Abstract: A staple and stapler and introducer are disclosed for closing a wound and for wound site management. The staple is deformable, and includes a plurality of tissue-piercing prongs which are expanded outwardly, inserted into tissue and collapsed inwardly to close the wound. The stapler includes a plurality of mechanisms to deform the staple into various positions. An introducer is provided that includes a plurality of spaced-apart wire guides for securing and centering the wound opening during a medical procedure, and during closure of the wound.

Abstract: In a process for forming a plasma CVD fluorine-doped SiO2 dielectric film, a feed gas to be supplied to a plasma CVD apparatus is composed to include not only SiH4 gas, O2 gas, CF4 gas and Ar gas but also CO2 gas and the amount of carbon and the amount of fluorine included in the feed gas are controlled independently of each other, to form a plasma CVD silicon-based SiO2 dielectric film doped with fluorine in the concentration range of 4.0×1021 atoms/cc to 1.0×1022 atoms/cc, and carbon in the concentration range of 3.0×1019 atoms/cc to 1.0×1021 atoms/cc. Thus, a plasma CVC silicon-based SiO2 dielectric film having a low dielectric constant and sufficient “resistance to moisture” is obtained.

Abstract: A tape carrier package (TCP) with improved connecting terminals is disclosed. The TCP includes a base film of non-conductive material which carries a plurality of conductive leads on one surface thereof. A plurality of connecting terminals are deposited on the surface such as to be electrically interconnected to the ends of the conductive leads. Each of the connecting terminals has an acute-angled top portion and includes an inner member of a first material and an outer member of a second material plated on the inner member. The acute-angled top portion of the second material is easily deformable when the connecting terminal is pressed against a corresponding terminal provided on a board to be interconnected to the TCP. Thus, an adequate interconnection area is obtained between the TCP and the circuit provided on the board.

Abstract: A medical instrument sterilization system includes a sterilization tray having a bottom wall and an array of ventilation/mounting holes in the bottom wall. The ventilation/mounting holes are arranged evenly spaced at least in part in the bottom wall. Preferably the ventilation/mounting holes comprise a central portion and one or more lobes. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the ventilation/mounting holes comprise a plurality of like cruciform-shaped holes. Completing the invention are one or more rigid brackets having posts arranged to project through the ventilation/mounting holes for anchoring at selected positions on the tray.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with a semiconductor chip and a connection lead connected to a pad of the semiconductor chip. The connection lead has a tip part which is bent up to a surface of the semiconductor chip on the opposite side of the pad. The semiconductor device is further provided a resin sealed part covering the semiconductor chip and a solder ball provided on the tip part of the connection lead.

Abstract: An entire surface of a semiconductor substrate is coated with photoresist and baked. A circuit pattern area in the region excluding a peripheral region of the semiconductor substrate is subjected to normal exposure while a non-circuit area (photoresist remaining area) in the peripheral region of the semiconductor substrate is subjected to a weak light so that the photoresist will not be removed completely during a development step and the remaining photoresist will have a hydrophilic surface. This improves wettability for a developing solution, enabling to apply the developing solution uniformly over the semiconductor substrate surface. This in turn reduces irregularities of circuit pattern dimensions due to uneven development.

Abstract: There is provided a method of patterning a substrate with an atomic mask having a mask substrate and first atoms adsorbed on the mask substrate, the first atoms forming a mask pattern having a one-atomic thickness, including the steps, in sequence, of (a) depositing adatoms over a surface of a substrate to be patterned, the adatoms having low reactivity with second atoms of which the substrate is composed, and (b) putting the atomic mask close to the substrate in such a distance that the first atoms make a chemical bond with the adatoms, so that adatoms located nearest to the first atoms are desorbed out of the substrate to form a pattern on the substrate, the pattern being defined as an area where none of the adatoms exists. In accordance with the above mentioned method, it is possible to form a pattern on the sub-nanometer or nanometer order with high accuracy and in a short period of time, and it is also possible to repeatedly form the same pattern by using the atomic mask.

Abstract: A semiconductor storage device can improve probability of relieving of defective cell. The semiconductor storage device includes a redundancy cell for relieving a defective cell when the defective cell is found during fabrication process of a memory cell, a redundancy judgment circuit making judgment whether an input address is a column address of the defective cell or not and redundancy column selection lines for making the redundancy cell active when the redundancy judgment circuit makes judgment that the input address is the column address of the defective cell. The semiconductor storage device further includes means for dividing the redundancy cell connected to one redundancy column selection line into a plurality of divided redundancy cells and assigning the column address of the defective cell to each of divided redundancy cells as relieving address.

Abstract: Process for real time sorting of signals from several semi-conductor detection elements in which: a) during a calibration phase: amplitude data and signal rise time data are established for each event signal, a biparametric detection spectrum with amplitude and rise time data is acquired, a biparametric acceptance window corresponding respectively to an amplitude-rise time correlation is established, and b) during an examination phase: an amplitude, rise time data pair is established in real time for each event signal detected, the events are sorted in real time, selecting the signals according to whether their amplitude and rise time data are or are not within the window.

Abstract: In a liquid-crystal display device comprising a liquid-crystal display panel, a light source provided in proximity to the liquid-crystal display panel for illuminating the liquid-crystal display panel, a transformer of the light source provided in proximity to the liquid-crystal display panel, and an enclosure for housing the liquid-crystal display panel, the light source and the transformer, a gasket is provided between the liquid-crystal display panel and the enclosure for controlling a thermal gradient of the liquid-crystal display panel.

Abstract: A power management circuit for battery systems composed of a switch defining a single charge/discharge path. The switch is selectively controlled using analog signals to couple a battery to a power source for charging, or to couple the battery to an active load. For charging, the switch is controlled by a controller circuit that monitors the battery voltage, the power source and the individual battery cells. The battery is only coupled to the power source if it is determined that the power source is present and that each of the battery cells is capable of receiving a charge. During discharge, the controller monitors the discharge current from the battery and compares this value to a threshold current. If the discharge current falls below the threshold, the switch is controlled to decouple the battery from the load. In this way, an overcharge condition is avoided if, for example, a power source is reapplied to the system.

Abstract: A die for drawing crystals from a molten bath, has a body bored with at least one longitudinal capillary channel arranged between a lower face of the body. The die is intended to be immersed in the molten bath and an upper face of the body intended to support the liquid coming from the molten bath through the capillary channel. The die upper face has a flat surface onto which the capillary channel emerges, and this flat surface forms an angle &thgr; less than 90° with the longitudinal axis of the capillary channel.

Abstract: A solenoid actuated door lock has a latch keeper which normally is in a locking position to prevent opening of a door. The latch keeper is maintained locked by a locking means which prevents movement of the latch keeper to an unlocked position. The locking means is moved by operation of a solenoid to a position where the keeper can release the door.

Abstract: A buffer battery power supply circuit is provided. In one embodiment, a battery charger circuit supplies a total output current which is delivered to both an active system and a battery. The total output current and the current delivered to a battery are sensed and compared to a preset threshold total output current signal and threshold battery current signal, respectively. The compared signals generate error signals which are provided as feedback to the battery charger circuit, so that the total output current can be controlled. In another embodiment, in addition to sensing the total output current and the battery current, the total output voltage is sensed and multiplied by the total output current, generating a total output power error signal. The error signals are provided as feedback to the battery charger circuit, so that the total output current and/or the total output voltage can be controlled.

Abstract: Sawdust particles are freed from their terpene content and thereafter coated with a Teflon wax. The Teflon coated sawdust is hydrophobic and consequently does not absorb water, while the ability to absorb oil is improved. The Teflon coated sawdust is useful in control of oil spills.

Abstract: A staple and stapler and introducer are disclosed for closing a wound and for wound site management. The staple is deformable, and includes a plurality of tissue-piercing prongs which are expanded outwardly, inserted into tissue and collapsed inwardly to close the wound. The stapler includes a plurality of mechanisms to deform the staple into various positions. An introducer is provided that includes a plurality of spaced-apart wire guides for securing and centering the wound opening during a medical procedure, and during closure of the wound.

Abstract: A light emitting semiconductor element comprises a first additive layer which is added into a cladding layer or a middle layer. The first additive layer has a lattice constant which is different from a lattice constant of a semiconductor substrate. The light emitting semiconductor element is attached to a heat sink to form a laser device. The heat sink gives deformation to the light emitting semiconductor element. The first additive layer generates strain therein and suppresses influence of the deformation.

Abstract: A low density fructan having a loose density equal or less than 0.35 g/ml to a composition which comprises intimately associated with the fructan one or more of maltodextrins, polydextrose, sucrose, polyols and high intensity sweeteners. Also provided is a method for preparing the fructan and the composition, and a composition which presents instant dispersion properties in aqueous medium.

Abstract: An electron-beam exposure system is constructed using electromagnetic lenses, apertures and an electron-beam mask, which are arranged and aligned in line between an electron source and a substrate. Within a trajectory of an electron beam that is radiated from the electron source and is then irradiated onto the substrate, crossover planes emerge with respect to electrons of the electron beam. The electron-beam mask is arranged at one crossover plane, while the aperture is arranged at another crossover plane. In addition, one aperture is an object aperture that narrows down the electron beam in sectional shape and size.