166results about How to "Avoid trapping" patented technology

A cardiopulmonary bypass system utilizing membrane-based reciprocating positive displacement blood pumps (“pod pumps”). In one aspect, the pod pumps are constructed to provide reduced shear forces on the blood being pumped. In another aspect blood flow through the pod pumps can be controlled by a controller using information from pressure sensors in the control chamber of the pod pumps. In another aspect, the pod pumps are included on a disposable unit that can be received and held by a receptacle means on a base unit, the base unit also providing pressurized control fluid to the pod pumps on the disposable unit through the receptacle means.

A bubble free, self-priming IV set for use in the administration of liquids includes a coupling assembly for attaching the delivery system to a source of liquid and includes a coupling membrane for controlling the flow of liquid and air through the coupling assembly. The system also includes a drip chamber for receiving liquid through the coupling assembly, the drip chamber having a membrane for preventing air from leaving the drip chamber. A self leveling port is disposed within a wall of the drip chamber, the port being permeable to air, but impermeable to liquid. Finally, a patient conduit is in fluid communication with the drip chamber and further comprises a flow control plug disposed at the distal end of the conduit. The flow control plug is permeable to air but impermeable to liquid. Use of this system allows a clinician to attach a source of fluid to a patient without significant intervention, while the system self primes.

The invention relates to a method of producing a complex microelectronic structure, in which two basic microelectronic structures (1, 3) are assembled at the two respective connecting faces (3) thereof. The invention is characterised in that, before assembly, a difference is created in the tangential stress state between the two faces to be assembled, said difference being selected such as to produce a pre-determined stress state within the assembled structure under given conditions in relation to the assembly conditions.

Disclosed is a cleaning device with a squirter for squirting liquid forward of a cleaning head. The cleaning head has a nozzle head with a nozzle. A liquid receiving part is provided to extend from beneath an orifice of the nozzle toward a front face of the cleaning head. Liquid dripping from the orifice of the nozzle can be led down an inclined top face of the liquid receiving part to the outside of the cleaning head, preventing the cleaning head from being soiled with a detergent, a wax or the like.

On the surface of a silicon nitride film, there is formed a thermal oxide film, over which a CVD oxide film is then formed to provide a silicon oxide film of two-layered structure films. Moreover, the total thickness of the two-layered structure films is set to a value from 5 nm to 30 nm. Thus, the silicon oxide film is made into the two-layered structure films of the thermal oxide film and the CVD oxide film to thereby achieve the thickness of the silicon oxide film. As a result, it is possible to prevent a Vth from being lowered by a charge trap phenomenon and to prevent the Vth from fluctuating due to the enlargement of the bird's beak length by the silicon oxide film.

A hybrid plate-fin heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a first fluid and a second fluid is disclosed. The hybrid plate-fin heat exchanger comprises a plurality of plates, each of which comprises channels for conveying the first fluid. Fins are brazed onto each plate, wherein the fins define a plurality of flow channels for the second fluid. The plates are joined to one another via friction-stir welding in such a way that the brazed regions are fluidically isolated from the first fluid during operation. As a result, the heat exchanger is suitable for use in applications that use a first fluid, such as seawater or geothermal fluid, which is corrosive for the brazed regions.

A system is provided for enhancing the interconnectability of a bathtub to a plumbing system. More specifically, provided is a flexible conduit and an overflow assembly that allows for a portion of the overflow assembly to be easily located with the wall of a bathtub. The flexible conduit provided allows for adjustability of the conduit to the openings of the bathtub. In addition, provided are methods and apparatus that facilitate testing of a plumbing assembly. Finally, an apparatus and methods are provided that protect portions of the finished bathtub assembly to decrease in the need for replacing said hardware. It is envisioned that aspects and inventions disclosed herein can be used in conjunction to facilitate the interconnection and protection of hardware associated with a bathtub.

A suspension system includes a longitudinal member, an air spring, a damper and an axle assembly. The air spring is not directly attached to the chassis but is mounted to contact a locating plate attached to the chassis. The locating plate includes a lip such that the locating plate is of a frustum configuration that laterally locates and self aligns the air spring upon pivotal movement and re-alignment of the air spring with the chassis. Preferably, the suspension system includes a protective skirt which aids in bringing the air cell into a correct position with the locating plate. In addition the axle assembly extends away from the chassis at a speed restricted by the damper such that the anti-vacuum system can equalize the pressure within the air cell.

The semiconductor chip package may include a substrate having circuit patterns and substrate pads connected with the circuit patterns. At least one semiconductor chip is mounted on the substrate, and a thermoelectric cooler having a P-type material plate and an N-type material plate is mounted on the semiconductor chip. Portions of the P-type and N-type material plates may be attached on the semiconductor chip. The P-type and N-type material plates may be electrically connected to the circuit patterns of the substrate to be provided with DC power.

A bubble free, self-priming IV set for use in the administration of liquids that includes a drip chamber comprising a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, a bubble isolation device disposed within the drip chamber that prevents air bubbles from exiting the chamber outlet, a tube having an inlet end coupled to the chamber outlet of the drip chamber and an outlet end, and an end plug that includes an air vent. The end plug may be coupled to the outlet end of the tube and is a flow restrictor so that when a liquid is moving through the tube, the velocity of the liquid flow is controlled such that the front of the liquid does not trap bubbles in the tube.

A system is provided for enhancing the interconnectability of a bathtub to a plumbing system. More specifically, provided is a flexible conduit and an overflow assembly that allows for a portion of the overflow assembly to be easily located with the wall of a bathtub. The flexible conduit provided allows for adjustability of the conduit to the openings of the bathtub. In addition, provided are methods and apparatus that facilitate testing of a plumbing assembly. Finally, an apparatus and methods are provided that protect portions of the finished bathtub assembly to decrease in the need for replacing said hardware. It is envisioned that aspects and inventions disclosed herein can be used in conjunction to facilitate the interconnection and protection of hardware associated with a bathtub.

Advanced wicking structures and methods utilizing these structures are described. The use of advanced wicking structures can promote rapid mass transfer while maintaining high capillary pressure through the use of small pores. Particularly improved results in fluid contacting processes can be achieved by enhanced mixing within a wicking layer within a microchannel.

The invention concerns a method of making a complex microelectronic structure by assembling two substrates through two respective linking surfaces, the structure being designed to be dissociated at a separation zone. The invention is characterized in that is consists, prior to assembly, in producing a state difference in the tangential stresses between the two surfaces to be assembled, said difference being selected so as to obtain in the assembled structure a predetermined stress state at the time of dissociation.

A control valve of the ball type is disclosed. The valve includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with a bore that defines a primary flowpath. A ball element is mounted in the housing and is adapted to move between a closed position, fluidically disconnecting the inlet from the outlet, and an open position, fluidically connecting the inlet and outlet. A seal assembly is disposed within the housing and includes a seal housing and a biased main seal. The biased main seal includes an insert that engages the ball element during the opening and closing of the valve.

What is disclosed is a novel system and method for determining whether a pixel resides along a two-color edge in a halftoned bi-level bitmap. In one embodiment, a bitmap having a plurality of colored pixels is received. For each pixel in the bitmap, a window of size n×m is defined centered on the current pixel. The window is partitioned into a plurality of regions with each region having an orientation direction with each orientation direction having an associated numeric value. A number of pixels are counted for each of the first and second colors in each of the associated orientation directions. A determination is made as to the respective orientation direction having the maximum and minimum pixel counts for each of the first and second colors. Thereafter, a determination is made whether the pixel resides along a two color edge based upon the max / min counts and each associated orientation direction.

A ferroelectric capacitor includes a pair of electrodes, and at least one ferroelectric held between the pair of electrodes, in which the ferroelectric includes a first ferroelectric layer having a surface roughness (RMS) determined with an atomic force microscope of 10 nm or more; and a second ferroelectric layer being arranged adjacent to the first ferroelectric layer and having an RMS of 5 nm or less. A process produces such a ferroelectric capacitor by forming a first ferroelectric layer on or above one of a pair of electrodes at a temperature equal to or higher than a crystallization temperature at which the first ferroelectric layer takes on a ferroelectric crystalline structure, and forming a second ferroelectric layer on the first ferroelectric layer at a temperature lower than a crystallization temperature at which the second ferroelectric layer takes on a ferroelectric crystalline structure.

A pill crusher pouch, dimensioned to be received between a platen and anvil of a pill crusher wherein the anvil is integrally fixed to a base and wherein the platen is coupled to said base through a moveable handle, is constructed a seamless tube of flexible material having an open top and a closed bottom, wherein the closed bottom is formed a cup like seal that provides the pouch with a comerless interior that facilitates easy pouring of pulverized material from the interior of the pouch.

To provide a novel surface emitter incorporating an LED element improved in waterproofness or other practical functionality to enable the surface emitter to be used not only for a sign but also for other various applications, in appearance and in workability, and an internally illuminated sign incorporating the same surface emitter. A surface emitter 1 according to the present invention has a flexible substrate 11 having electric wiring 12, a plurality of LED elements 13 disposed substantially regularly on the substrate 11, and a top film 14 disposed on the LED elements 13 in a stretched manner. When the top film 14 is disposed on the substrate 11 in a stretched manner, the top film 14 is applied to the substrate 11 to come into close contact with projections and depressions formed by the LED elements 13. More specifically, a vacuum pressure bonding process is used in which a space between the LED elements 13 and the top film 14 is evacuated, and the top film 14 is heated and pressure-bonded to the surface of the LED elements 13.

Apparatus for coupling power generated by a photovoltaic (PV) module to an output. The apparatus comprises a universal connector assembly, comprising a connector housing, adapted for coupling to the PV module, comprising a DC connection assembly for coupling power from the PV module to a power module via a first plurality of connectors; and a base for supporting the power module spaced apart from the PV module in a manner that exposes at least a portion of the power module facing the PV module to the air and prevents air from being trapped between the power module and the PV module.

A bubble free, self-priming IV set for use in the administration of liquids that includes a drip chamber comprising a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, a bubble isolation device disposed within the drip chamber that prevents air bubbles from exiting the chamber outlet, a tube having an inlet end coupled to the chamber outlet of the drip chamber and an outlet end, and an end plug that includes an air vent. The end plug may be coupled to the outlet end of the tube and is a flow restrictor so that when a liquid is moving through the tube, the velocity of the liquid flow is controlled such that the front of the liquid does not trap bubbles in the tube.

What is disclosed is a novel system and method for determining whether a pixel resides along a two-color edge in a halftoned bi-level bitmap. In one embodiment, a bitmap having a plurality of colored pixels is received. For each pixel in the bitmap, a window of size n×m is defined centered on the current pixel. The window is partitioned into a plurality of regions with each region having an orientation direction with each orientation direction having an associated numeric value. A number of pixels are counted for each of the first and second colors in each of the associated orientation directions. A determination is made as to the respective orientation direction having the maximum and minimum pixel counts for each of the first and second colors. Thereafter, a determination is made whether the pixel resides along a two color edge based upon the max / min counts and each associated orientation direction.

The semiconductor chip package may include a substrate having circuit patterns and substrate pads connected with the circuit patterns. At least one semiconductor chip is mounted on the substrate, and a thermoelectric cooler having a P-type material plate and an N-type material plate is mounted on the semiconductor chip. Portions of the P-type and N-type material plates may be attached on the semiconductor chip. The P-type and N-type material plates may be electrically connected to the circuit patterns of the substrate to be provided with DC power.

A floor tool for a vacuum cleaning appliance, comprising a main body connected to a conduit, the main body comprising, a supporting member adapted to support a cleaning element and a suction nozzle adjacent an edge of the supporting member, wherein the suction nozzle defines a suction chamber, and wherein the suction chamber includes a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet in communication with the conduit.

An optical device and a lens unit each include a liquid container containing an insulating liquid and an electroconductive liquid which are mutually immiscible and optically transparent and have different refractive indices. The optical device and the lens unit also have a gas-absorbing material in or around the liquid container. The gas-absorbing material absorbs gas generated by energization. The optical device and the lens unit can maintain their optical characteristics even if voltage is repeatedly applied. An imaging apparatus includes an optical shooting system having the optical device. The imaging apparatus takes pictures by capturing object light coming through the optical shooting system.

A magnetic scrubber assembly and its design method for cleaning the wall-glass of an aquarium are provided. The center of gravity of the internal scrubbing component is designed underneath its the geometrically horizontal central axes. A product of length Lp from a center of gravity Pp of an internal scrubbing component to a lowest part and the center of gravity P of the internal scrubbing component is smaller than a product of a length Lf from equivalent function point Pf of buoyancy F such that the internal scrubbing component is received to its lowest part. This ensures that the internal scrubbing component can erect automatically after it is lied down. When the internal scrubbing component breaks away from the control of a hand-held scrubbing component, the internal scrubbing component can sink upright, and the magnetic scrubber assembly is restored to the normal operation condition.

Disclosed are a separator for a battery, which is coated with a gel polymer over 40-60% of total separator area, and a rechargeable lithium battery using the separator. The separator partially coated with a gel polymer reduces the battery resistance so that the battery power can be improved. Additionally, the separator increases electrolyte impregnation rate and provides uniform electrolyte impregnation, thereby improving the life, capacity and high-rate discharge property of a battery. Further, the separator permits electrode reactions to be performed uniformly, thereby preventing lithium precipitation and improving the battery safety.

A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table having a polishing surface, a polishing head having at least one elastic membrane configured to form a plurality of pressure chambers for being supplied with a pressurized fluid, and a controller configured to control supply of the pressurized fluid to the pressure chambers. The controller controls supply of the pressurized fluid so that the pressurized fluid is supplied first to the pressure chamber located at a central portion of the substrate when the substrate is brought into contact with the polishing surface, and then the pressurized fluid is supplied to the pressure chamber located at a radially outer side of the pressure chamber located at the central portion of the substrate.

A heat dissipating structure and a semiconductor package with the same are proposed. A substrate is used to accommodate at least one chip thereon, and the chip is electrically connected to the substrate. A heat dissipating structure having a flat portion and a support portion is mount on the substrate via the support portion by means of an adhesive. At least one groove is formed on the support portion and at least one air vent is formed around the groove to allow the groove to communicate with the outside via the air vent, such that the adhesive is allowed to fill the groove to expel air from the groove to the atmosphere through the air vent, thereby preventing the air from trapped in the groove.