A logic circuit comprises: an event generator for detecting a variation in data output from a signal source to generate an event which indicates the variation of the data; a plurality of propagation elements for propagating the event in a chained fashion; and a plurality of evaluation elements for evaluating data received at a first stage from the signal source to propagate a result of the evaluation in a chained fashion. When receiving the event, each of the plurality of evaluation elements evaluates the data input to the evaluation element.

The present invention relates to a logic circuit and specifically to a circuit construction technique for reducing delay and power consumption of a sequential circuit.
Among the presently-existing semiconductor integrated circuits, static circuits, typified by CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) circuits, have been widely used. The CMOS circuits have an advantage such that the output does not change so long as the input does not change, and the current consumption includes only a small leak component and an active component which occurs at a value transition, resulting in a relatively small current consumption. On the other hand, a disadvantage of the CMOS circuits is a relatively-large energy delay product in a high speed operation.
FIG. 62 conceptually shows a CMOS circuit. In general, the CMOS circuit includes a circuit for realizing a logical operation of a function to be realized, i.e., evaluation function f, and a circuit for realizing a logical operation of a complementary function of evaluation function f, i.e., function f*. Function f and function f* are generally realized by an N-type transistor and a P-type transistor, respectively. Signals generated by the functions are propagated to the functions at subsequent steps, whereby a circuit operation is realized. In the CMOS circuit, two circuits are constructed for one function, and therefore, the circuit scale and the input load of signals are relatively large. Especially, the P-type transistor needs to have a transistor size about twice as large as that of the N-type transistor in view of the difference in carrier mobility, and therefore, the increase in input load is remarkable. This problem is common among the static circuits, including DCVSL (Differential Cascode Voltage Switch Logic), as well as the CMOS circuits.
A known circuit structure which compensates for the disadvantages of the static circuit is a dynamic circuit (see, for example, the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,625 (FIG. 3A)). FIG. 63 conceptually shows a dynamic circuit. In general, the dynamic circuit performs a time-sharing operation of an initialization phase for output with initialization function g and an evaluation phase for input with a function to be realized, i.e., evaluation function f. The operation with evaluation function f and the operation with initialization function g are referred to as "evaluation operation" and "precharge operation", respectively. Through the evaluation operation, a signal is generated and propagated, and the function at the subsequent stage performs a precharge operation and an evaluation operation, whereby a circuit operation is realized. Thus, in the dynamic circuit, it is only necessary to add an initialization function to one function, and therefore, the circuit scale and the input load of signal are relatively small. Especially, the initialization operation is performed using a clock, and therefore, the input load depends only on evaluation function f and is about a ⅓ of that of the CMOS circuit.
However, there is a problem that, since the initialization phase and the evaluation phase alternately occur all the time in the dynamic circuit, the activation yield is higher than in the static circuit. Thus, it is necessary to reduce the activation yield by, for example, introducing clock gating control. In the dynamic circuit, a clock is used for an operation of a combinational circuit, and therefore, design restrictions as to the clock tree structure, clock waveform adjustment, etc., become complicated, and the design difficulty increases. Known techniques for reducing the activation yield of the dynamic circuit include a technique which uses an asynchronous circuit (see, for example, Scott Hauck, "Asynchronous Design Methodologies: An Overview", Proceedings of IEEE, Vol. 83, No. 1, January, 1995, pp. 69-93 (FIGS. 7 and 8)) and a technique which performs clock control according to a variation of the input signal (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-206791 (FIG. 1)).
However, in the asynchronous circuit, in general, the operation is completed by a handshake of a request signal and a response signal, and therefore, a circuit for the handshake is necessary. Since an operation of the combinational circuit is accompanied by a handshake, the design difficulty is extremely high. On the other hand, applications of clock control performed according to a variation of the input signal are limited to sequential elements, such as flip flops, memories, and the like, in view of the principle of detecting a variation of the input signal.
Thus, it is difficult to achieve both higher speed operation and lower power consumption in a logic circuit because of the increase of the input load in the static circuit, the increase of the activation yield and extremely-high design difficulty in the dynamic circuit, generation of an overhead of a handshake circuit and extremely-high design difficulty in the asynchronous circuit, and application restrictions in the clock control performed according to a variation of the input signal. It is difficult to solve the problems about the signal load, activation yield, circuit scale, etc., at the same time so long as the circuit operation is based on any one of a rule that a result of sequential function evaluation of a signal input is propagated as in the static circuit and a rule that a result of periodic function evaluation of a signal input is propagated as in the dynamic circuit.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present disclosure relates to biocide compositions, formulations and methods for using formulations. In particular the present disclosure relates to biocide compositions and their use in effecting biocidal activity in subterranean oil and gas wells being drilled, completed, worked over or produced.

The oil and gas drilling process is time consuming and expensive, and is a driver of many of the world's economies. Integral to the health of the industry are the ability to maintain equipment and lower the cost of production. One exemplary area in which these needs are strongly felt is in hydraulic fracturing (also referred to as "slickwater" fracturing, deep matrix hydraulic fracturing, hydrofracturing, hydrofracking, fracking or fraccing) which has become increasingly important since the advent of shale gas plays. The use of water is ubiquitous in hydraulic fracturing, and the maintenance of biological control over the system is critical. Hydraulic fracturing is often a precondition for transforming low permeability shale gas reservoirs into commercial assets; however, hydraulic fracturing also finds application in other well types, such as in tight gas, tight oil and coal seam gas.
Microorganisms can play a damaging role in the hydraulic fracturing process, and can lead to higher costs of production and, in some cases, failure of the well. For example, microorganisms can cause well souring, equipment plugging, loss of formation injectivity, destruction of essential additives and microbiologically induced corrosion (MIC, also known as "microbiologically influenced corrosion"). As a result, biocides find numerous uses in the oil or gas field, such as, in remediation or prevention. For example, biocides can be applied to reduce or "knockdown" the high numbers of bacteria in formulations that are pumped downhole in connection with fracturing, reinjection or other oil or gas field operations.
Because of the drawbacks of existing biocides used in connection with oil and gas well production, there exists a need for more efficient, economical and compatible biocide compositions and methods for controlling microorganisms throughout the oil and gas well machinery and process.
Throughout this disclosure, various publications, patents and patent applications are referenced. The disclosures of these publications, patents and applications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure.


A shape changing apparatus includes a body portion and first and second appendages pivotally attached to respective first and second opposing sides of the body portion so as to be rotatable about respective first and second axes of rotation. The first and second appendages are moveable between an open position and a closed position. Each appendage has a generally arcuate shape. The shape changing apparatus further includes a biasing mechanism coupled to the first and second appendages. The biasing mechanism is configured to bias the first and second appendages to the open position. The shape changing apparatus further includes a release mechanism operatively coupled to one of the first or second appendages. Upon activating the release mechanism the biasing mechanism pivots the first and second appendages to the open position.

Although there are many toys on the market, manufacturers constantly seek new ways to make toys that are more entertaining and amusing. Often, children are particularly interested in toys having moving parts. Mechanical aspects of toys are intellectually stimulating to children as they must learn how to operate the toy, and they may experience curiosity as to how the toy works. Moreover, toys requiring user operation help children to develop fine motor skills.
In addition to making toys appealing to children, toy manufacturers must also market them to parents. For example, many parents are interested in relatively inexpensive toy options. Children may sometimes grow bored or "grow out of" toys, and, thus, parents may be hesitant to spend a great deal of money on a particular toy. Parents may also be interested in purchasing relatively small toys that do not require much storage space. Moreover, relatively small toys may be carried with the child to keep him or her occupied during trips or errands outside the home. For example, small toys may be carried in a mother's purse to occupy children "on the go."


Novel solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) article and method of manufacture with improved properties at lower costs. The structural features and methods involve fabricating an anode (i.e., fuel electrode); applying a cermet electrolyte, which includes a mixture of ceramic and electrochemically active substances, and applying a cathodic layer. The cermet electrolyte containing a small amount of transition metal reduces the thermal expansion mismatch with the anode, and allows for a graded structure of the electrochemically active substances across the anode/electrolyte structure. Under operating conditions, a dense electrolyte and metal oxide sub-layer exist on the oxidized side (cathode side); while the other side of the electrolyte (reducing side) is made of a porous sub-layer containing transition metal. The tailoring of the amounts of metal present in the anode and the cermet electrolyte allows for greater power output and enhanced electrochemical performance, while maintaining the structural integrity and reliability of the SOFC.

Several different solid oxide fuel cell structural designs have been developed, including tubular, planar and monolithic designs, all of which are documented in the technical literature (see, for example, Q. M. Nguyen et al., "Science and Technology of Ceramic Fuel Cells", Elsevier Science, January 1995). The tubular SOFC design originated from sealing problems associated with planar fuel cell stacks (see G. Hoogers, "Fuel Cell Technology Handbook", CRC Press, August 2002). A typical tubular SOFC includes a ceramic membrane for conducting oxygen-ions onto which an air electrode (i.e., cathode) and the fuel electrode (i.e., anode) are deposited. Oxygen is converted at the cathode to oxygen ions, which diffuse through the membrane and react with the fuel at the anode. The electrons generated at the anode then migrate through the external load to complete the circuit.
Three types of configurations are typically followed to form the aforementioned structural designs:                a) Electrolyte-supported, in which a dense electrolyte is used as a support, upon which an anode and a cathode are applied on each side of the layer (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,837 to Aitken et al.; and, U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,920 to Badding et al.);        b) Air electrode-supported (i.e., cathode-supported), in which a porous doped-lanthanum manganite substrate forms a cathode that is coated with a gas-tight electrolyte layer, and subsequently coated with an anode layer (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,850 to Carlson et al.; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,634 to Isenberg); and,        c) Fuel electrode-supported (i.e., anode-supported), in which a cermet anode support is coated with a thin film electrolyte layer and subsequently coated with a cathode layer (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,056 to Divisek et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,521 to Kim et al.).
In order to obtain high efficiency and/or lower operating temperature, the electrolyte layer in an electrolyte-supported SOFC must be dense, gas tight and very thin (preferably a few microns). Technology for depositing thin electrolyte films onto porous electrode substrates (either the cathode or the anode) is currently under development (see H. P. Buchkremer et al., "Advances in Manufacturing and Operation of Anode Supported SOFC Cells and Stacks", Proceedings of the Third European Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Forum, June 1998, p. 143-149).
Numerous patents have issued to Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp., Orlando, Fla., disclosing the so-called air electrode-supported (AES) technology (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,700 to Ruka, et al.; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,985 to Borglum; and, U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,485 also to Borglum). Notwithstanding noteworthy technical achievements in the field of tubular SOFC, cathode-supported fuel cells suffer from several disadvantages. In particular, cathode materials, such as lanthanum manganite doped with strontium, are very costly. Cathodes are made of ceramic materials and their strength is lower than anodes made of cermets, i.e., composites of ceramic and metal. Typical cathode-supported SOFCs are economically unattractive because they require capital-intensive depositing techniques, such as electrochemical vapor deposition (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,634 to Isenberg).
Thus, anode-supported SOFCs are attracting increased attention since they can be fabricated at lower cost while maintaining high mechanical structural strength and providing high power density (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,565 to Song et al.). However, existing anode-supported SOFCs still lack superior electrochemical performance and structural reliability. This is mainly due to thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between the anode cermet and the conventional ceramic electrolyte, which can result in cell failure during fabrication, or when under operating conditions.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved, readily adaptable and economical SOFCs, and methods of manufacture of anode-supported SOFC with superior physical and electrochemical properties, when under operating conditions.

Anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells using a cermet electrolyte


A forced hot-water heating system in which sensible and latent heat remaining in flue gases after contact with a primary heat exchanger is recycled into incoming cold air by a second heat exchanger. The heater, humidified intake air is then directed to a fuel burner, and reduces the amount of fuel necessary to achieve a given amount of heat exchange at the primary heat exchanger at normal operating return-water temperatures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of hot-water space heating systems, and in particular to a system that recaptures heat contained in exhaust vapor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the high cost of fuel, a strong economic incentive exists to maximize the efficiency of space heating systems. The water vapor produced by the gas or fuel burners employed in typical systems provides a major pathway for energy loss due to the high heat capacity and heat of vaporization of water. Although water vapor is a significant combustion product in these systems, it escapes as flue gas in conventional recirculatory heating systems because the heat exchangers respond primarily to the sensible heat of the burners; therefore, the heated water vapor can contribute only minimally to reheating of the incoming heat transfer medium. Indeed, it has been found that the water vapor in typical flue gas represents approximately 10% of the total available heat from combustion.
An ideal system for reclaiming this energy would cool the water vapor to condensation, thereby capturing the bulk of the heat stored in the vapor. However, practical constraints limit the feasibility of designing such systems. Depending on the amount of excess air used in combustion, the water-vapor dew point of methane or natural gas combustion products ranges from about 120.degree. F. to 138.degree. F. Cooling the flue gas below this temperature range may be practical in a forced-air heating system, where the temperature of the heat transfer medium (heated air) is only about 70.degree. F. However, such cooling is impractical in the case of traditional forced hot-water heating systems. The water-supply temperature in such systems can exceed 200.degree. F., while return water temperatures generally exceed 145.degree. F. and can reach about 180.degree. F.
Colder return temperatures in forced hot-water systems can theoretically be achieved by reducing the water flow rate, so that heat exchange at the building radiators is allowed to progress further. However, flow rates sufficiently slow to reduce return temperatures below the flue gas dew point would result in poor heat delivery through conventional radiators. Similarly, reduction of the supply water temperature would substantially reduce the heating capacity of the system.
One feasible approach to energy recapture in forced hot-water water heating system involves transferring both sensible and latent heat contained in the flue gas to the incoming air stream, rather than to the supply or return water. The resultant introduction at the point of combustion of air having elevated temperature and water-vapor levels reduces the amount of fuel necessary to achieve a given net heating duty, and increases the temperature at which heat exchange from the condensation of water vapor can be achieved. Such systems have been known in the prior art for some time; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 1,291,175 (issued Jan. 14, 1919, and hereinafter referred to as the "'175 Patent"); U.K. Patent No. 2,103,510 (hereinafter referred to as the "'510 Patent"). However, these prior art systems present a number of disadvantages. Multiple pumps and/or elevational requirements for the secondary heat exchanger limit the net energy recovery, as well as causing significant practical constraints on the efficient and economic arrangements of system components. Furthermore, the designs of the secondary heat exchangers found in the prior art exhibit undesirable thermodynamic characteristics and require flow and liquid-level balancing components that further degrade performance.


An alarm system for protecting a person and a valuable item from a thief is disclosed. The system comprises a personal module and an item module, each module being identical in size and shape and detail of construction. The modules are adapted to work in a paired, opposed relationship with each other. Each module has a plurality of flat multipole magnetic couplers recessed on an exterior face thereof. Each module has an electrical circuit contained within the casing having a siren transducer and a replaceable DC power source and an alarm switch therebetween. The alarm switch is adapted to close the circuit between the siren transducer and the DC power source when the modules are separated. Further, each module has a reed switch coupled to a magnetic switch in the casing inside the opposed module for deactivating the siren transducer and the replaceable DC power source upon the mating of the modules. The first module, the personal module, is attached to the person by a lanyard. The second module, the valuable item module, is attached to the valuable item with a leash. Each module has a jack switch in a normally closed position to maintain the alarm circuit in a armed state when a switch pin is removed from the jack switch. When the switch pin is inserted in the jack switch, an override condition occurs in the electric circuit and the module is disarmed, regardless of the mating or separation relationship of the modules.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a personal security system. More particularly, the invention relates to a personal security system having two modules. One module is worn by a person and the second module is attached to a valuable item.
2. Description of the Background Art
Many personal security devices have been invented over the years for protecting people and valuable items. Throughout the United States steps are being taken to improve personal security devices. The primary advantage of the personal security device is that it discourages thieves from harming people and from stealing their property.
The invention described herein is a personal security system to protect a person and a valuable item that is normally worn or held by the person in daily life. For example, a person walking a pet or a person with a purse or a person with a briefcase would have use for the personal security system as described herein. This invention has no moving parts, is powered by a low cost, replaceable nine volt DC battery and achieves its purpose with a minimum of training on the part of the person using the system. Further, the invention has override features to allow for replacement of the nine volt battery or for the person to decouple the modules when reattaching the item module to a second valuable item.
The modules are fabricated from an inexpensive non-magnetic plastic material such as a polycarbonate resin. The electrical components are all readily available off-the-shelf items. The modules can be individually armed to sound an alarm in the vicinity of the person and/or in the vicinity of the valuable item. The modules are coupled through the use of low cost conventional hook and loop fabric fasteners or preferably, flat multipole magnets.
Many personal security systems have been developed in the past to protect people and valuable items.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,607 issued to Yannotti, et. al. discloses an anti-pick-pocket device which comprises an alarm when activated upon the uncoupling of a plug.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,326 issued to Costa discloses a purse alarm which is activated upon the uncoupling of a plug.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,382 issued to Huber discloses an electrical function group with a plug-type connector. An alarm is activated upon the uncoupling of the plug.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,580 issued to Distel discloses a device with an alarm buzzer wired to a battery with a magnetic switch means therebetween.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,927,311 issued to Donaldson discloses a portable container with an alarm device, the alarm device becoming active upon uncoupling of a thong.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,079 issued to Chiu, et. al. discloses a theftproof suitcase which activates an alarm upon removal of the case from the user's hand.
None of these previous efforts, however, provide the benefits intended with the present invention. Additionally, prior techniques do not suggest, the present inventive combination of component elements as disclosed and claimed herein. The present invention achieves its intended purposes, objectives and advantages over the prior art devices through a new, useful and unobvious combination of component elements, which is simple to use, with the utilization of a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, assemble, test and by employing only readily available material.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a personal security system that is useable by a person with a minimum amount of training.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a personal security system with an audio output sufficient to alert passersby and law enforcement personnel when a robbery or an attack takes place.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a personal security system that will give an audible alarm in the vicinity of the person and/or in the vicinity of the item that is being protected.
It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a personal security system that will sound an alarm in the vicinity of the valuable item after a robbery has taken place that is not easily turned off by the thief.
Although there have been many inventions related to personal security systems, none of the inventions have become sufficiently compact, low cost and reliable enough to become commonly used. The present invention meets the requirements of the simplified design, compact size, low initial cost, low operating cost, ease of installation and maintainability, and minimal amount of training to successfully employ the invention.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A treatment solution for ink-jet recording includes a solvent which contains at least one of water and a water-soluble organic solvent; and an N-hydroxy cyclic imide compound which is soluble in the solvent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a treatment solution for ink-jet recording, an ink set, an ink-jet recording method, and an ink-jet recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the ink-jet recording method, the recording is performed by discharging an ink in a liquid droplet form from a large number of nozzles provided for an ink-jet head. For example, a high quality image can be recorded on a variety of recording media thereby, and hence the ink-jet recording method is widely utilized. A recording method of the two-part reaction type is known as one of the ink-jet recording methods as described above, wherein two liquids, i.e., an ink and a treatment solution for aggregating the ink are reacted to aggregate the ink, and thus the fixation of the ink is facilitated. Up to the present, treatment solutions have been suggested, which are blended with a cationic polymer and/or a polyvalent metal ion having the action to aggregate the pigment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Treatment solution for ink-jet recording, ink set, ink-jet recording method, and ink-jet recording apparatus


The present invention relates to a sewing machine comprising a needle bar mounted with a needle reciprocating within a predetermined sewing work section, and a needle bar driver to drive the needle bar to reciprocate, the sewing machine further comprising a lifting unit to lift up and down the needle bar to make the needle get out of the sewing work section and reach a predetermined auxiliary work position; and a lifting driver driving the lifting unit to be lifted up and down. Thus, the present invention provides a sewing machine capable of decreasing work inconvenience and enhancing work efficiency.

An automatic embroidering machine is a kind of a sewing machine, which uses various colored threads and automatically embroiders a predetermined pattern, a trademark, or the like on clothes, a label of shoes, etc. according to a preset program.
As an example of the sewing machine, a single needle automatic embroidering machine having a single needle worktable has been disclosed in Korean Patent First Publication No. 2002-68028.
In the conventional automatic embroidering machine, when a thread is changed, one selected among a plurality of upper threads is supplied from a thread supplying unit to a needle via a guide tube assembly by compressed air, and then put through the needle by a threader placed within a sewing work section of the needle, i.e., adjacent to between a top dead point and a bottom dead point of the needle.
However, in such conventional sewing machine, the threader puts the thread through an eye of the needle in a place adjacent to the sewing work section of the needle. Therefore, in the case that a hat or the like is sewn, a workspace between the brim of the hat and the threader is insufficient, so that the hat and the threader interfere with each other. Thus, it is inconvenient to perform the sewing work, thereby decreasing work efficiency. Further, when the needle or the like is changed, it is inconvenient to change the needle or the like due to the insufficient workspace.


A closure member of a preferred configuration and the method of making the same. The closure member has a board with a major axis and two panels to sandwich a hollow interior that is partitioned by a plurality of ribs positioned at intervals within the hollow interior, the hollow interior is delimited in a first direction by a pair of opposite end walls. The hollow interior is accessible in a second direction which is substantially traverse to the first direction, and at least one of the two panels is textured during the formation of the board to form a textured outer surface of the closure member, or the hollow interior is filled with a preferred reinforcement means.

A closure member includes a door which is a movable structure used to close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotate. Conventional doors with relatively high mechanical or structural strength are usually heavy and expensive to produce. The production of such a door involves numerous steps including trimming, edge beveling, sanding etc. Decorating or modifying such a door with desirable shape and patterns would involve time-consuming shaping method with considerable wastage.
For example, to enhance the structural or mechanical strength of such a conventional wooden door after it is formed would be undesirable if not impossible. The type of wood that offers the preferred strength should be selected at the outset, before the door is built. It may also be difficult to adapt the door to suit a specific entrance of awkward shape and dimension after the door is made.
The invention seeks to eliminate or at least to mitigate such shortcomings by providing a new or otherwise improved closure member and a method of making the same.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a decorated door that is inexpensive to make. The door is flexible and adaptable to versatile applications.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a reliable process of forming a decorated door making use of known technology with predictable and controllable production costs.

Closure member and the method of making the same


A flat panel display which can adjust a white balance to a proper level without changing the sizes of driving TFT active layers, even when an identical driving voltage is applied. The flat panel display also can obtain an appropriate luminance and prevent a reduction of its life span by supplying an optimal amount of current to each sub-pixel. The flat panel display includes a plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels includes a plurality of sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel having a self-luminescent element and driving thin film transistors. Each of the driving thin film transistors has a semiconductor active layer with at least a channel region connected to each of the self-luminescent elements to supply current to each of the self-luminescent elements. The channel regions of the semiconductor active layers are arranged in different directions in at least two sub-pixels.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an active matrix (AM)-type flat panel display including thin film transistors, and more particularly, to a flat panel display including polycrystalline silicon active layers and thin film transistors arranged in different directions in sub-pixels.
2. Description of the Related Art
Thin film transistors (TFTs) are used as switching units to control the operations of pixels or as driving units to drive pixels in flat panel displays, such as, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) or organic or inorganic electro-luminescent (EL) displays.
A thin film transistor has a semiconductor active layer, a gate insulating layer formed on the semiconductor active layer, and a gate electrode. In the semiconductor active layer, a drain region and a source region are doped with impurities of a high concentration, and a channel region is formed between the drain and source regions. The gate electrode is formed on the gate insulating layer over the channel region of the semiconductor active layer. The semiconductor active layer can be either an amorphous silicon layer or a polycrystalline silicon layer.
Thin film transistors using amorphous silicon can be deposited at a low temperature, but have degraded electrical characteristics and low reliability, and as such, are generally not suitable for large-sized display devices. Hence, polycrystalline silicon thin film transistors are being used. Polycrystalline silicon has a high mobility of several tens through several hundreds of cm2/V.s, a low high-frequency operating characteristic, and a low current leakage value. Thus, the polycrystalline silicon is very suitable for use in large, high-definition flat panel displays.
As described above, thin film transistors are used, for example, as switching units and/or pixel driving units in flat panel displays. An AM-type organic EL display includes at least two thin film transistors (hereinafter, referred to as TFTs) for each sub-pixel.
An organic EL element has an organic luminescent layer between an anode and a cathode. In the organic EL element, as an anode voltage and a cathode voltage are applied to the anode and the cathode, respectively, holes introduced from the anode are transported to the luminescent layer via a hole transport layer, and electrons introduced from the cathode are transported to the luminescent layer via an electron transport layer. In the luminescent layer, the electrons and the holes are combined to produce exitons. As the excited state of the exitons is changed to a ground state, fluorescent molecules on the luminescent layer emit light to form an image. Generally, in full-color organic EL displays, pixels emitting three colors, namely, red (R), green (G), and blue (B), are included as an organic EL element to achieve a full-color display.
However, in such organic EL displays, R, G, and B luminescent layers emitting R, G, and B light, respectively, have different luminescent efficiency (cd/A) for colors. Since the luminescence of the luminescent layers is approximately proportional to a current value applied to each sub-pixel, for the same current applied to sub-pixels, some colors have low luminescence and some colors have high luminescence. Accordingly, achieving a proper color balance or white balance can be difficult. For example, if the luminescent efficiency of the G luminescent layer is 3 to 6 times higher than those of the R and B luminescent layers, a current 3 to 6 times greater than a current for the G luminescent layer should be applied to the R and B luminescent layers in order to adjust the white balance to a proper level.
A conventional method of adjusting the white balance to a proper level as described above is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-107561, wherein different voltages supplied through a driving line, that is, different Vdd values, are applied to different pixels.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-109399 discloses a method of adjusting a white balance by controlling the size of a driving TFT. More specifically, driving TFTs with different ratios of width W to length L of a channel region are applied to R, G, and B pixels to thereby control the amount of current flowing into each of the R, G, and B organic EL elements.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-290441 discloses a method of adjusting a white balance by forming different sized pixels for the different colors. In this method, a green luminescent region with the highest luminescent efficiency has the smallest luminescent area compared to the red and blue luminescent regions. Thus a proper white balance and a display device with a long life span may be obtained. A different luminescent area can be obtained by varying the anode area.
A method of adjusting luminescence by controlling the amount of current by applying different voltage ranges to R, G, and B color pixels via a data line is also known as a conventional method of adjusting a white balance.
However, none of the methods discussed above consider the crystal structure of a polycrystalline silicon TFT of a flat panel display. In other words, if the direction of arrangement of TFT active layers and the crystal direction of polycrystalline silicon are considered, the mobility may vary according to these directions. In this case, the white balance cannot be adjusted using the above-described methods.
If the amount of current flowing into an organic EL element in each sub-pixel exceeds a limit value, luminescence per unit area is greatly increased by the amount of current greater than the limit value. Accordingly, the life span of the organic EL elements rapidly decreases. Thus, to increase the life span of organic EL elements, an optimal amount of current should to be supplied to each sub-pixel.

Flat panel display with thin film transistor (TFT)


Provided is an epoxy resin composition comprising:. (A) an epoxy compound represented by the general formula (1): ##STR1## PA1 (B) a polyfunctional epoxy compound having a functional group number of two or more, and PA1 (C) an epoxy curing agent containing a phenolic hydroxyl group,. wherein, R.sub.1 to R.sub.9 represent each independently a hydrogen atom, an acyclic or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a halogen atom,. wherein the proportion of the epoxy compound (A) is from 1 to 99% by weight based on the total weight of the epoxy compounds (A) and (B).. The epoxy resin composition has low moisture absorption and other properties well-balanced for use as a material for encapsulating electronic parts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an epoxy resin composition which is useful for encapsulating electric and electronic materials, particularly electric parts such as an adhesive, paint, insulation material and laminate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, for encapsulating semiconductors such as LSI, IC, transistor and the like, transfer molding of an economically useful epoxy resin composition is conducted.
Particularly, surface amounting of LSI is recently conducted, and direct immersion into a solder bath is increasing. Since an encapsulating material is exposed to high temperature in this treatment, moisture absorbed in the encapsulating material expands a, crack is formed in the material, and peeling occurs at an interface with a die pat.
Therefore, the epoxy resin encapsulant is required to have low moisture absorption, high crack resistance and improved adhesion. Further, for obtaining low moisture absorption, an epoxy resin of low viscosity in which a filler can be filled in high concentration is desired. Currently, an encapsulating material in which glycidyl ether of o-cresol novolak is used as a polyfunctional epoxy resin and phenol novolak is used as a curing agent is mainly used, however, when the encapsulating material absorbs moisture in storage, the above-described problems occur. Therefore, for avoiding these problems, the encapsulating material is wrapped for preventing moisture absorption in practical use.
On the other hand, a biphenyl type epoxy resin in current use has a lower viscosity and can contain a filler in higher concentration than a polyfunctional epoxy resin, since the biphenyl epoxy resin is a bifunctional epoxy resin and has a low molecular weight. Therefore, moisture absorption depending on the biphenyl type epoxy resin can be reduced and strength thereof can be increased, consequently, excellent crack resistance can be obtained as compared with an epoxy resin in the form of a glycidyl ether of o-cresol novolak. However, the biphenyl type epoxy resin has the problem that the molding property of a cured article thereof is low as compared with the polyfunctional epoxy resin.
There is also a method in which the molding property is improved by combining the current biphenyl type epoxy resin with the cresol novolak type epoxy resin with maintaining the resin viscosity at suitable level, however, the mixture of the biphenyl type epoxy resin and the cresol novolak type epoxy resin becomes semisolid state (honey-like state) and has no definite shape after melt mixing, therefore, handling property of the resin is insufficient. Further, the mixed resin tends to adhere each other, therefore, there is a problem in handling a large amount of the resin.
On the other hand, a dicyclopentadiene type epoxy resin which has curing ability between that of the biphenyl type epoxy resin and that of the cresol novolak type epoxy resin is commercially available. There is a problem that the dicyclopentadiene type epoxy resin has a low melting point and tends to adhere each other, therefore, the resin should be cooled and preserved, consequently, there is also a problem in handling a large amount of the resin as above.
In addition, the dicyclopentadiene type epoxy resin contains a small number of epoxy groups per unit weight of resin, therefore curing and molding property thereof are sometimes insufficient, and further, heat resistance of the cured and molded article are also sometimes insufficient, since the resin has an alicyclic structure derived from non-reactive dicyclopentadiene.
The biphenyl type bifunctional epoxy resin has a problem that curing and molding property is poor since the number of epoxy functional group is small per one molecule, unlike the cresol novolak type polyfunctional epoxy resin. Specifically, Barcole hardness of the biphenyl type resin slightly lowers in molding as compared with the polyfunctional epoxy resin, therefore, a method for enhancing Barcole hardness has been desired.

Epoxy resin composition and resin-encapsulated semiconductor device


A semi-conductor wafer test or burn-in apparatus having spring contacts made from a shape memory metal which plastically deforms under normal test loading and has a transition temperature at or above or at or below the burn-in temperature.

The present invention pertains to wafer level test and wafer level test and burn-in devices employing a large array of spring contacts held against the wafer undergoing test and/or burn-in.
Electrical testing of semi-conductor wafers wherein all the devices in the wafer are tested simultaneously is of considerable interest to the semiconductor industry. At present, the testing of integrated circuit chips in wafer form is limited in scope or tends to be a slow procedure permitting only testing of a few chips at a time. That is, wafer testing is often performed using a mechanical stepping device with few chips (e.g. 1 to 32) tested at a time.
Further, current testing methods do not lend themselves to accelerating failure testing procedures, such as burn-in. A certain percentage of the integrated circuits (ICs) fail in the first few hours or days of use. Under current practice such devices are first packaged and then burnt-in in module form or burnt-in in a single diced chip form. Due to a lack of the necessary wafer level contacting system in industry, no wafer level test or burn-in systems are available. Test and burn-in at the wafer level is the least expensive manufacturing method and is thus highly desired.
An example of a wafer level test and burn-in arrangement is shown in International Patent Application No. PCT/US92/07045 wherein Applicants utilize solder bumps on the test head to contact the full wafer. One disadvantage of this method and apparatus is the extreme force required to make good contact with the wafer. Also, solder deforms permanently after each test, thus requiring reflow of solder on the test fixture after each use.
Another approach is shown in International Application No. PCT/US95/14843 wherein a wafer contact system is made of shaped gold wires and coated with a hard metal (e.g. nickel) to impart desired spring characteristics to the device. A big disadvantage of this approach is that the spring contact will deform permanently if the product wafer and the test head surface are not substantially flat. Due to the fact that extreme planarity in current manufacturing processes can not be assured, this method can not be used for wafer level test and burn-in.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,957 discloses replacing the metal contact with a filled polymer ball or cylinder to reduce contact damage during the testing of microelectric devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,254 describes a buckling beam probe biased to a higher order buckling by lateral slots, thus allowing more travel without increasing lateral deformation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,885 discloses a device with an array of traditional spring contacts replaced by loose pins which are backed by a common diaphragm which provides preload and spring compliance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,305 discloses and claims a manufacturing method wherein stacks of printed wiring boards are interconnected by their respective through-holes by stretching and threading a memory metal through the holes, then raising the temperature to return the wire to its memorized crimped shape. The crimping action puts the wire into intimate contact with the barrel of each through-hole in the stack.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,060 discloses making connection to an insulated wire without having to strip the insulation. The connector consists of an aperture which closes by use of a memory-alloy returning to memorized shape when the temperature is raised and thus the insulation is pierced.
Japanese Published Patent Application 60/28583 describes a ZIF socket used to mount an integrated circuit wherein shape-memory alloys are used.
Japanese Patent Application 63/02255 discloses using a shape memory alloy for moving a contact pin in a test fixture for microelectric devices.
Spring contacts used in a microelectronic wafer test and/or wafer level test and burn-in apparatus are fabricated from a shape memory metal, the shape memory metal plastically deforming under normal test or burn-in contact loading, the metal, in one embodiment, having a transition temperature at or above the burn-in temperature. According to the present invention spring contacts constructed from a shape memory alloy can readily deform to make the necessary contact during the test procedure. Upon retraction from the testing procedure or position the contacts can be heated to their transition temperature and the original shape of the spring contacts is thereby restored.
A preferred shape memory alloy for use in the invention is an alloy of 42 to 48% by weight titanium balance nickel.
Spring contacts can be formed on a composite structure by using a shape memory metal spring attached to a standard spring made of a conventional spring metal such as beryllium copper or phosphor bronze.
In another embodiment of the invention the shape-memory is selected from those metals or alloys that would plastically deform during cool-down after burn-in and have a transition temperature at or below the burn-in temperature.
In any embodiment of the invention the spring metal can be coated with gold or other contact material in the vicinity of the spring that would contact the part undergoing test.
Thus in one embodiment of the invention a semi-conductor wafer test and/or burn-in spring contact is either a shape memory metal, the metal plastically deforming under normal test or burn-in contact loading and having a transition temperature at or above the burn-in temperature or the shape memory metal in combination with another metal.
In another embodiment of the invention a spring contact for a microelectronic test or burn-in device is either a shape memory metal plastically deforming under normal test or burn-in contact loading, the metal having a transition temperature at or above the burn-in temperature or the shape memory metal in combination with another metal.
In yet another embodiment the invention a semi-conductor wafer test and/or burn-in spring contact is either a shape memory metal, the metal plastically deforming under normal test or burn-in contact loading and having a transition temperature at or below the burn-in temperature or the shape memory metal in combination with another spring metal.
A further embodiment of the invention is a spring contact for a microelectric test or burn-in device in either a shape memory alloy that plastically deforms under normal test or burn-in contact loading and has a transition temperature at or below the burn-in temperature or is a shape memory metal in combination with another metal.
The present invention also includes a method of improving a semi-conductor wafer test and/or burn-in apparatus utilizing spring contacts by the step of replacing the spring contact with either a shape memory metal or the shape memory metal and another metal, the shape memory metal selected from the group consisting of a shape memory alloy that plastically deforms under test or burn-in conditions and has a transition temperature at or above the burn-in temperature and a shape memory metal that plastically deforms under test or burn-in conditions and has a transition temperature at or below the burn-in temperature.

Full wafer test configuration using memory metals

International Business Machines Corporation


An m-input/n-output (e.g. 1xc3x971, 1xc3x972, 2xc3x972) optical fiber switch includes a switch substrate formed with v-grooves in which singlemode fibers are disposed with their ends operatively arranged in relation to a deflecting mirror to transmit or receive optical signals. To prevent misalignment between the optical paths defined by these singlemode fibers, a lens is fused to directly to each of the singlemode fiber ends to eliminate the need for separate collimating lens and create a stable and dimensionally invariable interface between the fiber and the lens, resulting in a more compact optical switch arrangement.

The present invention relates generally to optical switches and, more particularly, to the novel employment of fiber lens assemblies in singlemode optical switch designs.
Optical switches are commonly used in optical communication networks to switch an optical signal from one path to another. In one form of optical switch to which this invention is directed, optical waveguides or fibers terminate within a switch body where mirror elements are moveable to switch the optical signal path from input fibers in order to redirect the optical signal path to one or more output fibers.
An exemplary optical switch is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,745 to Blonder, assigned to ATandT, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In this ""745 patent, an optical switching arrangement has a mirror which is positioned either out of an optical path or in an optical path to deflect optical signals between input and output fibers. The switching arrangement has first, second, third and fourth optical ports which are formed by respective proximate ends of first, second, third and fourth optical fiber segments disposed in respective grooves etched or otherwise formed in, for example, a silicon substrate base. The switching arrangement further comprises first, second, third and fourth lenslets that serve to collimate the respective optical beams emanating from the first fiber, entering into the second fiber, or entering into the third or fourth fibers. Optical radiation for these optical beams is supplied by a light source (not shown) and is collected in a known manner. The mirror has a frontal planar reflecting surface and may also have another reflecting surface parallel thereto, such as a rear planar reflecting surface.
As mentioned above, the foregoing switching arrangement can be integrated into a silicon workbench technology assembly in order to form an optical switching assembly. This optical switching arrangement may be employed in an optical switch 10 disclosed, for example, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 of the instant application in which there is depicted an exemplary electromagnetic-based activation mechanism 12 used to actuate movement of the mirror 14 (normally biased with a spring 16) through a spring to switch optical signals traveling along one of incoming optical waveguides 18a disposed within the substrate switching base 20. More specifically, with reference to FIG. 1, the substrate base 20 typically has a major planar surface 22 in which first, second, third and fourth waveguide alignment grooves 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d are formed to receive the respective optical fibers 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d. A respective lens alignment recess (e.g. of pyramidal shape) 26a, 26b, 26c and 26d is disposed at the respective end of each waveguide groove 24a-24d (see FIG. 1) to receive a ball lens 28 (FIG. 2) to collimate the incoming (18a) or outgoing (18d) optical beam. A simple optical beam switching or rerouting is achieved by moving the mirror 14 into a beam deflecting position (in which the incoming path (18a) is deflected to a non-aligned outgoing fiber (18d)) or a non-deflecting position in which the incoming beam passes into an aligned outgoing beam 18c after passing through both collimating lens 28 respectively associated therewith. While the illustrated switch design is a 2xc3x972-switch configuration, the present invention has applicability to 1xc3x971, 1xc3x972 and other higher order matrix switch configurations as well.
Since the light rays are collimated and transmitted across a gap from one fiber 18a and 18b through their associated pair of lenses 28 which focuses the light to the receiving fiber 18c and 18d, it is extremely important that the fiber optic mounting grooves 24a-24d and lens mounting recesses 26a-26d be machined to provide a high degree of alignment and thereby eliminate insertion losses occurring as a result of, for example, dimensional variations in the respective grooves/lens mounting recesses that otherwise impede the ability of the entire signal to be transmitted between fiber ends as a result of misalignment.
The foregoing optical switch designs work generally well with multimode fibers that are typically of large diameter (e.g. 50 micrometer cores) since the dimensional variations that exist between the fiber optic mounting grooves 24a-24d and ball mounting recesses 26a-26d are generally insufficient to give rise to unacceptable insertion losses given the relatively large core diameter of the multimode fiber. However, in the case of singlemode fibers in which the cores are much smaller than the multimode fibers (e.g. singlemode fiber cores are typically 8-10 micrometers), insertion losses are unacceptably high with the foregoing switch design since the dimensional variations between the fiber mounting and lens mounting recesses 24a-24d and 26a-26d that were acceptable for multimode switches are unacceptable for singlemode switches. From FIG. 2, it is apparent that four sources of dimensional variation exist which are lens diameter, lens pocket dimensions, fiber diameter, and V-groove dimensions. If only one of these dimensions is out of tolerance, this variation or misalignment will produced misalignment in the entire system.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to improve the design of singlemode optical switches to minimize insertion losses.
Another object is to improve singlemode optical switches that utilize singlemode collimators to configure higher order matrix switch designs while maintaining acceptable low insertion losses.
Another object is to design a singlemode optical switch having insertion losses as low as 0.3 dB for 1xc3x971, 1xc3x972, and 2xc3x972 switch configurations.
Another object is to manufacture a singlemode optical switch with fewer dimensional tolerances that would otherwise cause rejection of manufactured product.
The present invention concerns an optical switch utilizing a reflecting element to redirect optical signals between a plurality of different singlemode waveguides. The singlemode optical waveguides are mounted to a switch substrate wherein at least one of the waveguides is an input waveguide and another of the waveguides is an output waveguide. In accordance with the invention, each waveguide has a separate collimating lens section attached directly to an endface of the waveguide, advantageously eliminating dimensional variations and misalignment that would otherwise occur by mounting separate collimating lens within the switch substrate as known in the prior art.
The optical fiber switch with the fused fiber lens assemblies fused directly to the singlemode fibers may have m-input/n-output fibers for 1xc3x971, 1xc3x972, and 2xc3x972 switch configurations, as well as other higher order matrix switch configurations while maintaining acceptable low insertion losses.
Insertion losses are kept to a minimum since the plurality of waveguides are respectively disposed in grooves formed in the switch substrate with the associated lens formed in the same groove eliminating the need for separate lens receiving pockets that disadvantageously give rise to dimensional variation.
In the preferred embodiment, each collimating lens is preferably a multimode fiber attached to the end of the singlemode fiber. A preferred form of attachment is fusion splicing.
The multimode fiber lens is a graded index multimode fiber that may have a step index section fused directly to the singlemode fiber end.
Since the collimating fiber lens assemblies according to the invention are short lengths of fiber (e.g. graded index or graded index and step index) which have been fusion spliced to the end of the single mode fiber, use of the smallest collimators advantageously allows the physical dimensions of the optical switch to be reduced to a minimum so that the switch or multiple switches may be attached to a circuit board or be placed in an enclosure with a minimum of volume. This is an extremely important consideration for the telecom and datecom industries.

Fiber lens assembly for singlemode optical switches


A system for integrated pitch and thrust control of an aircraft. The system includes a calculation device which receives the first to sixth electrical signals, together with the tenth electrical signal and delivers first and second linear combinations of the first and second electrical signals, with the coefficients given to the first and second electrical signals, respectively, in the first and second linear combinations depending on the third to sixth and tenth electrical signals; another calculation device which receives the third to tenth electrical signals and generates third and fourth linear combinations of the seventh to tenth electrical signals, the coefficients given to the seventh to tenth electrical signals, respectively, in the third and fourth linear combinations depending on the third to sixth and tenth electrical signals; an adder which receives the first and third linear combinations and adds them to form a pitch electrical command which is applied to the first airfoils; and a second adder which receives the second and fourth linear combinations and adds them to form a thrust electrical command which is applied to an engine of the aircraft.

The present invention relates to a system for integrated pitch and thrust control of an aircraft.
At present, aircraft carry both a pitch control system under the control of the joystick made available to the pilot and acting on the pitch control surfaces and/or the optional adjustable horizontal tail plane of the aircraft, and also a thrust control system for controlling the speed of the aircraft, said thrust control system being controlled by an automatic or manual throttle acting on the engine(s) of the aircraft.
Thus, when the pilot seeks to change the longitudinal trim of the aircraft, he moves the joystick of the pitch control system accordingly such that the pitch control surfaces and/or the adjustable horizontal tail plane are tilted in the desired direction. However, such a change in trim also changes the speed of the aircraft: if its nose goes up, its speed goes down, whereas if its nose goes down its speed goes up. As a result, after a pilot has acted on the pitch control system, he must act on the thrust control system to bring the aircraft speed back to the desired value.
Conversely, when the pilot desires to change the speed of the aircraft, he operates the throttle of the engine thrust control system. However, such a change in the speed setting gives rise to a pitching movement such that after acting on the speed control system, the pilot needs to act on the pitch control system to return the aircraft to the desired trim, if the longitudinal motion of the said aircraft is to be controlled.
It can thus be seen that a change in the speed or the trim setting of an aircraft obliges the pilot to act on two control systems: pitch and speed.

System for integrated pitch and thrust control of any aircraft

Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle


A water purification system having an oil and vapor separation subsystem for removing many heavy duty and toxic contaminants from the water. The subsystem removes volatile vapors from the feed water, heats the feed water, and by imparting a swirling vortex action to the heated water, the oils are separated from the water. The water separated from the oil is pumped by a high pressure pump through a helical coil that is heated to a high temperature by the burner. The high temperature, hot water is then fed to an expansion nozzle in an expansion chamber to flash the hot water into steam. The steam is passed through a condenser which converts the steam to purified water.

The purification of liquids is often required for various reasons. Processes are available for removing impurities from liquids to separate the same in order to properly dispose of the impurities and utilize the pure liquid. Often this is required because the impurities are toxic and otherwise not suitable for ordinary disposal, but require special treatment and handling. In other situations, the aim is to obtain the pure liquid for subsequent use, irrespective of the manner in which the impurities are disposed of using conventional or non-conventional techniques. In the latter category, the purification of ground water is a prime example where chemical impurities and particulate matter are removed so that a potable form of water is available for use.
The purification of water and other liquids takes many forms, including simply filtering the water to remove particulate matter, treating the water chemically to remove both liquid and particulate impurities, and the processing of water by multi-stage systems that accomplish all of the foregoing, in order to provide a purified form of water. Salt water is routinely processed to remove the salt content and other impurities so as to provide potable water. Waste water from ships, industrial facilities, municipalities and other areas is processed to remove the contaminants so that the resulting water can be reused or disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.
The field of petroleum and gas production is an area where a substantial amount of fresh water is used, and a high percentage of the same is returned in the form of highly contaminated water. Here, millions of gallons of fresh water are injected under high pressure conditions into the well to fracture the ground formation and facilitate the production of petroleum or gas therefrom. The water that is returned to the surface in the well ("production water") during the production of the hydrocarbon resource is liquid in form, and resembles water only in terms of the liquidity thereof. The highly contaminated production water includes many organic and inorganic impurities, has an irritating chemical smell, and is generally brownish in color. The various contaminants resident in the production water include volatile chemicals employed during the fracturing process, calcium, sodium, chlorides, gasses and many other toxic compounds. The production water is not useable for any other purpose, and thus must be disposed of in a manner that is closely scrutinized. The production water recovered from a well cannot be reused for the production of gas or oil from another well. The five million gallons of fresh water that are injected into a gas well during the fracturing process yield about seventy percent of the same as production water. A gas well can generate production water for many years after it has been opened. Currently, the production water is disposed of by drilling a deep injection well many feet below the ground surface, in an area free of underground water sources, and pumping the production water therein. Many tanker trucks are required to continuously remove the production water from the well site and transport the same to the disposal well. The heavy truck traffic not only places a burden on the roads, which are often rural roads, but also causes highway traffic congestion and other related problems. It can be appreciated that this process is inefficient, costly and environmentally unsafe.
Routine liquid purification techniques include several major technologies, one of which is carbon filtering. Carbon filters are commonly used by passing a stream of water through a bed of carbon material. While this type of filter functions well for its intended purpose, it is adequate for water that is only mildly impure, and is not well adapted for processing huge amounts of water. The inadequacy of a carbon filter is that such a purification process does not remove metals, bacteria and dissolved minerals. Carbon filters are often used in conjunction with other purification processes.
Ion exchange systems are available for removing impurities from water. This type of system employs an ion exchange unit having a bed of beads that is ionically charged so that it attracts impurity ions of an opposite charge. This type of water processing system functions well for home or office use, but requires frequent recharging of the resin bed. This type of system is well adapted for softening water that is already potable.
Reverse osmosis is another process for removing contaminants from water. The reverse osmosis process utilizes one or a series of permeable membranes through which the water is forced. The membranes are constructed with microscopic holes so that generally only water molecules pass through the membrane and other larger molecules, such as chemical and other impurities, are trapped and cannot pass through. However, the reverse osmosis membranes are generally unable to remove all inorganic and organic contaminants. The pressure of the water is significant in order to force the water through the membranes, and generally a substantial area of the reverse osmosis membrane is required. Because of the nature of the process, substantial large-area membranes are required in order to produce a reasonable amount of purified water. A prefiltering system is required in order to remove the larger molecules and particulate matter so that the reverse osmosis membranes do not become clogged in a short period of time. To that end, the cleaning of the reverse osmosis membranes requires frequent attention, and the system must be either shut down, or the contaminated water routed to an alternate off-line reverse osmosis system. Reverse osmosis systems must be very large if required to process a reasonable amount of water per unit of time. In addition, commercial reverse osmosis systems are costly as they tend to be large and require complex subsystems. An example of a reverse osmosis system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,306,735.
Distillation systems are well known for removing many types of contaminants from water. The distillation process involves heating the water to a high temperature and then processing the hot water in an environment to flash the water into steam or otherwise vaporize the same. The steam is then condensed to separate the water from the contaminants. These systems are well adapted for removing a high degree of the contaminants, and with the requisite amount of prefiltering, can process a substantial amount of water before the system requires cleaning or disposal of the contaminants. Various distillation systems include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,319,964 for the high volume distillation of liquids; 4,941,330 for a multi-stage flash evaporator; 5,207,928 for a method for desalination and fresh water recovery; 6,635,149 for a water purification system, and 6,740,205 for processing shipboard wastewater.
Many, if not all of the foregoing water purification systems are adapted for purifying a source of water that is not of the toxic type that is produced during the extraction of gas or petroleum from a well. As noted above, the impurity-laden water that is a byproduct of producing gas or oil from a well includes all of the normal contaminants contained in waste water and ground water sources, and many additional contaminants that must be removed in the purification process. In addition, since the production water is produced with a gradually declining volume during production, it is not economical or cost effective to employ a high capacity processing system that meets the initial production water capacity, but is thereafter underutilized. Full utilization of a water processing system can be achieved if centrally located amongst a number of wells, but then the production water must be transported or piped to the processing facility.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that a need exists for an efficient water purification system that can process the impurity-laden production water and produce a purified water output. A need exists for a system that removes contaminants from the production water, or other water source, and is well adapted for removing the collected contaminants as a sludge, to thereby remove the same from the well site in a safe and economical manner. Another need exists for a modular water purification system of the type that can be co-located at the well site with the source of the production water so that no transportation of the production water is necessary. Yet another need exists for a water purification system that is modularized so that after the quantity of production water has subsided, a portion of the system can be removed and transported to another well site and used in parallel with other like systems.

Method and apparatus for purifying water


An artificial pancreas system includes a continuous glucose monitoring device, a drug delivery device configured to exchange data with the continuous glucose monitoring device and containing a control algorithm, and possibly a remote controller configured to exchange data with the drug delivery device. The algorithm contains an insulin-glucose model, but is decoupled mathematically from the insulin injected by the user to offset the ingested carbohydrates. The control algorithm is designed to calculate two versions of insulin-on-board-patient-facing insulin-on-board (PFIOB) and system-facing insulin-on-board (SFIOB) to properly parse boluses and inform the system of only the insulin that is intended for high glucose correction, but not carbohydrate offsetting.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder caused by an inability of the pancreas to produce sufficient amounts of the hormone insulin resulting in a decreased ability of the body to metabolize glucose. This failure can lead to excessive glucose in the blood stream, or hyperglycemia. Persistent hyperglycemia alone or in combination with hypoinsulinemia is associated with a variety of serious symptoms and life threatening long term complications. Currently, restoration of endogenous insulin production is not yet possible. As a result, therapy is required to help keep blood glucose concentrations within a normal range. Such glycemic control is achieved by regularly supplying external insulin to the body of the patient to reduce levels of blood glucose.
Considerable advancements have been made in diabetes treatment and therapy by the development of drug delivery devices that relieve the need for the patient to use syringes or drug pens to administer multiple daily injections of insulin. These drug delivery devices allow for the delivery of insulin in a manner that is more comparable to the naturally occurring insulin release by the human pancreas and that can be controlled to follow different standards or individually modified protocols to give the patient more customized glycemic control.
These drug delivery devices can be constructed as implantable devices. Alternatively, the device may be an external device with an infusion set for subcutaneous infusion to the patient via the transcutaneous insertion of a catheter, cannula, or transdermal drug transport, such as through a patch. The external drug delivery devices are mounted on clothing or, more preferably, hidden beneath or inside clothing or mounted on the body, and are generally controlled through a user interface built-in to the device or provided on a separate remote device.
Blood or interstitial glucose monitoring is required to achieve acceptable glycemic control with the devices. For example, delivery of suitable amounts of insulin by the drug delivery device requires that the user frequently, episodically, determines his or her blood glucose level by testing. The level is input into the pump or a controller, after which suitable modification may be calculated to the default or currently in-use insulin delivery protocol (i.e., dosage and timing). Such modification is used to adjust the drug delivery device operation accordingly. Alternatively, or in conjunction with such episodic determinations, continuous glucose monitoring ("CGM") is used with the drug delivery device and allows for closed-loop control of the insulin being infused into the diabetic patient.
Further, and to allow for closed-loop control, autonomous modulation of drug being delivered to the user is provided by a controller using one or more control algorithms. For example, proportional-integral-derivative algorithms ("PID") that are reactive to observed glucose levels may be utilized. PID can be tuned based on simple rules of the mathematical models of the metabolic interactions between glucose and insulin in a person. Alternatively, model predictive controllers ("MPC") may be used. The MPC is advantageous because the MPC proactively considers the near future effects of control changes, and is sometimes subject to constraints in determining the output of the MPC, whereas PID typically involves only past outputs in determining future changes. Constraints can be implemented in the MPC such that a solution in a confined "space", meaning within imposed delivery limitations, is guaranteed and the system is prevented from exceeding a limit that has been reached.
Known MPCs are described in the following documents: U.S. Pat. No. 7,060,059; U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2011/0313680 and 2011/0257627; International Publication WO 2012/051344; Percival et al., "Closed-Loop Control and Advisory Mode Evaluation of an Artificial Pancreatic Beta Cell: Use of Proportional-Integral-Derivative Equivalent Model-Based Controllers" J. Diabetes Sci. Technol., Vol. 2, Issue 4, July 2008; Paola Soru et al., "MPC Based Artificial Pancreas, Strategies for Individualization and Meal Compensation," Annual Reviews in Control 36, p. 118-128 (2012); Cobelli et al., "Artificial Pancreas. Past, Present, Future" Diabetes Vol. 60, November 2011; Magni et al., "Run-to-Run Tuning of Model Predictive Control for Type 1 Diabetes Subjects: In Silico Trial" J. Diabetes Sci. Techn., Vol. 3, Issue 5, September 2009; Lee et al., "A Closed-Loop Artificial Pancreas Using Model Predictive Control and a Sliding Meal Size Estimator" J. Diabetes Sci. Techn., Vol. 3, Issue 5, September 2009; Lee et al., "A Closed-Loop Artificial Pancreas based on MPC: Human Friendly Identification and Automatic Meal Disturbance Rejection," Proceedings of the 17th World Congress, The International Federation of Automatic Control, Seoul Korea Jul. 6-11, 2008; Magni et al., "Model Predictive Control of Type 1 Diabetes: An in Silico Trial" J. Diabetes Sci. Techn., Vol. 1, Issue 6, November 2007; Wang et al., "Automatic Bolus and Adaptive Basal Algorithm for the Artificial Pancreatic β-Cell" Diabetes Techn. Ther., Vol. 12, No. 11, 2010; Percival et al., "Closed-Loop Control of an Artificial Pancreatic β-Cell Using Multi-Parametric Model Predictive Control," Diabetes Res. 2008; Kovatchev et al., "Control to Range for Diabetes: Functionality and Modular Architecture," J. Diabetes Sci. Techn., Vol. 3, Issue 5, September 2009; and Atlas et al., "MD-Logic Artificial Pancreas System," Diabetes Care, Vol. 33, No. 5, May 2010. All articles or documents cited in this application are hereby incorporated by reference into this application as if fully set forth herein.
Glucose control systems conventionally use a measure of insulin-on-board that accounts for all bolus insulin injected without accounting for the difference between insulin injected for meal-related purposes versus that for correction (i.e., glucose concentration-lowering) purposes. In systems that do not have a meal model, two models for insulin-on-board accounting are proposed to improve glucose control: patient-facing insulin-on-board and system-facing insulin-on-board. By "patient-facing insulin-on-board" or "PFIOB" is meant insulin-on-board inclusive of meal-related insulin and correction-related insulin, but generally excluding basal insulin; a well-known value easily understood by patients. By "system-facing insulin-on-board" or "SFIOB" is meant, in a system without a meal model, insulin-on-board that has the potential to lower glucose concentration, i.e., correction-related insulin; this value excludes both meal-related insulin and basal insulin, neither of which are intended to lower glucose concentration. The use of these separate models is problematic in that there is a need to separate meal-related insulin from boluses which may include both meal- and correction-related insulin. The systems solve this problem by the use of accurate therapeutic parameters, such as insulin to carbohydrate ratio and insulin sensitivity factor along with the proper use of a bolus calculator. However, if the system user does not inform the system of meal boluses or correction boluses or omits carbohydrates, blood glucose or both while using the bolus calculator, or increases or decreases the calculated bolus dose without system awareness of the rationale for the increase or decrease, an erroneous increase, reduction or suspension of insulin may occur.
Thus, there is a need in the field to provide a diabetes management system that can utilize a set of rules to overcome this disadvantage.

Insulin-on-board accounting in an artificial pancreas system


Objects associated with targets to be read by image capture are detected without any additional hardware in an imaging module. Return light is captured over a field of view of the module. Images are processed, during an object detection mode, to determine their image brightness from the captured return light. Illumination is emitted from an illumination light assembly at a first power level to determine a first image brightness from a first processed image, and at a different, reduced, second power level to determine a second image brightness from a second processed image. An object is determined to be in the field of view when a difference between the first image brightness and the second image brightness equals or exceeds a detection threshold value.

The present invention relates generally to an imaging module and an imaging reader for, and a method of, detecting objects associated with targets to be read by image capture.
Solid-state imaging systems or imaging readers have been used, in both handheld and/or hands-free modes of operation, to electro-optically read targets, such as one- and two-dimensional bar code symbol targets, and/or non-symbol targets, such as documents, over a range of working distances relative to each reader. An imaging reader includes a housing for supporting an imaging module, also known as a scan engine. In a hands-free mode, such as at a fixed position kiosk or at a stationary, point-of-sale (POS) workstation, the imaging module is mounted in a housing having at least one window to which objects associated with, e.g., bearing, the targets to be read are either presented, or across which the targets are swiped. The imaging module includes an imaging assembly having a solid-state imager or imaging sensor with an array of photocells or light sensors, which correspond to image elements or pixels in an imaging field of view of the imager, and an imaging lens assembly for capturing return light scattered and/or reflected from the target being imaged over a range of working distances relative to the module, and for projecting the return light onto the array to initiate capture of an image of the target. Such an imager may include a one- or two-dimensional charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device and associated circuits for producing and processing electrical signals corresponding to a one- or two-dimensional array of pixel data over the imaging field of view. In order to increase the amount of the return light captured by the array, for example, in dimly lit environments or for far-out targets located relatively far from the window, the imaging module generally also includes an illuminating light assembly for illuminating the target with illumination light over an illumination field for reflection and scattering from the target.
Some imaging modules continuously capture and attempt to process targets without regard to whether or not an object is actually in the imaging field of view. However, this consumes and wastes electrical energy and degrades module component lifetimes. To alleviate these problems, the art has proposed periodically and automatically activating, i.e., waking-up, the imaging module, for example, with a very low duty cycle (about 10%). Thus, the imaging module wakes up for a very short period of time to scan the imaging field of view and tries to detect a presence of an object therein. However, this creates sluggishness in the reader's performance and delays in processing, which can be perceived as an engineering defect, and also wastes electrical energy.
The art has also proposed the use of additional hardware components such as dedicated object sensors, each having an object detection field, which is at least partly commensurate with the imaging field of view, for activating the imaging module only if an object bearing a target is detected within the detection field. Such dedicated sensors may include motion sensors for detecting the movement of objects in the field of view by, for example, comparing the positions or locations of edges of captured images in the field of view between consecutive image frames. However, motion sensors can be falsely triggered, for example, by people or customers walking past the motion sensors, or by an operator's hands or body inadvertently passing through the field of view, or by objects not bearing targets entering the field of view. Such false triggering wastes electrical energy.
Such dedicated sensors may also include proximity sensors, typically one or more pairs of infra-red (IR) light emitters and detectors, each pair being operative for detecting a change or interruption in the IR light passing in a light path between the respective pair. In such IR light-based sensors, the range in which an object can be detected is dependent on the amount of IR light detected by each IR detector and, in turn, is dependent on the size and location of the object. A small object might not trigger the proximity sensor, thereby degrading reading performance. Typically, IR light-based sensors require optical alignment procedures to be performed, which increases manufacturing time and cost.
The deployment of dedicated object sensors generally undesirably increases the size, cost, electrical power consumption, and complexity of the imaging module, and, in turn, of the overall reader. The object detection field of an object sensor may not, in some cases, exactly match the imaging field of view of the module, thereby creating dead zones and compromise reading performance.
Accordingly, there is a need to reduce the size, cost, electrical power consumption, and complexity of the imaging module and of the overall reader, to efficiently and reliably effect object detection for objects, even of small size, without deploying additional hardware components or effecting optical alignment procedures, and to generally improve overall reading performance.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and locations of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The system and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Compact imaging module and imaging reader for, and method of, detecting objects associated with targets to be read by image capture


Certain embodiments are directed to techniques (e.g., a method, an apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing code or instructions executable by one or more processors) for mitigating the flicker on the displays at low driving frequencies due to drops of the voltage holding ratio of the materials for the display. The techniques to compensate for flicker in a liquid crystal display can include generating a dynamic waveform for the backlight of the display. The dynamic waveform can be synchronized with the driving rate of the liquid crystal display such that the luminosity of the backlight increases during periods when the voltage-holding ratio drops in the materials of the display. In this way, a liquid crystal material can be utilized in a display to generate reduced power consumption with liquid crystal rate minimizing the flicker in response to the drops of the voltage-holding ratio.

The power consumption of a Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) is directly related to the driving frequency of the display. While lower driving frequencies can reduce power consumption, operations of displays, especially those incorporating new liquid crystal materials, can result in flicker of images on the display at the lower driving frequencies due to drops in voltage holding ratio. This flicker in the display is undesirable and can result in a poor user experience.

Techniques to compensate for flicker at low refresh rates


An adsorbent medium is prepared comprising particles of a sponge material made of cellulose or agarose carrying functional groups such as diethylaminoethane groups. The particles may be obtained by chopping a larger block of the sponge material. The medium preferably has a water retention value of greater than 6 ml/g and a particle size of 0.5 to 10 mm, and the sponge material may be cross-linked. The adsorbent medium is especially useful for purifying DNA in an aqueous sample.

This invention relates to an adsorbent medium and to its use in retaining large molecular species, e.g. in the purification of DNA.
DEAE (diethylaminoethane) has been used to derivatise Sepharase or Sephadex beads to provide an anion exchange resin, having quaternary ammonium groups. This is available from Pharmacia as DEAE-streamline. It is used as an anticholesteremic.
Cellulosic sponge materials have been used in various forms as the basis of an adsorbent medium, typically after the introduction of ion-exchange groups. For example, GB-A-1226448 discloses the introduction of cross-linking residues into regenerated cellulose, together with or followed by the introduction of ion-exchange groups. The resultant medium can be used, packed in a column. Various physical forms are disclosed.
WO-A-9117830 discloses an adsorbent medium (HVFM) prepared by cross-linking a flexible hydrophilic sponge that contains fibrous, hydrophilic reinforcement, and introducing functional groups. The cross-linking is controlled so that the resulting sponge has a water retention value of 2 to 6. It is proposed that this medium is suitable for the isolation or separation of macromolecules such as proteins, while retaining mechanical strength. However, in addition to its low water retention value, this medium has poor flow properties.
A particular area in which an efficient, commercial process is required, for purifying samples, is in the preparation of pharmaceutical grade plasmid DNA for gene therapy. Although many processes have been developed for the large-scale production of recombinant plasmid DNA, e.g. using E. coli as the host cell, purification of the product is necessary before the functional gene can be used, i.e. for expression in somatic tissues with the intention of selectively correcting or modulating disease conditions.
Purification of plasmid DNA has traditionally been on a very small scale for research purposes. Purification of plasmid DNA for preclinical toxicology, human clinical trials, and ultimately for an approved pharmaceutical indication, requires a process that reproducibly meets all the quality and regulatory standards and can be used to purify large quantities of the material economically.
The standard method for plasmid DNA purification by molecular biologists has been by caesium chloride/ethidium bromide ultracentrifugation. This method is unacceptable for the production of clinical materials, because it uses mutagenic reagents and is unscalable.
Alternative methods for the purification of plasmid DNA have been developed using a combination of chromatography techniques. Problems associated with such techniques have been low capacity of the adsorbents for plasmid DNA, denaturation and breakdown of the DNA molecule, and losses due to filtration of the feedstock containing plasmid DNA. Problems associated with filtration have been resolved by using the adsorbents in fluidised bed mode, but this requires specially designed hardware for large-scale applications.
This invention is based on the discovery that an adsorbent medium comprising particles of a cellulose sponge material carrying functional groups, can be effectively used to retain species having molecular weight of at least one million Daltons, e.g. viruses and DNA. In particular, it has been found that an effective adsorbent can be prepared from readily-available sponge material, after removal of fibrous reinforcement.
The new porous matrix has high capacity for plasmid DNA, and can be used in a packed bed with unfiltered feedstock. It can be used in any type of chromatographic technique, including ion-exchange, and also affinity and hydrophobic interaction.

Absorbent medium containing particles of chopped cellulose or agarose sponge material having functional groups