1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device of the CMOS type, and more particularly relates to a semiconductor device of the CMOS type in which a DRAM element and logic element are formed on the same substrate, and method for production thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, in seeking to create a more compact and rapid LSI, developments have advanced in dual-mounted DRAM/logic technology in which a DRAM element and logic element are formed on the same substrate. That the DRAM element and logic element are formed on the same substrate has advantages. This is because a large number of wires can be formed between the DRAM element and the logic element within the LSI. In other words, the rate of data transmission can be readily increased, for example graphic processing performance can be improved. For this reason, the field of application is widening into the graphic accelerators for image processing.
In general, there are large differences in the production processes for a semiconductor device for a DRAM and a semiconductor device for logic unit. Even when comparing methods of element separation for example, there are differences between those for DRAM elements and those for logic elements.
Normally, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, methods for selective oxidation (referred to as LOCOS 1 and LOCOS 2 herein below) is used in element separation of DRAM elements. Here, LOCOS is an acronym of "Local Oxidation of Silicon". First, a brief description of LOCOS 1 will be given with reference to FIG. 4.
As shown in FIG. 4(a), a thin oxide film 52 and Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 53 are formed, in that order, on the P-type semiconductor substrate 1.
As shown in FIG. 4(b), the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 53 and thin oxide film 52 are selectively removed by a widely known technique of photoetching. Then, using the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 52 as a mask, selective oxidation is performed, and a separation oxide film 54 for the purpose of element separation is formed. Following this, the elements are separated and LOCOS-1 completed by the removal of the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 53 and thin oxide film 52, as shown in FIG. 4(c).
There are problems in that along with a size-reduction of the DRAM element, when a separation oxide film 54 is formed by LOCOS-1, there are problems in that the interval (pitch) between the element separation region and element formation region cannot be reduced due to the presence of what are known as bird beaks in which the oxide film protrudes in the lateral direction. As a strategy to overcome this problem, and to suppress the spread of oxidation to the element formation region, practitioners have come to use LOCOS-2 in which a polysilicon film is placed below the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film and the birds beak absorbed in this area. A brief description of LOCOS-2 will be given using FIG. 5.
As shown in FIG. 5(a), a thin oxide film 65, polysilicon film 66, and Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 67 are formed, in that order, on a P-type semiconductor substrate 61.
As shown in FIG. 5(b), the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 67 is selectively removed by the conventional technique of photoetching, and, using the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 67 as a mask selective oxidation performed, and a separation oxide film 68 is formed. Following this, the separation oxide film is formed as shown in FIG. 5(c), and LOCOS-2 completed by removal of the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 67, polysilicon film 66, and thin oxide film 65.
Meanwhile, LOCOS-1 and LOCOS-2 have conventionally been used in the element separation of logic elements. Accompanying the change to gate lengths on the half-micron scale, however, has seen the introduction of the use of LOCOS-3. LOCOS-3 is a method in which, following slight preparatory digging of the semiconductor substrate, the area which has been dug is selectively oxidized. The object of LOCOS-3 is to suppress the level-differences which occur as a result of the oxide film. This is because, where there are level-differences occurring in the surface of the substrate in which a separation oxide film has been formed, and where a photoresist acting as a mask has been coated on, the thickness of the photoresist film is not uniform. Where the thickness of the photoresist is non uniform in this way, the thickness of lines of DRAM or other elements formed in the lithography process which follows are not uniform. This is referred to as the standing wave effect. For this reason, LOCOS-3, a method which allows separation oxide films with few level-differences has come into use. A brief description of LOCOS-3 will be given using FIG. 6.
First, as shown in FIG. 6(a), a thin oxide film 79, and Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 80 are formed, in that order, on a P-type semiconductor substrate 71.
As shown in FIG. 6(b), the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 80, thin oxide film 79, and part of the semiconductor substrate 71 to the required depth, are selectively removed by photoetching. With the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 80 as a mask, selective oxidation is then performed, and a separation oxide film 81 formed. Following this, element separation is carried out as shown in FIG. 6(c), and LOCOS-3 is completed by removal of the Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 film 80 and thin oxide film 79.
As described above, in LOCOS-2, LOCOS-2, and LOCOS-3 perform element separation is performed using the separation oxide films from the selective oxidization. Generally however, the LOCOS methods are accompanied by the formation of large level-differences on the surface of the semiconductor substrate as a result of volume expansion which occurs in the selective oxidization. A major feature of LOCOS-3 lies in that there is a preparatory digging out of the silicon substrate by photo-etching to prevent the occurrence of these large level-differences.
In each instance of the prior art described above, however, the following drawbacks exist. That is to say, LOCOS-1 and LOCOS-2 are appropriate for the element separation of DRAM elements. Where there is element separation of logic elements formed at a level of about the half-micron scale using LOCOS-1 or LOCOS-2, however, problems arise in that it is difficult to control gate length dimensions. This is because the standing wave effect of in lithography cannot be controlled.
Moreover, LOCOS-3 is appropriate for the element separation of logic elements. When LOCOS-3 is applied to the element separation of DRAM elements, however, problems arise in that, as a result of the digging out of the semiconductor substrate defects occur in the semiconductor substrate, and diffusion layer leakage increases. Generally, in order to preserve data the diffusion layer leakage is set lower in LSI for DRAM than in LSI for logic. For this reason, the properties of LSI for DRAM deteriorate using the LOCOS-3 method in which the semiconductor substrate is dug out.
In addition, LSI for DRAM and LSI for logic have hitherto, been designed and produced using different production techniques. These production techniques are already established. Here, there are different separation oxide films formed by different production techniques. More specifically, the shape and spread of bird beak structures differ. For this reason, when a separation oxide film is formed by one of the methods, (either LOCOS-1 or LOCOS-3 for example), an increase or decrease in the area of the element formation region is induced. The significance of this is that an increase or decrease in the level of LSI integration and/or capacity occurs, and that one of the design assets of LSI for DRAM or logic units already established becomes unusable without further modification.
Where LSI with dual-mounted DRAM/logic units are produced, in order to make good use of the respective LSI design assets for DRAM and for logic of the prior art, the design rules for DRAM and for logic elements of the prior art must be used.
Similar technology to the present invention is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No.H3-262154. In this LSI different types of separation oxide film are formed on the same substrate. More specifically, it relates to a method for producing a Bi-CMOS type LSI. In this known example, separation oxide films of different thickness are formed on a bipolar transistor and CMOS transistor. Here, the method for forming the separation oxide films is the same.


Heretofore in the serving of casserole dishes or oven heated ware, there have been regular insulated pads known as hot mats which are generally regular in shape such as square or round and containing some type of an insulation material. The mat may be wrapped around the edge of a casserole to hold it when removing it from the oven and carrying it to a table. Additionally, there have in the past been gloves of an insulated type such as barbecue gloves, etc., where the casserole can be gripped for removing it from the oven.
In addition, when the hot casserole is placed on the table it is normally desirable to have some type of insulated material between the casserole and the table to prevent burning and discoloration thereof. This in the past has been taken care of by trivets of various types which are elevated above the table and which will allow the hot dish to sit on it without hitting the table.
However, in none of the aforementioned devices is there any provision made for retaining the heat from the casserole during the time it is on the table and the food is served from it.
In the past, there have been devices available which do help to retain the heat in the casserole during serving such as the type where a rack is provided to set the casserole in and underneath are candles or other heating elements. Further, there have been provided in the past insulated dishes such as Thermos. Further, there are certain trivets known as electrical trivets which have a mild current passing therethrough.
However, again in none of these devices is there provision for a flexible holder to grip the casserole while it is moved from the oven to the table.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to crank and slide presses for metal working. More particularly, the present invention relates to a crank and slide press for redrawing metallic cups into containers, and to a redraw carriage for crank and slide presses that includes improved apparatus for resiliently clamping the redraw cup between the redraw sleeve and a redraw die.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Crank and slide presses are used for punching, shearing, drawing, and redrawing operations in manufacturing articles from metallic sheets or rolls of metallic strip material.
In general, a crank and slide press includes a crank that is mounted for rotary motion, an electric motor that is connected to the crank and that imparts rotary motion thereto, a slide that is guided for reciprocating motion, and a connecting rod that cooperates with the crank and the slide to change rotary motion into reciprocating motion. A more detailed discussion of crank and slide presses is given by Maytag in U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,657.
One specific use for a crank and slide press is in the production of beverage cans. A redraw cup is drawn from a coiled strip by a first crank and slide press; and then the redraw cup is redrawn on a second crank and slide press by forcing the redraw cup through a tool pack that includes a redraw die and a plurality of ironing dies.
In the highly competitive container industry, the container must be made with the absolute minimum of material, which means that the finished container must have extremely thin walls. Further, because of the competitiveness of the container industry, the speed of the press must be maximized and downtime of the press must be minimized.
As should be apparent, maximizing speed and minimizing downtime are inherently opposite, because higher speeds impose higher stresses on the machinery and cause higher wear rates. Further, it should be apparent that the use of extremely thin walls in the finished containers places stringent accuracy and alignment requirements on such parts as the redraw punch and redraw die.
In the redrawing operation, the tool pack, with the redraw die thereof, is mounted circumferentially around the longitudinal axis along which the redraw punch is reciprocated; the redraw punch is reciprocated toward, into, and through the tool pack, including both the redraw die and the ironing dies; and the redraw punch is withdrawn from the tool pack and all of the parts thereof.
The redraw cup is positioned against the redraw die and is resiliently held against the redraw die by a redraw sleeve; the redraw sleeve is attached to a redraw carriage; and the redraw carriage is reciprocated toward and away from the redraw die.
The redraw sleeve serves two functions. One function of the redraw sleeve is to assure concentricity between the redraw punch and the redraw die. Of course, this concentricity is extremely important because of the thinness of the walls of the finished container and thus the small difference between the diameter of the redraw punch and the redraw die.
The other function of the redraw sleeve is to achieve resilient clamping action between a clamping face of the redraw sleeve, the redraw cup, and the redraw die.
In the prior art, such as typified by the aforesaid patent to Maytag, the redraw carriage has been actuated toward the redraw die by a cam that is attached to the crank of the press, and by a cam follower mechanism that receives motion from the cam and that transfers this motion to the carriage. It has been customary to use an air cylinder to maintain the cam follower in contact with the cam and to actuate the redraw carriage away from the redraw die.
It is important that the redraw sleeve resiliently hold the redraw cup against the redraw die with sufficient force to promote accurate redrawing as opposed to allowing the redraw cup to collapse and wrinkle as it enters the redraw die; but it is equally important to limit the clamping force of the redraw sleeve below a clamping force that will cause any of the redraw cups to rupture rather than being redrawn.
In the prior art, as exemplified in the aforesaid patent to Maytag, a spring mechanism has been interposed between the redraw cam and the redraw carriage in order to limit the clamping force of the redraw sleeve. While this construction has been, in general, satisfactory in the past, decreases in the thickness of the walls of beverage containers, and increases in press operating speeds have made the prior art apparatus inadequate for present needs.
More particularly, it is well-known that, at high compression velocities, a pressure wave is transmitted through a spring; so that the force actually exerted by the spring varies widely from the static force of the spring. Thus, in redraw operations, the clamping force of a spring will vary considerably from that which the spring would exert under static, or low speed, conditions.
Further, it can be appreciated that, with operating speeds of approximately two hundred and fifty redraw operations per minute, the compression wave may be oscillating back and forth in the clamping spring for a higher percentage of the time, or even the entire time, in which the redraw cup is held between the redraw sleeve and the redraw die; so the clamping force of the spring varies greatly during the clamping operation.
It can be appreciated that, if the actual clamping force is varying widely due to the compression waves in the clamping spring, then an excessively large portion of the satisfactory range in the clamping force is taken by the spring-caused variations in the clamping force; and the adjustment range for satisfactory operation becomes much more critical.
Further, it is important to make adjustments to the redraw press while the press is operating. It can be understood that, if the press is stopped, a small adjustment is made, a short run is made to observe the results of the change, the press is stopped again, etc., considerable production is lost. Because of the loss of production through stopping the press to make adjustments, there is the tendency to avoid making the number of minor adjustments that should be made to optimize the clamping force, and there is a tendency to delay making adjustments as long as possible, even though a more optimum clamping force would result in fewer rejects in the finished containers.
Thus, a principal object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and method for resiliently clamping a redraw cup between a redraw sleeve and a redraw die.
Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and method for resiliently clamping a redraw cup between a redraw sleeve and a redraw die that provides a uniform pressure during a high percentage of the time in which the redraw cup is clamped.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and method for the clamping operation as described in which the effect of spring pressure-wave forces is eliminated.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus and method as described in which the clamping force can be adjusted without stopping the crank and slide press.


The present invention relates generally to computer telephony, and more particularly to an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology in a telecommunications network.
An Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system is a software application that accepts a combination of voice telephone input and touch-tone keypad selection and provides appropriate responses. An IVR system is usually a part of a larger application that includes database access.
An IVR system uses an embedded software application and has been in commercial use for several years. For example, banks often use an IVR system to allow customers to perform fiscal transactions such as updating the bank account using a telephone or Internet connection. Large businesses routinely use IVR systems in call centers to route incoming calls. Typically in a call center IVR system, to resolve a product issue, a customer dials a customer care telephone number and enters a sequence of touch-tone keypad inputs. After obtaining relevant information regarding the issue, call center IVR system either presents an issue resolution, or simply logs the issue for further investigation. Additionally, movie theaters use IVR systems for selective information lookup such as finding movie schedules, theater locations etc.
Conventional IVRs require specialized architectures to support large applications, and databases containing records for thousands of application users. Consequently IVRs have been implemented in the existing telecommunications network to handle only large applications. Hence, domestic users and small businesses have been unable to enjoy the benefits of an IVR system due to unavailability of a small scale and low cost IVR system.
The small scale and IVR system service node was unavailable because the conventional IVRs employed the long-established Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) for information transmission. Under the PSTN circuit-switched calls, a communication channel was exclusively dedicated to a conversation for its duration, hence the 64 kbps connection could not be used for any other conversation regardless of whether the caller or the called party talked or remained silent.
As a result, the telephone service provider had to bill the calling party for the use of the line for the entire duration of the call. Hence, the IVR systems were too costly for domestic users or small business. Realistically, if a small scale IVR system was introduced under the conventional PSTN system, each domestic user would have blocked a channel of communication for the duration of a call, which was not feasible since the number of potential domestic users far exceeded the number of available communication channels.
Therefore, a problem is presented in that a personal IVR system must be provided for the benefit of small businesses and domestic users. It is also required that the personal IVR system avoid using the PSTN for signal transmission, since using the PSTN for signal transmission is likely to result in bottlenecking the existing communication channels. What is needed is a node provisioning system capable of offering the benefits of conventional IVR systems to domestic users and small businesses that will use the network resources only when needed. What is needed is an alternative mode of information transmission that can offer the preferred capacity of using the bandwidth of a communication channel only when needed.


Building construction involves precise measurements and calculations in order for a structure to be properly built. One mistake or miscalculation can be magnified many times over and can result in the redoing and recalculation of substandard work. No construction feature requires more precision and accuracy than setting door frames. Typically a door frame is inserted into a rough of a structure being developed. A rough may be defined as a frame opening in a structure including metal or wood studs. Problems associated with the placement of a door frame is the ability of an operator to accurately level, plumb, and square the frame within the rough as it is being attached to the metal or wooden studs. The operator often finds it difficult to hold a frame in place, while making sure the frame is level, plumb and square with one hand, and attaching the frame to the rough with the other hand. Often the frame moves before attachment so that after attachment it is no longer level, plumb or square.


The invention relates to mobile phones, and more particularly, to systems and methods for selectively activating functions provided by a portable device.
Mobile phones are typically equipped with mass storage devices such as flash memory, digital cameras, transmission devices and others, to provide various functions. These embedded devices may be accessed by an electronic device such as a computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a programmable consumer electronic device or similar.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of hydrocarbon production from hydrocarbon-bearing formations. More particularly, it concerns fluid compositions that can be useful in improving hydrocarbon production and methods of introducing such fluid compositions into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation.
2. Description of Related Art
Hydrocarbons (oil, natural gas, etc.) are obtained from a subterranean geologic formation (e.g., a xe2x80x9creservoirxe2x80x9d) by drilling a well that penetrates the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. This provides a partial flowpath for the oil to reach the surface. In order for oil to be xe2x80x9cproduced,xe2x80x9d that is travel from the formation to the well bore (and ultimately to the surface), there must be a sufficiently unimpeded flowpath from the formation to the well bore. Unobstructed flow through the formation rock (e.g., sandstone, carbonates) is possible when rock pores of sufficient size and number are present for the oil to move through the formation.
A common reason for a decline in oil production is xe2x80x9cdamagexe2x80x9d to the formation that plugs the rock pores and impedes the flow of oil. Often such damage is a result of methods and chemicals used in establishing the well or in remedial operations performed on it. Another reason for lower than expected production is that the formation is naturally xe2x80x9ctightxe2x80x9d (e.g., a low permeability formation), with pores sufficiently small that the oil migrates toward the well bore only very slowly.
In general, techniques used to increase the permeability of the formation are referred to as xe2x80x9cstimulation.xe2x80x9d Essentially, one can perform a stimulation technique by: (1) injecting chemicals into the well bore to react with and/or dissolve damage; (2) injecting chemicals through the well bore and into the formation to react with and/or dissolve small portions of the formation to create alternative flowpaths for the hydrocarbon (thus rather than removing the damage, redirecting the migrating oil around the damage); or (3) injecting chemicals through the well bore and into the formation at pressures sufficient to fracture the formation, thereby creating a channel through which hydrocarbon can more readily flow from the formation and into the well bore.
Acids or acid-based fluids, and fluids containing strong chelants have been found to be useful both for the removal of damage and the creation of alternative flowpaths due to their ability to dissolve certain formation minerals and/or certain contaminants introduced into the well bore and formation during drilling or subsequent operations. The most common agents used in acid treatments of wells are mineral acids, though organic acids are also used. Hydrochloric acid is the preferred acid treatment in carbonate formations. For sandstone formations, the preferred fluid is a hydrochloric/hydrofluoric acid mixture. When the treatment is designed to remove damage resulting from a drilling mud filter cake, it is important to moderate the reaction of the fluid with the filter cake. When a strong acid is delivered in a low-viscosity fluid, often the action of removing the low permeability filter cake is localized, and much of the remainder of the acid is lost to the formation without further removal of the filter cake across the damaged zone. Often drilling mud is designed with a combination of polymers and dissolvable minerals, such as calcium carbonate. An emulsion formulated with an internal acid or internal strong chelant can be used to remove the mineral on a moderated basis by slow release. Dissolution of the mineral compromises cake strength making it more easily removed by production pressures. Acids are also utilized in the process called xe2x80x9cacid fracturingxe2x80x9d for improving permeability in carbonate reservoirs through an etching technique.
At present, such acid-based and chelant-based treatments have several serious limitations: lack of uniform radial and axial (along the wellbore) coverage; corrosion of the pumping equipment and well bore tubing; and reaction rates at higher temperatures that are too rapid. An improved well stimulation fluid that has a moderated reactivity and that is less damaging to equipment is a highly desirable goal.
Hydraulic fracturing involves literally breaking or fracturing a portion of the surrounding strata, by injecting a specialized fluid into the well bore directed at the face of the geologic formation at pressures sufficient to initiate and extend a fracture in the formation. Actually, what is created by this process is not always a single fracture, but a fracture zone, that is, a zone in the formation having multiple fractures, through which hydrocarbon can more easily flow to the well bore.
Certain commonly used fracturing treatments generally comprise at least three principal components: a carrier fluid (usually water or brine), a polymer, and a proppant. Many further comprise a crosslinker. Other compositions used as fracturing fluids include water with additives, viscoelastic surfactant gels, and gelled oils. The purpose of these fracturing fluids is to first create and extend a fracture, and then once it is opened sufficiently, to deliver proppant into the fracture, which keeps the fracture from closing once the pumping operation is completed. The carrier fluid is the means by which proppant and breaker are carried into the formation. A typical fracturing fluid can be prepared by blending a polymer with an aqueous solution (sometimes an oil-based or a multi-phase fluid is desirable); often, the polymer is a solvatable polysaccharide. The purpose of the polymer is to increase the viscosity of the fracturing fluid which aids in the creation.of a fracture; and to thicken the aqueous solution so that solid particles of proppant can be suspended in the solution for delivery into the fracture. In many fracturing treatments, a crosslinking agent is added which further increases the viscosity of the fluid composition by crosslinking the polymer.
In addition to being useful in fracturing, fluids that comprise a polymer and crosslinker can also be useful in the workover of a hydrocarbon producing well to improve production. Such workover fluids (e.g., those used in conformance control and zone abandonment operations, among others) with increased viscosity through polymer crosslinking, especially those that become a gel after crosslinking, are useful for isolating particular zones for subsequent treatment by acids, scale removers, or asphaltene diluents, among others. After the treatment, a gel formed by the workover fluid can be intentionally degraded to remove the barrier. In other cases, the gel permanently plugs the zone.
A chemical or biological agent (e.g., crosslinked polymer, acid, or biocide, among others) that is a useful component of a stimulation or workover fluid can, in certain cases, be neutralized or degraded before reaching the site at which it is to have its effect. Therefore, in certain instances, more of the agent is used in order to be effective and to compensate for agent that is lost in delivering the agent to the site. Thus, there is a need for a more efficient way to deliver useful chemical and biological agents to a desired location in a well.
The present invention is directed to fluid compositions that can be used in improving hydrocarbon production and methods of introducing such fluid compositions into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation. The invention relates to delaying the action of at least one chemical or biological agent that is sequestered in the discontinuous phase of an emulsion. Upon exposure to one or more destabilizing conditions, the emulsion is disrupted, releasing the sequestered chemical or biological agent into the bulk fluid of the composition, permitting the agent to have its desired effect.
One embodiment is a method of delivering a well treatment fluid composition into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation. In this method, a well treatment fluid that comprises a surfactant stabilized emulsion is pumped into a well. The emulsion comprises a continuous phase and at least one discontinuous phase that comprises at least one chemical or biological agent. The emulsion is destabilized by exposure to at least one of (1) a change in temperature, (2) a change in pH, (3) a change in salinity, (4) a change in alcohol concentration, (5) a change in stabilizing surfactant concentration, (6) a change in organic ion concentration, (7) a change in destabilizing surfactant concentration, (8) a change in surfactant adsorbent material concentration, (9) an ultrasonic pulse, and (10) an electrical field. Destabilization of the emulsion results in the release of the chemical or biological agent from the discontinuous phase.
Another embodiment is directed to a method of delivering a well treatment fluid composition, as described above, into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation. In this embodiment, the well treatment fluid is pumped into a well that comprises a first zone and a second zone. The first zone has a first ambient condition, and the second has a second ambient condition that is different from the first ambient condition in at least one respect (e.g., temperature, pH). The fluid composition comes into contact with the first zone, thereby exposing the fluid composition to the first ambient condition, and later the fluid composition comes into contact with the second zone, exposing it to the second ambient condition. The emulsion of the well treatment fluid remains stable for at least about one minute when the fluid is in contact with the ambient condition in the first zone. However contact with the ambient condition in the second zone destabilizes the emulsion, thereby releasing the chemical or biological agent. The ambient conditions of the first zone and the second zone differ in at least one of (1) temperature, (2) pH, (3) salinity, (4) alcohol concentration, (5) stabilizing surfactant concentration, (6) organic ion concentration, (7) destabilizing surfactant concentration, (8) surfactant adsorbent material concentration, (9) ultrasonic energy, and (10) an electrical field.
Yet another embodiment is directed to a method of delivering a well treatment fluid composition into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, in which, prior to pumping the fluid into the well, at least one chemical that undergoes a chemical reaction or that dissolves in the well treatment fluid composition is added and mixed into the composition. As the chemical reaction of the chemical proceeds or as it dissolves, it causes a change in at least one of the following characteristics of the well treatment fluid: (1) pH, (2) alcohol concentration, (3) stabilizing surfactant concentration, (4) organic ion concentration, (5) salinity, and (6) destabilizing surfactant concentration. The change in the fluid that results is sufficient to destabilize the emulsion, thus causing the chemical or biological agent to be released. Naturally the pumping of this well treatment fluid must occur before the reaction of the chemical or dissolution of the chemical goes to completion; if this were not the case the release of the chemical or biological agent would not be sufficiently delayed.
Still another embodiment is directed to a well treatment fluid composition, comprising a surfactant stabilized emulsion, wherein the emulsion comprises a continuous phase and at least one discontinuous phase, the discontinuous phase comprising at least one chemical or biological agent. The emulsion in the fluid composition will destabilize sufficiently to release the chemical or biological agent upon exposure to at least one of the conditions listed above. Well treatment fluid compositions of the present invention can be used, for example, in stimulation and workover of oil, gas and water wells, and thus these compositions can be fracturing fluids, acidizing treatment fluids, zone abandonment fluids, conformance control fluids or drilling mud filter cake cleanup fluids depending on their composition and the manner of their application. Well treatment-fluids of the present invention can also be biocide treatment fluids, corrosion inhibition fluids, or breaker fluids.
It is preferred that the emulsion of the fluid compositions of the present invention be a microemulsion, because microemulsions tend to have greater stability than macroemulsions. Preferably, the chemical or biological agent initially in the discontinuous phase is selected from the group consisting of crosslinkers, polymers, biocides, corrosion inhibitors, corrosion dissolvers, pH modifiers, breakers, metal chelators, metal complexors, antioxidants, wetting agents, polymer stabilizers, clay stabilizers, scale inhibitors, scale dissolvers, wax inhibitors, wax dissolvers, asphaltene precipitation inhibitors, waterflow inhibitors, sand consolidation chemicals permeability modifiers, foaming agents, microorganisms, nutrients for microorganisms, and salts. Fluid compositions and methods of the present invention can be used for improved fracturing or workover operations by permitting a delay of crosslinking. For example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a fluid composition that comprises a cross-linkable polymer in the continuous phase of the emulsion and a crosslinker in the discontinuous phase of the emulsion. Eventually, the crosslinker is released into the continuous phase due to exposure of the emulsion to an emulsion destabilizing effect. Thus, the crosslinking of the polymer is delayed until the emulsion is destabilized. Alternatively, instead of sequestering the crosslinker to delay crosslinking, the polymer or a pH modifier (the pH modifier causes the pH of the fluid composition to change to a pH favorable for the crosslinking reaction) can be sequestered in the discontinuous phase of an emulsion until the emulsion is disrupted. Thus, in certain embodiments, it is preferred that the polymer and the crosslinker can react with each other readily when the emulsion is destabilized. Such fluid compositions comprising a polymer that becomes crosslinked are particularly useful as fracturing fluids, but can also be used in workover operations.
The delay in crosslinking afforded by certain embodiments of the present invention is beneficial in that the amount of energy required to pump the fluids can be reduced, the penetration of certain fluids can be improved, and shear and frictional damage to polymers can be reduced. By delaying crosslinking, crosslinkers can be more thoroughly mixed with the polymer fluid prior to crosslink initiation, providing more effective crosslinks, more uniform distribution of crosslinks, and better gel properties. Certain embodiments provide better control of crosslinking than certain mechanisms known in the art (e.g., use of delaying ligand for metal crosslinkers).
Furthermore, certain embodiments of the present invention can be used to overcome operational problems at the surface. For example, a wetting surfactant which typically causes problems in pumping due to foaming can be sequestered in the discontinuous phase of the emulsion of a fluid composition of the present invention until its release is triggered by a destabilizing condition downhole.
Delayed release of certain chemicals in various stimulation fluids and workover fluids is also desirable for other reasons. The use of certain methods and compositions of the present invention in hydrocarbon well operations can reduce the damage sustained by tubulars and pumping equipment. For example, mineral acids (e.g., pH modifiers) used in acidizing treatments are corrosive and can cause damage to the tubulars and pumping equipment. If the acid is sequestered and its release delayed until it is in the formation or shortly before it reaches the desired location downhole, damage to pumping equipment and tubulars can be reduced or avoided. Thus, certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to the delayed release of chemicals to minimize damage to pumping equipment and/or well bore structural elements.
Furthermore, using certain methods and compositions of the present invention, improved radial penetration of the hydrocarbon containing formation by certain workover fluids can be achieved. In certain instances, chemical or biological agents, that would normally react in the immediate vicinity of the well bore, are sequestered for a time in an emulsion, allowing them to travel further radially through the formation before reacting.
Another advantage of the present invention is that certain embodiments can be used for slow release of corrosion inhibitors and dissolvers and biocides downhole. Corrosion inhibitors can be slowly released in the well bore to enhance their functionality over time. Biocides can be slowly released to achieve protection over a longer time span, thus requiring lower overall quantities of the biocide.


The present invention relates to computer systems, and more particularly to a method and system for improving performance of a RAID controller through adaptive write back/write through caching.
Redundant array of inexpensive disks (xe2x80x9cRAIDxe2x80x9d) technology is increasingly used in computer systems to provide increased capacity and performance. FIG. 1 depicts a conventional RAID subsystem 20 that is coupled to a computer system 10. The computer system 10 is typically a server which allows a large number of users to access the RAID subsystem 20. The RAID subsystem 20 includes a RAID controller 22 having a cache 24. The RAID subsystem 20 also includes disks 26, 28, 30 and 32. For clarity, only these portions of the RAID subsystem 20 are depicted.
The RAID controller 22 provides an interface between the RAID subsystem 20 and the computer system 10. Thus, the RAID controller 22 includes the hardware that interfaces between the computer system 10 and the disks 26, 28, 30 and 32 and allows the disks 26, 28, 30 and 32 to appear to the computer system 10 as a single disk. The RAID controller 22 also includes the cache 24. The cache is used to improve input to and output from the RAID subsystem 20 by reducing the latency and increasing throughput. This is possible because cache accesses are typically faster than accesses of a disk 26, 28, 30 or 32. When data is to be output from the RAID subsystem 20, data can be written from the disks 26, 28, 30 and 32 to the cache 24. The data can then be output from the cache 24, typically at a higher rate than data can be written from the disks 26, 28, 30 and 32. Performance is improved when data written to the cache by the disk is repeatedly accessed. When this happens disk I/O does not occur and performance is improved. When data is to be written to the RAID subsystem 20, data can be input to the cache 24. The data can then be asynchronously written to the disks 26, 28, 30 and 32, typically at a lower rate than data is written to the cache 24.
Typically, the cache 24 can be in one of two configurations. The cache 24 can be configured so that data stored in the cache is written to the RAID subsystem 20 at the same time it is written to the cache. This configuration is known as write through. In write through mode, data written to the RAID subsystem 20 is written to both the cache 24 and to the disks 26, 28, 30 and 32. This may improve performance because if data in the cache 24 is reused it can be retrieved from the cache 24 without the delay of a disk access. In the case of write through even though data is written to the cache 24 the operation does not complete until the data is actually written to a disk 26, 28, 30, or 32. Alternatively, the cache 24 can be placed in write back mode. In write back, data is written directly to the cache 24 without requiring data be immediately written to the disks 26, 28, 30 or 32. This allows a faster completion of the write operation because a write operation to the cache 24 is much faster than a write operation to the disks 26, 28, 30 or 32. Thus, the operation need not wait for the disk write to complete. At a later time, the modified data in the cache 24 is written from the cache 24 to the disks 26, 28, 30 and 32 of the RAID subsystem 20.
In general, the cache 24 is placed in write back mode. Thus, the cache 24 is used to store data that is written to the disks 26, 28, 30 and 32 without first writing the data to disk. In write back mode the cache is also used to store data that is read from the disk. In many instances, write back mode improves the performance of the RAID subsystem 20, as described above. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the write back mode may not provide optimal performance in some instances. In particular, when the cache 24 starts to become full, an I/O operation may stall until a portion of the cache 24 is flushed. As a result, performance of the RAID subsystem 20 suffers because any outstanding disk write command must wait for a cache buffer management process in the RAID controller 22 to flush a modified buffer (not explicitly shown in FIG. 1) and make the cache 24 available for the new write operation. Write through operations also require a buffer of the cache 24 to store the write data, but the buffer management does not have to flush modified data to free a buffer of the cache 24 because all buffer data is already written to the disk 26, 28, 30 and 32. In this case buffer management can simply overwrite any existing buffer in the cache 24 to make space for an outstanding write command. In this case, the write through operation may complete without delay.
One solution to performance problems due to the cache 24 becoming full is to make the cache 24 larger. A larger cache 24 will become full less frequently. As a result, it was theorized that performance of the RAID subsystem 20 should improve. However, the increase in the size of the memory of the cache 24 often has the opposite result. An increase in the size of the memory of the cache 24 can actually degrade the performance of the RAID subsystem 20. This occurs because if a larger cache becomes full it will require more Raid Controller 22 buffer management-processing overhead to manage and free buffers. This buffer management overhead degrades performance. This condition occurs whenever the workload consists of a sustained I/O rate that is greater than the aggregate capabilities of the RAID subsystem 20.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for improving the performance of a RAID subsystem 20 that includes a cache 24. The present invention addresses such a need.
The present invention provides a method and system for accessing data in a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) subsystem. The RAID subsystem includes a RAID controller having a cache and a plurality of disks. The method and system comprise utilizing the cache in a write back mode if the RAID subsystem is lightly loaded. In write back mode, the data is written to the cache prior to storing the data on at least one disk of the plurality of disks or prior to outputting the data from the RAID subsystem. The method and system also comprise utilizing the cache in a write through mode if the RAID subsystem is heavily loaded. In the write through mode, the data is written directly to at least one disk of the plurality of disks.
According to the system and method disclosed herein, the present invention provides a faster, more efficient mechanism for accessing data in a RAID subsystem.


The art prior to the invention shown in my copending application Ser. No. 06/502,763 filed June 9, 1983, did not provide an acceptable locking/quick release socket wrench extension.
Application Ser. No. 06/502,763 discloses a quick release locking arrangement for a socket wrench extension having a square drive end in which a transverse bore retains lock means for movement between a lock position in which the locking means projects from one end of the bore far enough to engage a cooperating cavity or undercut in the drive recess of a wrench socket (or other tool) and a release position in which the lock means lies within the cross section of the drive end and permits removal of the drive end from the socket. A lock tab is mounted for movement between a first position obstructing movement of the lock means to its release position and to a second position in which the lock means can move to the release position. The lock tab is a part of and controlled by a sleeve which is biased to hold the lock tab in the first position.
My prior invention required manual actuation of the sleeve to mount a socket on the extension. The design did not have "push-on" mounting capability.


Fuel cells are well-known and are commonly used to produce electrical energy from reducing and oxidizing reactant fluids to power electrical apparatus, such as apparatus on-board space vehicles, transportation vehicles, or as on-site generators for buildings. Each individual fuel cell generally includes an anode catalyst and a cathode catalyst separated by an electrolyte, such as a proton exchange membrane (“PEM”) as known in the art. Frequently, a diffusion layer is secured between the catalyst and a substrate layer. The substrate layer is usually secured between the diffusion layer and a flow field. If there is no diffusion layer, the substrate is secured between the catalyst and the flow field. Flow fields define flow channels for directing reactant streams through the fuel cell in fluid communication through the diffusion and substrate layers with the catalysts. As is known, the flow fields may be porous water transport plates or solid separator plates.
The diffusion layer is typically a highly porous, electrical conductor made from carbon black and a hydrophobic polymer, such as polytetrafluoroethylene. Depending on the fuel cell design, the diffusion layer is usually hydrophobic, however, the diffusion layer may be partially hydrophobic and partially hydrophilic to facilitate simultaneous liquid and gaseous transport through the layer. The diffusion layer is usually about 25-100 microns thick. The diffusion layer facilitates transfer of the reactant streams through the fuel cell by minimizing the thickness of water films on the surface of the catalysts. The diffusion layer also facilitates the removal of product water from the fuel cell.
The substrate layer adjacent the diffusion layer is highly porous and made from expensive carbon fibers and a well known manufacturing process that requires high temperature graphitizing. Depending on the cell design, the substrate layer may be either hydrophobic or hydrophilic. The substrate is usually about 150-300 microns thick. The substrate facilitates the transport of reactant streams, water vapor, liquid water and electrons. The substrate conducts electrons both through the plane of the substrate and in the plane of the substrate from a centerline of an adjacent flow channel to ribs of the flow field, wherein the flow channel is defined between ribs of the flow field. The substrate also facilitates the diffusion and flow of reactant streams and product water both through the plane of the substrate and in the plane of the substrate from the flow channel to the centerline of the flow channel beneath the rib of the flow field, or vice versa. Also, the substrate must have a flexural strength adequate to distribute an axial pressure load relatively uniformly over total surface areas of adjacent layers. For example, the pressure load must be distributed evenly across the flow channels of the flow field to prevent the substrate from deforming into the flow channels. An exemplary flexural strength is about 200 kilogram force per square centimeter (“kgf/cm2”). U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,304 to Miwa et al. describes properties of typical fuel cell substrates. Planar types of fuel cells are secured in compression in a fuel cell stack by a combination of pressure plates and tie-rods, as is well known. This axial compressive force minimizes the resistance of the cells and is required to obtain suitable fluid seals. The substrate must have a compressive strength that is typically at least two times the axial force on the cell stack. Typical compressive strength of a prior art substrate is greater than 10 kgf/cm2.
In fuel cells of the prior art, it is known that carbon or graphite layers or papers are traditionally secured between the catalysts and flow fields as diffusion and/or substrate layers. However, the use of known carbon or graphite layers or papers presents significant problems, including high manufacturing costs, impeding the diffusion of hydrogen and oxygen through pores defined by the layers, and impeding the outflow of fuel cell product water from a cathode catalyst.
A partial solution to the use of carbon or graphite paper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,755, entitled “PEM/SPE Fuel Cell” that issued on Jan. 13, 1998 to Grot. The patent discloses, instead of the carbon or graphite layers or papers, the use of a plurality of electrically conductive filaments secured with a specific orientation with respect to flow channels, or grooves of a flow field. The specific orientation is longitudinal so that the filaments extend across, and do not fall into, the flow channels, or grooves, that direct reactant flow through the fuel cell.
Nonetheless, the prior art has limitations. Manufacturing a fuel cell with conductive filaments having such a specific orientation imposes substantial cost and manufacturing burdens. Moreover, the prior art fails to rectify the significant substrate manufacturing costs associated with the mass production of fuel cells. The substrates are costly because they include expensive carbon fibers and are manufactured through a costly high temperature graphitizing process well known in the art. Accordingly, there is a need for a fuel cell that minimizes substrate costs by replacing the prior art substrates with a cost effective material.


Mobile devices e.g., telephones and PDA's, are commonly used to send and receive communications, such as electronic mail, text messages, voice messages, and telephone calls. Mobile devices provide the advantage of convenience and allow users to access communications from any location where there is a signal. However, the small screen sizes and storage capacity of mobile devices make it difficult for users to view, sort, organize, and manipulate communications from a mobile device. Current applications do not provide convenient ways for users to view communications compactly and perform actions on groups of communications efficiently.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that embodiments of the present invention have been made. Also, although relatively specific problems have been discussed, it should be understood that embodiments of the present invention should not be limited to solving the specific problems identified in the background.


As technology advances, there is a need to combine multiple chips into a device. Combining chips into a device, for example, requires an interposer with larger die size so as to allow more chips to be disposed on the interposer. The size of the die for use as an interposer, however, is limited by lithography tool hardware.
There is, therefore, a need to provide effective stitching of dies to reduce footprint, improve performance and reduce cost.


A suction filter of this type is described in German Patent No. DE-PS 35 33 038. A cage is placed on the housing, through which the agitator shaft is led and on which the drive motor is placed. For the vertical adjustment of the agitator shaft two lateral piston rods are provided, which are connected to each other by means of a main cross beam. In turn, two hydraulic cylinders projecting vertically upward are arranged on the main cross beam itself. The piston rods of these hydraulic cylinders are connected to each other by means of a cross beam.
A disadvantage of this embodiment is, however, that such an agitator suction filter has a relatively large overall height.


The present invention relates to a receiver for a coded electronic security system, and more particularly, to a receiver capable of monitoring a plurality of different transmitters and indicating which of the transmitters has been activated by an alarm condition.
Security systems for protecting homes and businesses are becoming increasingly popular due to an increase in vandalism and theft. The most commonly used protective systems require wiring of doors and windows in such a manner that the unauthorized opening of a protected door or window activates an alarm. ConventIonal systems which require extensive wiring and specially designed switching devices are susceptible to tampering and failure, and they are expensive to install.
Heretofore, attempts at using wireless intrusion alarm systems have met with limited success because such systems have been simply designed merely to indicate the presence of an actuating signal at the remote receiver. Any discrimination relating to rejection of other signals also present was provided merely to avoid false alarms. An indication of an alarm generally did not provide an indicatIon of which particular transmitter in a system having a plurality of transmitters had activated the alarm, unless there were a like number of transmitters and receivers each operating on a different frequency within the system.


Automotive vehicle A/C systems require maintenance. Maintenance includes refrigerant recovery, evacuation and recharging of the A/C system. Portable refrigerant recovery units are used in connection with this maintenance. The refrigerant recovery units connect to the A/C system of the automotive vehicle to recover refrigerant out of the system, separate out contaminants and oil, and recharge the system with additional refrigerant. During service it is desirable to recover, recycle or reclaim the refrigerant.


Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized phenotypically by bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and neuropsychiatric disturbances (Savitt et al., 2006). Although the cause of PD in the majority of cases is unknown, there are rare familial cases for which the genes have been identified. There are at least sixteen PD associated loci (Gasser, 2007). Mutations in α-synuclein and leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) cause autosomal dominant PD. Four genes have been linked to autosomal recessive PD (AR-PD) and include mutations in parkin, DJ-1, PINK1, and ATP13A2. Investigating the biology of these genes and their mutant protein has provided tremendous insight into the pathogenesis of both familial and sporadic PD (Gasser, 2007; Savitt et al., 2006).
Parkin is an ubiquitin E3 ligase (Shimura et al., 2000; Zhang et al., 2000). In general, PD-associated mutations in parkin lead to loss of its E3 ligase function (Tanaka et al., 2004). Moreover, oxidative, nitrosative, and dopaminergic stress, which play important pathogenic roles in PD, inactivate parkin, suggesting that parkin inactivation may play a role in sporadic PD (Chung et al., 2004; LaVoie et al., 2005; Winklhofer et al., 2003). Thus, substrates of parkin that are subject to proteasomal degradation should accumulate in animal and cellular models of parkin inactivation and AR-PD due to parkin mutations, and also in sporadic PD. There are a diverse array of parkin substrates that has hindered the generation of a consensus in the field on parkin's physiologic function and pathologic role in PD. Moreover, parkin's ability to mono- and poly-ubiquitinate, as well as, ubiquitinate proteins with both lysine-48 and lysine-63 chains has made it difficult to reconcile a common biochemical pathway for parkin's role in PD (Dawson and Dawson, 2010).
A new Parkin Interacting Substrate, PARIS, has been identified, which provides a molecular mechanism for neurodegeneration due to parkin inactivation in PD. Parkin regulates the levels of PARIS via the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). PARIS is a major transcriptional repressor of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) expression and that conditional knockout (KO) of parkin in adult mice leads to progressive loss of dopamine (DA) neurons through PARIS overexpression and transcriptional repression of PGC-1α.


The escalating demands for high density and performance associated with non-volatile memory devices require small design features, high reliability and increased manufacturing throughput. The reduction of design features, however, challenges the limitations of conventional methodology. For example, the reduction of design features makes it difficult for the memory device to meet its expected data retention requirement.
In addition, various processes that are used to complete the formation of a working memory device, such as an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) device, often create problems associated with the operation of the memory device. For example, it is often difficult to deposit an interlayer dielectric that fills all the space between adjacent memory cells. This often leads to gaps or voids in the interlayer dielectric. Such gaps or voids in the interlayer dielectric may lead to charge leakage problems associated with memory cells in the memory device. These voids may also make it difficult to program and/or erase the memory device in an efficient manner and, ultimately, may lead to device failure.


The present invention relates to headlights for self-propelled vehicles, especially for motor vehicles.
A headlight for a self-powered vehicle is described in German Published Patent Application 24 31 095 A1. This headlight has a reflector, which is pivotally mounted in a holder and which is adjustable by means of an adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism has an eccentric adjusting element engaging eccentrically to a pivot axis of the reflector, which is connected with the reflector by a universal joint. This pivot joint is formed by a pin which has two ball ends so that the pin is pivotally engaged with one ball end in a spherical receptacle connected with the reflector and is engaged with the other ball end in another spherical receptacle provided with a threaded passage. A threaded portion of the adjusting element is screwed in the threaded passage. This double pivotal connection is required to minimize bending moments and/or transverse forces of the adjusting element, which can occur because of the pivoting motion of the reflector caused by the adjusting element. The known double-jointed pivot joint with the pin and both spherical receptacles requires comparatively many parts and takes up a comparatively large space, particularly in the adjusting direction of the adjusting element, because it requires the pin provided with the ball ends. This double-jointed pivot joint can be used only when there is enough room.


Cerebral embolism is a known complication of cardiac surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass and catheter-based interventional cardiology and electrophysiology procedures. Embolic particles, which may include thrombus, atheroma and lipids, may become dislodged by surgical or catheter manipulations and enter the bloodstream, embolizing in the brain or other vital organs downstream. Cerebral embolism can lead to neuropsychological deficits, stroke and even death. Prevention of cerebral embolism benefits patients and improves the outcome of these procedures.
Various embolic protection devices are known in the art. An embolic protection device for side branch vessels of the aortic arch has for instance been disclosed in US 2004/0215167. This embolic protection device has an expandable tubular structure supporting a filter mesh material. The embolic protection device is compressed to a small diameter for insertion into a patient's aorta, and then expanded within the aorta with the filter mesh material positioned to allow blood to enter side branch vessels connected to the aorta and to prevent embolic material from entering the side branch vessels. The device is deployed and left in place for long-term protection. Alternatively, the device may be compressed and withdrawn from the aorta.
However, the embolic protection devices disclosed in 2004/0215167 have a number of drawbacks. The device may be difficult to extract from the aortic arch as a stent like design is devised for permanent implantation and removing a stent may harm the implantation site. The device also forms along the aorta and may at least partly be pressed against or into the ostia regions of the side vessels. Most often these ostia regions are subject to sedimented plaque on the outside of the tissue in these ostia regions. When a stent like device is pressed against the plaque, the latter loosens from the tissue on which it is situated and is washed along the side branch vessels as debris. However, this debris is an undesired embolic material, which the device should avoid to enter the branch vessels.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,120 implantable cerebral protection device is disclosed for diverting emboli away from the carotid arteries in the aorta. The disclosed devices are aortic diverters that generally comprise a hollow tube with a substantially cylindrical or conical wall, which is impermeable to emboli and which has open ends that allow blood to enter one end, flow through the tube and exit the other end. The proximal end of the hollow tube is circumferentially sized to completely fill the lumen of the aorta. Additionally, snowshoe aortic diverters, which are planar rather than cylindrical, are also disclosed. The methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,120 include the steps of providing an aortic diverter carried by an intravascular catheter, introducing the intravascular catheter into the vascular system, advancing the intravascular catheter into the aortic arch to the region of the carotid arteries, and deploying the aortic diverter.
However, like the devices disclosed in US 2004/0215167, the devices and methods of U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,120 may damage the aortic vessel wall. Furthermore, a leakage of embolic material into the side branch vessels of the aortic arch may be present, e.g. past the periphery of the tubular structure, or of the snowshoe like embodiments disclosed. Moreover, the devices disclosed may, at least partly, contact the ostia of the side branch vessels, and thus set free embolic debris from the ostia which is carried to the carotid arteries and may lead to cerebral damage. Further, a backflow carrying embolic material may occur from the distal end of the devices of U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,120 into the side branch vessels. The snowshoe like devices have and attached handle or cannula and need to be installed by means of open chest surgery comprising incising the aorta, which has numerous drawbacks compared to intravascular delivery, including aortic trauma. The devices need to be secured to the lumen of the aorta through various mechanisms including sutures, surgical clips, hooks, adhesive material, substantially rigid sleeves, or frictional engagement. Such securing is difficult to accomplish in a reliable manner via transvascular access.
In US 2008/0065145 an embolic protection device and method of use are disclosed. A blood debris deflector umbrella is disclosed, which has a blood flow permeable covering. The umbrella is extending over the ostia of the brachiocephalic artery and the left carotid artery. The deflector is inserted percutaneously and placed by means of a catheter, either via the right arteria subclavia ending in the aortic arch via the brachiocephalic artery, or the femoral artery and into the brachiocephalic artery and the right arteria subclavia. However, the device has in any case a guide wire arranged extending between the aortic arch and the brachiocephalic artery, which is to be protected by the device. This means that, like in the aforementioned disclosures, the device will inevitably be intravascularly manipulated and thus it will likely contact the ostia of the brachiocephalic artery, i.e. the side branch vessel of the aorta leading to the right carotid artery. Thus a risk for iatrogenic caused embolization is present, i.e. the physician likely will set free embolic debris from the ostia of the brachiocephalic artery when using the device. The embolic debris is carried to the right carotid artery and may lead to cerebral damage.
Moreover, the dome shaped device of US 2008/0065145 appears to be difficult, to work in practice due to the anatomical structure and position of the afore described access way via the brachiocephalic artery. The device will have to be very large in order to cover the ostia of the brachiocephalic artery and the left carotid artery. Thus the device will be very voluminous in the aortic arch.
Hence, known cerebral embolic protection devices have shortcomings, including: difficult to position in a vessel, and even more difficult to position in two vessels; they may cause damage to the vessel wall and potentially cause an emboli themselves; they are hindering surgeons when trying to achieve a good result with some intended intervention/operation; visualization of the protective device may impair visualization of other components used during concurrent medical procedures; they may cause impaired flow if they are designed to collect the embolic material.
Thus, there is a need for a new, or improved, or alternative device, or method for preventing embolic material from entering branch vessels, such as the aortic arch side branch vessels, and/or from creating debris from the ostia of the aortic arch side branch vessels that may be carried towards the brain of a patient during a medical procedure.
Hence, an improved embolic protection device or method would be advantageous.


Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates generally to the field of bicycles, and more specifically, to control systems such as brake, gear and transmission, and other systems employing wire and cables for use therewith.
Braking systems used for cycles and other vehicles, such as bicycles typically comprise two principle types. One type, known as a coaster brake, includes braking components conventionally housed in the hub of the rear wheel of the bicycle and is operated by pressing on the bicycle pedals in a direction rotationally opposite to the forward pedaling direction to achieve the desired braking operation. The other type of bicycle brake system is known as a caliper brake. Caliper brakes are comprised of dual opposing caliper levers connected for cooperative pivoting motion to the bicycle frame to encompass corresponding opposing circumferential portions of the wheel rim to which a tire is mounted, whether front-wheel mounted or rear-wheel mounted, so that the brake pad-lined ends of the opposing caliper levers are spaced apart from corresponding sides of the wheel rim to which they are closely positioned in the un-braked position. The lever system of the caliper brake operates when the caliper lever ends are squeezed together into a braking position by a brake cable that is pulled when the bicycle rider squeezes an operatively-connected brake hand lever mounted on the handlebars of the bicycle. The squeezing motion causes the brakes to be applied by providing frictional contact between the brake pads levers and the front and/or rear wheel rims according to the installed braking configuration, and hence the desired braking performance depending on the pulling force exerted by the rider. Disc brake systems are also known to be used with bicycles. No matter the type of braking system, cabling system requirements are substantially similar in that a tension is required to actuate the bakes, provided through the cable.
The above-described brakes are thus considered to provide an efficient motion-retarding mechanism for slowing and stopping a bicycle. However, the traditional placement of the brake hand levers about the handlebars of the bicycle may not be optimal for ready, convenient operation when the rider is astride a mountain bike or a street bike (on-road or off-road), whether mountain biking or traveling over long distances because of the differing positions adopted by the rider depending on terrain and slope. In particular, the rider may adopt a standing, hunched-over, or semi-standing position when riding uphill, downhill or over rugged terrain, and thus must retain his balance by altering his grip on different portions of the handlebars and in differing positions when gripping those portions in contrast to the conventional sitting or cruising position to which hand brake levers are commonly oriented. Thus, an important limitation in the related art is the failure to accommodate the rider by providing direct access to appropriately positioned brake hand levers in the most significant of those varying riding positions, with commensurate compromises in rider control in those different positions not directly adjacent to the conventionally-placed hand brake levers.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved cable-handling system for use with cycles that overcomes these prior art shortcomings.
The present invention provides an important improvement in the bicycle-brake system art, by providing a supplemental apparatus for operationally connecting an auxiliary bicycle brake actuator apparatus to an existing bicycle brake system, thereby overcoming the prior art shortcomings described above. More specifically, the invention includes a cable joining system for adding additional manual interface(s), i.e. brake hand lever with connecting elements, for use with an existing braking device and system and thus providing enhanced brake system operability by the bicycle rider in additional riding positions, such as those intermediate positions commonly adopted by street bike riders and mountain bike riders. This improvement is readily achieved by retrofitting the original braking system with the supplemental braking apparatus, without cutting or otherwise destructively modifying the existing cable system provided on the bicycle. Accordingly, the supplemental brake lever mechanism may be positioned to be readily operated by the rider in an alternate riding position not previously amenable to direct operation of a selected front wheel or rear wheel brake system.
As installed, the inventive system is secured to the frame of the cycle (such as a bicycle, tricycle, quadricycle, scooter, which may be pedal-powered, motor assisted or a hybrid thereof) having an existing brake system with forward and rear cable stops provided at spaced intervals along the top tube or other structural element of the cycle. Such structural element may further include a handlebar, fork, seat post or even the fork structure, i.e., any member other than a rotational member such as a wheel. Accordingly, such structural element is utilized to secure one or more brake wires (and optionally, gear shifting wires) therealong, and it will be understood that all references to xe2x80x9cbrakexe2x80x9d wires will encompass control wires for gearing and transmission systems or other systems for use with the cycle. It will be further understood that further references to xe2x80x9cbicyclexe2x80x9d hereafter includes all of the above-listed species of vehicles including cycles. According to the invention, an auxiliary brake handle (actuator) is secured to the handlebars of the bicycle and a newly installed auxiliary brake wire, connected to the auxiliary brake handle, is secured to the main brake wire. According to the invention, the newly installed auxiliary brake wire and main brake wire are assembled and secured in a xe2x80x9cYxe2x80x9d configuration between the forward and rear cable stops, with a clamp serving as a joining node for securing the auxiliary brake wire to the main brake wire. Accordingly, the present invention causes activation of the auxiliary brake wire, now directly secured to and linked with the main brake wire, upon an actuation of the auxiliary brake system, to subsequently cause a pull upon the main brake wire to initiate braking operation of the operatively connected brake calipers and provide the desired braking action of the corresponding wheel, while also preserving operability of the brake system by the main brake handle.
Thus, according to the invention, the cable joining system of the present invention allows a user to add yet additional manual interfaces for additional cable-based devices (brakes, gearing, etc.) without cutting or modifying the existing cable system or operability of the calipers or braking performance. Indeed, the invention provides enhanced brake system operability by virtue of the rider""s more direct control and proximity to the auxiliary brake handle in riding positions different from the singular position (cruising) to which most brake systems are installed. The inventive system comprises four elements: 1) a housing joiner, 2) an interconnecting auxiliary brake cable or wire, 3) a clamp for joining the interconnecting brake cable or wire any cycle-mounted operational cable or wire, and 4) lever or actuator for actuating the auxiliary brake cable or wire. The housing joiner and clamp (such as a bullet clamp) cooperatively function with the existing cable stops provided on the bicycle frame, so that the two manual interfaces may independently operate the calipers of the selected brake system.
The invention thus provides a significant advancement in the art, as it is a simple method of adding an after-market braking system (or gearing system or other cable/wire actuated system) interface to an existing bicycle braking system utilizing a brake cable system including a brake wire sheathed in a cable housing. The method of system installation of the present invention is achieved by squeezing together the calipers of the selected brake system to release the tension of the main brake wire and housing (sheath), thereby enabling unhooking of the cable housing from the cable stops while retaining the brake wire in the installed adjusted position. The housing joiner is then attached to the cable housing in front of the forward cable stop. Thereafter, the caliper brake is then reinstalled to its original installed position. The new, auxiliary, brake wire is extended from the housing joiner to interconnect with the main brake wire at a point forward of a second cable stop. System tension is reestablished by pulling the new cable toward the back of the bike, and connecting the two cables with a clamp. It is contemplated that installation of the auxiliary braking system may be easily and readily and rapidly achieved by a layperson. The system may likewise be readily and rapidly detached by reversing these installation steps, thereby restoring the bicycle to its original condition. More specifically, precise adjustment of the brake wire is critical to predictable braking characteristics, including braking tension and release clearances when unbraked, and maintaining this precision adjustment is of significance during attachment of the supplemental system of the present invention.
It should be noted and understood that with respect to the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein, the materials, methods, apparatus and processes disclosed and suggested may be modified or substituted to achieve the desired protected structures without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed and claimed invention.


The invention relates to a catadioptric projection lens for imaging a pattern arranged in an object plane onto an image plane.
Projection lenses of that type are employed on projection exposure systems, in particular wafer scanners or wafer steppers, used for fabricating semiconductor devices and other types of microdevices and serve to project patterns on photomasks or reticles, hereinafter referred to generically as “masks” or “reticles,” onto an object having a photosensitive coating with ultrahigh resolution on a reduced scale.
In order create even finer structures, it will be necessary to both increase the image-end numerical aperture (NA) of the projection lens to be involved and employ shorter wavelengths, preferably ultraviolet light with wavelengths less than about 260 nm.
However, there are very few materials, in particular, synthetic quartz glass and crystalline fluorides, such as calcium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, barium fluoride, lithium fluoride, lithium-calcium-aluminum fluoride, lithium-strontium-aluminum fluoride, and similar, that are sufficiently transparent in that wavelength region available for fabricating the optical elements required. Since the Abbé numbers of those materials that are available lie rather close to one another, it is difficult to provide purely refractive systems that are sufficiently well color-corrected (corrected for chromatic aberrations). Although this problem might be solved by employing purely reflective systems, fabricating such mirror systems involves considerable expense and effort.
In view of the aforementioned problems, catadioptric systems that combine refracting and reflecting elements, i.e., in particular, lenses and mirrors, are primarily employed for configuring high-resolution projection lenses of the aforementioned type.
Whenever imaging reflective surfaces are involved, it will be beneficial to employ beam-deflection devices whenever images free of obscurations and vignetting are to be achieved. Both systems having geometric beamsplitters having one or more fully reflecting deflecting mirrors and systems having physical beamsplitters are known. Additional plane mirrors may also be employed for folding the optical path. However, folding mirrors are usually employed only in order to allow meeting space-occupation requirements, in particular, in order to allow orienting the object and image planes parallel to one another. However, folding mirrors are not absolutely necessary from the optical-design standpoint.
Employing systems having a physical beamsplitter in the form of, for example, a beamsplitter cube (BSC), has the advantage that it allows configuring on-axis systems. Polarization-selective reflective surfaces that either reflect or transmit incident radiation, depending upon the orientation of its polarization axis, are employed in such cases. The disadvantage of employing such systems is that hardly any suitable transparent materials are available in the desired, large volumes. Moreover, fabricating optically active beamsplitter coatings situated within beamsplitter cubes may prove extremely difficult, particularly in cases involving large angles of incidence on the reflective surfaces involved and/or radiation that is incident over a broad range of angles of incidence.
Some of the disadvantages of systems equipped with beamsplitter cubes may be avoided by employing systems having one or more deflecting mirrors in their beam-deflection devices. However, such systems have the inherent disadvantage that they are necessarily off-axis systems, i.e., systems with off-axis object fields.
A catadioptric reduction lens of that type is disclosed in European Patent EP 0 989 434, which corresponds to U.S. Ser. No. 09/364,382. Such lenses have a catadioptric first lens section having a concave mirror and a beam-deflection device arranged between their object plane and their image plane and a dioptric second lens section that is arranged following that first lens section. Their beam-deflection device, which is configured in the form of a reflecting prism, has a first reflective surface for deflecting radiation coming from their object plane to the concave mirror and a second reflective surface for deflecting radiation reflected by the concave mirror to their second lens section, which contains exclusively refractive elements. A positive lens whose refractive power is dimensioned such that the concave mirror lies in the vicinity of the pupil is arranged between the object plane and the first reflective surface. The catadioptric first lens section creates a real intermediate image that is situated a short distance behind the second reflective surface and far in front of the first lens of the second lens section. This intermediate image is thus readily accessible, which may be taken advantage of for the purpose of, e.g., installing an illuminated-field stop. Large maximum angles of incidence, particularly at the first reflective surface, impose stringent demands on the reflective coatings used on the mirrors in order that they will have largely uniform reflectances for all incident radiation.
Another reduction lens that has a beam-deflection device having a deflecting mirror is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,882, which corresponds to European Patent EP A 0 869 383. In the case of this particular system, the deflecting mirror is arranged such that light coming from the lens' object plane initially falls on the concave mirror of its first lens section, which reflects it to the beam-deflection device's deflecting mirror, which reflects it to another reflective surface that deflects it toward the lens of the entirely dioptric second lens section. The elements of the first lens section that are utilized for creating the intermediate image are configured such that the intermediate image lies close to the beam-deflection device's deflecting mirror. The second lens section refocuses the intermediate image onto the image plane, which may be oriented parallel to the object plane, thanks to the reflective surface that follows the intermediate image in the optical train.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,498 depicts a similar configuration whose intermediate image lies on, or near, the reflective surface of its beam-deflection device. Several lenses of its second lens section are arranged between the latter and a deflecting mirror located in its second lens section. An aspheric surface is also arranged in the immediate vicinity of, or near to, its intermediate image, and is included exclusively for the purpose of correcting for distortions, without affecting other imaging errors.
A projection lens having a reducing catadioptric lens section and an intermediate image situated in the vicinity of the deflecting mirror of a beam-deflection device is depicted in German Patent DE 197 26 058.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,333 depicts another catadioptric reduction lens having deflecting mirrors for which light coming from its object plane, after transiting a lens group having a positive refractive power, initially strikes a concave mirror that reflects it to the beam-deflection device's sole reflective surface. The intermediate image created by its catadioptric lens section lies close to this reflective surface, which reflects light incident thereon to a dioptric second lens section that images the intermediate image onto its image plane. Both its catadioptric lens section and its dioptric lens section create reduced images.
A similarly configured lens for which the intermediate image created by its catadioptric lens section also lies close to its beam-deflecting device's sole deflecting mirror is depicted in Japanese patent application JP-A-10010429. The surface of the lens of the dioptric lens section that follows that lies closest to the deflecting mirror is aspherical in order that it may make a particularly effective contribution to correcting for distortion.
Other lenses having off-axis object fields, a geometric beamsplitter, and a single concave mirror and single intermediate image followed by a dioptric lens section are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,783 A, U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,802, and European patent application EP 1 079 253 A.
Systems whose intermediate image lies near, or on, a reflective surface may be compactly designed. They also allow keeping corrections for the field curvatures of these off-axis illuminated systems small, which simplifies correcting for distortion. However, intermediate images that fall on a reflective surface can be problematical, since, in that case, flaws on the reflective surface will be sharply imaged onto the image plane, and since extremely high irradiance levels may occur at the reflective surface.
Catadioptric systems that have beamsplitters generally have a group of lenses that is transited twice, i.e., are transited by light on its way from their object field to their concave mirror and its way from their concave mirror to their image field. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,802, it was proposed that this lens group have positive refractive power, which supposedly would allow employing a concave mirror with a smaller diameter. A system having a single positive lens that is transited twice situated near a deflecting mirror of its beamsplitter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,498.
The high prices of the materials involved and limited availability of crystalline calcium fluoride in sizes large enough for fabricating large lenses represent problems, particularly in the field of microlithography at 157 nm for very large numerical apertures, NA, of, for example, NA=0.80 and larger. Measures that will allow reducing the number and sizes of lenses employed and simultaneously contribute to maintaining, or even improving, imaging fidelity are thus desired.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disc handling apparatus such as a recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which, for example, a disc shaped rotary record bearing medium is used.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the case of a recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information with use of a record bearing medium such as a rotary magnetic disc, it is important to mount the record bearing medium on a rotation driving shaft correctly and surely in order to avoid eccentricity or the like. If the record bearing medium is not correctly mounted on the rotation driving shaft, the contact of a recording and/or reproducing head with the record bearing medium is not perfect (for example, a spacing loss increases). Or, in the case of eccentricity, a deviation occurs between the head and a track, and the recording or reproducing property becomes inferior, which is problematic.
In order to avoid the above difficulty, a method in which a pressing member is used to forcedly press the record bearing medium against a conical part which is provided on a record bearing medium rotating shaft has been proposed. However, according to this method, the record bearing medium is always against the conical part of the driving shaft and the pressing member rotates together with the record bearing medium, so that the moment of inertia of the rotating portion increases and also the size of a motor for driving the rotating shaft increases, which is disadvantageous for a compact apparatus.
In order to avoid the above disadvantage, as described later, an apparatus has been proposed in which: a plastic center hub having an engaging hole for engaging with a rotating driving shaft is provided at a central portion of a flexible magnetic disc, and a spring portion for side pressure is formed on a part of the hole, so as to obtain side pressure between the driving shaft and the center hub; and at a lower part of the center hub a magnetizable plate such as one made of iron is secured, while at a flange portion of the driving shaft for determining a height of a disc relative to a recording and/or reproducing head a permanent magnet is disposed, so as to effect chucking of the disc by the magnetic attracting force between the magnetizable plate and the permanent magnet.
However, even in the case of the above method, for example, when the side pressure of the spring portion formed in the engaging hole of the center hub is low, eccentricity of the disc is apt to occur. Conversely, when the side pressure is high, chucking by the attracting force between the magnetic plate of the center hub and the permanent magnet at the side of the rotating driving shaft becomes uncertain. In order to obtain a sure chucking, the permanent magnet has to be made large, which means that the load for the motor is increased, and therefore the motor as well, has to be made large, which is disadvantageous.