proximal end—to the inflow sewing ring for mitral valves and to the outflow commissure tips for aortic valves—so that an attached surgical delivery handle extends proximally out of the implant site. The delivery handle usually couples to the valve holder while still in the jar and lifts the valve assembly out of the jar. Consequently, to orient the mitral valve holder facing upward in the jar the outflow leaflet commissure tips project down, while the jar orientation for aortic valves is with the inflow sewing ring extending down into the jar. Both valves are thus suspended downward from the holder into the fluid-filled jar, though inverted with respect to one another.
The valves are stabilized with various structures, including a 2- or 3-piece clip and tubular sleeve structure, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,547 to Erickson, et al. One function of the sleeve is to create an annular space between it and the jar for receiving a product ID tag dangling from the valve by a thread and prevent it from contacting and potentially damaging the valve leaflets. This packaging configuration is somewhat complex and time consuming to assemble and disassemble, and is somewhat limited by the aforementioned respective jar orientations for mitral and aortic valves.
In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there is still a need in the art for alternative packaging for heart valves that enables a medical practitioner to easily and safely remove the valve, as well as attach a surgical handle thereto. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates in general to call management in Internet Protocol (IP) telephony, and, more specifically, to automatically switching between various call profiles according to the presence or absence of a user at a certain location.
Telephony services that had been circuit based (e.g., over the Public Switched Telephone Network, or PSTN) are increasingly being transported over packet-based IP networks or combinations of packet-based and circuit-based networks. Benefits of IP telephony include increased efficiency of transport resources, lower system deployment and operation costs, easier system modifications (e.g., added or modified phone numbers), and opportunities for providing improved user features. Enterprises (e.g., businesses, educational institutions, and governmental organizations) can obtain IP telephony network services using private, internally operated network infrastructure (e.g., an IP PBX solution) or can outsource the IP telephony infrastructure to an outside provider (e.g., an IP Centrex solution).
In IP Centrex or IP PBX systems, call management is typically performed using one or more servers (e.g., an IP telephony application server) for controlling call set up, routing, tear down, and other signaling functions. Each user of the system who is capable of receiving a call has at least one corresponding profile stored in the server so that an incoming call to the user may be properly directed within the packet network. Certain aspects of a profile may be customizable by the user so that the destination of incoming calls can be modified. For example, the user has been able to access a web portal on the IP application server using a web browser to modify how various incoming calls are directed. A fixed telephone installation on the enterprise network could be specified or calls could be directed (or redirected when there is a no answer or a busy condition) to an alternate destination such as a specific telephone number or a voice mail server to allow the calling party to record a message. A user profile can also specify special handling of calls from certain calling parties (e.g., family members or co-workers) which may be determined using automatic number identification or caller ID functions as known in the art, whereby these calls may be forwarded to a mobile telephone number while other callers are directed to voice mail, for example.
A telephone service user typically has a primary station where they maintain a fixed telephone instrument that is used during their times of normal availability for telephone calls. In a work setting, for example, this primary station may be a desk in an individual or shared office or may be a rotating workstation in certain workplaces such as a hospital ward. When the user is at their primary station then they typically desire that all their calls be routed to a fixed telephone outlet at the station, such as a desk phone. When they are away from the primary station then they may desire to have at least some calls forwarded to a mobile (e.g., cellular or PCS) wireless phone. Changes to a user's profile to accomplish the desired call direction have required manual intervention by the user at the time that they arrive at or depart from the primary workstation. Many users, however, find the required manual intervention to be impractical. Even if profile changes could be set up to occur at specified times of day or days of the week, the profile changes would not accurately reflect the random comings and goings of the user within close proximity of the primary station (e.g., an office worker leaving their office to attend a meeting elsewhere in the building or a doctor leaving their office or a treatment area in a hospital to visit a laboratory or the office of another doctor). | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
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