A programmable waveform generator, comprising: a controllable waveform generator configured to generate an initial bandwidth signal having an initial frequency bandwidth; a tone generator configured to generate a plurality of tone signals, each tone signal having a different frequency; a first bandwidth-multiplying circuit, including a first mixer having a first input port configured to receive the low-bandwidth signal; a first switch configured to choose one of the plurality of tone signals or a phase shifted version of one of the plurality of tone signals and output the chosen signal as a first chosen tone; a controller configured to control the operation of the bandwidth multiplying block, wherein the first mixer is further configured to receive the first chosen tone at a second input port, wherein the first mixer is further configured to mix the initial bandwidth signal and the first chosen tone to generate a first bandwidth signal at an output port, the first bandwidth signal having a first frequency bandwidth, wherein the first frequency bandwidth is greater than the initial frequency bandwidth, and wherein the first frequency bandwidth is an integer multiple of the initial frequency bandwidth.

Signal generators take many forms, from (a) a basic analog oscillator circuit that oscillates at a frequency governed by an RC (resistor capacitor) network, or the resonance of an LC (inductor-capacitor) circuit or the resonance or delay of devices such a SAW (surface acoustic wave) device, or a crystal, or a dielectric resonator, or BAW (bulk acoustic wave) device, etc., to (b) an analog oscillator followed by a non-linear stage that generates a harmonic term that is isolated by a filter to serve as the output tone, to (c) a combination of analog and digital circuits that may lock a higher frequency oscillator with poor long term stability but good short term stability, to a low frequency oscillator with good long term stability, but poor short term stability, such as phase-locked-loop (PLL), to (d) an NCO (numerically controlled oscillator) that is formed by driving a DAC (digital to analog converter) with data that causes the DAC to produce the desired output signal. Each method results in different sets of advantages and disadvantages in terms of metrics such as size, cost, weight, power consumption, settling time after a frequency change, modulation bandwidth, modulation linearity, long and short term stability, harmonic levels, spurious levels, and flexibility or ease of control.
Numerically controlled oscillators are well known to achieve optimally fast (short) settling times. At the same time, due to a combination of their discrete-time digitally-sampled stair-step output waveform, and the fact that the stair-step output levels must settle in each time-step period, an NCO cannot be clocked fast enough to produce the bandwidth required by many applications. It is an objective of this disclosure to show a method of obtaining arbitrarily large bandwidths.
Many applications are extremely sensitive to spurious signals. Applications such as radar, ladar (LAser Detection And Ranging), sonar, and numerous instrumentation applications, are fundamentally limited by the SFDR of the signals they generate and use to perform their function. The limit follows from the fact that they rely on correlations on these signals. Harmonic and spurious signals correlate along with the desired signal, causing an error in the measured correlation, which is supposed to only come from the desired signal.
One method of extending the bandwidth of an NCO is to use a frequency multiplier. This can be done using common mixer circuits or by using a circuit that generates harmonics and then filtering out all the harmonics that are undesired. This method results in a high noise floor and is unsuitable for many applications. Additionally, if the initial waveform was a complex waveform with, for example, a desired spectral notch, the multiplication process would destroy the notch. Another objective of this disclosure is to extend the bandwidth yet maintain a low noise floor, and preserve characteristics like spectral notches in the initial waveform.
Another method of extending the bandwidth of an NCO is to use a mixer together with a large N-way switch network and family of N tones spaced in frequency by the bandwidth (B) of the NCO. The switch network selects the desired tone and the NCO output signal is shifted in frequency by the frequency of the selected tone. In this way, the bandwidth covered by the output signal is N times the bandwidth of the NCO. This method results in a high power and a physically large and costly system that is incompatible with many applications. Another objective of this disclosure is to extend the bandwidth, yet at low power, a small footprint, and at relatively low cost.
Another method of extending the bandwidth of an NCO is a variant of the above paragraph, where the set of N oscillators is replaced by one or a smaller number of PLL synthesizers which are capable of being commanded to generate the N needed frequencies. The relatively slow switching speed of the PLL's in this solution, however, makes it unsuitable for many applications. It also prevents the system from continuously sweeping across the extended bandwidth since the PLL settling time is so long. Another objective of this disclosure is to extend the bandwidth at low power and small footprint, and with the capability to sweep the entire extended bandwidth continuously, and with optimally fast hopping or switching speed.

Method and circuit for waveform generation


A semiconductor element bonding substrate according to the present invention includes an insulating plate, and a metal pattern bonded to a main surface of the insulating plate. A main surface of the metal pattern on an opposite side of the insulating plate includes a bonding region to which a semiconductor element is bonded by a solder. The metal pattern includes at least one concave part located in the main surface. The at least one concave part is located closer to an edge of the bonding region in relation to a center part of the bonding region in the bonding region.

As a solder for bonding a semiconductor element and an insulating substrate, a non-eutectic solder, which is mainly made of an Sn—Cu based, Sn—Ag based, Sn—Sb based, Sn—In based, or Sn—Bi based component, is used to secure high reliability. These types of solders have a problem that a solder shrinkage cavity easily occurs.
Recently, a semiconductor element operating under high temperature is intensively developed, and a downsizing, high tolerance, and high current density growth of the semiconductor element are promoted. Particularly, a wideband gap semiconductor such as SiC and GaN has a larger bandgap than an Si semiconductor, thus a high tolerance, downsizing, high current density growth, and operation under high temperature of a semiconductor device are expected (refer to Patent Document 1, for example). However, when a solder shrinkage cavity occurs immediately below the semiconductor element, a heat radiation property at a time of an occurrence of heat in the semiconductor element is reduced, and it leads to a reduction in characteristics. Accordingly, it is necessary to suppress the occurrence of the solder shrinkage cavity and secure a stable operation of the semiconductor device.

Semiconductor element bonding substrate, semiconductor device, and power conversion device


A method for isotope measurement of charged species contained in a solution to be analyzed, particularly charged species having an isobaric interference, has the following consecutive steps:                a) in the capillary of a capillary electrophoresis device, the solution to be analyzed is inserted contiguously between a terminating electrolyte and a leading electrolyte that, respectively, are placed after the inlet and before the outlet of the capillary and contain ions of the same charge but with mobility inferior and superior to those of said species;        b) separating the species by using the capillary electrophoresis device according to the isotachophoresis mode; then        c) in the continuity of the preceding step, performing an isotope measurement of the species detected in the form of a substantially constant amplitude signal by using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS) connected by direct coupling with the capillary electrophoresis device.

The isotope measurement consists of determining the presence and/or concentration in a sample of one or more isotopes of a chemical element.
It is performed in particular in the nuclear, life science (bioavailability, speciation studies, etc.), environmental and earth science (determination of isotope variation, speciation and migration-retention of elements, etc.) fields.
The isotope measurement is commonly performed using an ICPMS spectrometer.
This type of spectrometer consists of a plasma torch and a mass spectrometer.
The plasma torch contains a gas that, under the action of an electrical discharge and a radiofrequency field, generates a plasma that ionizes, with close to 100% efficiency, all or some of the elements introduced into to the torch in elemental or compound form.
The ions thus formed are then analyzed by the mass spectrometer portion that detects each ion according to its mass-to-charge ratio.
ICPMS spectrometry has been an indispensable analysis technique for many years. It makes it possible to quickly analyze, qualitatively and quantitatively, at least 70 elements of the periodic table, with good repeatability, sensitivity, resolution and a linear relationship between the quantity of species to be analyzed and the signal detected.
When the solution to be analyzed comprises multiple charged species, it is, however, preferable to improve the resolution of the measurement by first separating the species with a separation technique such as chromatography or capillary zone electrophoresis.
This separation upstream of the measurement is essential in particular when the solution to be analyzed contains species having an isobaric interference due to their adjacent mass. This is the case, for example, of elements 150Nd and 150Sm, with respective atomic masses of 149.920887 and 149.917271 atomic mass units (u).
In practice, the separation technique can be associated with the ICPMS spectrometer by an indirect (or off-line) coupling or by a direct (or on-line) coupling mode.
In indirect coupling, the isotope measurement is performed in two stages. In a first stage, the species contained in the solution to be analyzed are separated, and then collected individually at the outlet of the separation technique. In a second stage, each collected fraction is dried by heating, nitric acid is added, and then the collected fraction is analyzed by the ICPMS spectrometer.
Each fraction contains a single species. It therefore has a homogeneous composition. The signal measured by the ICPMS spectrometer is then continuous, which has the advantage of ensuring the stability and therefore the precision of the measurement.
Indirect coupling nevertheless has the disadvantage of requiring fraction collection and treatment steps, which are difficult to automate, and which significantly prolong the overall time of the analysis process.
In direct coupling, the isotope measurement is performed in a single sequence. Once separated, the species are introduced continuously into the ICPMS spectrometer coupled to the separation technique via a suitable interface. The direct coupling therefore eliminates the collected fraction treatment inherent to indirect coupling, and thereby notably reduces the measurement time. The document "Pitois A. et al, international Journal Of Mass Spectrometry, 2008, 270, pages 118-126" thus proposes an isotope measurement in which nuclear fission products are separated by zone electrophoresis using a capillary electrophoresis device connected by direct coupling to an ICPMS spectrometer.
Direct coupling nevertheless has a disadvantage in that the composition varies over time as the elution zone specific to each separated species reaches the outlet of the separation technique. This causes a significant and rapid variation in the signal between the measurement points. This transient signal is den recorded by the ICPMS spectrometer with a precision and reproducibility inferior to that of indirect coupling.
Moreover, it appears to be difficult to estimate the extent of the elution zone over which it is desirable to perform the recording by the ICPMS spectrometer, which is detrimental to the representativeness of the measurement. Thus, the reproducibility in direct coupling is generally ten times worse than that obtained in indirect coupling.

Method for isotopic measurement by ICPMS

COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES


The rest device is for the hand and support device for the forearm of a person, who performs repeated rotational, lifting and pressure moments with his/her hand. The device has a resilient moveable rest and support part (1), which receives the forearm and has a plane central part (2) as well as at least two sector parts (3,4,5,6). Resilient elements, such as compression springs, exert a pressure arranged in a vertical direction below the sector parts (3,4,5,6) adjacent to the circumference (P) and consequently on each side of the part (7,8,9,10). The lifting, lowering and rotational movements of the hand and its fingers are being facilitated and resiliently damped by means of the rest and support part due to the reaction properties of the springs.

This application is a U.S. national phase application based upon International Application No. PCT/SE01/00142, filed Jan. 25, 2001; which claims priority from Swedish Application No. 0000232-9, filed Jan. 26, 2000.
The present invention relates to a rest device for the hand and a support device for the forearm of a person, who performs repeated hand movements such as rotational, lifting and pressure motions with his/her hand and its fingers, e.g. when using a computer mouse, during a rehabilitation of hands and arms having various types of stress injuries.
In the above-mentioned technical field there are many different types of solutions regarding constructions designed to support the forearm, when a work is performed using the hand and its fingers. These constructions are often clumsy and difficult to use, since they are not ergonomically designed and consequently reduces the freedom of movement of the user. Others are constructed in a simple way and consequently sometimes are not very efficient.
A few examples of such already known constructions are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,973,176, 5,265,835, 5,335,888 and 5,490,647.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of known rest and support devices for the hand and the arm, when the hand and its fingers are used, and to allow the hand to occupy a position, which is comfortable for the body and in this way to spare the shoulders, the arms and the back during these activities as well as to prevent, that i.e. the disability xe2x80x9cmouse armxe2x80x9d arises.
When a person is using a computer mouse for an extended period of time a fatigue of the shoulder arises, causing the hand to not be able to move sufficiently rapidly.
The object of the present invention is to generate a reaction against the activity of the hand and in this way counteract these phenomena.
According to the inventive idea the above-mentioned problems are solved by the measure, that said device comprises a resilient moveable rest and support part, which receives the forearm, comprises a plane central part as well as at least two hump-like sector parts, which extend upwards at an angle from the central art and which in pairs are positioned on the same half of the device, as well as at least one part, which extends downwards between said sector parts at an angle to said plane central part, the rest and support device being supported by resilient elements, which exert a pressure, preferably compression springs or the like, positioned below each sector partly adjacent its circumference and consequently on each side of one of the parts, which extend downwards, the lifting, lowering and rotational movements of the hand and its fingers being facilitated and the forearm thereby being resiliently damped by means of the rest and support part thanks to the reaction properties of the springs.
According to the invention a device is obtained, which is easy to handle and which counteracts the development of fatigue of the shoulder, since it facilitates the various movements of the hand and the fingers, is flexible regarding its utilization, is easy and consequently economic to manufacture, has a long life and can be used by different persons regardless of the size of the hand and the arm.

Rest device for the hand and a support device for the forearm


A packet receiver is provided that accurately estimates a frequency offset and a channel impulse response even when a transmitted packet is detected with an erroneous timing in a communication mode (typified by the LAN (local Area Network)) where packets are asynchronously transmitted, and thus provides a training sequence which can demodulate the received packet. The training sequence 101 is formed of K sequences 100-1 to 100-K serially connected, each formed of the same N symbols. Even in a channel where a inter-symbol interference occurs when such a training sequence is used, a received signal shifted by the time corresponding to N-symbols becomes the signal which is different by a phase difference caused by a frequency offset between the transmitter and the receiver. Thus, even if the head of a packet is detected with an erroneous timing, the frequency offset can be estimated.

The present invention relates to a packet configuring method and a packet receiver. Particularly, the present invention relates to a packet configuring method and a packet receiver, each for configuring a packet that contains training sequences in an asynchronous packet communication mode.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a down-link control channel frame used for the conventional digital automobile telephone, described ETSI/GSM, xe2x80x9cRecommendation GSM 05.02 Multiplexing and Multiple Access on the Radio Pathxe2x80x9d, version 3.3.0, 15, Apr., 1989. FIG. 7 shows an example of a 10-channel configuration being the head of a frame. This frame is formed of a frequency connection channel (FCCH) 1000, a synchronization channel (SCH) 1001 and a broadcast channel (BCCH) 1002. The slot forming SCH 1001 or BCCH 1002 is formed of the training portion 1011 and the data portions 1010 sandwiched by the training portion 1011. The frequency connection channel FCCH 1000 is formed of a sine wave signal with a single frequency.
The mobile station that receives the control channel operates as follows: First, the mobile station receives FCCH 1000 and then corrects a variation in frequency (frequency offset) between a transmitter and a receiver. Then, the mobile station demodulates the synchronization channel SCH 1001 and the broadcast channel BCCH 1002.
SCH 1001 and BCCH 1002 are demodulated as follows: First, a channel impulse response is obtained using the training portion 1011. SCH 1001 and BCCH 1002 are demodulated by setting the reception parameter for the receiver based on the resultant channel impulse response. That is, the training portion 1011 is used for the initializing of the receiver.
According to the conventional art described above, frequency offset compensation and channel impulse response estimation necessary for signal reception are differently obtained.
In the automobile telephone system where communications are not always established through a base station but either communications via the base station or direct communications between terminals are established, for example, in local area networks (LANs), there is the possibility that different signal transmission sources are used for respective packets. This requires the receiver to execute frequency offset compensation and channel impulse response estimation every packet reception. In such a case, it may be considered, as shown in FIG. 8, that both the sequences 1020 for frequency offset estimation and the sequences 1021 for channel impulse response estimation are contained in the training sequences.
There is the method where the receiver monitors, for example, the reception power and the packet transmission to detect a transmitted packet in an asynchronous packet transmission and detects when the reception power exceeds a predetermined threshold value. In this case, the head of a packet cannot be already received accurately due to influences of noises or radio transmission path. Hence, this method has the disadvantage in that the boundary between the sequence for frequency offset estimation and the sequence for channel impulse response estimation may not be recognized.
Moreover, the method has the disadvantage in that the length of a training sequence is prolonged using the sequence for frequency offset estimation and the sequence for channel impulse response estimation, whereby the transmission efficiency is degraded.
The present invention is made to solve the above-mentioned problems.
Moreover, the objective of the invention is to provide a packet configuration method that correctly estimates an estimate frequency offset and a channel impulse and then demodulates a received packet even when a transmitted packet is erroneously detected in timing in the communication mode where packets are asynchronously transmitted.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a packet receiver that correctly estimates an estimate frequency offset and a channel impulse response and then demodulates a received packet even when a transmitted packet is erroneously detected in timing in the communication mode where packets are asynchronously transmitted.
The objective of the present invention is achieved by a method configuring packets, the packets each having a training portion and a data portion to set a receiver, comprising the step of forming the training portion by serially connecting K sequences (where K is an integer of 2 or more), each of the K sequences being formed of N symbols (where N is an integer of 2 or more).
According to the present invention, a packet receiver receives packets each which is formed of a training portion and a data portion to initialize of the receiver. The packet receiver comprises frequency-offset estimation means for estimating a frequency offset based on a received packet, frequency-offset compensation means for compensating a frequency offset contained in the received packet based on the frequency offset estimation value, and channel impulse response estimation means for estimating an impulse response of a channel based on an output of which the frequency offset is compensated.
That is, the same sequences, each formed of N symbols, are repeatedly used in a communication mode where packets are asynchronously transmitted. Thus, the frequency offset can be estimated by detecting the phase difference between a signal received before NT and a currently-received signal.
In a packet formed of a training portion and a data portion to initialize a packet receiver according to the present configuring method, the training portion has K sequences chained, each being formed of N symbols, to estimate a frequency offset and a channel impulse response. The auto-correlation function of a sequence formed of N symbols is in an impulse state.
Moreover, the packet receiver comprises a frequency offset estimation circuit for estimating a frequency offset of a received signal and then outputting a frequency offset estimation value, a frequency offset compensation circuit for receiving the frequency offset estimation value and the received signal and compensating a frequency offset contained in the received signal based on a frequency offset estimation value, and a channel impulse response estimation circuit for receiving an output from the frequency offset compensation circuit, estimating a channel impulse response, and then outputting the channel impulse response estimation value after inputting a frequency offset estimation completion pulse.
The frequency offset estimation means comprises a delay circuit for receiving a received signal and delaying the received packet by a transmission period of time corresponding to N-symbols; a phase difference detection circuit for detecting a phase difference between an output of the delay circuit and the received packet; an integrator for integrating a detection output of the phase difference detection circuit over a transmission period of time of a sequence of M symbols; and a divider circuit for dividing an output of the integrator by a product of N and M.
According to the present invention, the sequence for estimation of a frequency offset and the sequence for estimation an impulse response are not separated from each other and are defined as repetition of the same sequences. The phase difference between the i-th symbols in each sequence is detected using this configuration, so that the frequency offset can be estimated. This feature allows the frequency offset to be estimated correctly even when a packet is detected with an erroneous timing.
Furthermore, where the auto-correlation function in an impulse state is used as the same sequence, a channel impulse response can be estimated by the simple operation that the receiver examines the correlation between the sequence and a received training sequence.
According to the present invention, since the frequency offset estimation and the channel impulse response estimation can be performed using the same sequences, the frequency offset estimation sequence and the channel impulse response estimation sequence are equivalently overlapped. This configuration can reduce the length of the training sequence.

Packet configuring method and packet receiver


This invention provides a preparation method of a catalyst for preferential oxidization of CO in a hydrogen-enriched atmosphere, and a catalyst product obtained from the method and its applications thereof. Particularly, in this invention, a wide-temperature catalyst for preferential oxidization of CO in a hydrogen-enriched atmosphere is obtained by depositing one or more of an iron oxide, cobalt oxide, and nickel oxide as a promoter onto the surface of a supported Pt-group noble metal catalyst precursor via chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition. In the wide-temperature catalyst, the active noble metal component has a content of 0.1 to 10 wt %, and the promoter has a content of 0.1 to 10 wt % in terms of the metal element thereof. In the reaction of preferential oxidation of CO in a hydrogen-enriched atmosphere, the catalyst prepared by this invention can exhibit excellent catalytic performance and can achieve high conversion of CO with high selectivity in a wide temperature range of −80 to 200° C., for example. Also, the catalyst can remain stable for a long time even in a case where steam and CO2 are present in the hydrogen-enriched atmosphere.

In recent years, clean energy sources are of increasing attraction. Among them, fuel cells are environment-friendly power generation apparatuses. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are the highly desirable ones. Due to its small volume, light weight, zero emission, high energy conversion density, and etc., PEMFCs have wide applications in fields of future static apparatuses, hydrogen fuel cell automobiles, military equipment, aerospace, and so on. Currently, hydrogen is mainly produced from steam reforming of methanol and hydrocarbons such as natural gas and etc., and the water-gas shift reaction. These hydrogen sources typically contain approximately 0.5% to 2% of trace CO, which can adsorb on the surface of Pt electrode of PEMFCs and poison the electrode severely, thus degrading the performance. Therefore, a hydrogen source must first be subjected to a CO purification treatment to control the content of CO at 10 ppm or below before entering a fuel cell. In order to solve this problem, many methods have been attempted by researchers. At present, the methods for removing CO in hydrogen sources used in fuel cells mainly include adsorption, Pd membrane separation, CO methanation, and CO selective oxidation. Among them, CO selective oxidation has been found to be the most desirable method for removing trace CO from these hydrogen sources.
At present, catalysts for preferential oxidization (represented by PROX hereinafter) of CO in a hydrogen-enriched atmosphere are mainly divided into several types below.
(a) Gold-based catalysts: Much attention has been paid to supported Au catalysts due to its high CO oxidation activity at low temperatures. However, it has been found that the selectivity of CO oxidation decreases rapidly as increasing the reaction temperature due to the competition reaction of H2 oxidation, which makes it difficult to decrease the concentration of CO to 10 ppm or less. For example, as mentioned in the Chinese Patent Application CN102441401A, Au nanoparticles were supported on a copper-titanium mixed oxide carrier, with an Au content of 0.5 to 5 wt %, the temperature range for 100% CO conversion was merely 30 to 60° C., the limitation of such narrow operating temperature is relatively large. Additionally, such Au catalyst also has a relatively poor stability and its activity has very strict requirements for the preparation methods and processes, so that the use of supported Au catalyst in PROX reaction is greatly limited.
(b) Copper-based non-noble metal catalysts: Compared to other types of catalyst, copper-based catalysts have a relatively low cost. However, they are typically not active until the reaction temperature reaches 100° C. or above in the PROX reaction. They also show a poor stability in the presence of CO2 and water vapor. An example is a CeO2-supported CuO catalyst mentioned in the Chinese Patent Application CN102407123A.
(c) Platinum-group noble metal catalysts: At present, Pt-group metal (Pt, Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ir) catalysts alone without any promoters have also very low activity at 100° C. or less (J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109, 23430-23443). The improvement of catalytic activity is often achieved by using bimetallic alloy or the addition of promoters. For example, Nippon Oil Corporation proposed a catalyst using Pt—Ru alloy as the active component (see CN101507924A). Additionally, Chinese Patent Application CN 101856621 reported promoted catalysts wherein a platinum-group metal is used as an active metal and a transition metal such as Fe, Co, Ni, and etc. as a promoter through the equal-volume impregnation method. With these catalysts, they can completely remove CO in hydrogen in a temperature range of 60 to 100° C. Chinese Patent Application CN101428227A also proposed an iridium-based two-component catalyst prepared by a stepwise or co-impregnation method, wherein the promoter is Fe, Sn, Mn, Co, Ni, Cr, and/or Zn. This catalyst showed complete CO conversion in a temperature range of 60 to 100° C. The research team of Watanabe in Japan prepared Pt—Fe/Zeolite alloy catalysts on a Mordenite zeolite with different Pt:Fe mass ratios using an ion exchange method. They showed that this catalyst can achieve complete CO conversion in a temperature range of 85 to 150° C. (Appl. Catal. B: Environ. 2003, 46, 595-600). The research team of Xinhe Bao at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences also synthesized two-component Pt—Fe/SiO2 and Pt—Fe/carbon black catalyst samples by using a successive impregnation method and a co-impregnation method, respectively. However, these catalysts may only achieve complete CO conversion in hydrogen in a narrow temperature range of 25 to 50° C. (Science, 2005 328, 1141-1144, Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, 6313-6320). In their work, they suggested an oxide is the promoter, and the active sites is the Pt-oxide promoter interface for CO oxidation (Science, 2005 328, 1141-1144, Acc. Chem. Res., 2013, 46, 1692-1701). Meanwhile, Professor Nanfeng Zheng at Xiamen University proposed that Pt—Fe(OH)3 interface is the active sites for CO oxidation on the Pt—Fe catalyst system. However, in these previous studies, the addition of the oxide promoter was achieved by the conventional liquid-phase methods such as impregnation, precipitation, and etc., these methods are very difficult to optimize the metal-oxide interface, thus effectively improving the catalyst performance. Consequently, the operating temperature range for achieving complete CO conversion in the PROX reaction is still very narrow, hardly meeting requirements for their practical applications.
Additionally, since the atomic layer deposition technique was invented (U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,430 (1977)), catalyst synthesis using atomic layer deposition by taking advantage of the precise control has attracted great attention (Surf. Sci. Rep., (2016) doi:10.1016/j.surfrep.2016.03.003; Acc. Chem. Res., 2013, 46, 1806-1815; ACS Catal. 2015, 5, 1804-1825). Among them, there have been several related studies reported with respect to oxide overcoating of a metal catalyst using the atomic layer deposition technique to tailor the catalyst performance For example, a sintering- and coking-resistant Pd catalyst in partial oxidative dehydrogenation reaction of ethane at a high temperature was achieved by depositing an Al2O3 coating layer on the surface of a Pd/Al2O3 catalyst using an atomic layer deposition technique (Science, 2012, 335, 1205-1208; PCT/US2012/039343); depositing an Al2O3 coating layer on the surface of a Cu/γ-Al2O3 catalyst using the atomic layer deposition allowed to prevent the leaching of the Cu active component in liquid-phase catalytic reactions (Angew. Chem. 2013, 125, 14053-14057); depositing a TiO2 coating layer on the surface of a Co/C catalyst using the atomic layer deposition remarkably improved the activity of a Co/C catalyst in the electrocatalytic reaction (ACS Catal. 2015, 5, 3463-3469); depositing an ZrO2 coating layer on the surface of a Pd/Al2O3 catalyst using the atomic layer deposition improved the catalyst stability and activity significantly in the complete combustion reaction of methane (ACS Catal. 2015, 5, 5696-5701). In brief, the above work related to oxide overcoating of a metal catalyst by using the atomic layer deposition technique has mainly focused on the inhibition of the sintering of metal particles during catalytic reactions. Therein, the oxide coating layers behave as a physical barrier layer, and the oxide coating layers deposited were relatively thick (greater than 1 nm) so that to achieve a sufficient improvement of metal stability. Metal particles coated by an oxide layer participate in the catalytic reaction through the micropores formed in the oxide layer. However, with respect to deposition of a high-dispersion of oxide species, or even a metal single atom oxide (M1Ox, wherein M is a metal atom) species on a metal particle and thereby achieving a maximal optimization of a metal-oxide interface has not been reported so far. Furthermore, with respect to the use of a catalyst, which is prepared by using a technique of chemical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition, in the PROX reaction has not been reported either so far.

Method of preparing wide-temperature catalyst for preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in hydrogen-enriched atmosphere, and product and use lthereof

University of Science and Technology of China


An electric junction box includes a mounting portion into which an electric component is fitted and mounted. The mounting portion includes a holding wall, a locking hole and a pressing projection. The holding wall surrounds a peripheral surface of the electric component. The locking hole is formed in the holding wall and is locked to a locking projection provided on the peripheral surface of the electric component. The pressing projection protrudes from the holding wall to press and hold the peripheral surface of the electric component. The pressing projection is disposed at a position deviated from a movement path of the locking projection of the electric component to be fitted into the mounting portion.

The present invention relates to an electric junction box.
In vehicles such as automobiles, an electric junction box is mounted to distribute electric power to various electric components. The electric junction box includes a resin case, and electric components such as relays or fuses are fitted and mounted into a cylindrical portion formed in the case (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 5221255).


A first partition plate is fixed to an upper surface of a rotatable table to separate a work position from a standby position. A second partition plate is mounted to a lower end of a door, and a forked member is mounted to a lower end of the second partition plate. During rotation of the table, the upper end of the first partition plate does not contact the lower end of the forked member. During machining of a work, a cutting fluid splashing in the work position is substantially prevented from reaching the standby position.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a machine tool including a table rotatable about an axis, the table having a work position for machining a workpiece and a standby position for preliminarily setting another workpiece, and a supporting member provided over the table and, more particularly, to a machine tool constructed so as to prevent cutting fluid, supplied to the workpiece in the work position during machining, from splashing toward an operator.
2. Description of the Related Art
A machine tool of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,319, for example. In this known machine tool, a partition is fixedly mounted on an upper surface of a table and a tongue member, as a chip guard element, is mounted on a lower surface of a beam. The partition and the tongue member are overlapped with each other, thereby preventing splash of a cutting fluid during machining of the workpiece. It is unnecessary to provide an automatic door or the like to be opened or closed, so as to avoid interference with the work during rotation of the table, thus reducing costs. Furthermore, the change of workpieces can be performed at high speeds.
However, when the tongue member, the chip guard element mounted on the lower surface of the beam, is formed of an elastic plastic, the tongue member is gradually hardened by the influence of the cutting fluid to cause curling of an end portion of the tongue member. As a result, a gap is formed between the partition and the tongue member and there is a possibility that the cutting fluid will splash through the gap toward an operator.
Further, when the tongue member is formed of a rigid material, such as a thin metal sheet or an acrylic glass plate, the partition contacts the tongue member during rotation of the table generating noise and shortening the life of the tongue member.

Machine tool having partition plates for preventing splash of cutting fluid


A communication device supports a D2D (Device-to-Device) communication and includes a storage, a scheduler and a transmitter. The storage stores a first resource pool information that indicates first resource pool including control resources allocated to control information for transmitting data and a second resource pool information that indicates second resource pool including data resources allocated to data. The scheduler selects a first resource for transmitting control information from the first resource pool and selects a second resource for transmitting data from the second resource pool. The transmitter transmits the control information by using the first resource and transmit the data by using the second resource. The scheduler selects the second resource from the second resource pool according to a received signal intensity in at least one of resources included in the first resource pool and the second resource pool.

The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is considering the standardization of mobile communication schemes. The 3GPP has standardized for example high-speed wireless communication schemes such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) etc. Further, in 3GPP Release 12, the standardization of D2D communication is in progress as a new wireless communication scheme. D2D communication is one of the extended specifications of LTE, and is sometimes referred to as LTE Device to Device Proximity Services.
In D2D communication, a communication device can directly communicate with another communication device without going via a base station. Therefore, D2D communication is expected to realize communications with low latency. Also, D2D communication can be performed even in an area that radio waves of a base station do not reach (or an area not having a base station), and thus can contribute to the expansion of network coverage. Further, D2D communication can be performed even in a situation where it is not possible to use a base station (such as a case when a massive earthquake occurred for example), and thus can contribute to the improvement of the security of users. Note that a communication link established between communication devices for a D2D communication may also be referred to as a D2D link.
3GPP Release 13 includes a description related to Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) services. V2V services may be implemented by utilizing for example D2D communications. In such a case, a V2V service is realized by a direct communication that is performed, without going via a base station, between a communication device implemented in a vehicle and a communication device implemented in another vehicle. Also, various applications are proposed for V2V services. For example, a vehicle having priority such as an ambulance etc. can make other vehicles traveling around that vehicle recognize the existence of that vehicle. Further, when a traveling vehicle stops urgently, it is possible to make other vehicles traveling around that vehicle recognize the urgent stop.
Communications using communication devices implemented in vehicles are disclosed by for example Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-185428, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-229478, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-147652, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-253731.
Scheduling for a D2D communication is performed by using an SA (Scheduling Assignment) message. Specifically, communication resources for a D2D communication are divided into SA areas and data areas. An SA area is used by a communication device to report an SA message to another communication device around the communication device. An SA message can indicate a communication resource (such as a time slot, a frequency, etc. for example) for transmitting data. Thereby, a communication device that receives an SA message can extract target data from a wireless signal.
The SA areas are inserted at prescribed time intervals. In the descriptions below, time intervals at which SA areas are inserted may also be referred to as "scheduling periods". The length of a scheduling period is 40 m seconds through 320 m seconds, although the length depends upon communication modes.
When transmitting data to a destination communication device, a communication device transmits an SA message to the destination communication device before transmitting that data. When for example transmission data is generated at time T1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication device uses the next SA area to transmit an SA message to the destination communication device, and thereafter transmits data to the destination communication device in accordance with the SA message. Accordingly, it is not possible for the communication device to transmit data in the period between T1 and T2 in the example illustrated in FIG. 1. In other words, latency depending upon a scheduling period may occur in D2D communication.
Meanwhile, there is a demand that latency be very low in a V2V service in some cases. For example, there is a demand that a pre-crash sensing warning be able to be transmitted with latency of 20 m seconds or shorter. However, it is sometimes difficult to meet this demand of latency in a case when a V2V service is provided by using an existing D2D communication.
A shorter scheduling period may solve this problem. However, it is sometimes not possible to transmit priority data (emergency data in particular) due to a conflict of the allocation of resources even with a shortened scheduling period. When for example a V2V service is provided by using a D2D communication, each communication terminal autonomously selects an arbitrary resource from a resource pool that is prepared in advance. This means that priority data transmitted from a communication device and non-priority data (i.e. normal data) transmitted from another communication device may sometimes collide in a case when a plurality of communication devices select the same resource for a V2V service. This leads to a possibility of failure of a communication of priority data.
Note that these problems arise not only in a V2V service but also in a wireless communication system that directly performs a communication between communication devices.

Communication device and wireless communication method


An exposure mask in the form of a binary mask for intensity modulating 0th order diffracted light and a mask pattern production method using the exposure mask are disclosed on which a mask production error, an influence of flare of an exposure apparatus and a development characteristic of resist reflect on the design. The exposure mask has a block area in which a plurality of pattern sites in each of which light intercepting patterns for intercepting illumination light emitted from an exposure apparatus and light transmitting patterns for transmitting the illumination light therethrough are formed at an equal ratio and an equal pitch are disposed. The pattern sites which form the block area are disposed such that the pitches of the light intercepting patterns and the light transmitting patterns are equal while the ratio varies gradually.

This invention relates to an exposure mask and a method of producing a mask pattern used for calibration in formation of a mask pattern to be used for exposure to form a three-dimensional shape of an optical lens array or a like device.
Various methods of producing very small optical parts such as a microlens array used in applied products of image devices such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) unit are available, and one of such methods applies a photolithography technique used in manufacture of semiconductor and liquid crystal devices.
In the method just mentioned, a desired exposure amount distribution is applied to photo-resist which is a photosensitive material, and the photo-resist is developed so that it is worked three-dimensionally. Then, the worked photo-resist is used as a mask to perform etching to three-dimensionally work a silicon, glass or like substrate.
The photo mask used in the lithography process is implemented by such multiple exposure using a plurality of masks as seen in FIG. 14. The exposure method according to this technique is described in connection with one-dimensional exposure. The final exposure light distribution is represented by D(X) in FIG. 14.
First, light of an exposure light amount E[1] is applied to a region <1> using a mask (1) in FIG. 14. Then, light of another exposure light amount E[2] is applied to another region <2> including the region <1> using another mask (2). At this time, the total exposure light amount D1 to the region <1> is E[1]+E[2]. Further, exposure is successively performed with exposure amounts E[3], E[4],  . . . , E[n] using further masks (3), (4), . . . (not shown) and (n), respectively. Consequently, the final exposure light amount D[i] to the region i is given by D[i]=E[i]+E[i+1]+ . . . +E[n], and a desired discrete exposure light amount distribution is obtained. In this instance, the number n of masks corresponds to the exposure light amount position resolution, and for example, where n=10, 10 exposure light amount steps are obtained.
Recently, in addition to the multiple exposure method which uses a plurality of masks, another method has been developed wherein a desired exposure light amount distribution is obtained by a single exposure operation using a so-called gray tone mask wherein the transmission factor of a light intercepting film has a continuous distribution as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-189280 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1). A concept of the gray tone mask is illustrated in FIG. 15.
Of the two methods described above, the former method which utilizes a plurality of masks involves multiple exposure by a plurality of exposure operations multi-stage exposure also in time, and therefore, a resulting integrated exposure light amount distribution includes a remaining stepwise configuration. Further, the number of obtainable exposure light amount gradations is equal to the number of masks and hence to the number of times of exposure operations, and there is a problem that practically the number is approximately ten and a sufficient number of gradations cannot be obtained. Further, the exposure process is complicated and a mask cost which increases in proportion to the number of masks is required, and they give rise to various problems.
On the other hand, the latter method which involves a single exposure operation by a gray tone mask as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is advantageous in that a substantially continuous exposure light amount distribution is obtained. However, generally it is very difficult to produce such a gray tone mask as described above and a special film material and a special mask formation processing technique are required, resulting in a very high mask cost. Further, the special film material provides a matter of concern in regard to a secular change by heat and further provides a matter of concern in regard to the problem of the stability in performance during its use (that is, the stability against heat caused by absorption of light for exposure).
As a countermeasure for the problems described above, the assignee of the present patent application has proposed a method wherein a mask is formed with binary mask patterns of a pitch smaller than a resolution limit pitch and the opening size or dot remaining pattern size is spatially varied to allow formation of an arbitrary three-dimensional structure.
FIG. 16 illustrates a concept of a mask pattern for forming a one-dimensional concave lens array from positive resist in accordance with the method just described. Upon designing such a mask as seen in FIG. 16, the following designing procedure is taken. In particular, the intensity of 0th order light of a single two-dimensional array pattern of a certain pitch (which is smaller than a resolution limit pitch determined from NA, σ and λ as represented by an expression (1) given below) and a certain opening size is theoretically calculated, and an opening size for obtaining a predetermined light amount at a predetermined position is derived based on the calculated strength of 0th order light. Then, the opening size is changed depending upon the place so that a desired thickness of the remaining resist film may be obtained at a predetermined position.Pmin=λ/{NA×(1+σ)}  (1)
Masks were actually produced as prototypes and photo-resist was formed in a predetermined three-dimensional structure (lens array or the like) on the masks based on the design procedure described above. The three-dimensional structure has some error in formation height as seen, for example, in FIG. 17 or 18.
It can be seen that, as a tendency of the error, the error is great in the formation height at a place at which the opening size is small, that is, at a place at which the mask transmission factor is low. It is considered that, as possible causes, the tendency of the error is caused by (1) an error of the opening size itself (mask production error) and (2) a generation of "fogging exposure" by flare in an exposure apparatus where a great amount of exposure light is provided, resulting in a generation of an exposure light amount like a DC component in all over area of the exposure field.
In particular, FIG. 17 schematically shows the error in the case of (1) above. Referring to FIG. 17, an error arising from the manufacture is produced on a light intercepting pattern size of a mask pattern and has an influence on the exposure light amount to cause an error in the height of the lens.
Meanwhile, FIG. 18 schematically shows the error in the case of (2) above. Referring to FIG. 18, also where it is assumed that a mask pattern has no error (mask error) arising from the manufacture, since the fogging exposure light amount by flare of the exposure apparatus is involved by several percent, the fogging exposure light amount is added to cause an error in the height of the lens to be formed. It is to be noted that, in FIGS. 17 and 18, the solid lines represent design values and the broken lines represent errors.
In addition to the errors described above, the characteristics of the exposure light amount and the remaining resist film height exhibit some difference between designed ones and actual ones because the correlation between the development rates at the surface layer portion and the internal portion of the resist film is somewhat different depending upon whether a three-dimensional structure does not exist (upon designing) or exists (in actual production) in the resist layer at the development step. Consequently, the controllability of the resist remaining film height after the development in the proximity of the resist surface layer is deteriorated.
Therefore, a problem occurs that, if a portion of the resist near the surface is left to form a shape, then an error appears between the height of the remaining film of the resist formed with the set exposure light amount and the height of the actual remaining film and therefore the desired shape cannot be obtained.
Meanwhile, a theoretical model of a development process in which a three-dimensional structure is formed in this manner has not been clarified as yet, and it is difficult to accurately predict a remaining film distribution of resist by a simulation or the like.

Exposure mask and mask pattern production method


An outer product neural network provides a predetermined number of processing elements for extracting principal components of an input vector. The residual vector of the network when cascaded into a similar outer product neural network provides additional principal components defining a subspace orthogonal to the subspace defined by the principal components of the first network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to neural networks and particularly to outer product neural networks used to extract principal components from any type of signal.
2. Statement of the Prior Art
The term "neural network" is used here to describe any conglomeration of parallel, identical processor elements (PEs) whether linear or non-linear which may be jointly trained to achieve some state or minimal condition based on minimizing a constraint. The term "principal components" is being used loosely here as the major energy modes of the signal of interest. The signal of interest may be any one to n-dimensional signal such as a time series, image or n-dimensional feature vectors.
Beginning with Oja (E. Oja, "A Simplified Neuron Model As A Principal Component Analyzer": J. Math. Biology, vol. 15, pp. 267-273, 1982), it was recognized that neural networks could be used to extract principal components from a signal. Formally, principal components are the axes of an n-dimensional Gaussian signal; here, the term is used somewhat loosely to describe the principal modes and components of a signal. If most of the signal energy may be represented by a few principal components or modes, then the signal may be `explained` by those few principal components resulting in a reduced-rank representation of the signal. For instance, the reconstituted signal derived from the principal components may be used in place of the original signal and the principal components may be used for signal transmission and storage representing the original signal in compressed form. This will also, in general gain some advantage such as eliminating noise or enhancing the signal for subsequent processing based on signal rank.
Oja's rule was sufficient for extracting the single, largest principal component from a signal but could not extract multiple principal components. Sanger (T. Sanger, "Optimal Unsupervised Learning In A Single Layer Feed Forward Neural Network", presented at NIPS, Denver, Colo., Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 1988, pp 1-17) revised Oja's network and rule to enable extraction of multiple principal components. Sanger's rule required interconnection among the processor elements to enforce orthogonality. This is required as the principal component must form an orthonormal basis for the principal component subspace. Sanger also required a second normalization step.
More recently, Foldiak (P. Foldiak, "Adaptive Network For Optimal Linear Feature Extraction", Proc. IJCNN, pp. 1401-1406, Washington, D.C., 1989) and Kung (S. Y. Kung and K. I. Diamantaras, "A Neural Network Learning Algorithm For Adaptive Principal Components Extraction (APEX)", in Proc. ICASSP, vol. 2, pp. 861-864, 1990) have devised neural networks for extracting principal components. The updating rules for these networks also have interconnections among the processor elements to enforce the `anti-Hebbian` training, i.e. to constrain the principal components to be orthonormal. Of course, these additional connections require more processing be done for the network to converge.
Oja (E. Oja, "Neural Networks, Principal Components, and Subspaces", Int. J. Neural Systems, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 61-68, 1989) extended his original seminal paper based on a different line of reasoning which rendered his network very sensitive, and somewhat unstable, to training parameters.


A device is proposed for assembling chain components to a chain, wherein at least two chain components include radioactive radiation sources. The device includes a housing, a working channel which extends along a first axis of the housing, a loading unit connected to the working channel and having at least two receiving devices for chain component magazines, wherein at least one receiving device is configured to receive a radiation source magazine, as well as at least one means for ejecting the chain components received from the magazines, and an joining unit for joining chain components. The at least two receiving devices are positioned so that the magazines for chain components received therein are spaced along the first axis and positioned vertically above the working channel.

It is known to implant in cancer patients, particularly prostate cancer patients, chains made from radiation sources or so-called seeds. To this end, single radiation sources are used as well as pre-configured seed chains constructed, for example, by alternating a radiation source and a non-active spacer. Implanting single radiation sources allows the single radiation sources to be positioned individually using suitable means. The inflammatory enlargement of the prostate after implantation, followed by swelling, can cause the radiation sources to migrate or shift its position. A radioactive chain prevents this shift in position because it connects the individual implants to each other.
New medical tests show that adherence to a radiation treatment individually tailored to the patient achieves the best results when treating tumors. To do this, the position of the individual radiation sources must be exactly adjusted to each patient.
WO 2009/005528 A1 discloses a device for joining freely configurable seed-spacer chains from five different magazines with adjacent implants. The chains are joined by telescoping the individual implants into one another. The magazines are selected by moving a slider transversely to the working channel. This slider is used to receive the individual magazines. Such selection by using a slider is very complex, however, because the slider with the magazines as well as the working channel for receiving the selected chain components must always be re-aligned. This can easily lead to components jamming in the device. Furthermore, since the magazines are made of transparent polymer, they are only radiation-proof in their packaging or after insertion into the loading device. For this reason, the magazine content is limited to about 20 radiation sources.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,717 B2 describes a device, which has two magazines with two adjacent implants, which allows a freely configurable assembly of radiation sources and spacers. The implants are, however, not connected to fixed chains.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,696 B1 describes round magazines arranged successively, in which the radiation sources and spacers are arranged concentrically about the magazine pivot point. The arrangement is disadvantageous, however, in that, due to this invention's design, the individual implants from the rear magazine must be pushed through the front magazine. Pushing through the various magazines can, however, cause the device to jam, which must be then corrected manually. Pushing chain components through various magazines is also known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,358,195 B1.

Device and system for assembling chain components to a chain containing radiation sources


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for to conduct transgenic and targeted mutagenesis screening of genomic DNA. This invention also provides a system for screening DNA for a designated genetic sequence. The system includes a computer having a processor, memory and web browser, wherein the computer receives instructions concerning the designated genetic sequence and other screening parameter selected from a remote user via a form of electronic communication, and an automatic screening device that analyzes samples of genomic DNA for the designated sequence.

Genomic modification resulting from mutations in the DNA of an organism can be transferred to the progeny if such mutations are present in the gametes of the organism, referred to as germ-line mutations. These mutations may arise from genetic manipulation of the DNA using recombinant DNA technology or may be introduced by challenging the DNA by chemical or physical means. DNA introduced via recombinant DNA technology can be derived from many sources, including but not limited to DNA from viruses, mycoplasm, bacteria, fungi, yeast, and chordates including mammals such as humans.
Recombinant DNA technology allows for the introduction, deletion or replacement of DNA of an organism. Random introduction of DNA into a cell can be achieved by technologies such as transfection (including electroporation, lipofection), injection (pronuclear injection, nuclear transplantation) or transduction (viral infection). Random mutations (point mutations, deletions, amplifications) can be generated by treatment of cells with chemical mutagens or submitting them to physical insult such as X-irradiation or linear energy transfer irradiation (LET). Targeted addition, deletion or replacement of DNA in an organism (either inducible or non-inducible) is achieved via homologous recombination. Inducible systems employ sequence-specific recombinases such as Cre-LoxP (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,654,182 and 5,677,177) and FLP/FRT (U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,695).
Transgenic organisms are organisms that carry DNA sequences (be it genes or gene segments) derived from another species, stably integrated into their genome. Transgenic mammals are generally created by microinjection of DNA into the pronucleus of fertilized eggs, a technique in which the number of DNA copies or the integration site of the DNA into the host genome is uncontrollable. A transgenic line refers to an organism that transmits the foreign DNA sequences to its offspring.
Targeted mutations, site directed mutagenesis or gene targeting is described as methods that employ homologous recombination of DNA to alter a specific DNA sequence within the host genome. This can result in inactivation of a gene (knock-out mutation), or genetic alteration of the gene (knock-in mutation). In mammals this can be achieved by transfection of a cloned, mutated gene segment (targeting construct) into embryonic stem cells (ES cells), which, via homologous recombination, replaces the endogenous gene segment in the ES cell. Animals derived from these ES cells will carry the targeted mutation in their genome. Further refinement of this technique involves inducible gene alteration, in which the endogenous gene has been targeted with a DNA segment that contains recognition sequences (LoxP or FRT sequences) for site-specific recombinases (Cre, FLP). Expression of the recombinase in the targeted ES cell or the ES cell-derived animal will result in deletion of the DNA segment flanked by the recognition sites. Depending on the configuration of targeting construct, this can result in inactivation, activation or alteration of the targeted gene. The advantage of an inducible system in animals is that the gene alteration can be induced at any point in time or in any tissue, depending on the ability to specifically activate the recombinase. This can be achieved by placing the recombinase under the control of inducible promoters (chemically or hormone-inducible promoters).
Transgenic and targeted mutagenesis screening is used to determine if a genome possesses specific genetic sequences that exist endogenously or have been modified, mutated or genetically engineered. Genomic DNA is screened for these modifications or mutations. Genomic DNA is challenging to sufficiently immobilize on the substrate because of its size. The genomic DNA includes both coding and non-coding regions. Therefore, the genomic DNA contains exons and introns, promoter and gene regulation regions, telomeres, origins or replication and non-functional intergenic DNA. The genomic DNA is a double stranded molecule which is methylated. Immobilizing cDNA and PCR-amplicons differs in that the molecules are much smaller. Additionally, biochemical modification events, such as methylation, do not occur with the smaller molecules. Shena, M (2000) DNA Microarrays: A Practical Approach. Oxford University Press, New York, N.Y.
Transgenic screening is currently done manually. The present manual system is time-consuming and can provide variable results depending on the laboratory and even depending on skill of laboratory workers. Presently, a researcher using Southern blot technology may require greater than a week to screen a tissue sample for a transgene or a targeted mutation.
In an alternative technology, up to thirty PCR (polymerase chain reaction) can be conducted in an Eppendorf microtube® (Brinkmann Instruments, Westbury, N.Y.) and separated on a gel. This process in most laboratories requires 3 to 7 days. A need exists in the industry to provide a system and method for more accurate, faster and high volume transgenic and targeted mutagenesis screening.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for transgenic and targeted mutagenesis screening


Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and apparatus for establishing a secure connectivity for WiFi calling service to the EPC over a trusted or managed WLAN by establishing an IPSec tunnel over the WLAN with a gateway in the EPC (ePDG) through an HTTP server and logging to the HTTP server that may be co-located with the ePDG. The disclosure could enable internet traffic to be routed through the WLAN or through the HTTP server itself while routing WiFi calling service related traffic through the HTTP server and ePDG. The UE authentication used to establish the IPSec tunnel is used as a common authentication for the secure connectivity for WiFi calling service and local routing of internet traffic as permitted.

Wireless Fidelity, WiFi, calling refers to voice and video calls made using WiFi access technology specified in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, 802.11 standards. One type of WiFi calling service, referred to in this disclosure as over the top, OTT, WiFi calling service, is enabled by OTT applications such as Skype, WhatsApp™, Viber™ and Google Hangouts™ which can be downloaded by users into their user equipment, UE, e.g., tablet or a smartphone. Users use the so-called over the top applications to call other users over the Internet directly from the WiFi network, also referred to as wireless local area network, WLAN, network which may be at home or in public hotspots such as in a café, airport, library, etc. thereby completely bypassing mobile operators' networks. Note that with OTT applications, users have to create a new contact number (different from the user's phone number) to make and receive WiFi calls. Additionally, the users have to create a contact list other than the address book already available in the UE. Sometimes the OTT application can sometimes import the contacts from the UEs native contact list or contacts from the default Electronique mail, Email, account configured in the UE.
To obtain OTT WiFi calling service, a UE may use WiFi access in a WLAN provided by a WLAN access provider, different than a PLMN operator. Typically, when the user is in a public WiFi, or private WiFi in a hotel, airport, etc. the UE gets a local IP address from the WLAN and connects to an HTTP server to authenticate with a username and password. Once authentication is completed, the user is allowed to access the internet and fire up the WiFi calling OTT application.
Another type of Wi-Fi calling, which is referred to in this disclosure as built-in WiFi calling is typically offered by mobile or carrier operators to their users. For example, mobile operators are able to offer access to users who wish to have access to their home services over WiFi networks in hotels, airports, shopping malls and café s, etc. without incurring the same charges that they would otherwise incur if they were to use licensed cellular access. Unlike OTT WiFi calling service, the built-in WiFi calling is integrated into the UE and the user can reuse the same address book, phone number, and dial pad to make and receive calls over WiFi just like he/she is making and receiving calls when using cellular access technology. The user can configure the UE to use built-in WiFi calling service when it loses the cellular signal in which case, the UE could be configured to switch automatically to built-in WiFi calling assuming WiFi coverage is available, or even configure built-in WiFi calling service as default way of making a call.
An architecture for providing a built-in WiFi calling service is described in Group Special Mobile Association, GSMA, Industry Requirements, IR.51, IMS over WiFi in which the UE connects over the WLAN to its mobile operator's Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, via the Evolved Packet Core, EPC as described in 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP Technical Specification TS 23.402. Mobile operators thus extend the IMS based Voice over LTE, VoLTE and Video over LTE, ViLTE services by including support for WiFi as an access type for both voice and video calls. The built-in WiFi service shares the same IMS client in the UE used for VoLTE and ViLTE over the cellular access enabling reuse of the same address book and the same user credentials for authentication, giving the user experience a seamless experience.
From the mobile operator's perspective, the WiFi access (or WLAN) may be trusted or untrusted. A trusted WiFi access/WLAN is typically deployed by the same mobile operator or by a WLAN provider with whom roaming agreements are in place. The trusted WLAN connects to the packet gateway, PGW in the EPC over the standard interface known as S2a interface as specified, for example, in 3GPP TS 23.402. However, even if the WiFi network belongs to, or is otherwise connected to the mobile operator, the built-in WiFi calling service over the trusted WLAN is not considered by the mobile operator's, secure enough for accessing WiFi calling services in the operator's network. Consequently, to enable the WiFi calling service today, the mobile operator's EPC treats all WLAN accesses as untrusted.
A WiFi access is untrusted by the mobile operator in implementations such as public or private WLAN deployed in cafes, airport, hotels, etc. that are deployed by WLAN providers with whom there are no roaming agreements or service level agreements in place. The UE connects to the EPC by first establishing an Internet Protocol security, IPSec, tunnel to an evolved Packet Data Gateway, ePDG in the EPC. The ePDG acts as a security gateway between the UE and the rest of the EPC. The ePDG tunnels traffic to and from the UE over the established IPSec tunnel. The traffic received from the UE is further tunneled to a PGW in the EPC over the S2b interface as specified in 3GPP TS 23.402, and traffic received from the PGW over the S2b interface is forwarded to the UE over the IP Sec tunnel.
Note that in roaming scenarios the Home Subscriber Server/3GPP Authentication Authorization and Accounting, HSS/3GPP AAA, Server in user's home mobile operator's network determines whether the WiFi Access used by the UE is trusted or untrusted. If the WLAN supports the 3GPP-based access authentication as specified in 3GPP TS 33.402, the UE is further notified during the authentication step in the WLAN. The UE uses the network notification to trigger establishment of an IPSec tunnel with an ePDG if the notification indicates the WLAN is untrusted or to perform native WiFi access if the notification indicates the WLAN is trusted where the UE is not required to establish an IPSec tunnel to access mobile operator's services. Note that if WLAN does not support the 3GPP-based access authentication as specified in 3GPP TS 33.402, the UE determines the trust relationship with the WLAN on the basis of pre-configured policy in the UE by the mobile operator.
To establish a built-in WiFi calling service as specified in GSMA IR.51 over untrusted WLAN, the UE uses the Internet Engineering Task Force, IETF, Internet Key Exchange version 2, IKEv2 protocol, specified in Request For Comment, RFC 5996 and IPSec to establish with the ePDG over the untrusted WLAN a secure connection that is integrity protected and encrypted as per IETF RFC 4301 and IETF RFC 4303. As the WiFi calling service is built-in, the IKEv2 protocol in the UE uses authentication credentials stored on the SIM card to automatically set up the IPSec tunnel between the UE and the ePDG. During the IKEv2 exchange with the UE, the UE and the ePDG are mutually authenticated using an extended authentication protocol method such the authentication key agreement method, EAP-AKA as specified in 3GPP TS 33.402. The ePDG retrieves the security keys, authentication vectors and subscription information from the HSS to authenticate the UE and establish confidentiality of the connection (i.e., session keys for encryption). During the IKEv2 exchange, the ePDG additionally establishes an S2b bearer to a selected PGW in the EPC. The S2b bearer is referred to as a default S2b bearer. The PGW assigns an IP address to the UE. The IP address is used by the UE to send and receive IP traffic to and from the internet or intranet through the PGW and have access to the requested services. 3GPP TS 23.402 refers to the UE to ePDG interface as the SWu interface. Both IKEv2 and IPSec packets are transported over the IP layer and all IMS traffic, whether control or media related packets are encapsulated in an IP Encapsulating Security Payload, ESP as specified in IETF RFC 4303.
Once an IPSec tunnel instance is established between the UE and the ePDG and the UE is assigned an IP address from the PGW, a packet data network, PDN connection is thus established and the UE can start sending IMS control signaling traffic to request session establishment for voice and/or video or both. The ePDG forwards the received traffic to the PGW over the established S2b bearer. A dedicated S2b bearer associated to the same PDN connection may be established in the EPC between the PGW and the ePDG to transport the related media (voice and/or video packets).
The built-in WiFi calling service over IPSec is provided transparently over the WLAN. It is indeed becoming a preferred WiFi calling service choice for operators as it provides the security needed for such services. However functions such as lawful interception, detailed location based charging, location based services, emergency calling are not supported as UE location is required for those functions. Additionally, the current WiFi calling solution results in that all UE traffic whether related to WiFi calling traffic or internet traffic is transported through the operator's network over one or more IPSec tunnel instances.

Method for secure WiFi calling connectivity over managed public WLAN access


Semiconductor devices and methods for forming semiconductor devices are provided. A vertical channel structure extends from a substrate and is formed as a channel between a source region and a drain region. A first metal gate surrounds a portion of the vertical channel structure and has a gate length. The first metal gate has a first gate section with a first workfunction and a first thickness. The first metal gate also has a second gate section with a second workfunction and a second thickness. The first thickness is different from the second thickness, and the sum of the first thickness and the second thickness is equal to the gate length. A ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness is chosen to achieve a desired threshold voltage level for the semiconductor device.

The technology described in this patent document relates generally to semiconductor devices and more particularly to vertical channel semiconductor devices.
Scaling of semiconductor devices, such as a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), has enabled continued improvement in speed, performance, density, and cost per unit function of integrated circuits over the past few decades. Improvements to vertical channel devices can further the scaling of integrated circuits.

Semiconductor structures and methods for multi-level work function

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited


A sealing glass composition suitable for bonding ceramic surfaces at low temperatures and which includes in weight percent 5-50% thallium oxide, 10-40% vanadium oxide, 5-30% tellurium oxide, 1.5-15% arsenic oxide and 1-5% phosphorous oxide. Other additives may be included, such as bismuth oxide. A paste formulated from said glass and a filler for the purpose of adjusting the fluidity and/or dielectric constant of the paste.

The present invention relates to sealing glass compositions and, more particularly, to sealing glass compositions for bonding ceramic or metal surfaces. Still more particularly the invention relates to compositions useful in bonding ceramics to produce satisfactory bond strength even when fired at temperatures less than 350.degree. C., preferably less than 300.degree. C.
Semiconductor devices or chips, also known as "dies," are packaged in hermetically sealed ceramic containers to resist breakage and destruction. Such ceramic packages may be made of alumina, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, or other ceramics. A common packaging material is alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3).
Ceramic packages of the type described are typically sealed by applying the sealing glass composition to the surfaces of the ceramic components where sealing is to take place and then heating the assembly to elevated temperatures to effect bonding. A problem in sealing ceramic packages is that conventional sealing compositions typically require firing at temperatures above 400.degree. C. to achieve bonding of the ceramic components with satisfactory bond strength. For example, lead borate-based sealing glass compositions, such as have been commonly used, require firing at 420.degree.-430.degree. C. to produce the desired bond strength. However, many of the new semiconductor devices are much more sensitive to firing temperature than previous devices and their usefulness will be adversely affected by exposure to elevated temperatures. Dies which are sensitive to firing temperature include larger dies and dies employing fine line geometry. In the latter case, lines of Si-SiO.sub.2 -Si which are spaced one or two microns apart are provided at the die surface. Firing at high temperatures to accomplish bonding strengths tends to destroy the usefulness of these dies due to incipient melting of the line compositions which may result in undesirable contact between the lines.
Efforts have been made to provide sealing glass compositions which do not require firing at the elevated temperatures such as are necessary with glasses based on lead borate systems. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,697, dated May 7, 1991, sealing glass compositions for bonding ceramic surfaces were disclosed which are capable of being fired at temperatures less than 400.degree. C. while still producing satisfactory bond strength. However, there is a continuing interest in sealing glass compositions capable of being used at even lower firing temperatures and the present invention provides sealing glass compositions capable of developing satisfactory bond strength even when fired at temperatures below 350.degree. C., for example, below 300.degree. C.


A method of evaluating a portal dose image includes obtaining a template from a database, the template prescribing one or more evaluation criteria, receiving a first portal dose image, and using a processor to evaluate the first portal dose image based at least in part on the one or more evaluation criteria from the template. In some embodiments, a second image is automatically evaluated after the first image is evaluated. A system for evaluating a portal dose image includes a processor that is communicatively coupled to a database, the database having a template that prescribes one or more evaluation criteria, wherein the processor is configured to obtain the template from the database, receive a first portal dose image, and evaluate the first portal dose image based at least in part on the one or more evaluation criteria from the template.

Radiation therapy has been employed to treat tumorous tissue. In radiation therapy, a high energy beam is applied from an external source towards the patient. The external source, which may be rotating (as in the case for arc therapy), produces a collimated beam of radiation that is directed into the patient to the target site. The dose and placement of the dose must be accurately controlled to ensure that the tumor receives sufficient radiation, and that damage to the surrounding healthy tissue is minimized.
Generally, a radiation treatment plan is determined before the radiation therapy is performed. In some cases, the dose of the radiation treatment plan is also evaluated before the treatment plan is carried out. Such dose evaluation may be performed by comparing a predicted dose of the treatment plan with a portal dose that is obtained based on an evaluation plan. This allows an accurate and precise dosage of radiation to be delivered to a patient.
Sometimes, a radiation treatment plan includes multiple fields. Existing techniques for evaluating doses of such radiation treatment plan involve analyzing each of the fields of the treatment plan. In such techniques, each of the fields of the treatment plan is analyzed manually with the aid of a computer. In particular, the user would manually input parameters to perform a test that compares predicted dose with portal dose. The user then manually analyzes the test result. In some cases, if the same test needs to be run again using different values of the parameters, the user would need to manually change the parameters, and rerun the test. Also, if additional test is needed, the user would again manually input parameters to perform another test to compare the predicted dose with the portal dose. Then the user again manually analyzes the additional test result. Such non-template based dose evaluation approach has been a standard procedure in radiation plan verification.
Applicant of the subject application determines that the standard procedure for performing dose evaluation on multiple fields of a treatment plan is repetitive and time consuming with many steps always being the same. Applicant also determines that manually changing values of the parameters to run the same test using the different parameter values is tedious and inefficient. Applicant therefore determines that it would be desirable to have a more efficient system and method for performing dose evaluation for radiation treatment plan, such as an intensity modulated radiation treatment (IMRT) plan.

Method and system for automated evaluation of multiple portal dose images in radiation therapy


An apparatus, system and method for warming food by controlled heating of heat retention objects such as cookware items or pellets located on a trivet positioned on a countertop, using heating control units, such as induction heating units, remotely located beneath the countertop. The preferred trivet insulates the countertop against damages, and also includes circuitry enabling the indication or display of its proper positioning on the countertop, and also indicating whether the heating unit is heating the heat retention object.

U.S. Ser. No. 11/750,571, filed May 18, 2007, titled "Detachable Tag-Based Temperature Sensor For Use In Heating Of Food And Cookware," assigned to the present assignee, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this patent application.
The present invention generally relates to devices used to heat the contents of cookware such as dishes, buffet trays and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a heating device and system, such as for induction heating of objects such as cookware or food containers through stone or other materials on which cookware may be placed.
Various methods are known for heating cookware and food containers. As one example, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagging systems have been used to activate and control magnetic induction heating systems for use in heating foods and associated food containers, cookware and warming/heat retention objects. Use of such systems allows objects not physically connected to a magnetic induction heater to be heated and temperature-regulated using RFID technology. In such systems, an RFID tag having a temperature sensor are mounted within the item to be heated, such as cookware; an RFID reader is located within the magnetic induction heater unit. When the tagged object comes within the reading field of the RFID reader, the tag may be used to transmit information such as temperature and the class of object being heated, so that the heater control circuitry may use the information to commence an appropriate heating cycle for heating and temperature-regulating the object. Various such systems are available, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,025,725 to Gershenfeld et al., and 6,320,169 and 6,953,919 to Clothier, the entire disclosures of each of these three patents hereby being incorporated by reference herein. Use of this technology enables relatively precise heating and temperature regulation.
Other non-contact/indirect, remote control methods are known or may be devised. As non-limiting examples, remote controller devices used with televisions typically operate based on optical (infrared) communication. Non-contact modes of communication other than RFID may be used, likewise, for measuring the temperature of cookware and food containers, such as those involving communication via optical means, ultrasound, infrared, or other communication modes.
Induction heating of cookware may be accomplished by mounting the cookware on a range or countertop. Often, it may be desirable to hide the induction heating unit beneath a countertop made of stone (e.g., granite, man-made composites such as silestone, etc.) or other materials (e.g., formica, glass, wood, etc.), which may be typically about 3 centimeters thick, as a rough exemplary range of thickness. The countertop carries the cookware, which may be induction-heated by conveyance of magnetic field waves passing through the stone. Due to its combustive nature, the use of wood may not be desirable. Stone and composites present problems in this application, as market experience and the inventors' own testing have shown that the substantial temperature variations involved in warming or heating of food containers or cookware tends to crack the stone or generate surface damage (mechanical and/or visual).
For warming food or liquid items held for serving, the U.S.D.A. sets 145° F. as a minimum holding temperature. Typically, because it is not desired to boil the food or liquid item, 180° F.-190° F. is the top range. The resulting temperature variations have proved problematic when using countertops made of stone or other materials due to cracking or surface damage issues.
Another problem encountered when using a stone, composite or other countertop covering an induction heating unit has been how to locate the cookware on the countertop so that it is properly positioned for heating activation within the radio tagging transmission area of the induction heating unit, as well as being optimally positioned for the induction heating process. Two factors complicate this problem. First, it may be desirable to have a "clean" countertop, devoid of markings, logos, designs, etc. Second, it may be desirable to have induction heater (e.g., buffet) units, for example, slidably mounted on tracks beneath the countertop, so that their location can change beneath the countertop. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a way of indicating to the user when the cookware is properly located over the induction heating unit, and also to indicate whether the heating unit is currently heating the heat retention object.
Still another problem encountered in the industry of warming food items using cookware is how to control the temperature of the cookware remotely, using indirect heating.
It would also be advantageous to provide a cookware-warming device that may be used with any cookware, such that it need not be specially designed to have induction heating apparatus (e.g., an RFID tag) attached to it.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a cookware heating device and system that solves the problems recited above, while providing new advantages not currently available.


A bone fracture fixation system including a bone plate having a contour that substantially matches the contour of an underlying bone. The bone fracture fixation system can also include a jig that can be moved relative to non-parallel cannulas guided by the jig into operative position relative to a bone plate. In one embodiment, the jig includes grooves which do not completely surround the perimeter of the cannulas guided by the jig. The bone fracture fixation system can also include a jig including guides having a position and orientation which is adjustable relative to other ones of the guides. In one embodiment, the jig includes two portions that can articulate with respect to each other. The bone fracture fixation system can also include a wire bender that can bend a wire greater than 180 degrees so that both ends of the wire can be inserted into a fractured bone.

Bone plates can be used to treat fractured bones. Typically, a bone plate is secured to a bone to stabilize parts of a fractured bone while the bone mends. Periarticular bone plates are used to treat bone fractures adjacent a joint and typically include an elongate portion which is secured to the diaphysis of a bone and a flared portion which is attached to the metaphysis of the bone with, e.g., a plurality of screws.
Jigs can be used to assist a surgeon in aligning a fastener, such as a screw, with a hole or other cooperating structure of a bone plate. These jigs can include holes for receiving cannulas which facilitate alignment of fasteners with cooperating structures of the bone plate. In use, the jig holes align and support the cannulas. Each jig hole has a continuous wall that defines an elongate hole in the jig. The jig holes are sized to closely surround the exterior wall of a cannula such that the jig hole aligns the cannula with, e.g., a screw hole in the bone plate. Thereafter, the cannulas can be used to assist the surgeon in guiding fasteners into operative position with respect to the bone plate. Typically, the longitudinal axes of the cannulas inserted in the jig holes are not parallel and therefore the jig is locked in position until the cannulas are removed from the jig. Specifically, because the jig holes are defined by continuous walls that closely surround the cannulas positioned therein, and the axes of the cannulas positioned within the jig holes are not parallel, the jig cannot be moved relative to the cannulas positioned in the jig holes of the jig.
Jigs are sometimes attached to a bone plate and used to assist a surgeon in guiding the bone plate between the soft tissue and bone of a patient. These jigs can also serve as a guide for inserting fasteners into engagement with cooperating structures of a bone plate. In use, these jigs maintain a position external of the patient and include holes which are substantially aligned with the holes of the bone plate inserted under the soft tissue of the patient. The position and orientation of the jig holes with respect to one another are fixed and unadjustable.
On occasion, Kirshner wires, or "K-wires", are used to stabilize parts of a fractured bone while the bone mends. In use, a K-wire is inserted into the bone to anchor the K-wire and the excess length of the K-wire is removed, typically creating a sharp end. The sharp end of the wire can then be aligned with the surface of a bone plate or, if a bone plate is not used, aligned with the surface of the bone to reduce impingement of the K-wire with the surrounding soft tissue. Typically, the K-wire is bent with a wire bender.


A harvesting machine includes a chassis; an engine to propel the harvesting machine; a header mounted on a front of the chassis; a cutter bar arranged on the header to cut crops during operation of the harvesting machine; a plurality of implements on the chassis configured to facilitate processing the crops cut by the cutter bar; at least one cutter bar load sensor arranged on the header and configured to collect cutter bar load data representing a load on the cutter bar resulting from cutting the crops; and a controller operatively coupled to the at least one cutter bar sensor. The controller is configured to receive the cutter bar load data, determine a cutter bar load value based on the cutter bar load data, and generate an adjustment command for an operational parameter associated with at least one of the implements based on the cutter bar load value.

Agricultural harvesting machines include headers designed to cut and collect crops from the ground. In a combine harvester, the harvesting machine threshes the crops, separates the grain from other material, cleans the grain, stores the grain in a grain tank, and eventually, transfers the grain from the grain tank to an accompanying vehicle such as a grain cart or grain wagon. In a forage harvester, the crop is cut, accelerated, and blown into a container of a transport vehicle; and in a windrower, the crop is cut and deposited on a field in a swath. The operation of the harvesting machine is relatively complex, and a number of systems with parameters may be adjusted or modified, typically by the operator, to improve performance, although monitoring and implementing these operational parameter adjustments may be challenging.

Harvesting control system with cutter bar load sensing