Above a processing tray, a standby tray for making sheets of paper P stand by is installed. The sheets of paper P on the standby tray are dropped, fed, and moved to the processing tray, thus the conveying path from the standby tray to the processing tray is shortened. A conveyor belt is arranged at an angle with the processing tray so that the front end side of the sheets is positioned higher than the rear end side thereof and the conveyor belt on the front end side of the sheets is projected from the processing tray. By doing this, frictional force of the conveyor belt with the sheets of paper P on the rear end side is made smaller, and frictional force with the sheets of paper P on the front end side is made larger, and the ejectability of sheets from the processing tray after ending of the post process is improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet post-process apparatus for post-processing sheets of paper ejected from an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, or a composite device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in an image forming apparatus, to post-process sheets of paper after image forming such as sorting or stapling sheets of paper, a sheet post-process apparatus may be installed in the neighborhood of the paper ejection unit of the image forming apparatus body. In such a sheet post-process apparatus, after waiting for ending of the sheet post-process of preceding sheets, the post-process of succeeding sheets is performed. To make the succeeding sheets ejected from the image forming apparatus body stand by like this, conventionally, in Japanese Patent Publication 6-99070 or Japanese Patent Application 11-322162, an apparatus installing a shifting path or a buffer path halfway the path toward the stapler is disclosed.
However, as in the conventional apparatus, when a shifting path or a buffer path is installed halfway the path toward the stapler, the length of the conveying path from the paper ejection unit of the image forming apparatus body to the stapler becomes longer, thus a problem arises that miniaturization of the apparatus is disturbed.
Therefore, a sheet post-process apparatus capable of shortening the distance from the paper ejection unit of the image forming apparatus to the processing mechanism for performing the post process and realizing miniaturization is desired.

Sheet post-process device with standby tray


For the separation of the sheets of a record carrier from a pile (10) in order to feed them to an office machine or a printer, a rolling action device (14) sits on the uppermost sheet (12) of the pile (10). By means of the rolling action device (14), the uppermost sheet (12) is loosened from the following next sheet (20) and is pushed against a stop in the feeding direction. The stop is positioned at an impingement angle of at least 90 degrees in relation to the plane, in which the uppermost sheet (12) is being pushed against the stop. Then the stop is moved upwards so that it could pick upwards the front edge of the uppermost sheet (12). The stop can be built, for instance, of at least one upwards-running belt (22).

In the office machines as printers, copy machines and other similar to them as well as in the printing presses, the record carriers in a sheet form are most often kept in stock in a pile. Then every uppermost sheet of the pile is selected and fed into the office machine. The selection, or the separation of the uppermost sheet, from the next sheet in the pile is a technically difficult problem, especially in the case of sheets of paper because they stick to each other in the pile. The clinging of the sheets is affected by adhesion, electrostatic discharge, friction, and other similar agents and depends on a great number of factors as, for instance, the thickness of the sheet, the stiffness of the sheet, the texture of the surface of the sheet, the humidity of the air, etc.
It is known from DE 44 44 836 A1 and DE 100 16 793 A1, that a rolling action should be applied to the uppermost sheet of the pile in order to loosen the uppermost sheet and to move it in the direction of the feeding. In the process of this rolling, rolling elements, for example, turning rollers are moved over the uppermost sheet exerting pressure over the pile in the direction of the movement of the sheet. In this way the uppermost sheets of the pile are deformed by this rolling action, whereas the deformation of the uppermost sheet is greatest. By means of this deformation, air can penetrate between the uppermost sheet and the following second sheet in such a way that the uppermost sheet can be loosened from the second sheet. By means of the pressure that the rolling elements exercise over the pile, a buckle in the upper sheets is formed in front of the rolling elements, which runs before the rolling element, whereby the rolling element exerts a feeding force onto the uppermost sheet in the direction of the feeding. In this way, the upper sheets of the pile are fanned out in the form of scales, or, respectively shingles, in the direction of the feeding.
The separation of the sheets using a rolling element has in particular the advantage that the separation takes place to a considerable extent independently of the properties of the sheets such as the thickness of the sheet, the stiffness of the sheet, the texture of the surface of the sheet, etc. The separation functions in a very reliable way, so that the undesirable pick-up of the second sheet of the pile can be excluded to a large extent. Since the separation does not depend very much on the quality of the sheets, this method of separation is suitable above all for such office machines, in which different sheet formats and sheet quality are stocked and selectively fed into the machine.
In the equipment that is known, the upper sheets of the pile are fanned out in the form of shingles by the effect of the rolling. As soon as the front edge of the uppermost sheet has been pushed at a sufficient distance from the front edge of the next, the second sheet, the uppermost sheet can be seized at its front edge and can be transported further. The fanning out of the upper sheets by means of the rolling action requires different times depending on the quality of the sheets.
Further, it is known that sheets from a pile can be selected in a way that a separation roller seizes by means of traction the uppermost sheet in the pile and then pushes it against a slanted ramp. Such devices are known, for instance, from EP 0534 245 A1, DE-PS 493 270, WO 89/03 798, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,534. In these devices, the front edge of the uppermost sheet is being lifted onto the slanted ramp by the separation roller by means of traction, whereby the front edge bends upwards and is separated from the second sheet that can eventually be selected. Since in this device, the uppermost sheet is pushed from the pile by means of traction, the uppermost sheet does not get loosened from the next one, the second sheet in the pile, so that the probability that the undesirable pick-up of the second sheet takes place is greater. The separation of the uppermost sheet from the second one is done essentially by bending the front edge upwards onto the slanted ramp, which hence should not rise too steeply. This upward bending is essentially depending on the angle of the upward gradient of the ramp and the properties of the sheet, and particularly on the stiffness of the sheet. That is why these devices are suitable only for a relatively narrow range of sheet qualities, or, respectively, need to be correspondingly adjusted to the different sheet qualities.

Method and device for selecting the sheets of a record carrier from a pile


A biaxially oriented multilayer film composed of a base layer and at least one outer layer. The base layer contains a propylene polymer. The outer layer contains two components A and B, the component A being composed of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and the component B of a copolymer of ethylene and propylene or ethylene and butylene or propylene and butylene or ethylene and another .alpha.-olefin containing 5 to 10 carbon atoms or propylene and another .alpha.-olefin containing 5 to 10 carbon atoms or of a terpolymer of ethylene and propylene and butylene or ethylene and propylene and another .alpha.-olefin containing 5 to 10 carbon atoms or of a mixture of two or more of the copolymers and/or terpolymers mentioned. The film has excellent properties and is useful, for example, as a packaging film, in a laminate, and as a backing film.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a biaxially oriented multilayer film comprising a base layer and at least one outer layer. The base layer essentially comprises a propylene polymer; the outer layer essentially contains high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and copolymers and/or terpolymers of .alpha.-olefins containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms, optionally mixed with polypropylene. Outer layers disposed on either side may be the same or different. At least one outer layer of the multilayer film is sealable and matt.
The invention also relates to a method of producing a multilayer film and to its use.
2. Description of Related Art
DE-A-16 94 694 discloses sealable multilayer films which are composed of biaxially oriented polypropylene films and contain at least one heat-sealable layer composed of an ethylene/propylene copolymer. These films have good heat sealability, but they are clear and not scratch-resistant to the desired extent. In addition they have inadequate processing properties on fast-running packaging machines.
EP-A-0 008 904 discloses a biaxially oriented three-layer polyolefin film which is sealable on both sides and in which the base layer is formed from propylene polymers and the two sealing layers are formed from sealable olefin polymers. This polyolefin film has good heat sealability, but it is transparent and in particular only slightly scratch-resistant and not printable. In addition, it also leaves something to be desired in relation to its surface slip properties with regard to fast-running packaging machines.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,411 discloses a biaxially oriented polyolefin film which is sealable on both sides and contains three layers. In these films, both sealing layers incorporate polysiloxane and silicon dioxide as an additive combination. The base layer is essentially composed of polypropylene and contains a small amount of monocarboxylic acid amide, which partially migrates from the base layer into the two sealing layers. The multilayer polyolefin film described is said to have a particularly low coefficient of friction. This film is particularly subject to the disadvantage that it is not printable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,316 discloses a biaxially oriented multilayer polyolefin film whose base layer is composed of a propylene homopolymer and whose outer layer is composed of a blend of polypropylene and MDPE and/or HDPE. This polyolefin film has a low coefficient of friction combined with a readily wettable surface; however, this film, too, has an excellent optical clarity.
WO 89/10839 describes multilayer polyolefin films whose base layer is composed of a propylene polymer and whose outer layers are composed either of HDPE and an ethylene/propylene copolymer or a polypropylene, the film being stretched under special temperature conditions. It has, in particular, a low coefficient of friction and a good wettability, but at the same time it also has a high gloss and low haze.

Sealable, matt, biaxially oriented multilayer polyolefin film


A method and system for providing GTP acceleration for secure cellular backhaul over satellite (CBoS). A satellite terminal receives request from a first entity to establish a security association with a second entity, and establishes a first secure tunnel to a gateway. A second secure tunnel is then established between the gateway and the second entity based on a certificate belonging to the first entity. A third secure tunnel is established between the satellite terminal and the first entity based on a certificate belonging to the second entity. The contents of encrypted traffic between the first entity and the second entity are examined so that GTP acceleration may be applied to eligible traffic transmitted over the first secure tunnel.

Cellular networks are increasingly using satellite communication systems to carry cellular backhaul traffic between an Evolved Node B (eNodeB, or eNB) and Evolved Packet Core (EPC) in LTE networks. Such satellite backhaul networks carry traffic from various applications such as Web Browsing, VoIP (voice over IP), audio and video streaming, etc. The satellite backhaul network also carries signaling packets between eNodeB and EPC. For over the air security between the eNodeB and mobile devices, user data and control signal messages are encrypted. On the internet protocol (IP) network, IP security (IPsec) is usually employed between the eNodeB and the EPC.
In order to optimize the use of available bandwidth, satellite networks typically provide quality of service (QoS) based prioritization, transmission control protocol (TCP) acceleration, etc. Satellite networks can also implement efficient ways of carrying traffic over satellite link, such as header compression and data compression. Such techniques and services, however, require that the very small aperture terminal (VSAT, or simply terminal) and the gateway are capable of identifying the traffic type of traffic being exchanged. Thus, it would be possible for the terminal and gateway to treat the traffic in accordance with their characteristics. For example, the satellite system could provide high priority treatment for real-time traffic such as voice communication that is very sensitive to latency. Conversely, traffic such as web browsing can be treated as low priority.
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) tunneling protocol (GTP) acceleration has been developed to improve cellular traffic being carried over the satellite network. GTP acceleration is applied to cellular traffic between eNodeB and EPC that is flowing in the GTP tunnel of the satellite network. The GTP Acceleration can provide, for example, GTP tunnel header reduction, TCP acceleration, data compression, and QoS-based traffic prioritization, etc. Secure cellular traffic, however, utilizes IPsec to protect the traffic between eNodeB and EPC. Consequently, the terminal and gateway will not be able to determine the type of traffic being transmitted for cellular backhaul over satellite (CBoS). The terminal and gateway are, therefore, unable to provide the satellite GTP acceleration to the secure cellular traffic. Based on the foregoing, there is a need for an approach for applying satellite GTP acceleration to CBoS traffic while maintaining end to end IPsec encryption between the eNodeB and EPC.

System and method for providing satellite GTP acceleration for secure cellular backhaul over satellite


Disclosed is a light emitting device including a substrate, a first buffer layer disposed on the substrate, the first buffer layer comprising aluminum nitride (AlN), an insertion layer disposed on the first buffer layer, the insertion layer comprising aluminum (Al), and a light emitting structure disposed on the insertion layer, the light emitting structure comprising a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a light emitting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A light emitting diode (LED) is a device which converts electric signals into light using characteristics of compound semiconductors. LEDs are now being applied to devices such as home appliances, remote controls, electronic signboards, displays, a variety of automatic appliances and the like and their application range continues to expand.
Generally, a miniaturized LED is fabricated as a surface mount device such that it can be directly mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB). Accordingly, an LED lamp used as a display device is also developed in a surface mount device-type. Such a surface mount device may substitute for a conventional lamp and is used as lighting displays, character displays, image displays and the like, rendering various colors.
LED semiconductors are grown on a hetero-substrate made of sapphire, silicon carbide (SiC) or the like, having a hexagonal system structure by a process such as metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) or molecular beam epitaxy (MBE).
When a semiconductor layer is formed on a support substrate, cracks, warpage or dislocation may occur in the semiconductor layer due to differences in lattice coefficient and coefficient of thermal expansion between the semiconductor layer and the substrate. Accordingly, there is a need to reduce stress caused by differences in lattice coefficient and coefficient of thermal expansion between the support substrate and the semiconductor layer.


Method or apparatus for passive process monitoring is described. One aspect of the invention relates to monitoring a process executing on a computer system. An operating system is instructed to report at least one event related to process termination. Termination of the process is detected in response to a reported instance of the at least one event by the operating system. A notification is provided to an agent in the computer system that the process has terminated.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to redundant computer systems. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for passive process monitoring, such as, monitoring the termination of a process in a clustered computer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computer systems and their components are subject to various failures. These failures are generally related to devices, resources, applications, or the like. Many different approaches to fault-tolerant computing are known in the art. Fault tolerance is the ability of a system to continue to perform its functions, even when one or more components of the system have failed. Fault-tolerant computing is typically based on replication of components (i.e., redundancy) and ensuring for equivalent operation between the components. Fault-tolerant systems are typically implemented by replicating hardware and/or software (generally referred to as resources), such as providing pairs of servers, one primary and one secondary. Such a redundant system is often referred to as a server cluster, clustered computer system, clustered environment, or the like. A server in a clustered environment is generally referred to as a node or cluster node. The failover of resources in the clustered system is handled by clustering software that is distributed among the cluster nodes.
The clustering software typically comprises cluster agents distributed throughout the clustered system (e.g., each node may include a cluster agent). The cluster agents monitor events associated with resources in the clustered environment for the purpose of detecting failures and initiating failovers. Conventionally, the cluster agents actively poll the operating systems managing the resources, at specified intervals, e.g. every 60 seconds, for the current state of these resources. This active, periodic polling consumes additional computing resources, such as, memory and processor resources. The consumed resources are then not available for use by other applications in the system. On systems with a large number of monitored resources, the polling mechanism can consume a relatively large percentage of computing resources.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a method and apparatus that provides a resource monitoring system that functions passively without the need to actively poll for events related to the resources.

Method and apparatus for passive process monitoring


This spin element includes: a current-carrying part that extends in a first direction; and an element part that is laminated on one surface of the current-carrying part, wherein the current-carrying part includes a first wiring and a second wiring in order from a side of the element part, and wherein both of the first wiring and the second wiring are metals and temperature dependence of resistivity of the first wiring is larger than temperature dependence of resistivity of the second wiring in at least a temperature range of −40° C. to 100° C.

A giant magnetoresistance (GMR) element including a multilayer film of a ferromagnetic layer and a non-magnetic layer and a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) element using an insulating layer (a tunnel barrier layer and a barrier layer) for a non-magnetic layer are known as a magnetoresistance effect element. Generally, the TMR element has a higher element resistance and a higher magnetoresistance (MR) ratio than those of the GMR element. For this reason, TMR elements have been gaining attention as elements for magnetic sensors, high-frequency components, magnetic heads, and magnetic random access memories (MRAMs).
In recent years, magnetization reversal using a pure spin current generated by a spin-orbit interaction has been gaining attention (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). A spin-orbit torque (SOT) is induced by a pure spin current caused by a spin-orbit interaction or a Rashba effect in an interface between different materials. A current for inducing an SOT in a magnetoresistance effect element flows in a direction intersecting a laminating direction of the magnetoresistance effect element. That is, there is no need for a current to flow in a laminating direction of the magnetoresistance effect element, and such magnetoresistance effect elements can be expected to have a longer lifespan.


A semiconductor device, an electrostatic discharge protection device and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The electrostatic discharge protection device includes a gate, a gate dielectric layer, an N-type source region, an N-type drain region, an N-type doped region and a P-type doped region. The gate dielectric layer is disposed on a substrate. The gate is disposed on the gate dielectric layer. The N-type source region and the N-type drain region are disposed in the substrate at two sides of the gate, respectively. The N-type doped region is disposed in the N-type drain region and connects to the top of the N-type drain region. The P-type doped region is disposed under the N-type drain region and connects to the bottom of the N-type drain region.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Electrostatic discharge refers to an electrostatic charge movement on a non-conductive surface and may lead to damages of semiconductor devices and other circuits in an integrated circuit. For example, when conventional charged bodies such as integrated circuit packaging machines, integrated circuit testing apparatuses, or the like contact chips, the conventional charged bodies are then discharged to the chips. At this time, the instantaneous power of ESD may cause damage or malfunction of integrated circuits in the chips. In order to prevent the integrated circuit from being damaged by ESD, an ESD protection device is usually adopted in an integrated circuit.
An ESD protection device including a silicide block disposed on a drain of an N-type transistor is a conventional ESD protection device, such that an electrostatic current is prevented from flowing through the surface of a substrate to damage the device. Consequently, the device can be protected from ESD. However, when forming the silicide block layer aforementioned, a mask has to be additionally applied, thereby increasing the complexity of the manufacturing process and the manufacturing cost.

Semiconductor device, electrostatic discharge protection device and manufacturing method thereof


An oxygen solid solution titanium sintered compact includes a matrix made of a titanium component having an α-phase, oxygen atoms dissolved as a solute of solid solution in a crystal lattice of the titanium component, and metal atoms dissolved as a solute of solid solution in the crystal lattice of the titanium component.

Titanium is a light-weight material having a low specific gravity of about ½ of that of steel and has excellent characteristics in corrosion resistance and strength, so that titanium is used in a component of an aircraft, a railway vehicle, a two-wheel vehicle, an automobile, or the like in which weight reduction is strongly demanded, or in a household electric appliance or an architectural member. Also, from the viewpoint of excellent corrosion resistance, titanium is also used as a material for medical use.
However, as compared with a steel material or an aluminum alloy, titanium has a high material cost, so that an object of use is limited. In particular, though having a high tensile strength exceeding 1000 MPa, a titanium alloy raises a problem of having an insufficient ductility (elongation after fracture) and also having a poor plastic formability at an ordinary temperature or in a low-temperature region. On the other hand, pure titanium raises a problem of low tensile strength of about 400 to 600 MPa, though having a high percentage elongation after fracture exceeding 25% at an ordinary temperature and being excellent in plastic formability in a low-temperature region.
Since the demand for compatibility between a high strength and a high ductility and for reduction of the material cost on titanium is extremely strong, various studies have been made so far. In particular, from the viewpoint of cost reduction, strengthening with use of a comparatively less expensive element such as oxygen instead of a highly expensive element such as vanadium, scandium, or niobium has been studied a lot as a prior art technique.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2012-241241 (Patent Document 1) proposes, as a method for producing an oxygen solid solution titanium material, a method of sintering a shaped compact of a mixed powder of titanium powder and TiO2 particles to decompose the TiO2 particles thermally and dissolving the dissociated oxygen atoms as a solute of solid solution into titanium.

Oxygen solid solution titanium material sintered compact and method for producing same


The Hessian (second derivative) of the image log slope (ILS) can be quickly and accurately calculated without the need to use approximate methods from the gradient of the ILS with respect to mask transmission and source intensity. The Hessian has been traditionally calculated using a finite-difference approach. Calculating the Hessian through a finite-difference approach is slow and is an approximate method. The gradient of the ILS improves the speed of calculation of the Hessian, and thus accelerated SMO operation is realized. The results of ILS evaluation can be used in design for manufacturing (DFM) to suggest changes in the design rules to improve imaging. For a fixed illumination, this information can help remove forbidden pitches and help select design rules for 1-D and 2-D patterns on a mask design layout.

A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In such a case, the photolithographic mask (also referred to interchangeably as a "reticle" or a "patterning device") may contain a circuit pattern corresponding to an individual layer of the IC, and this pattern can be imaged onto a target portion (e.g. comprising one or more dies) on a substrate (silicon wafer) that has been coated with a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist). In general, a single wafer will contain a whole network of adjacent target portions that are successively irradiated via the projection system, one at a time. In one type of lithographic projection apparatus, each target portion is irradiated by exposing the entire mask pattern onto the target portion in one go; such an apparatus is commonly referred to as a wafer stepper. In an alternative apparatus, commonly referred to as a step-and-scan apparatus, each target portion is irradiated by progressively scanning the mask pattern under the projection beam in a given reference direction (the "scanning" direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate table parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. Since, in general, the projection system will have a magnification factor M (generally <1), the speed V at which the substrate table is scanned will be a factor M times that at which the mask table is scanned.
In a manufacturing process using a lithographic projection apparatus, a mask pattern is imaged onto a substrate that is at least partially covered by a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist). Prior to this imaging step, the substrate may undergo various procedures, such as priming, resist coating and a soft bake. After exposure, the substrate may be subjected to other procedures, such as a post-exposure bake (PEB), development, a hard bake and measurement/inspection of the imaged features. This array of procedures is used as a basis to pattern an individual layer of a device, e.g. an IC. Such a patterned layer may then undergo various processes such as etching, ion-implantation (doping), metallization, oxidation, chemo-mechanical polishing, etc., all intended to finish off an individual layer. If several layers are required, then the whole procedure, or a variant thereof, will have to be repeated for each new layer. Eventually, an array of devices will be present on the substrate (wafer). These devices are then separated from one another by a technique such as dicing or sawing, whence the individual devices can be mounted on a carrier, connected to pins, etc.
For the sake of simplicity, the projection system may hereinafter be referred to as the "lens" or 'optics"; however, this should be broadly interpreted as encompassing various types of projection systems, including refractive optics, reflective optics, and catadioptric systems, for example. The radiation system may also include components operating according to any of these design types for directing, shaping or controlling the projection beam of radiation, and such components may also be referred to below, collectively or singularly, as a "lens". Further, the lithographic apparatus may be of a type having two or more substrate tables (and/or two or more mask tables). In such "multiple stage" devices the additional tables may be used in parallel, or preparatory steps may be carried out on one or more tables while one or more other tables are being used for exposures. The photolithographic masks referred to above comprise geometric patterns corresponding to the circuit components to be integrated onto a silicon wafer. The patterns used to create such masks are generated utilizing CAD (computer-aided design) programs, this process is often being referred to as EDA (electronic design automation). Most CAD programs follow a set of predetermined design rules in order to create functional masks. These rules are set by processing and design limitations. For example, design rules define the space tolerance between circuit devices (such as gates, capacitors, etc.) or interconnect lines, so as to ensure that the circuit devices or lines do not interact with one another in an undesirable way. The design rule limitations are typically referred to as "critical dimensions" (CD). A critical dimension of a circuit can be defined as the smallest width of a line or hole or the smallest space between two lines or two holes. Thus, the CD determines the overall size and density of the designed circuit. In a typical lithography process flow, the mask and source are optimized for critical (and/or non-critical) areas of the mask design layout. Image Log Slope (ILS) of an intensity profile at certain evaluation points in the mask design layout (e.g., at an edge of a critical polygon in the mask layout) is often used as a parameter for optimizing the design rule. In certain cases, the design rule of the non-critical areas are re-optimized once the mask type and source is fixed for the critical area. A complete lithographic process window (PW) optimization process through conventional source-mask-optimization (SMO) thus becomes time-consuming and laborious.
Therefore, there is a need for a method that can improve lithographic imaging of the mask by optimizing the design rules, which in turn, results in simplifying and accelerating the overall SMO process.

Determining the gradient and hessian of the image log slope for design rule optimization for accelerating source mask optimization (SMO)


Disclosed are plug connector assemblies having external contacts formed on only one surface of a connector body of the assembly. In some embodiments, the connector body includes a plastic tip integrally formed within a ground ring that is otherwise made from metal. Additionally, in some embodiments, the plug connector has a base portion with feet on opposing sides of the plug that each includes a hole that can be used to attach the plug connector to an encasing or other structure of a base electronic device it is incorporated into. In some embodiments, the plug connector extends upwardly away from the base at a predetermined angle such that the contacts are located on the side of the plug connector that forms an acute angle with the base.

The present invention generally relates to electrical connectors and in particular to connector modules that can be readily incorporated into electronic devices and docking stations.
A wide variety of electronic devices are available for consumers today. Many of these devices have connectors that facilitate communication with and/or charging of a corresponding device. Typically these connectors are part of a male plug connector and female receptacle connector system in which the plug connector can be inserted into and mated with the receptacle connector so that digital and analog signals can be transferred between the contacts in each connector. More often than not, the female connector in the connector system is included in a host electronic device such as a portable media player, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer or the like. The plug connector in the connector system is often included in an accessory device such as a charging cable, a docking station, an audio sound system or the like. In some instances, however, devices, for example cable adapters, include both receptacle and plug connectors. Also, in some instances, the plug connector/receptacle connector pairing can be part of a large ecosystem of products that includes both host electronic devices and accessory devices designed to work together. Thus, the same general format plug connector can be incorporated into many different accessories, which in turn can be designed to operate with multiple different host devices that include the corresponding receptacle connector.


The grocery cart beverage holder is configured for use in attaching itself in between the rear wall of a grocery cart and a pivoting child seat wall in order to support a beverage upright there between. The grocery cart beverage holder is constructed of a first member hingedly connected to a second member. The first member and the second member each have a beverage cutout that align with one another to collectively for a cup holder slot. The first member as well as the second member include a slideable member that extends distally away from the respective member. The slideable members each include a clip configured for use in securing the slideable member onto the surface of the grocery cart.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of grocery carts, more specifically, a beverage holder that is configured to support itself and a cup with respect to a grocery cart.
B. Discussion of the Prior Art
As will be discussed immediately below, no prior art discloses a grocery cart beverage holder that is configured for use in attaching itself in between the rear wall of a grocery cart and a pivoting child seat wall in order to support a beverage upright there between; wherein the grocery cart beverage holder is constructed of a first member hingedly connected to a second member; wherein the first member and the second member each have a beverage cutout that align with one another to collectively for a cup holder slot; wherein the first member as well as the second member include a slideable member the slideable members each include a clip configured for use in securing the slideable member onto the surface of the grocery cart; wherein a wire hanger extends and connects the first member to the second member in order to enable rotation of the first member with respect to the second member; wherein the wire hanger rotates downwardly beneath the cup holder slot to limit the travel of the beverage into the cup holder slot; wherein either the first member or the second member may include a coupon spring clip that is configured to secure at least one coupon thereto.
The Peota et al. Patent Application Publication (U.S. Pub. No. 2008/0237284) discloses a cup holder for a shopping cart. However, the cup holder is not a device that folds out to span in between the rear and pivoting child seat wall of the grocery cart.
The Vogel Patent Application Publication (U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0007416) discloses a folding beverage cup holder that can hang from the handle of a shopping cart. However, the cup holder is not able to span in between the rear and pivoting child seat walls of a grocery cart.
The Cappellino et al. Patent Application Publication (U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0199667) discloses a cup holder mountable on a shopping cart. Among other things, the cup holder is not able to span in between the rear and pivoting child seat walls of a grocery cart.
The Werner Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,204) discloses a cup holder attached to, or incorporated into, a portion of an open top basket of a standard wire mesh shopping cart. However, the cup holder is not able to span in between the rear and pivoting child seat walls of a grocery cart.
The Bergin et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,382) discloses a cup holder mountable on the interior of a supermarket cart. Among other things, the cup holder is not able to span in between the rear and pivoting child seat walls of a grocery cart.
The Adamson Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,077) discloses a shopping cart having a retractable cup holder. However, the cup holder is not adapted for use in between the rear wall and pivoting child seat wall of a grocery cart.
The Peota et al. Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,384,049) discloses a cup holder for a shopping cart. However, the cup holder is not adapted to be positioned in between the pivoting child seat wall and rear wall of a grocery cart in order to support itself and suspend a beverage there between.
The Ryan Patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,901) discloses a cup holder for mounting on a basket of a shopping cart. However, the cup holder only clips onto a single surface.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective and particular objects and requirements, they do not describe a grocery cart beverage holder that is configured for use in attaching itself in between the rear wall of a grocery cart and a pivoting child seat wall in order to support a beverage upright there between; wherein the grocery cart beverage holder is constructed of a first member hingedly connected to a second member; wherein the first member and the second member each have a beverage cutout that align with one another to collectively for a cup holder slot; wherein the first member as well as the second member include a slideable member that extends distally away from the respective member; wherein the slideable members each include a clip configured for use in securing the slideable member onto the surface of the grocery cart; wherein a wire hanger extends and connects the first member to the second member in order to enable rotation of the first member with respect to the second member; wherein the wire hanger rotates downwardly beneath the cup holder slot to limit the travel of the beverage into the cup holder slot; wherein either the first member or the second member may include a coupon spring clip that is configured to secure at least one coupon thereto. In this regard, the grocery cart beverage holder departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art.


An adjustable measuring scoop including a partition that is movable so as to result in a scoop size that can be selectively determined between a maximum and a minimum by ready manual manipulation of the scoop. Part of the perimeter of the movable partition may include a lip (which may further include a flange and/or a seal) that is preferably configured and formed of suitable materials so as to permit for the containment of fine powders, liquids, etc. The movable partition may also include a depression formed on its upper surface for the convenient temporary holding of materials.

Adjustable measuring devices exist, but with one or more drawbacks. U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,450 to Robbins et al. discloses an adjustable measurement container in which the size of the scoop is adjusted by linearly sliding a sliding member that includes a covering portion (unnumbered) and a partition (dam 42). U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,699 to Molenaar discloses an adjustable measuring spoon in which the size of the scoop is adjusted by rotating a pivoting member that also includes a covering portion (gate 23) and a partition (49). Neither patent, however, discloses an intimate, hermetically-sealing relationship between the moving parts or suggests how the devices could be modified to attain that.


The detection circuit with correlated double sampling comprises two transimpedance amplifiers connected by means of a sampling capacitor. A photodiode is connected to the input of the first transimpedance amplifier. The circuit comprises an anti-blooming circuit connected between the input and output of the first transimpedance amplifier. The anti-blooming circuit comprises means for comparing the output voltage of the first transimpedance amplifier with a setpoint voltage defined by means of the output voltage of the second transimpedance amplifier. The means for comparing are connected to means for applying a feedback current to the input of the first transimpedance amplifier when the difference between the output voltage and the setpoint voltage reaches a limit value.

The invention relates to a detection circuit with correlated double sampling comprising:                a first transimpedance amplifier,        a photodiode connected to an input of the first transimpedance amplifier,        a second transimpedance amplifier,        a sampling capacitor connected between an output of the first transimpedance amplifier and an input of the second transimpedance amplifier.
The invention also relates to a method for reading the irradiation by a detection circuit.

Detection circuit with correlated double sampling with improved anti-blooming circuit

Societe Francaise de Detecteurs Infrarouges—Sofradir


A tool for measuring the oral cavity. The tool includes a first measuring member having a first leg portion and a dial portion with graduations provided thereon and a second measuring member having a second leg portion and a pointer. The pointer moves across the dial upon pivotal movement of measuring members such that the pointer designates one of the graduations to indicate the spacing between the leg portions. Second graduations provided on one of the measuring members are indicative of a second measured value. The tool also includes a support member positionable in the oral cavity of a patient with the patient biting down on the upper and lower bite surfaces of the support. The support includes an opening shaped to slidably receive and support the first leg portion and a slot offset from the opening. The slot is shaped to slidably receive the second leg portion as the second measuring member is pivoted relative to the first measuring member.

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a sleep disorder in which the patient exhibits breathing pauses during sleep, resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep fragmentation, and intermittent hypoxia. Patients suffering from the disorder have a greater risk of developing diurnal hypertension, myocardial infarction, ventricular failure, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac dysrhythmias and stroke. In addition to health problems, OSAS significantly reduces the effectiveness and alertness of the individual during the day which adversely effects the individual's lifestyle and increases the risk of injury to the individual and others from motor vehicle and work-related accidents.
OSAS is typically diagnosed by polysomnographic testing. This procedure involves monitoring the patient overnight to record brain activity, eye movements, chin and leg muscle movements, cardiac rhythm, snoring intensity, oronasal airflow, respiratory muscle effort, and blood oxygen saturation. The test is time consuming, labor intensive and expensive. Thus, a method of screening patients to reliably determine whether or not they may be at risk for OSAS reduces the number of patients who are unnecessarily subjected to polysomnographic testing. More importantly, earlier diagnosis and treatment of OSAS would be promoted because the screening results would eliminate the reluctance of a physician to prescribe polysomnographic testing for those patients who do not exhibit dramatic OSAS symptoms.
Mathematical formulas have been developed to clinically predict whether a patient is likely to suffer from OSAS. These mathematical models primarily rely on measurements of body mass index and neck circumference, two factors which are indicative of the obesity of the patient. Obesity is one of the important risk factors for OSAS. However, not all patients who suffer from OSAS are obese. Although prior mathematical models have combined the body mass index and neck circumference measurements with oxygen saturation levels, witnessed apneas and questionnaire data, these mathematical models are of little use in screening patients who are not obese. A system of screening patients without relying on whether or not they are obese would ensure that further testing is prescribed for all patients at risk for OSAS independent of their body weight.
Another significant risk factor in the development of OSAS is craniofacial dysmorphism (disproportionate craniofacial anatomy). Abnormalities associated with craniofacial dysmorphism include a reduction in the upper airway caliber which makes the airway susceptible to collapse during sleep. Abnormalities in craniomandibular morphology, such as a narrow or posteriorly displaced mandible, are often found in OSAS patients. Another abnormality commonly found in OSAS patients is a highly arched palate. A system of quickly and accurately detecting the presence of a narrow or posteriorly displaced mandible and/or a highly arched palate would facilitate the assessment of a patient's OSAS risk.


A suction nozzle, which is configured to be interlocked with a gas filler nozzle used to supply a gas to a gas consuming device, comprises a suction port configured to suck moisture inside the gas filler nozzle when the suction nozzle is interlocked with the gas filler nozzle.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a suction nozzle, a suction device, a gas filling device, a gas consuming device and a gas filling system.
2. Related Art
Recently a fuel cell vehicle using hydrogen gas as a fuel gas has been ready for practical use. Stable supply of hydrogen gas to the fuel cell vehicle is essential to promote the spread of the fuel cell vehicle. At a hydrogen supply station for supplying hydrogen gas to the fuel cell vehicle, a nozzle of a gas filling device as a supplier is interlocked with a receptacle of the vehicle to fill the hydrogen gas accumulated under high pressure from the gas filling device to a tank of the vehicle.
In order to suppress a temperature rise in the tank of the vehicle during filling of the hydrogen gas, the hydrogen gas in the supplier is generally pre-cooled to around −20° C. to −40° C. During filling of the hydrogen gas, the interlocked receptacle and nozzle are cooled down by the flow of the low-temperature hydrogen gas. Such cooling may, however, lead to dew condensation of the moisture contained in the air on the surface of the receptacle and inside the receptacle structure. This may cause the moisture to be frozen in between the receptacle and the nozzle and may interfere with smooth removal of the nozzle from the receptacle. This may also interfere with exchange of signals and information via contacts between the receptacle and the nozzle. An exemplary technique proposed to solve this problem measures the temperature of the receptacle or the nozzle during the gas filling and stops the gas filling when the measured temperature is lowered to or below a preset level (PTL 1).

Suction nozzle, suction device, gas filling device, gas consuming device and gas filling system


A solvent extraction composition is provided which comprises one or more orthohydroxyarylaldoxime or orthohydroxyarylketoxime and at least one dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol and preferably a water immiscible organic solvent. The orthohydroxyarylaldoximes, or orthohydroxyarylketoximes commonly are of Formula (1),

The present invention concerns a solvent extraction composition, a solvent extraction process and especially a process for the extraction of metals, particularly copper, from aqueous solutions, especially solutions obtained by leaching ores.
It is known to extract metals, especially copper, from aqueous solutions containing the metal in the form of, for example, a salt, by contacting the aqueous solution with a solution of a solvent extractant in a water immiscible organic solvent and then separating the solvent phase loaded with metal, i.e. containing at least a part of the metal in the form of a complex. The metal can then be recovered by stripping with a solution of lower pH followed for example, by electrowinning. Most commonly, the aqueous metal-containing solutions for extraction are the result of the acid leaching of ores. However it is known that some metals, especially copper, can be leached from certain ores with ammoniacal solutions. This has the advantage that solutions containing especially high concentrations of copper are derived and that there is little contamination of the solution with iron.
Solvent extractants which have found favour in recent years particularly for the recovery of copper from aqueous solutions include oxime reagents, especially o-hydroxyaryloximes and o-hydroxyarylketoximes. Whilst such reagents have been found to work well in the recovery of copper from solutions, one problem which has been encountered in the application of such reagents is that the oxime and ketoxime reagents can strongly bind metals to the extent that the efficiency of metal transfer from leach solution to strip solution can be impaired. In order to overcome such problems, modifiers have been used to effect the binding efficiency of the extractants. Typical modifiers are disclosed in WO96/25525 and in EP-A-0202833. However, as solvent extraction processes are increasingly employed in more diverse situations, there is still a need to identify further modifiers.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solvent extraction composition comprising one or more orthohydroxyarylaldoximes or orthohydroxyarylketoximes, and at least one dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol. The compositions preferably also comprise a water immiscible organic solvent.
The orthohydroxyarylaldoxime or orthohydroxyarylketoxime compounds employed in the present invention are substantially water insoluble and preferably have the formula:
wherein
R1 is hydrogen or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group
R2 is an optionally substituted ortho-hydroxyaryl group, and salts thereof.
Whilst the invention is described herein with reference to a compound of Formula (1), it is understood that it relates to said compound in any possible tautomeric forms, and also the complexes formed between orthohydroxyarylaldoximes or orthohydroxyarylketoximes and metals, particularly copper.
Optionally substituted hydrocarbyl groups which may be represented by R1 preferably comprise optionally substituted alkyl and aryl groups including combinations of these, such as optionally substituted aralkyl and alkaryl groups.
Examples of optionally substituted alkyl groups which may be represented by R1 include groups in which the alkyl moieties can contain from 1 to 20, especially from 1 to 4, carbon atoms. A preferred orthohydroxyarylketoxime is one in which R1 is alkyl, preferably containing up to 20, and especially up to 10, and more preferably up to 3 saturated aliphatic carbon atoms, and in a most preferred orthohydroxyarylketoxime R1 is a methyl group.
Examples of optionally substituted aryl groups which may be represented by R1 include optionally substituted phenyl groups. When R1 is an aryl group, it is preferably an unsubstituted phenyl group.
Most preferably R1 represents a hydrogen atom.
Optionally substituted ortho-hydroxyaryl groups which may be represented by R2 include optionally substituted phenols. Examples of optionally substituted phenols which may be represented by R2 include those of formula:
wherein R3 to R6 each independently represent H or a C1 to C22, preferably a C7 to C15, linear or branched alkyl group. Particularly preferably only R5 represents a C1-22alkyl group, most preferably a C7 to C15alkyl group, with R3, R4 and R6 representing H.
When R1 or R2 is substituted, the substituent(s) should be such as not to affect adversely the ability of the orthohydroxyarylaldoxime or orthohydroxyarylketoxime to complex with metals, especially copper. Suitable substituents include halogen, nitro, cyano, hydrocarbyl, such as C1-20-alkyl, especially C1-10-alkyl; hydrocarbyloxy, such as C1-20-alkoxy, especially C1-10-alkoxy; hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl, such as C1-20-alkoxycarbonyl, especially C1-10-alkoxycarbonyl; acyl, such as C1-20-alkylcarbonyl and arylcarbonyl, especially C1-10-alkylcarbonyl and phenylcarbonyl; and acyloxy, such as C1-20-alkylcarbonyloxy and arylcarbonyloxy, especially C1-10-alkylcarbonyloxy and phenylcarbonyloxy. There may be more than one substituent in which case the substituents may be the same or different.
In many embodiments, when an orthohydroxyarylketoxime is employed, the orthohydroxyarylketoxime is a 5-(C8 to C14alkyl)2-hydroxyacetophenone oxime, particularly 5-nonyl-2-hydroxyacetophenone oxime.
In many preferred embodiments, when an orthohydroxyarylaldoxime employed, the orthohydroxyarylaldoxime is a 5-C8 to C14alkyl)-2-hydroxybenzaldoxime, particularly 5-nonyl-2-hydroxybenzaldoxime.
The composition may comprise one or more different orthohydroxyarylaldoximes or orthohydroxyarylketoximes or mixtures thereof in which the nature of the substituent groups represented by R1 and R2 differ between component orthohydroxyarylaldoximes or orthohydroxyarylketoximes, especially where the component oximes are isomeric. Such isomeric mixtures may have better solubility in organic solvents than a single oxime.
The orthohydroxyarylaldoximes or orthohydroxyarylketoximes are often present in an amount of up to 60% by weight of the composition, commonly no more than 50%, and usually no more than 40% w/w. Often, the orthohydroxyarylaldoxime or orthohydroxyarylketoxime comprises at least 1% by weight, commonly at least 2.5% by weight and usually at least 5% by weight of composition, and preferably comprises from 7.5 to 20%, more preferably 10 to 18%, such as about 15%, by weight of the composition.
The dialkyl esters of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol employed in the present invention are substantially water insoluble and commonly have the formula:
wherein
R7 and R8 are each independently an optionally substituted alkyl group;
R9 to R20 are each independently hydrogen or optionally substituted hydrocarbyl;
m, n and p are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 provided that m+n+p is greater than or equal to 1; and
q is 1, 2 or 3.
The dialkyl esters of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol (hereinafter Esters) of the present invention often contain from 10 to 100 carbon atoms, preferably from 16 to 70 carbon atoms, such as up to 40 carbon atoms, and more preferably from 20 to 30 carbon atoms.
Optionally substituted alkyl groups which may be represented by R7 and R8 include groups in which the alkyl moieties often contain from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 16 carbon atoms and especially from 4 to 12, carbon atoms. Alkyl groups which may be represented by R7 and R8 are preferably branched. It is especially preferred that when an alkyl group represented by R7 and R8 is branched, that branching be alpha to the carbonyl groups to which R7 and R8 are attached.
Optionally substituted hydrocarbyl groups which may be represented by any of R9 to R20 preferably comprise optionally substituted alkyl and aryl groups including combinations of these, such as optionally substituted aralkyl and alkaryl groups.
Examples of optionally substituted alkyl groups which may be represented by R9 to R20 include groups in which the alkyl moieties can contain up to 10, and especially up to 5, carbon atoms. When one of R9 to R20 is an alkyl group, it is preferably an unsubstituted methyl group.
Examples of optionally substituted aryl groups which may be represented by R9 to R20 include optionally substituted phenyl groups. When one of R9 to R20 is an aryl group, it is preferably an unsubstituted phenyl group.
When any of R9 to R20 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group it is preferred that up to one of R9, R10, R11 or R 12; and/or up to one of R13, R14, R15 or R16 and/or up to one of R17, R18, R19 or R20 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group. It is especially preferred that the optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group be an unsubstituted methyl group.
Most preferred are Esters where in each of R9 to R20 are hydrogen.
The Esters optionally comprise a number of repeat units as defined by m, n, p and q. It is preferred that the total number of units as defined by the formula:
Total Number of Units=q(m+n+p)
is from 1 to 6, more preferably from 2 to 5.
In certain preferred embodiments, n+p equals 0, q equals 1, m is from 2 to 4 and each of R9 to R20 are hydrogen.
In certain highly preferred embodiments, n+p equals 0, q equals 1, m is from 2 to 4, each of R9 to R20 are hydrogen, and R7 and R8 are both branched C4 to C12alkyl groups.
The Esters optionally may contain other functional groups which are selected so as not to effect adversely with their function as modifiers. Functional groups which may be present include halogen, nitro, cyano, hydrocarbyl, such as C1-20-alkyl, especially C1-10-alkyl; hydrocarbyloxy, such as C1-20-alkoxy, especially C1-10-alkoxy; hydrocarbyloxycarbonyl, such as C1-20-alkoxycarbonyl, especially C1-10-alkoxycarbonyl; acyl, such as C1-20-alkylcarbonyl and arylcarbonyl, especially C1-10-alkylcarbonyl and phenylcarbonyl; and acyloxy, such as C1-20-alkylcarbonyloxy and arylcarbonyloxy, especially C1-10-alkylcarbonyloxy and phenylcarbonyloxy. There may be more than one functional group in which case the functional groups may be the same or different.
Examples of useful Esters include tetraethylene glycol di-2-ethylhexanoate.
The Esters often comprise up to 30% w/w of the composition, preferably from 0.1 to 20% w/w, and most preferably from 0.5 to 15% w/w. The weight ratio of Ester to aldoxime or ketoxime is often in the range of from 10:1 to 1:10, commonly from 5:1 to 1:5, and preferably from 1:1 to 1:4.
Organic solvents which may be used for the extraction include any mobile organic solvent, or mixture of solvents, which is immiscible with water and is inert under the extraction conditions to the other materials present. Examples of suitable solvents include aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures of any of these as well as chlorinated hydrocarbons such as trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, trichloroethane and chloroform. Examples of suitable hydrocarbon solvents include ESCAID 110, ESCAID 115, ESCAID 120, ESCAID 200, and ESCAID 300 commercially available from Exxon (ESCAID is a trade mark), SHELLSOL D70 and D80 commercially available from Shell (SHELLSOL is a trade mark), and CONOCO 170 commercially available from Conoco (CONOCO is a trade mark). Certain suitable solvents have a low aromatic ( less than 1% w/w) content, for example hydrocarbon solvents such as ESCAID 110 commercially available from Exxon (ESCAID is a trade mark), and ORFOM SX10 and ORFOM SX11 commercially available from Phillips Petroleum (ORFOM is a trade mark). Preferred solvents are hydrocarbon solvents including high flash point solvents with a high aromatic content such as SOLVESSO 150 commercially available from Exxon (SOLVESSO is a trade mark) and includes solvents which consist essentially of a mixture of trimethylbenzenes such as AROMASOL H, commercially available from Imperial Chemical Industries PLC (AROMASOL is a trade mark). Especially preferred, however, on grounds of low toxicity and wide availability are hydrocarbon solvents of relatively low aromatic content such as kerosene, for example ESCAID 100 which is a petroleum distillate with a total aromatic content of 23% commercially available from Exxon (ESCAID is a trade mark), or ORFOM SX7, commercially available from Phillips Petroleum (ORFOM is a trade mark).
In many embodiments, the composition comprises at least 30%, often at least 45% by weight, preferably from 50 to 95% w/w of water-immiscible hydrocarbon solvent.
Certain preferred compositions comprise at least one orthohydroxyarylaldoxime or orthohydroxyarylketoxime which may be present in an amount up to 42% w/w, and preferably from 7.5 to 20% w/w, and at least one Ester which may also be present in an amount up to 28%, preferably from 0.5 to 15%, w/w. Compositions comprising at least one orthohydroxyarylaldoxime or orthohydroxyarylketoxime which is present in an amount from 7.5 to 20% w/w and at least one Ester which is present in an amount of from 0.5 to 15% w/w are particularly preferred.
Particularly preferred solvent extraction compositions are those comprising from 7.5 to 20% w/w of 5-(C8 to C14alkyl)-2-hydroxyacetophenone oxime or 5-(C8 to C14alkyly-2-hydroxybenzaldoxime, 0.5 to 15% w/w tetraethylene glycol di-2-ethylhexanoate, and from 65 to 92% of water-immiscible hydrocarbon solvent.
Advantageously, it may be preferred to make and supply the composition in the form of a concentrate. In certain embodiments, the concentrate may comprise only a mixture of one or more orthohydroxyarylaldoximes or orthohydroxyarylketoximes, and one or more Esters (ie no solvent is present). The concentrate may then be diluted by the addition of organic solvents as described herein above to produce compositions in the ranges as described herein above. Where the concentrate contains a solvent, it is preferred that the same solvent is used to dilute the concentrate to the xe2x80x9cin usexe2x80x9d concentration range. In many embodiments, the concentrate composition comprises up to 30%, often up to 20% by weight, preferably up to 10% w/w of water-immiscible hydrocarbon solvent. Often the concentrate composition comprises greater than 5% w/w of water-immiscible hydrocarbon solvent
If desired, compounds or mixtures of compounds selected from the group consisting of alkylphenols, alcohols, esters, ethers, polyethers, carbonates, ketones, nitrites, amides, carbamates, sulphoxides, and salts of amines and quaternary ammonium compounds may also be employed as modifiers in the composition of the invention. Particularly preferred are mixtures comprising a first compound selected from the group consisting of alkylphenols, alcohols, esters, ethers, polyethers, carbonates, ketones, nitriles, amides, carbamates, sulphoxides, and salts of amines and quaternary ammonium compounds and a second compound selected from the group consisting of alkanols having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms, an alkyl phenol in which the alkyl group contains from 7 to 12 carbon atoms, and tributylphosphate.
The aforementioned modifiers may be used in the preparation of extractant compositions containing one or more orthohydroxyarylaldoxime or orthohydroxyarylketoxime, at least one dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol, one or more modifiers and a water immiscible organic solvent.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for the extraction of a metal from solution in which an acidic solution containing a dissolved metal is contacted with a solvent extraction composition comprising a water immiscible organic solvent and a water-immiscible solvent extractant, whereby at least a fraction of the metal is extracted into the organic solution, characterised in that the solvent extraction composition comprises one or more orthohydroxyarylaldoxime or orthohydroxyarylketoxime and at least one dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol.
Metals that may be extracted in the process according to the second aspect of the present invention include copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese and zinc, most preferably copper.
The orthohydroxyarylaldoxime, orthohydroxyarylketoxime, dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol, and water immiscible organic solvent are as herein described before. It is preferred that there is predominance of orthohydroxyarylaldoximes in relation to any orthohydroxyarylketoximes present in the solvent extraction composition. It is especially preferred that the solvent extraction composition comprises one or more orthohydroxyarylaidoximes and at least one dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol.
The aqueous acidic solution from which metals are extracted by the process of the second aspect of the present invention often has a pH in the range of from xe2x88x921 to 7, preferably from 0 to 5, and most preferably from 0.25 to 3.5. Preferably, when the metal to be extracted is copper, pH values of less than 3 chosen so that the copper is extracted essentially free from iron, cobalt or nickel. The solution can be derived from the leaching of ores or may be obtained from other sources, for example metal containing waste streams such as from copper etching baths.
The concentration of metal, particularly copper, in the aqueous acidic solution will vary widely depending for example on the source of the solution. Where the solution is derived from the leaching of ores, the metal concentration is often up to 75 g/l and most often from 1 to 40 g/l. Where the solution is a waste stream, the metal concentrations are often somewhat higher than those from the leaching of ores, for example up to 150 g/l, usually from 75 to 130 g/l.
Preferred solvent extraction compositions are aldoxime containing compositions as discussed above with respect to the first aspect of the present invention.
The process of the second aspect of the present invention can be carried out by contacting the solvent extractant composition with the aqueous acidic solution. Ambient or elevated temperatures, such as up to 75xc2x0 C., can be employed if desired. Often a temperature in the range of from 5 to 60xc2x0 C., and preferably from 15 to 40xc2x0 C., is employed. The aqueous solution and the solvent extractant are usually agitated together to maximise the interfacial areas between the two solutions. The volume ratio of solvent extractant to aqueous solution are commonly in the range of from 20:1 to 1:20, and preferably in the range of from 5:1 to 1:5. In many embodiments, to reduce plant size and to maximise the use of solvent extractant, organic to aqueous volume ratios close to 1:1 are employed, such as 1.5:1 or less.
The mole ratio of the combined orthohydroxyarylaldoxime and orthohydroxyarylketoxime present to copper transferred is often selected to be in the range of from 2.7:1 to 1:1. Preferably, to achieve improved hydrometallurgical properties, such as reduced viscosity and improved phase disengagement, the mole ratio of oxime to copper transferred is from 2.3:1 to 2.0:1.
After contact with the aqueous acidic solution, the metal can be recovered from the solvent extractant by contact with an aqueous acidic strip solution.
The aqueous strip solution employed in the process according to the second aspect of the present invention is usually acidic, commonly having a pH of 2 or less, and preferably a pH of 1 or less, for example, a pH in the range of from xe2x88x921 to 0.5. The strip solution commonly comprises a mineral acid, particularly sulphuric acid, nitric acid or hydrochloric acid. In many embodiments, acid concentrations, particularly for sulphuric a acid, in the range of from 130 to 200 g/l and preferably from 150 to 180 g/l are employed. When the extracted metal is copper or zinc, preferred strip solutions respectively comprise stripped or spent electrolyte from a copper or zinc electro-winning cell, typically comprising up to 80 g/l copper or zinc, often greater than 20 g/l copper or zinc and preferably from 30 to 70 g/l copper or zinc, and up to 200 g/l sulphuric add, often greater rig than 120 g/l sulphuric acid, and preferably from 150 to 180 g/l sulphuric acid.
The volume ratio of organic solution to aqueous strip solution in the process of the second aspect of the present invention is commonly selected to be such so as to achieve transfer, per litre of strip solution, of up to 50 g/l of metal, especially copper into the strip solution from the organic solution. In many industrial copper electrowinning processes transfer is often from 10 g/l to 35 g/l, and preferably from 15 to 20 g/l of copper per litre of strip solution is transferred from the organic solution. Volume ratios of organic solution to aqueous solution of from 1:2 to 15:1 and preferably from 1:1 to 10:1, especially less than 3:1 are commonly employed.
A preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention comprises a process for the extraction of a metal from aqueous acidic solution in which:
in step 1, a water-immiscible solvent extraction composition comprising an orthohydroxyarylaldoxime and dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol is first contacted with the aqueous acidic solution containing metal,
in step 2, separating the solvent extraction composition containing metal-solvent extractant complex from the aqueous acidic solution;
in step 3, contacting the solvent extraction composition containing metal-solvent extractant complex with an aqueous acidic strip solution to effect the stripping of the copper from the water immiscible phase;
in step 4, separating the metal-depleted solvent extraction composition from the loaded aqueous strip solution.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for the extraction of a metal from solution in which an aqueous ammoniacal solution containing a dissolved metal is contacted with a solvent extraction composition comprising a water immiscible organic solvent and a water-immiscible solvent extractant, whereby at least a fraction of the metal is extracted into the organic solution, characterised in that the solvent extraction composition comprises one or more orthohydroxyarylaldoxime or orthohydroxyarylketoxime and at least one dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol.
Metals that may be extracted in the process according to the third aspect of the present invention include copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese and zinc, most preferably copper.
The orthohydroxyarylaldoxime, orthohydroxyarylketoxime, dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol and water immiscible organic solvent are as herein described for the first aspect of the present invention. It is preferred that there is predominance of orthohydroxyarylketoximes in relation to any orthohydroxyarylaldoximes present in the solvent extraction composition. It is especially preferred that the solvent extraction composition comprises one or more orthohydroxyarylketoxime and at least one dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol.
The aqueous ammoniacal solution from which metals are extracted by the process of the third aspect of the present invention often has a pH in the range of from 7 to 12, preferably from 8 to 11, and most preferably from 9 to 10. The solution can be derived from the leaching of ores, particularly chalcocite ores, or may be obtained from other sources, for example metal containing waste streams such as from copper etching baths.
Preferred solvent extraction compositions are those ketoxime containing compositions as discussed above with respect to the first aspect of the present invention.
The concentration of metal, particularly copper, in the aqueous ammoniacal solution will vary widely depending for example on the source of the solution. Where the solution is derived from the leaching of ores, the metal concentration is often up to 75 g/l and most often from 10 to 40 g/l. Where the solution is a waste stream, the metal concentrations are often somewhat higher than those from the leaching of ores, for example up to 150 g/l, usually from 75 to 130 g/l.
The process of the third aspect of the present invention can be carried out by contacting the solvent extractant composition with the aqueous ammoniacal solution. Ambient or elevated temperatures, such as up to 75xc2x0 C. can be employed if desired. Often a temperature in the range of from 15 to 60xc2x0 C., and preferably from 30 to 50xc2x0 C., is employed. The aqueous solution and the solvent extractant are usually agitated together to maximise the interfacial areas between the two solutions. The volume ratio of solvent extractant to aqueous solution are commonly in the range of from 20:1 to 1:20, and preferably in the range of from 5:1 to 1:5. In many embodiments, to reduce plant size and to maximise the use of solvent extractant, organic to aqueous volume ratios dose to 1:1 are employed, such as 1.5:1 or less, and preferably 1.3:1 or less.
The mole ratio of the combined orthohydroxyarylaldoxime and orthohydroxyarylketoxime present to copper transferred is often selected to be in the range of from 2.7:1 to 1:1. Preferably, to achieve improved hydrometallurgical properties, such as reduced viscosity and improved phase disengagement, the mole ratio of oxime to copper transferred is from 2.3:1 to 2.0:1.
After contact with the aqueous ammoniacal solution, the metal can be recovered from the solvent extractant by contact with an aqueous strip solution having a pH lower than that from which the metal was extracted.
The aqueous lower pH strip solution employed in the process according to the third aspect of the present invention is usually acidic and is as described for the strip solution in the process of the second aspect of the present invention. When the extracted metal is copper or zinc, preferred strip solutions respectively comprise stripped or spent electrolyte from a copper or zinc electro-winning cell, typically comprising up to 80 g/l copper or zinc, often greater than 20 g/l copper or zinc and preferably from 30 to 50 g/l copper or zinc, and up to 200 g/l sulphuric acid, often greater than 120 g/l sulphuric acid, and preferably from 150 to 180 g/l sulphuric acid.
The volume ratio of organic solution to aqueous strip solution in the process of the third aspect of the present invention is commonly selected to be such so as to achieve transfer, per litre of strip solution, of up to 50 g/l of metal, especially copper into the strip solution from the organic solution. In many industrial copper electrowinning processes transfer is often from 10 g/l to 35 g/l, and preferably from 15 to 20 g/l of copper per litre of strip solution is transferred from the organic solution. Volume ratios of organic solution to aqueous solution of from 1:2 to 15:1 and preferably from 1:1 to 10:1, especially less than 5:1 are commonly employed.
A preferred embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention comprises a process for the extraction of a metal from aqueous ammoniacal solution in which:
in step 1, a water-immiscible solvent extraction composition comprising an orthohydroxyarylketoxime and dialkyl ester of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol is first contacted with the aqueous ammoniacal solution containing metal,
in step 2, separating the solvent extraction composition containing metal-solvent extractant complex from the aqueous ammoniacal solution;
in step 3, contacting the solvent extraction composition containing metal-solvent extractant complex with an aqueous strip solution of lower pH than the ammoniacal solution to effect the stripping of the copper from the water immiscible phase;
in step 4, separating the metal-depleted solvent extraction composition from the lower pH aqueous solution.
The metal can be recovered from the aqueous strip solution by conventional methods, for example by electrowinning.

Composition and process for the solvent extraction of metals using aldoxime or ketoxime extractants

Abstract: wherein R1 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group, and R2 is an ortho-hydroxyaryl group; and the dialkyl esters of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol commonly are of Formula (2),

Abstract: wherein R7 and R8 are each independently an optionally substituted alkyl group; R9 to R20 are each independently hydrogen or optionally substituted hydrocarbyl; m, n and p are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 provided that m+n+p is greater than or equal to 1; and q is 1, 2 or 3. Preferred orthohydroxyarylaldoximes are 5-(C9 to C14alkyl)-2-hydroxybenzaldoximes and preferred orthohydroxyarylketoximes are 5-(C9 to C14alkyl)-2-hydroxyacetophenone oximes. Preferred dialkyl esters of an optionally substituted ethylene or polyethylene glycol are branched dialkyl esters comprising from 10 to 100 carbon atoms, wherein R7 or R8 are branched alkyl groups. Processes for the extraction of metal values from aqueous acidic and ammoniacal solutions are also provided.


A steam-iron sole-plate comprises a first plate constituting the sole-plate proper and provided with a roll-bonded layer of brazing alloy, a second plate constituting the steam chamber and provided with a roll-bonded layer of brazing alloy and a flat resistance heating element inserted between the two plates and separated from these latter by insulating layers. The two plates are assembled together by means of a fluid-tight peripheral brazed joint and a series of brazed joints at the level of bosses formed on the second plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steam-iron sole-plate formed by assembling together a plurality of metal sheets brazed to each other, a flat resistance-type heating element being placed between two of said sheets.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Laundry irons which are currently available on the market have a heating resistor which is insulated from the frame ground of the appliance by an insulating layer designated by NF standards as a "principal functional insulator". This insulator can be a coating of magnesia in the case of a screened resistor, a sheet of micanite in the case of a clamped flat heating element, etc. Accordingly, the power supply cord must have a ground lead in addition to the current supply leads. These appliances are designated as Class I. The three leads just mentioned require a cord of large diameter and, if it is desired to use a cord winder, this storage device will have to be bulky, thus resulting in excessive costs.
European as well as American and Japanese standardization allows suppression of the ground lead if insulation of the resistor with respect to the ground of the appliance is achieved by an insulating layer of 1 mm, or by two superposed and separable insulating layers in addition to the principal insulation, namely three layers on each side of the heating element. These appliances are in this case designated as Class II. The power supply cord need have only two lead wires, thus making it possible to mount cord winders of small overall size.
The aim of the present invention is to produce a sole-plate for a steam or dry iron of Class II at a highly competitive cost price without any modification of the thermal properties of the iron. In fact, since the presence of an insulator having a thickness of 1 mm on each side of the heating element has the effect of considerably braking the transmission of heat, it is possible to employ sheets of micanite having a thickness of 0.1 mm, the electrical rigidity of which conforms to the prescribed standard (2500 volts). By virtue of their small thickness, these sheets of micanite have the property of being transparent to infrared radiation. Moreover, although the prescribed standard makes it necessary to double the number of insulators between the functional insulator and ground, the resulting thickness of 0.2 mm constitutes only a negligible brake for transmission of heat by conduction.
It should be noted that the total thickness of the heating element and of the four insulating sheets is 1 mm.+-.0.1, namely 0.5 mm.+-.0.05 between the heating element and the mass of metal to be heated.
The present Applicant has described in his French patent Application No. 88 02625 filed on Mar. 2nd, 1988 a flat heating component comprising a resistance-type heating element embedded in electrically insulating material and placed between two metal plates secured to each other by means of a series of welded joints made through gaps formed in the heating element. These welded joints are made by brazing which is obtained by melting a sheet of brazing alloy roll-bonded with either or both of the two metal plates.

Laundry-iron sole-plate formed by assembling together a plurality of metal sheets brazed to each other


A signal processing arrangement comprises an amplifier (AMP V1) that includes a stage with complementary transistors (MP3, MN3) of opposite conductivity type arranged in series between two supply lines (+, −). A controllable biasing circuit (CCS) is provided for changing a quiescent operating point of the stage as a function of a control signal (CS). A control arrangement measures an even order 5 distortion of the amplifier (AMP V1) and adjusts the control signal (CS) so that the even order distortion is below a critical level.

Signal processing arrangements typically comprise various functional entities for carrying out various types of operations. There is an ongoing trend to implement these functional entities by means of digital circuits rather than analog circuits, although analog circuits remain indispensable. There is also an ongoing trend to implement more and more functional entities on a single integrated circuit.
There is thus a need for combining analog circuits and digital circuits on a single integrated circuit. An integrated circuit that comprises digital circuits may be taken as a basis to which one or more analog circuits should be added. In a manner of speaking, analog circuits should adapt to integrated circuit manufacturing processes for digital circuits. Since digital circuits are typically manufactured in CMOS technology, there is a need for high-performance analog circuits that can be manufactured in CMOS technology (CMOS is an acronym for complementary metal-oxide semiconductor).
Numerous signal processing arrangements require an amplifier for amplifying analog signals. For example, in an integrated receiver system, a radiofrequency signal is typically amplified before digitizing this signal, or a frequency-converted version thereof. In such an integrated receiver system, functional entities such as, for example, filters, demodulators, and decoders, may be implemented by means of digital circuits. The digital circuits process a digital version of the radiofrequency signal obtained by digitization. This digital processing can be relatively precise. Receiver performance will substantially depend on analog signal processing, prior to the digitization, which involves amplification. For example, the amplifier should exhibit a sufficiently high degree of linearity so that distortion requirements are met.
An interesting amplifier topology, which can be manufactured in CMOS technology, is based on complementary transistors of opposite conductivity type, which are arranged in series between two supply lines. This amplifier topology is interesting because of its inherent structural simplicity, relatively low power consumption, and relatively high power gain. Moreover, this amplifier topology exhibits a relatively linear transfer function.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,914,702 describes a complementary field effect transistor amplifier, which is biased to a given operating point. To that end, a reference potential is applied to its input terminal. The operating potentials supplied to the amplifier are varied in accordance with its output signal. At least one other complementary field effect amplifier, which is integrated upon a common substrate with the first amplifier, receives operating potentials that also vary in accordance with the output signal of the first amplifier. This is done to maintain the quiescent operating point of the other amplifier at a value substantially equal to the given operating point of the first amplifier. The aforementioned patent dissuades use of a feedback resistor.

Arrangement for calibrating the quiescent operating point of a push-pull amplifier


An approach is provided in which a dynamic thermal relief generator retrieves a circuit board file that identifies power plane thru pin locations and a power plane layer. The dynamic thermal relief generator selects one of the power plane thru pin locations and identifies one or more electrical properties corresponding to a component assigned to the selected power plane thru pin location. As such, the dynamic thermal relief generator computes a conductive material exclusion amount based upon the identified electrical properties, which indicates an amount of area to exclude conductive material on the selected power plane layer. In turn, the dynamic thermal relief generator creates a thermal relief pattern based upon the computed conductive material exclusion amount that identifies conductive material voids on the selected power plane layer to exclude the substantially conductive material.

The present disclosure relates to thermal relief automation. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to generating customized thermal relief patterns that create voids in a conductive plane around thru pin locations to improve component pin solderability.
Wave soldering is a large-scale soldering process that solders electronic components on a printed circuit board (PCB) to form an electronic assembly. The components are inserted into or placed on the printed circuit board and the loaded printed circuit board is passed across a pumped wave or waterfall of solder. The solder wets the exposed metallic areas of the board (those not protected with a solder mask), creating a reliable mechanical and electrical connection.
Manufacturers monitor wave flow soldering temperatures to ensure reliable solder joints throughout the printed circuit board. Printed circuit boards include "power thru pin holes" to provide power to the electronic components, which are holes in the printed circuit board that couple to a printed circuit board's power plane layer at "power plane thru pin locations." The power plane layer utilizes a "plane" of electrically conductive material (e.g., copper) to provide a power source to the electronic components on the printed circuit board. Printed circuit boards may include multiple power planes in order to provide multiple voltage levels to the electronic components, such as a +12 Volt power plane, a −12 Volt power plane, a +5 Volt power plane, and a Ground plane.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


Systems, processes and apparatus are described through which non-destructive imaging is achieved, including a process for variable binning of detector elements. The process includes accepting input data indicative of image quality goals and descriptors of an imaging task, as well as parameters characterizing a test subject, relative to non-destructive imaging of an internal portion of the test subject and determining when the non-destructive imaging system is capable of achieving the image quality goals using binning of more than four pixels.

Many medical diagnoses rely on non-invasive diagnostic tools to provide information, often in the form of images, descriptive of status of internal portions or organs of a patient. These tools include thermal imaging, ultrasonic probes, magnetic resonance imaging techniques, positron emission tomography, computed tomography (CT), single photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT), optical imaging and/or X-ray based techniques. In some minimally invasive instances, imaging aids, such as contrast-enhancing agents, are introduced into the subject or patient to aid in increasing available data content from the non-destructive imaging technique or techniques being employed.
Each of these tools presents advantages in particularized situations, has technological limitations, may require set-up and analysis time, can include risks and also has associated costs. As a result, a cost-benefit analysis that also reflects the degree of urgency with respect to a particular diagnostic trajectory often favors usage of X-ray based measurement techniques.
However, exposure to X-rays can result in some risk to the test subject or patient. For at least this reason, the dosage of X-rays incident on the patient, organ or object being evaluated/imaged, is often carefully chosen and controlled, for example, variables such as current to the X-ray tube, peak voltage applied to the X-ray tube (kVp) and exposure time, and by selecting and defining an area to be exposed to provide successful imaging, based on the task and the test subject or patient's parameters, with least health risk to the patient or radiation exposure to the object being imaged. The Food and Drug Administration has recently identified X-rays as potentially having carcinogenic effects, adding impetus to the desire to reduce overall exposure while still providing imaging characteristics capable of enabling rapid, effective and accurate diagnostic aids.
Several factors influence image quality resulting from an X-ray procedure. Statistical photon noise resulting from characteristics of the X-ray source and the X-ray generation conditions tends to dominate other noise sources in formation of an X-ray image. Contrast between various image portions, and contrast enhancement techniques, are also important considerations in providing diagnostic images, and these issues require increasingly sophisticated treatment as dose is decreased.
One of the key tenets of medical X-ray imaging is that image quality should be carefully considered in determining exposure conditions, such as predetermined dose considerations delivered to the test subject or patient. The design and operation of a detector used for medical X-ray imaging should therefore be tailored, responsive to the particularized task and measurement conditions, including variables in test subject mass, opacity and the like, to provide high image quality for each X-ray exposure that is incident at its input. One very useful objective metric of quality for electronically-represented images, per input exposure, is detective quantum efficiency (DQE), which represents efficiency of transfer of signal-to-noise ratio from the input signal (i.e., the exposure employed) to detector output.
Pixelated X-ray detectors (detectors comprising a geometric array of multiple detector elements, where each detector element may be individually representative of at least a portion of a picture element in the resultant image) are increasingly being used, particularly for medical imaging. The resulting electrical signals from pixelated detectors may be "read out" individually. Examples of such usage include full resolution (one by one binning), full field of view imaging, in which each detector element in an array individually represents a pixel, and region of interest imaging, in which a subset of the total ensemble of detector elements may each correspond to a pixel, but not all detector elements are employed.
Detector arrays may also be employed in modes in which the signals from more than one individual detector element are combined, prior to electrical conditioning of the resulting electrical signals. Such combination is commonly called "binning" of individual detector signals. In turn, digital or electronic detectors of X-rays and subsequent signal processing of the signals from such detectors increase flexibility in application and thus help to promote reduction of dose of the illumination being employed for non-destructive imaging, which is a desirable goal. The problems addressed by this disclosure involve successfully employing these capabilities to improve performance of a detector array for a particular imaging task.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons discussed below, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present disclosure, there are needs in the art to provide test data in support of reliable diagnoses of medical conditions and diseases from medical anatomical images, providing contrast equal to or exceeding that of conventional approaches, yet using reduced exposure parameters when feasible, consistent with the imaging task.

Processes and apparatus for variable binning of data in non-destructive imaging