In a charge transfer device including spaced apart channels on a semiconductor substrate, first electrodes are disposed in gaps between the channels, second electrodes are disposed opposite alternate channels overlapping the adjacent first electrodes, and a third continuous electrode overlies the alternating channels and first and second electrodes in the charge transfer direction. A first clock phase is obtained by connecting alternate first electrodes with the adjacent second electrode in the direction of charge transfer, and a second clock phase is obtained by connecting the remaining first electrodes with the third electrode. The portion of the first electrode overlapped by the second electrode in the second clock phase is larger than that in the first clock phase for stable driving by first and second clock signals out of phase by 180.degree. and generated by a driver including a resonance circuit.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a prior art two-phase charge transfer device (hereinafter referred to as a CCD) in the charge transfer direction. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 5 designates a p-type substrate. An n.sup.- -type layer 3 in which buried channels are formed is disposed on the substrate 5. P-type impurity channels 4 are disposed in the n.sup.- -type layer 3 to determine the transfer direction of a two-phase CCD. Respective first polycrystalline silicon electrodes 1 are disposed between corresponding channels opposite n.sup.- -type layer 3. Second polycrystalline silicon electrodes 2 are disposed opposite the channels 4 and partly opposite the first polycrystalline silicon electrodes 1. An intervening film 6, e.g., a thermal oxide film, is disposed on the first polycrystalline silicon electrodes 1 and is produced when a second layer gate oxide film is produced. Generally, the first and second electrodes are alternatingly driven as gates .phi.1 and .phi.2, enabling transfer of signal charges in the direction shown in FIG. 2.
Recently, integrated solid-state imaging device technology has been advancing, and a CCD having more than 10,000 stages is needed. The method of driving such a CCD has been a problem.
As is apparent from FIG. 2, the driving gates .phi.1 and .phi.2 present a capacitive load and include inter-phase and anti-ground capacitances. FIG. 3 shows an equivalent circuit including the capacitances .phi.1 and .phi.2 which result in problems in driving the CCD. In FIG. 3, reference character C.sub.ov designates an overlapping capacitance between the first and the second polycrystalline silicon electrodes 1 and 2. Reference character C.sub.ox designates a gate oxide film capacitance of the respective gate. Reference character CJ designates the capacitance of a transfer channel. From this equivalent circuit, the gate electrode capacitance C is represented by: ##EQU1## where N is the number of CCD stages. This gate electrode capacitance is obtained when the driving gate .phi.1 or .phi.2 is at ground voltage.
The advancement of a highly integrated solidstate imaging device requires a high transfer speed. However, in a CCD including more than 10,000 stages, the driving circuit of the CCD is overloaded and it is difficult to transfer charges at high speed. In the CCD of the above-described construction, charge transfer is usually effected with a rectangular pulse. However, when the load is too large, the rectangular pulse is too weak. When the pulse power is increased, power dissipation is inevitably increased.
In order to solve these problems, a CCD is driven by a resonant circuit including an inductance and a capacitance, exploiting the capacitive load of the CCD.
FIG. 4(a) shows a CCD driving circuit utilizing a resonant circuit which was reported by Ito et al at page 79 of the 1987 National Meeting of the Society of Television Engineers. This driving circuit is quite effective for reducing power dissipation. In FIG. 4(a), reference numeral 7 designates a clock driver. Reference numeral 8 designates an equivalent capacitance C(.phi.1-.phi.2). Reference numeral 9 designates a dumping resistance R. Reference numeral 10 designates an inductance L. Reference numeral 11 designates a capacitance C.sub.s. Reference numerals 12 and 13 designate clock inputs having inverted phases.
When the rectangular waves f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 shown in FIG. 4(b) are input to the clock drivers 7, the load viewed from the clock driver 7 is a resonant circuit having parallel and serial resonance frequencies f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 as shown in the following equations. ##EQU2## Therefore, when the circuit characteristics are optimized, sinusoidal waves shown by .phi.1 and .phi.2 of FIG. 4(c) are applied to the driving gate of the CCD. The charging and discharging energy of the equivalent capacitance C(.phi.1-.phi.2) is stored in the resonant circuit, and the power supplied from the external terminals f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 is reduced. However, there is a problem in that the equivalent capacitance of the CCD is not constant or it varies in accordance with the clock voltage applied to the gate and the amount of charge that is transferred; that is, as the capacitance of the transfer channel C.sub.j in FIG. 3 varies, the equivalent capacitance C(.phi.1-.phi.2) also varies. As a result, the resonant frequency inevitably varies.


A mold assembly and method for forming a siding panel with an integral continuous rail are disclosed. The mold assembly includes a slide mold member, a lifter mold member, a stationary mold member and a rear mold assembly. The slide mold and lifter mold members include surfaces for forming the rail. Molten plastic is injected into the mold cavity and cooled. The lifter mold member is moved toward the molded siding so as to move the molded siding panel away from the stationary mold member. The slide mold member is moved away from a portion of the lifter mold member and toward the molded siding panel so as to move the molded siding panel away from the lifter mold member and causing the rail to flex as it slides over the convex portion of the lifter mold member.

Siding panels for building structures are traditionally made from either extrusions, in which case the siding panel typically does not include surface variations, or by injection molding, which permits molding of panels with many shapes and contours.
One of the limitations on injection molding of panels is the ability to remove the panels from the mold after the injection molding is complete. Most injection molds for siding are designed so that the molded panel can be easily ejected from the mold. Thus, such molds are generally fixed in shape and do not include many moving parts. However, fixed molds inhibit the ability to incorporate curved undercut components into panels, including mounting rails.
In previous methods for forming siding, rails have been formed on the front side of a siding panel by various methods, including folding the panel over on itself at the upper end, extruding the panel with the rail, or molding the rail as a separate piece and then affixing the separately molded rail to the panel. Most commonly, panels are manufactured with interrupted rail segments are used since they can be more readily fabricated. However, most contractors would prefer a continuous rail in order to facilitate installation.

Method of molding siding with continuous rail


The present invention relates to a digital video recorder having an apparatus for receiving an automatic switched image by recognizing a source and a method thereof, which is capable of automatically determining whether an image channel is a SD signal channel or a HD-SDI signal channel and switching between these channels. The present invention has an advantage in that it provides a DVR having a source recognition automatic switched image receiving apparatus which is capable of automatically detecting whether an image signal is a SD signal or a HD-SDI signal in a channel and automatically switches between these signals, thereby allowing free channel change without requiring separate setting, which can result in higher flexibility of installation and channel setting and improved utilization of existing lines, and a method thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital video recorder having an apparatus for receiving an automatic switched image by recognizing a source and a method thereof, which is capable of automatically determining whether an image channel is a SD signal channel or a HD-SDI signal channel and switching between these channels.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a conventional SD class CCTV is to be switched to a HD class monitoring system, an IP-based NVR is a target for switching. However, an IP-based system requires removal of existing CCTV infrastructures and construction of a new IP-based infrastructure, which acts as a barrier against introduction.
In this regard, in recent years, a DH-SDI (High Definition-Serial Digital Interface) technology to utilize the existing CCTV infrastructure to enable HD image monitoring is in the spot light.
As one of digital video transmission standards specified by SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers), HD-SDI is being mainly used for HD cameras and broadcasting equipment for HD digital broadcasting.
In particular, a HD-SDI format beneficial for implementation of high definition image with the minimum of 720p (1280×720) begins to create a boom in company with the demand of CCTV market to seek high quality images.
A HD CCTV of the HD-SDI format can reuse the existing CCTV infrastructure and the HD CCTV and HD DVR provide the same user interface (UI) as architecture of existing CCTV and DVR.
In addition, a HD CCTV camera has many merits in that it can transmit a digital video as well as 720p and 1080p image formats corresponding to a resolution about six times as high as that of an NTSC/PAL system.
However, the HD CCTV of the current HD-SDI has a demerit of limitation on an image transmission distance and expensive parts.
For example, to facilitate reuse of the HD CCTV infrastructure, the image transmission distance has to be more than 300 mm, like existing CCTVs but does not reach a half thereof with the current HD-SDI technique.
In addition, HD-SDI transmission/reception chip sets serving as core parts of HD-SDI techniques are more expensive than IP type high-definition cameras.
In this manner, since the image transmission distance is much reduced when the HD-SDI technique is applied to lines for existing SD class image transmission, reutilization of the existing lines is practically infeasible and distance limitation frequently occurs in on construction of new lines.
Accordingly, in recent years, for the purpose of facilitating reutilization of existing lines, there has been proposed a DVR in which some channels support HD-SDI and some channels support SD while using HD class image monitoring only for a region requiring high-definition monitoring, whereas using SD class image monitoring for a region requiring no high-definition monitoring.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a DVR having the existing SD signal channel 1 and HD-SDI signal channel 2.
Referring to FIG. 1, the existing SD signal channel 1 provides SD class image which is decoded by a SD analog decoder 5. An image output from an image processing unit 7 is reproduced on a monitor 8 or stored in a storage 9.
The HD-SDI signal channel 2 in a region requiring high-definition monitoring provides a HD-SDI class image which is decoded by a receiver 6. An image output from the image processing unit 7 is reproduced on the monitor 8 or stored in the storage 9.
However, due to physical separation of the SD signal channel 1 and the HD-SDI signal channel 2, this configuration has a difficulty in installation of these channels 1 and 2. In addition, since these channels 1 and 2 use the same BNC interface, an installation error occurs frequently when general users install or changes these channels 1 and 2.
In addition, the DVR having the existing SD signal channel 1 and HD-SDI signal channel 2 have a low possibility of reutilization of existing lines. Further, since these channels 1 and 2 are not easy to be changed, the DVR is too inconvenient to use it due to low flexibility of channel setting and installation.

Digital video recorder having appartus for receiving automatic switched image by recognizing source and method thereof


A cellular wireless communication system includes base transceiver stations and mobile stations that operate with a closed loop power control. The mobile tracking is performed based on the lock in and lock out thresholds by the base transceiver stations. A forward link power control bit is decoded from the reverse channel. An additional threshold is introduced for determining at the base transceiver station whether the decoded forward link power control bit is valid or invalid. The finger energies obtained from a finger processor formed by a RAKE receiver of the base transceiver station are compared to the additional validation threshold. The additional validation threshold is independent of the tracking thresholds and usually greater than them. The validation performance may not be affected by low signal/noise. The forward link traffic channel gain of the base transceiver station is controlled in response to the invalidity of the decoded forward power control bit. The decoding of the reverse link power control bit and the validity determination of the decoded reverse link power control bit are performed by similar methods to those of the forward link power control bit. With improved validation methods, the forward link and reverse link transmission power is more accurately controlled.

A known cellular wireless communication system is a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system. The CDMA wireless phone system allows multiple cellular phone users to share the same frequency spectrum, and uses a generated Pseudo Noise (PN) code with a different and essentially orthogonal instance of the PN code assigned to each mobile unit within a cell. A base transceiver station receiver in a CDMA station correlates the received signal from a mobile station with the desired PN code, extracting the transmitted digital signal with a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio to achieve a satisfactory data error rate.
The general structure and operation of cellular wireless communication systems are generally known. A cellular network infrastructure typically includes a plurality of base transceiver stations that each services wireless communications for one or more cellular mobile stations within a respective cell. Typically, each base transceiver station supports a plurality of sectors within its serviced cell. A base station controller typically services a plurality of base transceiver stations and coordinates operations within the cells serviced by the base transceiver stations. A mobile switching center services a plurality of base station controllers and couples to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Typically, the base station controllers or the mobile switching center couple to the Internet to service packetized communications.
Cellular wireless infrastructures typically support one or more wireless protocol standards. These wireless protocol standards include the CDMA protocol standards such as IS-95A, IS-95B, 1x-RTT, 1xEV-DO, 1xEV-DV, UMTS, and other CDMA type protocols. Alternately, the wireless protocol standard may service a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) standard such as the GSM standard, the North American TDMA standard, or other TDMA standards. The cellular mobile stations operating in the service area communicate with the base transceiver stations using such supported wireless protocol standards.
As is known, transmissions from a base transceiver station to a cellular mobile station thereof are called forward link transmissions. Likewise, transmissions from cellular mobile stations to base transceiver stations are called reverse link transmissions. The cellular network infrastructure coordinates and manages both the forward link and reverse link transmissions. Due to mobility of the cellular mobile stations, the forward link transmission power and the reverse link transmission power are controlled. In CDMA systems, for example, the reverse link transmission power and the forward link transmission power must be closely controlled for each cellular mobile station. Existing CDMA wireless protocol standards provide strict guidelines for a closed loop power control. With these standardized operations, a servicing base transceiver station controls the reverse link transmission power by sending (as necessary) power control bits on the forward link to each serviced cellular mobile station. These power control bits are typically contained in the power control sub-channel. For each power control bit, the cellular mobile station either increases its reverse link transmission power or decreases its reverse link transmission power, depending upon the value of the power control bit.
Prior cellular systems are predisposed to lose the reverse link. In order to reduce interference within a service sector or cell, prior art servicing base transceiver stations direct their service cellular mobile stations to transmit at a minimum acceptable reverse link transmission power level via use of the power control bits accordingly. Thus, reverse link transmissions typically arrive with minimally sufficient power at the servicing base transceiver station. With such prior systems, when the reverse link is lost, the base transceiver station (or the servicing base station controller) typically considers the mobile station as out of track and tries to keep forward link transmissions at the current power level, which may be too low for the mobile station to decode. Thus, many calls are dropped due to these prior power control operations.
Problems with prior power control operations are often caused by errors on the power control sub-channel, where a power-up bit transmitted by the base transceiver station may be incorrectly demodulated by the mobile station as a power-down bit. These "presumed" power-down bits cause a receiving cellular mobile station to reduce its reverse link transmission power when it should increase its reverse link transmission power. When a cellular mobile station is in soft handoff between base transceiver stations or softer handoff between sectors of the base transceiver station in a CDMA system, the cellular mobile station receives multiple power control bits from the multiple currently serving sectors. However, the cellular mobile station is disposed to more strongly consider a power-down power control bit than power-up power control bit. Thus, the cellular mobile station in such case is predisposed to reduce its reverse link transmission power which results frequently in loss of the reverse link. Thus, in many such prior operations, calls are dropped because of the failure to properly control the reverse link transmission power of the cellular mobile station.
It is, thus, necessary for controlling the reverse link transmission power of the cellular mobile station to correctly demodulate a power-up bit transmitted by the base transceiver station.
In CDMA 1xRTT and WCDMA (UMTS), a closed loop fast power control is introduced on the forward traffic channel to combat fast fading environments. This mechanism contributes to the substantial increase in the forward link air-interface capacity in comparison to IS-95. The forward link power control commands are decoded from the reverse power control sub-channel embedded on the reverse pilot channel. In one currently commercialized modem, for example, when there is at least one locked finger, the decoded binary power control bit is used for adjusting the forward link traffic channel gain either up (binary 0) or down (binary 1). If all the fingers are out of lock, no adjustment on the forward link traffic channel gain will be performed.
A problem with the currently used modem is that the forward power control bit validity is coupled with finger IN_LOCK and OUT_LOCK thresholds. The default values for IN_LOCK and OUT_LOCK thresholds are, for example, −32 dB and −37 dB, respectively. These two thresholds are very low. The primary consideration for choosing such low thresholds is the finger tracking performance. When the received signal-to-noise ratio is just above the OUT_LOCK threshold, the error rate for decoding the forward power control bit can be as high as 35% to 50%. As a result, the forward link traffic channel gain may be misadjusted.
For example, suppose a mobile station is at the edge of a cell and asks the base transceiver station to increase its transmitted forward link traffic power. Due to the decoding error, instead of increasing its transmitted power, the base transceiver station may incorrectly decrease its transmitted power. When the mobile station cannot correctly decode its received forward link traffic channel for a specific number of (e.g., 12) consecutive frames, it shuts down the transmitter thereof. Therefore, the base transceiver station can no longer hear the mobile station such that all fingers of the base transceiver station associated with that mobile station go out of lock. As a result, the forward link traffic channel power will stay at its current value until the call is dropped. The base transceiver station will try to decode the mobile's reverse link channel for a limited time, for example, five seconds. If not successful, the call will be eventually dropped.
It is, thus, necessary for controlling the forward link transmission power of the cellular mobile station to correctly demodulate a power-up bit transmitted by the mobile station.

Method and apparatus of forward link and reverse link power control in a cellular wireless communication system


In some aspects, a method of regulating oxidoreductase activity for treating an inflammation or age-related disorder involves administering to an individual isomyosmine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In other aspects, a method of treating oxidative stress associated with an inflammation or age-related disorder involves administering to an individual a therapeutically effective amount of isomyosmine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In other aspects, isomyosmine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof may be administered to an individual for the treatment of infectious or parasitic diseases or various other disorders.

Oxidoreductases are a class of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of electrons from reductants (electron donors) to oxidants (electron acceptors). This type of reaction is also known as an oxidoreduction reaction. The reaction generally follows the following scheme where A is the reductant and B is the oxidant:A−+B→A+B−Oxidoreductases can be oxidases or dehydrogenases. Oxidases are enzymes involved when molecular oxygen acts as an acceptor of hydrogen or electrons. Dehydrogenases are enzymes that oxidize a substrate by transferring hydrogen to an acceptor that is either NAD+/NADP+ or a flavin enzyme. Other oxidoreductases include peroxidases, hydroxylases, oxygenases, and reductases. Peroxidases are localized in peroxisomes, and catalyzes the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. Hydroxylases add hydroxyl groups to its substrates. Oxygenases incorporate oxygen from molecular oxygen into organic substrates. Reductases catalyze reductions, in most cases reductases can act like an oxidases.
Oxidoreductase enzymes play an important role in both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. They can be found in glycolysis, TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and in amino acid metabolism. In glycolysis, the enzyme glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase catalyzes the reduction of NAD+ to NADH. In order to maintain the re-dox state of the cell, this NADH must be re-oxidized to NAD+, which occurs in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. Additional NADH molecules are generated in the TCA cycle. The product of glycolysis, pyruvate enters the TCA cycle in the form of acetyl-CoA. During anaerobic glycolysis, the oxidation of NADH occurs through the reduction of pyruvate to lactate. The lactate is then oxidized to pyruvate in muscle and liver cells, and the pyruvate is further oxidized in the TCA cycle. All twenty of the amino acids, except leucine and lysine, can be degraded to TCA cycle intermediates. This allows the carbon skeletons of the amino acids to be converted into oxaloacetate and subsequently into pyruvate. The gluconeogenic pathway can then utilize the pyruvate formed.
The aging process is known to be associated with increased oxidative stress, that is with accumulation in the cells of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are mainly represented by superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical. ROS accumulation damages numerous types of biological molecules, such as proteins, lipids, or DNA (FIG. 3), with proteins being the most dominant target. Tanase et al., "Role of Carbonyl Modifications on Aging-Associated Protein Aggregation," Sci Rep 6, 19311 (2016). ROS induce post-translational modifications of proteins including glycation, glycoxidation, lipoxidation, and carbonylation. Dalle-Donne, "Protein carbonyl groups as biomarkers of oxidative stress," Clinica Chimica Acta. Vol. 329, Issues 1-2, March 2003, pp. 23-38. Protein carbonyl content is the most commonly used indicator of protein oxidation. Accumulation of protein carbonyls is seen in several human inflammatory and age-related diseases including Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. Berlett et al., "Protein oxidation in aging, disease, and oxidative stress," J Biol Chem 1997; 272:20313-6; Uchida, "Role of reactive aldehyde in cardiovascular diseases," Free Radic Biol Med 2000; 28:1685-96; Stadtman et al., "Reactive oxygen-mediated protein oxidation in aging and disease," Chem Res Toxicol 1997; 10:485-94.
The use of protein carbonyl groups as a biomarker of oxidative stress may be more appealing than the measurement of other oxidation products because of the relative early formation and stability of carbonylated proteins. Dalle-Donne, supra. A highly sensitive assay was developed for the detection of protein carbonyls that involves the reaction of the carbonyl group with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), which leads to the formation of a stable 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) hydrazone product. The measurement of protein carbonyls following their covalent reaction with DNPH has become the most widely utilized measure of protein oxidation in several human diseases. Levine et al., "Determination of carbonyl content in oxidatively modified proteins," Methods Enzymol 1990; 186: 464-78.
An enzyme-linked immune-adsorbent assay (ELISA) method was developed using an anti-DNP antibody for measuring total protein carbonyl groups that is highly sensitive, reproducible, and correlates directly with the classical colorimetric assay. Buss et al., "Protein carbonyl measurement by a sensitive ELISA method," Free Radic Biol Med 1997; 23(3):361-6. The ELISA test has the important advantage that requires only microgram amounts. Therefore, ELISA has a wide application for measuring protein oxidation both experimentally and clinically in situations where only limited amounts of protein are available for analysis.
Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) catalyzes the final two reactions that lead to uric acid formation (FIG. 4). XOR is a complex molibdo-flavo-enzyme present in two different functional forms: dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase (XO). Della Corte et al., "Properties of the xanthine oxidase from human liver," Biochim Biophys Acta., 1969, 191(1), pp. 164-166. Under physiological conditions, it is mainly found in the dehydrogenase form, with the highest levels found in intestine and liver, but during inflammatory conditions, stress phenomena and aging, it is easily converted into XO by oxidation of the sulfhydryl residues or by proteolysis and release into the circulation. Kelley et al., "Hydrogen peroxide is the major oxidant product of xanthine oxidase," Free Radic Biol. Med., 2010, 48(4), 493-8; Glantzounis et al., "Uric acid and oxidative stress," Curr Pharm Des., 2005, 11(32):4145-51. XO is a critical source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Fully reduced XO contains a total of six electrons (two each at the flavin and molybdenum sites, and one each at the two iron-sulfur centers) and its re-oxidation involves electron transfer to oxygen molecules which generates two H2O2 and two O2− species for every full reduced XO molecule (FIG. 4); George et al., "Role of urate, xanthine oxidase and the effects of allopurinol in vascular oxidative stress," Vasc Health Risk Manag., 2009, 5(1), 265-72.


An actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes; a compound (A) which generates an acid by irradiation with actinic rays or radiation, wherein the acid is linked with a group represented by the following general formula (M) through covalent bonding. In the formula, Y1 and Y2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, or an acyl group. Z represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. * represents a linking site with a residue of the compound (A)

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition which is suitable for use in an ultramicrolithography process applicable to a process for manufacturing such as a manufacture of a super-LSI or a high-capacity microchip, a process for fabricating a nanoimprint mold, a process for producing a high-density information recording medium, and the like, and other photofabrication processes, and is able to form a high definition negative-tone pattern using an electron beam or extreme ultraviolet rays, an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive film using the same, mask blanks including an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive film, a pattern forming method, and a photomask. Particularly, the present invention relates to an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition which is suitable for use in a photofabrication processes using a substrate having a specific underlying film, an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive film using the same, mask blanks including an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive film, a pattern forming method, and a photomask.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the production process for semiconductor devices such as ICs and LSIs, it is a practice in the related art to perform microfabrication by lithography using a photoresist composition. Recently, the formation of an ultrafine pattern in the submicron region or quarter-micron region has been demanded in accordance with the realization of high integration for integrated circuits. In accompaniment with this, a trend of wavelength shortening in the exposure wavelength from g-rays to i-rays, further to an excimer laser light can be seen, and in recent years, developments in lithography using an electron beam, X-rays has been progressed.
In particular, electron beam and extreme ultraviolet ray lithography are positioned as pattern forming technology of the next generation or a more advanced generation and are also widely used for manufacturing a photomask which is used for a semiconductor exposure because of high resolution. For example, in a process for manufacturing the photomask by electron beam lithography, after a resist layer is formed on a shielding substrate provided with a shielding layer consisting mainly of chrome or the like, and further an electronic beam exposure is selectively conducted, an alkali development is performed to form a resist pattern on a transparent substrate. Next, by setting this resist pattern as a mask and etching the shielding layer to form a pattern on the shielding layer, it is possible to obtain a photomask including the shielding layer having a predetermined pattern on the transparent substrate.
However, since it is difficult for an electron beam to collectively expose unlike ultraviolet rays, a resist with high sensitivity is required for reducing the treatment time and as a resist which is suitable for electron beam lithography, a so-called positive-tone resist composition which is a combination of an acid-decomposable polymer compound with a photo-acid generator, and a so-called negative-tone resist composition which is a combination of a cross-linking polymer compound with a cross-linking agent have been effectively used. However, in such a resist composition, when trying to make higher sensitivity, the decrease in resolution, the deterioration of a pattern shape and the occurrence of a scum tend to occur. Furthermore, the deterioration of line edge roughness (a phenomenon in which the edge becomes uneven because a resist pattern and the edge of a substrate interface irregularly changes in the vertical direction to a line, and the accuracy of dimension is decreased by the unevenness being transcribed by an etching process) tends to occur. The improvement of line edge roughness is particularly very important subject in an ultrastructural region in which the line width is 0.25 μm or less.
As a method which solves some of these problems, a photo-acid generator including a cross-linking group in a molecule is disclosed. For example, a compound having a photo-acid generator group and a vinyl ether group which is cross-linked by the generated acid in the same molecule is disclosed in JP2001-19799A. In addition, a compound having a photo-acid generator group and a cross-linking group including a ring structure such as an oxetane ring in the same molecule is disclosed in JP2011-246439A. However, it was difficult to satisfy high sensitivity, high resolution (for example, high resolving power, an excellent pattern shape and small line edge roughness (LER)) and excellent dry etching resistance at the same time depending on the resist compositions using these compounds. In addition, it is speculated that particularly, a compound disclosed in JP2001-19799A has a cross-linking group at a cation part that may be one of the causes, however, the temporal stability is poor, therefore, a non-exposed portion is reacted and this becomes one of the causes of deterioration of a scum.

Actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive film, mask blanks including actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive film, pattern forming method and photomask


An addressable optical network interface unit includes an optical input and a radio frequency output. The unit also includes an optical-to-electrical conversion circuit that converts optical signals received at the optical input into radio frequency signals, a directional coupler that is coupled to an output of the optical-to-electrical conversion circuit and a radio frequency receiver that is coupled to a first output of the directional coupler. The radio frequency receiver receives radio frequency signals input through the optical input. The unit also includes a controller that is coupled to the radio frequency receiver, and a filter circuit that is coupled to a second output of the directional coupler. The filter circuit includes multiple signal paths that filter out signals in different frequency ranges. Switches are provided that select one of the signal paths through the filter circuit. These switches are controlled in response to data contained in the radio frequency signal. The controller is configured to generate control signals that control the settings of at least some of the switches based at least in part on a filter control signal received through the optical input.

Cable television networks refer to communications networks that are used to transmit cable television signals and/or other information between one or more service providers and a plurality of subscribers over cable and/or fiber. Most conventional cable television networks comprise hybrid fiber-coaxial ("HFC") networks. In these networks, fiber optic cables are typically used to carry signals from the headend facilities of the service provider to various distribution points, while less expensive coaxial cable may be used, for example, to carry the signals into neighborhoods and/or into individual homes. In many cases, the proportion of an HFC network that comprises fiber is increasing. For example, many HFC networks are now implemented as Fiber-to-the Curb ("FTTC"), Fiber-to-the-Home ("FTTH") or RF over Glass ("RFoG") networks where the fiber portion of the network may extend down residential streets in the network (in FTTC applications) or all the way to individual customer premises (in FTTH) applications. FTTC and FTTH HFC networks may be generally referred to as "FTTx" or "RFoG" networks.
Typically, the service provider is a cable television company that may have exclusive rights to offer cable television services in a particular geographic area. The subscribers in a cable television network may include, for example, individual homes, apartments, hotels, etc., and various businesses and other entities. The service provider may broadcast a broad variety of cable television channels to subscribers over the cable television network. The cable television network may provide more channels, and often provide better signal quality, than "broadcast" television signals that may be received via the open airways.
The cable television service provider may offer subscribers a variety of different services. By way of example, typically several "tiers" of cable television service will be offered, ranging from, for example, a "basic" service that might include, for example, anywhere from about a dozen channel, to full service offerings that might include as many as several hundred channels. Premium movie and sports channels are often made available for a separate monthly subscription fee, and subscribers may also be able to order special packages of sporting or other events on a "pay-per-view" basis. Many cable television service providers also offer other services such as, for example, movies-on-demand which allow a customer to download a movie for viewing during a fixed time period or services completely unrelated to television including, for example, broadband Internet service and digital telephone service.
Consumers typically can choose from multiple service providers that offer television, Internet and telephone services. In addition, as noted above, often subscribers can choose from a range of service plans that provide varying levels of service at different price points. As a result of this range of choices, cable television network subscribers may fairly frequently add or drop service and/or change the service plan to which they subscribe. Each time this occurs, it may be necessary to configure the cable television network to provide the selected services to the subscriber in question.
A "tap" or "tap unit" refers to a connection to a communications line. In cable television networks, a tap unit is connected to a cable of the network in order to provide a port that carries signals between the network and a particular subscriber's premise (e.g., a house, apartment, business, etc.). An "addressable tap unit" is a tap unit that may be controlled (i.e., turned on or off) from a remote location. A cable television service provider may use such addressable tap units to activate or deactivate service to a particular subscriber from a remote location.

Addressable network interface units suitable for use in FTTX and RFOG networks and related methods of controlling bandwidth allocation and identifying noise sources in such networks


Methods, devices, and non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums are provided for distributing red envelops. The method includes following steps: generating red envelopes based on a user instruction; receiving a first request for accessing the red envelopes in response to a delay condition being fulfilled; calculating one or more amounts based on an audience number of online audiences at current moment; and placing the one or more amounts at a preset position of a container for displaying.

With the development of network technologies, the network live broadcast has become an emerging sunrise industry. The live broadcast specifically is "a broadcasting mode in which the post-synthesis and broadcast of the broadcasting and TV programs are performed simultaneously". According to broadcast occasions, it may be divided into live broadcast at the scene, live broadcast in the telestudio, live broadcast in the studio and other forms. The TV live broadcast is a broadcasting mode in which the TV program is produced and broadcasted simultaneously on the spot with the occurrence and development of the event, and is a broadcasting mode that fully reflects the communication advantages of the broadcast television media. How to attract the audiences by using the shared data is to be studied.

Method, system, and intelligent terminal for distributing random data

Beijing Dajia Internet Information Technology Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides an apparatus comprising a wavelength variable light source for shifting a wavelength of light stepwise within a predetermined range and applying the light with the shifted wavelength onto a light transmissible object that is to be measured and is provided with a gap; a camera for taking an image of an interference fringe formed by the light transmitted by said object, correspondingly to each step of the shifted wavelength; an image memory for storing images taken by said camera; and means for obtaining a change in the intensity of the images taken by said camera, at each of predetermined positions of each image over said predetermined wavelength range; and means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the obtained changes in the intensity.

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-323731, filed on Oct. 22, 2001, entitled xe2x80x9cMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING GAP, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING SHAPE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING LIQUID CRYSTAL DEVICExe2x80x9d. The contents of that application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirely.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technology for measuring a gap between members or shape thereof by utilizing interference of light.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a conventional gap measuring apparatus having a configuration shown in FIG. 20 has been developed as an apparatus for measuring a gap between light transmission members, such as liquid crystal cells. This apparatus utilizes a phenomenon that light waves respectively reflected by the top surface and the bottom surface of a gap having an effective thickness d (incidentally, the refractive index of a medium is assumed to be n) illuminated by light, which is irradiated from an objective lens of a microscope through a half-mirror, return thereto in such a way as to cause a phase difference 2nd therebetween, and that these light waves pass through a Wollaston prism and polarizing plates A and P to thereby generate interference fringes. That is, the value of the gap d is determined by measuring the peak gap y between an interference fringe, which is generated by the interference between light waves both reflected by one of the top and bottom surfaces, and another interference fringe, which is generated on the line of intersection between the wavefronts of light waves respectively reflected by the top and bottom surfaces, according to the following equation (1):
y=nd/(exe2x88x92no) tan xcex8xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
where xcex6 designates a prism angle of a Wollaston prism, and ne and no denote refractive indexes of the Wollaston prism.
However, the conventional gap measuring apparatus is operative to measure the gap therebetween correspondingly to one point of an object at a time. Thus, to measure the distribution of the gaps in a predetermined section, the conventional gap measuring apparatus should repeatedly perform the measurement of the gap by shifting the object therein. Thus, an operation of measuring the gap is complex and time-consuming.
The invention is accomplished taking the aforementioned problem into consideration.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus each enabled to measure the gap or shape of an object at a high speed with high accuracy and a method for effectively manufacturing a liquid crystal device.
To achieve the foregoing object, the present invention adopts the following structures.
(1) A gap measuring method comprising the steps of:
shifting a wavelength of light stepwise within a predetermined wavelength range to use the light for measuring a gap;
taking an image of an interference fringe, which is generated owing to a gap provided in a measured object and the used light with the shifted wavelength, by a camera correspondingly to each step of the shifted wavelength;
obtaining a change in the intensity of the images of the interference fringes taken by said camera at each of predetermined positions of each image, over said predetermined wavelength range; and
determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the obtained changes in the density.
(2) A gap measuring method according to (1), wherein said step of determining a gap value includes the steps of:
obtaining a theoretical change in the intensity of the images, over said predetermined wavelength range, correspondingly to each of preliminarily set gap values; and
determining the gap value of said measured object based on the change in the intensity of the fixed position of each image taken by the camera and the obtained theoretical changes in the intensity.
(3) A gap measuring method according to (1), wherein said step of determining a gap value includes the steps of:
obtaining a plurality of peaks in said change in the intensity of the images, over the predetermined wavelength range; and calculating gap values of a plurality of points of the measured object based on a plurality of wavelengths respectively corresponding to the peaks.
(4) A gap measuring method according to any one of (1)xcx9c(3), wherein said interference fringe is obtained by utilizing light transmitted by said measured object.
(5) A gap measuring method according to any one of (1)xcx9c(3), wherein said interference fringe is obtained by utilizing light reflected from said measured object.
(6) A gap measuring method according to any one of (1)xcx9c(5), wherein said shifted wavelength of the used light is obtained by shifting a wavelength of light emitted from a light source to said measured object.
(7) A gap measuring method according to any one of (1)xcx9c(5), wherein said shifted wavelength of the used light is obtained by providing a filter, which is adapted to selectively transmit a certain wavelength of light to the side of said camera.
(8) A gap measuring method according to any one of (1)xcx9c(7), wherein said change in the density of images taken by the camera, is corrected in consideration of variable factors.
(9) A gap measuring method according to any one of (1)xcx9c(8), wherein the said image consists of a plurality of pixels, to measure the gap value for each of the pixels.
(10) A shape measuring method comprising the steps of:
measuring gap values of a gap between a pair of members, one of which has a flat surface, by the gap measuring method according to any one of (1)xcx9c(9); and
determining a shape of the other member constituting said gap, based on the measured gap values.
(11) A gap measuring apparatus comprising:
a wavelength variable light source for shifting a wavelength of light stepwise within a predetermined range and applying the light with the shifted wavelength onto a light transmissible object that is to be measured and is provided with a gap;
a camera for taking an image of an interference fringe formed by the light transmitted by said object, correspondingly to each step of the shifted wavelength;
an image memory for storing images taken by said camera; and
means for obtaining a change in the intensity of the images taken by said camera, at each of predetermined positions of each image over said predetermined wavelength range; and means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the obtained changes in the intensity.
(12) A gap measuring apparatus comprising:
a white light source for applying white light onto a light transmissible object that is to be measured and is provided with a gap;
a filter for shifting, stepwise, a wavelength of the light transmitted by said measured object within a predetermined wavelength range to send the light with the shifted wavelength to said camera;
a camera for taking an image of an interference fringe formed by said light transmitted by the filter, correspondingly to each step of the shifted wavelength;
an image memory for storing images taken by said camera;
means for obtaining a change in the intensity of the images taken by said camera, at each of predetermined positions of each image over said predetermined wavelength range; and means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the obtained changes in the intensity.
(13) A gap measuring apparatus comprising:
a wavelength variable light source for shifting a wavelength of light stepwise within a predetermined range and emitting the light with the shifted wavelength;
a camera for taking an image of an interference fringe of light;
optical means for directing the light emitted from said light source to a measured object provided with a gap and directing the light reflected by said measured object to said camera;
an image memory for storing images of interference fringes formed by the light from said optical means and taken by said camera; and
means for obtaining a change in the intensity of the images taken by said camera, at each of predetermined positions of each image over said predetermined range; and means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the obtained changes in the intensity.
(14) A gap measuring apparatus comprising:
a white light source for emitting white light;
a camera for taking an image of an interference fringe of light;
optical means for directing the light emitted from said light source to a measured object provided with a gap and directing the light reflected by said measured object to said camera;
a filter for shifting, stepwise, a wavelength of the light from said optical means within a predetermined range to send the light with the shifted wavelength to said camera;
an image memory for storing images of interference fringes formed by the light from said optical means and taken by said camera; and
means for obtaining a change in the intensity of the images taken by said camera at each of predetermined positions of each image, over said predetermined wavelength range; and means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the obtained changes in the intensity.
(15) A gap measuring apparatus according to any one of (11)xcx9c(14), wherein said means for determining a gap value includes:
a reference data memory for storing data representing a theoretical change in the intensity of the images, over said predetermined range, correspondingly to each of preliminarily set gap values; and
gap value comparison and determination means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of gap based on the changes in the intensity the images and the theoretical changes in the intensity.
(16) A gap measuring apparatus according to any one of (11)xcx9c(14), wherein said means for determining the gap values includes:
means for obtaining a plurality of peaks in said change in the intensity of the images, over the predetermined wavelength range; and means for calculating gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on a plurality of wavelengths respectively corresponding to the peaks.
(17) A gap measuring apparatus according to any one of (11)xcx9c(16), which further comprises correction means for correcting the change in the density of the images taken by the camera, in consideration of variable factors.
(18) A shape measuring apparatus comprising:
a wavelength variable light source for shifting a wavelength of light stepwise within a predetermined range and irradiating the light with the shifted wavelength onto a light transmissible object that is to be measured;
a light transmissible plate-like element which has a flat surface and is oppositely placed to said object with intervention of a gap;
a camera for taking an image of an interference fringe formed by the light with the shifted wavelength transmitted by said object and said plate-like element, correspondingly to each step of the shifted wavelength;
an image memory for storing images taken by said camera;
means for obtaining a change in the intensity of the images taken by said camera at each of predetermined positions of each image, over said predetermined range; means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the obtained changes in the intensity; and
gap-value-to-shape conversion means for determining a shape of said object based on the determined gap values.
(19) A shape measuring apparatus comprising:
a white light source for emitting white light onto a light transmissible object that is to be measured;
a light transmissible plate-like element which has a flat surface and is oppositely placed to said object with intervention of a gap;
a filter for shifting, stepwise, wavelength of the light transmitted by the object and the plate-like element within a predetermined range to send the light with the shifted wavelength to said camera;
a camera for taking an image of an interference fringe formed by said light transmitted by said filter, correspondingly to each step of the shifted wavelength;
an image memory for storing images taken by said camera;
means for obtaining a change in the intensity of the images taken by said camera, at each of predetermined positions of each image over said predetermined wavelength range; means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the obtained changes in the intensity; and
gap-value-to-shape conversion means for determining a shape of said object based on the determined gap values.
(20) A shape measuring apparatus comprising:
a wavelength variable light source for shifting a wavelength of light stepwise within a predetermined range and emitting the light with the shifted wavelength onto an object to be measured;
a light transmissible plate-like element which has a flat surface and is oppositely placed to said object with intervention of a gap;
a camera for taking an image of an interference fringe of light;
optical means for directing the light emitted from said light source to an object to be measured and directing the light reflected by said object and said plate-like element to said camera;
an image memory for storing images of interference fringes formed by the light from said optical means and taken by said camera;
means for obtaining a change in the intensity of the images taken by said camera, at each of predetermined positions of each image over said predetermined wavelength range; means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the obtained changes in the intensity; and
gap-value-to-shape conversion means for determining a shape of said object based on the determined gap values.
(21) A shape measuring apparatus comprising:
a white light source for emitting white light onto an object that is to be measured;
a light transmissible plate-like element which has a flat surface and is oppositely placed to said object with intervention of a gap;
a camera for taking an image of an interference fringe of light;
optical means for directing the light emitted from said light source to the object and directing the light reflected by said object and said plate-like element to said camera;
a filter for shifting, stepwise, wavelength of light transmitted from said optical means within a predetermined range to send the light with the shifted wavelength to said camera;
an image memory for storing images of interference fringes formed by the light from said filter and taken by said camera;
means for obtaining a change in the intensity of the images taken by said camera, at each of predetermined positions of each image over said predetermined wavelength range; means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the obtained changes in the intensity; and
gap-value-to-shape conversion means for determining a shape of said object based on the determined gap values.
(22) A shape measuring apparatus according to any one of (18)xcx9c(21), wherein said means for determining a gap value includes:
a reference data memory for storing data representing a theoretical change in the intensity of the images, over said predetermined range, correspondingly to each of preliminarily set gap values; and
gap value comparison and determination means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the changes in intensity of the images and the theoretical changes in the intensity.
(23) A shape measuring apparatus according to any one of (18)xcx9c(21), wherein said means for determining the gap values includes:
means for obtaining a plurality of peaks in said change in the intensity of the images, over the predetermined wavelength range; and means for calculating gap values of a plurality of the gap based on a plurality of wavelengths respectively corresponding to the peaks.
(24) A shape measuring apparatus according to any one of (18)xcx9c(23), which further comprises correction means for correcting the change in the intensity of the images taken by the camera, in consideration of variable factors.
(25) A manufacturing method for a liquid crystal device, in which a gap between two substrates is filled with liquid crystal and sealed, wherein gap values of a plurality of points of the gap is measured by utilizing said gap measuring apparatus according to any one of (11)xcx9c(17), and wherein liquid crystal is injected into said gap when the gap values are within a prescribed range.

Method and apparatus for measuring gap, and method and apparatus for measuring shape and method for manufacturing liquid crystal device


Methods are provided for generating nucleic acid ligands of CD40ligand. The methods of the invention use the SELEX method for the isolation of nucleic acid ligands. The invention also includes nucleic acid ligands to CD40ligand, and methods and compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of disease using the nucleic acid ligands.

CD40ligand (also known as CD154) is a member of the TNF family of molecules. It is a type II membrane protein (N-terminus intracellular and C-terminus extracellular) that is expressed on activated T cells. The human protein is 261 residues long and has a single N-linked carbohydrate moiety. Antibodies to CD154 have been shown to suppress T cell and antibody mediated immune responses in a number of experimental systems. These include inhibition of graft rejection and blocking autoimmune disorders (Durie, F. H. et al. 1993. Science 261:1328). The combined use of anti-CD40ligand antibodies and CD28 blockers (i.e. CTLA-4Ig) has been shown to be effective in blocking graft rejection in both murine and rhesus transplant models (Larsen, C. P. et al. 1996. Nature 381: 434; Kirk, A.D. 1997. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 94:8789). More recently, the use of anti-CD40ligand antibody as a single agent in rhesus kidney allografts has shown that this treatment is remarkably efficacious (Kirk, A. D. et al. 1999. Nature Medicine 5: 686.).
CD40ligand is also expressed on activated platelets and this observation has kindled interest in the role of CD40ligand-CD40 interactions in vascular biology (Henn, V. et al. 1998. Nature 391:591). CD40 and CD40 ligand expression has also been reported on vascular endothelium and smooth muscle cells (Mach, F. et al. 1997. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 94:1931). One report has suggested that inhibition of CD40ligand:CD40 interactions may diminish the development of atherosclerotic lesions (Mach, F. et al. 1998. Nature 394: 200). Atherosclerosis has been viewed as a disease state in which inflammatory processes of the immune system may play a role. Given the potential therapeutic results of inhibiting the activity of the CD40ligand, it would be desirable to have high affinity and high specificity inhibitors of this molecule.
The dogma for many years was that nucleic acids had primarily an informational role. Through a method known as Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment, termed the SELEX process, it has become clear that nucleic acids have three dimensional structural diversity not unlike proteins. The SELEX process is a method for the in vitro evolution of nucleic acid molecules with highly specific binding to target molecules and is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/536,428, filed Jun. 11, 1990, entitled "Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment," now abandoned, U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,096 entitled "Nucleic Acid Ligands", U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,163 (see also WO 91/19813) entitled "Methods For Identifying Nucleic Acid Ligands", each of which is specifically incorporated by reference herein. Each of these applications, collectively referred to herein as the SELEX Patent Applications, describes a fundamentally novel method for making a nucleic acid ligand to any desired target molecule. The SELEX process provides a class of products which are referred to as nucleic acid ligands or aptamers, each having a unique sequence, and which has the property of binding specifically to a desired target compound or molecule. Each SELEX-identified nucleic acid ligand is a specific ligand of a given target compound or molecule. The SELEX process is based on the unique insight that nucleic acids have sufficient capacity for forming a variety of two- and three-dimensional structures and sufficient chemical versatility available within their monomers to act as ligands (form specific binding pairs) with virtually any chemical compound, whether monomeric or polymeric. Molecules of any size or composition can serve as targets. The SELEX method applied to the application of high affinity binding involves selection from a mixture of candidate oligonucleotides and step-wise iterations of binding, partitioning and amplification, using the same general selection scheme, to achieve virtually any desired criterion of binding affinity and selectivity. Starting from a mixture of nucleic acids, preferably comprising a segment of randomized sequence, the SELEX method includes steps of contacting the mixture with the target under conditions favorable for binding, partitioning unbound nucleic acids from those nucleic acids which have bound specifically to target molecules, dissociating the nucleic acid-target complexes, amplifying the nucleic acids dissociated from the nucleic acid-target complexes to yield a ligand-enriched mixture of nucleic acids, then reiterating the steps of binding, partitioning, dissociating and amplifying through as many cycles as desired to yield highly specific high affinity nucleic acid ligands to the target molecule.
It has been recognized by the present inventors that the SELEX method demonstrates that nucleic acids as chemical compounds can form a wide array of shapes, sizes and configurations, and are capable of a far broader repertoire of binding and other functions than those displayed by nucleic acids in biological systems.
The basic SELEX method has been modified to achieve a number of specific objectives. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/960,093, filed Oct. 14, 1992, now abandoned, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,796, both entitled "Method for Selecting Nucleic Acids on the Basis of Structure," describe the use of the SELEX process in conjunction with gel electrophoresis to select nucleic acid molecules with specific structural characteristics, such as bent DNA. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/123,935, filed Sep. 17, 1993, entitled "Photoselection of Nucleic Acid Ligands,", now abandoned, U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,177 entitled "Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment: Photoselection of Nucleic Acid Ligands and Solution SELEX" and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/093,293, filed Jun. 8, 1998, entitled "Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment: Photoselection of Nucleic Acid Ligands and Solution SELEX", describe a SELEX based method for selecting nucleic acid ligands containing photoreactive groups capable of binding and/or photocrosslinking to and/or photoinactivating a target molecule. U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,737 entitled "High-Affinity Nucleic Acid Ligands That Discriminate Between Theophylline and Caffeine," describes a method for identifying highly specific nucleic acid ligands able to discriminate between closely related molecules, which can be non-peptidic, termed Counter-SELEX. U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,588 entitled "Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment: Solution SELEX," describes a SELEX-based method which achieves highly efficient partitioning between oligonucleotides having high and low affinity for a target molecule.
The SELEX method encompasses the identification of high-affinity nucleic acid ligands containing modified nucleotides conferring improved characteristics on the ligand, such as improved in vivo stability or improved delivery characteristics. Examples of such modifications include chemical substitutions at the ribose and/or phosphate and/or base positions. SELEX process-identified nucleic acid ligands containing modified nucleotides are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,985 entitled "High Affinity Nucleic Acid Ligands Containing Modified Nucleotides," that describes oligonucleotides containing nucleotide derivatives chemically modified at the 5- and 2'-positions of pyrimidines. U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,737, supra, describes highly specific nucleic acid ligands containing one or more nucleotides modified with 2'-amino (2'-NH2), 2'-fluoro (2'-F), and/or 2'-O-methyl (2'-OMe). U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/264,029, filed Jun. 22, 1994, entitled "Novel Method of Preparation of Known and Novel 2' Modified Nucleotides by Intramolecular Nucleophilic Displacement," now abandoned, describes oligonucleotides containing various 2'-modified pyrimidines.
The SELEX method encompasses combining selected oligonucleotides with other selected oligonucleotides and non-oligonucleotide fictional units as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,459 entitled "Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment: Chimeric SELEX," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,867 entitled "Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment: Blended SELEX," respectively. These applications allow the combination of the broad array of shapes and other properties, and the efficient amplification and replication properties, of oligonucleotides with the desirable properties of other molecules.
The SELEX method further encompasses combining selected nucleic acid ligands with lipophilic compounds or non-immunogenic, high molecular weight compounds in a diagnostic or therapeutic complex as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/434,465, filed May 4, 1995, entitled "Nucleic Acid Ligand Complexes". Each of the above described patent applications which describe modifications of the basic SELEX procedure are specifically incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
It is an object of the present invention to provide methods that can be used to identify nucleic acid ligands that bind with high specificity and affinity to CD40ligand.
It is a further object of the present invention to obtain nucleic acid ligands to CD40ligand that inhibit the activity of CD40ligand when bound.


A reflecting surface consists of three reflecting sectors arranged around the optical axis. The first reflecting sector located above the horizontal plane including the optical axis is a part of a paraboloid of revolution having a focus at point F. The second reflecting sector consists of two sub-sectors located on the right and left sides of the vertical plane including the optical axis. A fundamental surface of the two sub-sectors has a reference parabola in a plane inclined from the horizontal plane by a predetermined angle, and is a collection of intersecting lines each obtained by cutting an imaginary paraboloid of revolution assumed for a point on an orthogonal projection of the reference parabola onto the horizontal plane by a vertical plane including an axis of the imaginary paraboloid of revolution. The third reflecting sector located below the horizontal plane is a part of a paraboloid of revolution having a focus at point G. An orthogonal projection of an arc of a discharge lamp is located between points F and G.

The present invention relates to a reflector for a vehicular headlight which uses a discharge lamp as a light source.
Recent trends of automobile design have prompted efforts to develop new types of headlights. That is, with a streamlined body shape to satisfy the requirements of high speed and high fuel efficiency, the front faces of automobiles tend to incline toward the horizontal plane, which necessitates outer lenses of headlights to incline similarly. As a result, the effective height of headlights tends to decrease. As another trend, small metal halide lamps have recently attacted much attention as light sources for such headlights.
FIG. 15 schematically shows a spatial relationship between a metal halide lamp a and a paraboloid-of-revolution reflector b. The metal halide lamp a is disposed so that the central axis of its glass tube c coincides with the optical axis L--L of the reflector a. An arc is generated between electrodes arranged in a sphere d (discharge space) located at the center of the glass tube c.
However, conventionally the shapes of reflector surfaces have been designed with an assumption that a coil-like filament is used; that is, they have been designed with no fundamental consideration of the structure of metal halide lamps. Therefore, the combination of such a reflector and a metal halide lamp is associated with a problem that glare appears conspicuously in a light distribution pattern.
FIG. 16 schematically shows upper edge portions f of images projected onto a front screen by reflecting sectors e (shown hatched in FIG. 15 for clarity) that occupy right and left areas of the reflecting surface of the reflector b of FIG. 15. The reflecting sectors e have predetermined central angles when viewed from the front side.
In FIG. 16, H--H and V--V denote horizontal and vertical lines, respectively. The images f are located under the horizontal line H--H with the vertical line V--V in between, and shaped like a bow which corresponds to the electric arc of the metal halide lamp a.
Glare appears conspicuously in areas g (hatched in FIG. 16) located over the images f and occupying both sides of the horizontal line H--H. The glare is caused by light emission by metal iodide substances accumulated in the sphere d of the metal halide lamp a.
FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the sphere d of the metal halide lamp a. Electrode rods i are penetrated through pinch seal portions h that are connected to the sphere d on both sides. An arc j is generated between tip portions of the electrode rods i that are projected into the sphere d. The arc j has the maximum brightness at positions p, p that are close to the electrode rods i.
As shown in FIG. 17, there is an accumulation k of metal iodide substances on the bottom of the sphere d. The accumulation k is a cause of secondary light generated in response to the light of the arc j, and the glare in the light-distribution pattern is caused by the light from the accumulation k and a region hatched in FIG. 17.
Since the images f contribute to formation of the cutline (cutoff line) and the maximum contrast portion of the light distribution pattern, the shape of the reflecting sectors e is important for the reduction of the glare.

Vehicular headlight reflector suitable for use with a discharge lamp


A pneumatic tire has a tread portion provided with an asymmetrical tread pattern and comprising an inboard shoulder land portion, an inboard shoulder main groove, an inboard middle land portion, an inboard crown main groove, a center land portion, an outboard crown main groove, an outboard middle land portion, an outboard shoulder main groove, and an outboard shoulder land portion. The inboard middle land portion is provided with inboard middle axial grooves extending from the inboard shoulder main groove and each comprising a main portion and a turnback portion. The inboard shoulder land portion is provided with inboard shoulder sipes extending from the inboard shoulder main groove.

The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire, more particularly to an asymmetrical tread pattern capable of improving noise performance without sacrificing wet performance and steering stability.
In general, pneumatic tires for example passenger tires are provided in the tread portion with tread grooves such as circumferential grooves and axial grooves.
If tread grooves are increased in the volume in order to improve wet performance of the tire, there is a problem such that the rigidity of the tread portion is decreased and the steering stability is deteriorated. Further, air tube resonance becomes liable to occurs when the groove volume is increased, therefore there is a problem such that noise performance is deteriorated. Thus, the wet performance is contradictory to the noise performance and steering stability.
In order to solve such contradictory problem, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-285610 discloses a pneumatic tire in which a circumferentially continuously extending rib is formed on each side of a circumferential groove to isolate the circumferential groove.
In such a pneumatic tire, however, there is room for simultaneous improvement in the steering stability, wet performance and noise performance.


According to example embodiments, an Image View Aggregator identifies a frontal view of an item within an image. The Image View Aggregator identifies at least one reflection view of the item within the image. Each reflection view of the item having been captured off a corresponding reflective physical surface. The Image View Aggregator extracts the frontal view of the item and each reflection view of the item from the image. The Image View Aggregator generates a representation of the item based at least on the extracted frontal view of the item and each extracted reflection view of the item.

Typical electronic commerce ("e-commerce) sites provide users (e.g., sellers) with computer-implemented services for selling goods or services through, for example, a website. For example, a seller may submit information regarding a good or service to the e-commerce site through a web-based interface. Upon receiving the information regarding the good or service, the e-commerce site may store the information as a listing that offers the good or service for sale. Other users (e.g., buyers) may interface with the e-commerce site through a search interface to find goods or services to purchase. For example, some typical e-commerce sites may allow the user to submit a search query that includes, for example, search terms that may be matched by the e-commerce site against the listings created by the sellers. In another example, some typical e-commerce sites may allow the user to post a listing of an item for sale along with an image of the item so that potential buyers can see a current condition of the item.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Source image providing multiple item views


A high strength electrical connector includes an outer cylindrical, rigid support cover open at both ends and preferably comprised of a high strength metal. A first electrical lead extends through a tension bushing attached to one end of the support cover. A mating receptacle through which a second electrical lead passes is securely attached to a second opposed end of the support cover. Electrical connection between the ends of the first and second electrical leads is established within the support cover. Securely attaching the ends of the first and second electrical leads together within the support cover, which is preferably comprised of a high strength metal, directs axial and transverse forces exerted on the first electrical lead through the support cover, thus bypassing the electrical connection.

The widespread use of electrical connectors frequently places them in hostile environments where they are subject to large forces. These forces may be applied either axially along the length of the electrical connector, or transverse to the electrical connector's axis. In either case, the connector is subject to damage and the electrical connection may be interrupted. Interruption of the electrical connection results in at least a loss of power or an interruption in the transmission of data, and may even present a safety hazard.
One prior approach to increasing the integrity of the electrical connection has made use of kevlar. In one example, kevlar is wrapped around part of the electrical connector itself. In another example, kevlar is secured by crimping. Both of these approaches have met with only limited success when large forces are applied because of the difficulty in securely attaching the kevlar. Another example of the use of kevlar for this purpose involves attempts to impregnate a layer of kevlar in the electrical connector's housing. This approach has also met with limited success because of the difficulty in consistently incorporating kevlar in a moldable material such as plastic. Thus, efforts to date have met with only limited success in providing an electrical connector capable of withstanding large axial and/or transverse forces while maintaining the integrity of the electrical connection.


The present disclosure describes systems and methods for generating a priority score for a variant of a gene based on its potential significance to a disease. Priority scores may be calculated for multiple variants, and the variants may be ranked based on the generated priority scores.

A major challenge faced by researches in genomics worldwide is determining how to analyze the enormous amount of data provided by next generation sequencing machines. It is challenging to process the data and translate it into clinically relevant information that can be used in the diagnosis and therapy of diseases. The genome in its entirety is still not fully understood. One challenge is determining the effects of variants of unknown significance.
Several, hundreds, or even thousands of variants of a sequence for a gene may exist. A significant portion of these variants may not have an effect on the function or expression of the gene. However, some of the variants may have an impact on a disease state such as cancer. These variants may be useful for determining which therapies may be effective for treating a particular disease (e.g., a tumor exhibiting a particular variant may be more susceptible to a drug than tumors without the variant) and/or for finding targets for new therapies. Determining which variants may be useful for research and/or treatment and which do not have a significant effect remains a challenge.
Various algorithms have been developed to predict the functional effect of variants. Each algorithm has its own scores to categorize variants in classes such as Benign, Deleterious, Potentially deleterious, Tolerant etc. Each of these algorithms has its metrics to classify variants into the categories mentioned above. However, there is discrepancy in the results of these algorithms.

Systems and methods for prioritizing variants of unknown significance


Compositions for detection of chemical warfare agents that comprise oximate anion reactive sites and fluorophore cores. Methods for detecting a chemical warfare agents that comprise providing a detector molecule comprising an oximate anion reactive site and a fluorophore core and detecting fluorescence from the detector molecule. Methods for enhancing the reactivity of an oximate nucleophile that comprise introducing an oxime into an aprotic solvent and deprotonating the oxime to form the oximate nucleophile with a base that creates noncoordinating anions.

It is well established that many organophosphorus compounds are powerful neurotoxic agents that inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AchE) by the process of phosphorylation. A particularly dangerous class of organophosphorous compounds is the phosphoryl fluoride containing species. Two such species are the chemical warfare agents (CWA) sarin (isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) and soman (pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate), referred to as GB and GD agents, respectively. For obvious safety reasons, CWA may be modeled using a chemical warfare agent simulant. Common CWS are diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) and diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP).
There has been a significant interest in the decontamination and detection of CWA over the last five decades, with a large focus on phosphorylfluoride nerve agents e.g., Sarin and Soman. Chemical detection of CWA has been a long-term ambition for many researchers, even more so in this day and age due to the continuing global threat of terrorist activity. One approach that has been studied uses chromogenic detector reagents, which directly bind to a target nerve agent causing a modulation in the emitted UV-Vis wavelength. However, there are limitations in the colorimetric systems developed thus far, including low sensitivity and slow response times.
One current method for detecting CWA produces a dramatic spectral change created in response to the cyclization of a flexible chromophore. See S. W. Zhang & T. Swager, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125, 3420 (2005). The system creates a rigid and highly conjugated fluorophore on the addition of DFP, causing an "off-on" response in the micromolar concentration range. However, the system utilizes an alcohol as a nucleophile, and hence the rate of reaction with DFP, let alone that anticipated with sarin/soman, is quite slow (half-life approaching an hour).
The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific example embodiments have been shown in the figures and are herein described in more detail. It should be understood, however, that the description of specific example embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, this disclosure is to cover all modifications and equivalents as defined by the appended claims.

Compositions and methods for the detection of chemical warfare agents

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


A multi-port assembly includes a base with a surface, a port receiving area on the surface, and a port coupling connected to the base. The port receiving area is adapted to receive a mating surface of a port, and the port coupling is adapted to mate the port to the port receiving area.

Vascular access devices such as subcutaneous implantable ports are often inserted inside a major vein for a period of months or years so that blood can be repeatedly drawn or medication and nutrients can be injected into the patient's bloodstream on a regular basis. Subcutaneous implantable ports, which are also sometimes referred to as subcutaneous access ports, may be used for giving chemotherapy, providing blood transfusions, taking blood samples, delivering intravenous (IV) fluids, providing IV medicines, and the like. Known ports have an attached catheter which is typically a soft tube that is implanted into a patient's blood vessel.
However, sometimes there is a medical need to have more than one port chamber to access for a dedicated use. Hence, there is a need for an assembly that combines ports such that the assembly can provide multiple ports in a single assembly.


The present invention reduces an arithmetic operation amount for updating a state vector. The attitude estimating device includes (i) a gravitational direction estimating section for updating, by using an acceleration vector as an observation, a gravitational direction vector predicted from an angular velocity vector, (ii) a horizontal direction estimating section for updating, by using a magnetic vector as an observation, a horizontal direction vector predicted from the angular velocity vector, and an attitude estimating section for generating attitude information with use of the gravitational direction vector and the horizontal direction vector.

A technique specialized in measuring a position and a direction in walking actions with use of self-contained sensors (such as an accelerometer, a gyro sensor, a magnetometer, and a pressure sensor) worn on a hip, a toe, and the like of a human is called pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR). As disclosed in Non-patent Literature 1, such a technique has conventionally been studied. In such a technique, real time tracking is carried out by sequentially updating a state vector of a moving body with use of a Kalman filter.

Attitude estimating device, attitude estimating method, and storage medium


An eating counter apparatus for mounting to a three or four-wheeled, motorized or pedal-powered vehicle used as at least part of a mobile food vending eatery whereby to utilize the vehicle to provide an eating area for the patrons of the eatery. The eating counter apparatus also may mount a seating apparatus arranged to support seated patrons about the vehicle as they eat at the counter of the eatery vehicle.

This invention relates to small three and four-wheeled vehicles such as xe2x80x9cthree-wheelers and four-wheelersxe2x80x9d (both motorized or pedal-powered), larger three-wheeled motorcycles known as xe2x80x9ctrikesxe2x80x9d, three and four-wheeled golf cart-type vehicles, and other similar types of small vehicles, and more particularly to an eating counter apparatus, which may itself also include a seating apparatus associated therewith, for mounting on a vehicle whereby mobile food vendors provide a convenient and comfortable eating arrangement for patrons of the mobile establishment.
Becoming ever more popular nowadays are mobile eateries which can be brought to desired locations and setup alongside streets and sidewalks, in parks, outdoor malls, at entertainment events and such where an ever-increasing variety of food products ranging from sandwiches and hot dogs to pastries and pretzels to ice creams and coffees are being offered for sale. Hand-propelled push-cart eateries and specialized bicycle-type arrangements are well-recognized versions of mobile eateries, and most readers will remember three-wheeled bicycles mounting a large insulated box for carrying ice cream or hot dogs to potential patrons about parks, neighborhoods and other similar outdoor areas.
Other than the manually-propelled pushcart type food stands and the single box-mounting pedal vehicles of the early years, mobile food service vehicles otherwise tend to be in the form of expensive, self-contained vans and trucks or large towable trailers such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,771,318 (Jagsch) and Des. 301,108 (Cohen).
In its basic concept this invention provides a counter apparatus for mounting to the frame of small, motorized or manually pedal-powered three or four-wheeled vehicles, the counter apparatus arranged for support on the vehicle frame to position an eating countertop surface at a predetermined height above the underlying ground surface supporting the vehicle whereby to provide a comfortable and convenient eating surface area for a plurality of people positioned alongside the vehicle.
It is by virtue of the foregoing basic concept that the principal objective of this invention is achieved; namely, the provision of an eating counter apparatus for mounting on small three and four-wheeled vehicles used in a mobile eatery or mobile restaurant whereby to increase the utility and make most advantageous use of the vehicle for the comfort and benefit of the patrons of the mobile establishment.
Another object of this invention is the provision of a counter apparatus of the class described which may be mounted on a small three or four-wheel vehicle to provide an upper, countertop eating surface positioned to accommodate patrons in either a standing condition or a seated condition adjacent the vehicle.
A further object of this invention is the provision of a countertop apparatus of the class described which may include a seating apparatus mounted thereto for supporting seated patrons of the mobile restaurant in seated condition about the periphery of the countertop.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of preferred embodiments.

Eating counter apparatus for mobile vending vehicle and seating apparatus therefor


A secure electronic circuit which (in its early life) can be electronically calibrated and written to, but thereafter holds its data securely.

The present invention relates to electronic keys, and to integrated circuits which provide electronic key functionality.
An electronic key is a circuit which performs the function of a key, using stored information instead of shaped metal. Such keys, and related circuits, have found use in a wide variety of applications.
However, electronic keys present some unusual difficulties in design. There is always some risk that an intruder may obtain a key and attempt to "crack" it, to gain free access to the system which is supposed to be protected. Thus, although perfect security may not be possible, the design must provide as much security as is economically possible.
The present application, and the parent applications, disclose a number of innovations which cooperate together to provide a greatly improved electronic key.


A split shroud system for a gas turbine engine having a pair of annular-shaped shrouds that each have an inner pocket; to form a pair of inner pockets. Each of the pair of pockets having liner parts that form a circle. Liner parts of one of the pair of pockets facing liner parts of the other of the pair of pockets to form liner part pairs. One of each of said of pair of liner parts has a mutual abutting surface that forms a plurality of slots for accepting a plurality of vane inner trunnions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shroud for a gas turbine engine. More particularly, the present invention relates to an inner liner for a shroud for a gas turbine engine. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to an inner graphitic carbon liner that is received in a shroud of a gas turbine engine to reduce the overall engine weight and cost and vane trunnion wear.
2. Description of Prior Art
The operating environment for a turbofan engine and its various component is extremely harsh. The vibrations due to normal use at operating speeds are extreme. The operating temperature of some of the components are also extremely high. One of the many components that may experience wear in the engine due to vibrations and high temperature are the variable vanes' inner trunnions.
Currently, the trunnions are encased within a carbon steel split bushing. The split bushing is secured between a carbon steel split inner shroud. During wear, the carbon steel bushing and carbon steel split liner vibrate against one another and cause considerable wear on the vane's inner diameter trunnion encased in the bushing. The wear on the trunnion reduces the lifecycle of the trunnion and increases maintenance time and expense due to required replacement/refurbishment of the entire vane.
Therefore there exists a need for a shroud that can receive a sacrificial graphitic carbon liner to hold a vane trunnion, thereby reducing trunnion replacement/refurbishment costs, overall engine weight and cost of ownership and maintenance.

Sacrificial inner shroud liners for gas turbine engines


A system and methods for pre-configuring echo cancellers are shown and described. The system includes a storage device for storing one or more settings of the echo cancellation parameters developed during one or more previously established data connections, and an echo canceller for cancelling echo associated with one or more data connections according to echo cancellation parameters, the echo canceller initially configuring the echo cancellation parameters according to settings developed during previous data connections.

When communicating over circuit-switched networks, such as Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs) or legacy Private Branch Exchanges (PBXs), most voice data transmissions reflect some signal energy back towards their source. This phenomenon, commonly known as echo or hybrid echo, typically occurs at physical transitions within the circuit-switched networks, e.g., 4-wire to 2-wire conversion points. Since perception of reflected signal energy by callers can dramatically degrade the quality of a call, modern communication systems include one or more echo cancellers to detect and cancel hybrid echo prior to caller perception.
Echo cancellers typically cancel hybrid echo according to a plurality of echo cancellation parameters, i.e., input gain, output attenuation, impedance, echo return loss (ERL), combined signal loss (ACOM), etc. Between call termination and establishment of the next call, these echo cancellation parameters are often reset to a default setting and then automatically tuned according to the hybrid echo generated during each call. Although this automatic tuning enables echo cancellers to dynamically eliminate hybrid echo associated with the calls, a period of time exists prior to the automatic tuning where the echo cancellers rely upon the default setting to cancel the hybrid echo. Since the default setting of the echo cancellation parameters commonly requires significant adjustment before the echo cancellers can effectively eliminate the hybrid echo, some hybrid echo may be perceived by callers prior to the completion of the automatic tuning, thus degrading call quality.


A method and apparatus are provided for coupling a first and second wheeled vehicle. The apparatus includes a first area with a stop to engage an undersurface of the first wheeled vehicle and a second area with spaced apart openings to receive wheels of the second vehicle. The apparatus also includes a hook member positioned between the first and second areas and including surfaces to engage a perimeter of the frame of the first wheeled vehicle. The method includes engaging a perimeter of the frame of the first wheeled vehicle with the hook member. The method further includes rotating the stop about an engagement point between the hook member and the frame of the first wheeled vehicle until the stop engages an undersurface of the frame. The method further includes positioning a pair of wheels of the second vehicle in the spaced apart openings.

Concrete grinding involves the use of a grinder that generates dust particles. Filtration equipment is connected to the grinder to capture the dust particles and includes a pre-separator to capture 80-90% of larger sized particles and a high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) vacuum or extractor to capture the remaining particles. A first duct is connected from the grinder outlet to the pre-separator inlet and a second duct is connected from the pre-separator outlet to the vacuum inlet. This arrangement ensures that the pre-separator captures 80-90% of the larger sized particles upstream of the vacuum. One advantage of this arrangement is extending the lifetime of the vacuum filter, since the larger sized particles are filtered upstream of the vacuum.

Method and apparatus for coupling two wheeled vehicles


A filter assembly, comprising an open top housing comprising an inlet and an outlet; a filtering unit configured to be positioned within the housing, the filtering unit comprising a filter; a mounting arm connected to the d housing; and a fastener actuatable for extension from the mounting arm; wherein:                iv) in a first position, the mounting arm is moved away from the open top of the housing;        v) in a second position, the filtering unit is positioned within the housing, the mounting arm is positioned on top of the housing, and the mounting arm secures the filter within the housing;        vi) in a third position, the filter is being positioned within the housing, the mounting arm is positioned on top of the housing and connected to the housing in fluid tightness, the mounting arm secures the filter in fluid tightness within the housing; and the inlet and the outlet of the housing are opened to a flow of fluid to be filtered through the filter.

In the printing industry, liquids such as inks are filtered before use to remove particles that may interfere with the printing process. Indeed, particles may result in poor quality prints or even damage printing equipment.
Conventionally, the printing industry uses bulky filters that are difficult to open and to clean.
There is still a need in the art for a filter.
The present description refers to a number of documents, the content of which is herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.