A method of sorting living cells based on DNA content. Mammalian sperm subpopulations enriched in X- or Y-sperm. X- and Y-enriched sperm-plasma-membrane vesicles. Substantially pure sex-associated membrane (SAM) proteins. Antibodies binding to X- or Y-SAM proteins, essentially free of antibodies binding to Y- or X-SAM proteins respectively, or to the H-Y antigen. Semen samples enriched for X- or Y-sperm. Methods for increasing the probability that offspring will be male or female comprising the step of allowing as perm from an enriched semen sample to fertilize an ovum. Methods for increasing the probability that offspring will be male or female comprising the step of immunizing a female with X- or Y-SAM proteins. Methods of decreasing fertility comprising the step of immunizing a female with both X- and Y-sperm. Methods of increasing the probability that mammalian offspring will carry a gene for a particular sex-chromosome linked trait.

Mammalian semen contains approximately equal numbers of Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells (Y-sperm) and X-chromosome bearing sperm cells (X-sperm). Fertilization of an ovum by a Y-sperm produces a male. Fertilization by an X-sperm produces a female.
Various methods have been proposed for modifying mammalian semen to increase the relative percentage of X- or Y-sperm in a semen sample, and thereby achieve a greater likelihood of female or male offspring. Attempts to influence or control mammalian sex have not been verifiable. (For reviews of prior research, see Garner, 1984; Pinkel et al., 1985.)
One of the more common approaches for attempting X-sperm or Y-sperm enrichment in semen has relied on motility and density sedimentation. (See Kaiser et al., 1974, or Soupart, 1975.) This approach is based on the Y-sperm's purported greater motility and lighter weight than X-sperm. According to the theory, Y-sperm would penetrate an interface created at two different media densities more easily than X-sperm. One such approach used albumin gradient sedimentation. However, due to the morphological variability of the maturing sperm, no one has independently shown that this technique can separate or enrich X-sperm or Y-sperm (Brandriff et al., 1986).
Immunological methods have also been tried as a means of separating X- and Y-sperm. These methods are based on the fact that spermatid RNA polymerase is capable of transcribing the haploid genome (Moore, 1971). It was believed that X- and Y-sperm could be separated immunologically on the basis of the different antigens produced from this RNA transcript. Antigens investigated in unsexed sperm included the LDH isozyme (Stambaugh and Buckley, 1971). Again, no demonstrable separation has been reported.
Investigators have also looked to the male H-Y antigen as a potential means to enrich sperm subpopulations and thereby preselect sex of offspring. Indirect evidence suggested that H-Y antigen was a cell-surface antigen produced in males but not in females. Accordingly, investigators have reasoned that H-Y is expressed by cells containing a Y chromosome and, therefore, on the surface of Y-sperm but not X-sperm. Consequently, some investigators believed that H-Y antibodies should inactivate Y-sperm but not X-sperm. Some investigators have claimed to skew mammalian sex ratios using methods based on this theory (McCormick et al., 1983; Boyce and Bennet, 1984). Bryant, in particular, has claimed a dramatic skewing of sex ratio using H-Y antibodies (Bryant, U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,749; Bryant, U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,767). However, experience has not borne-out these claims. Hoppe and Koo stated specifically that they were unable to skew sex ratio using antibodies against the H-Y antigen (Hoppe and Koo, 1984). As far as we know, no one has confirmed Bryant's claims.
There may be two reasons for the failure to confirm these results. First, the underlying theory appears to be wrong. The most recent evidence indicates that there is no difference in H-Y presence on mature X- or Y-sperm. While certain male tissues produce H-Y and express it as an integral membrane protein, Y-sperm do not appear to produce H-Y themselves. Rather, both X-and Y-sperm adsorb it to their surface (Garner, 1984). Hoppe and Koo have shown that both X- and Y-sperm react with H-Y antibody (Hoppe and Koo 1984). Our own evidence, which we present herein, corroborates this. Furthermore, Hoppe and Koo showed that as sperm mature, their ability to react with H-Y antigen declines, implying that H-Y is masked or lost from the sperm cell surface (Id.). Second, the experimental technique of some of these investigators may have been flawed. They based their conclusions on experiments with a limited number of animals, so that the sex ratios, while skewed, were not statistically significant (Moore and Gledhill, 1988). Therefore, there is no longer any reason to believe that one could successfully use the H-Y antigen to separate X-sperm and Y-sperm. Indeed, we are not aware of any methods currently in use which successfully use this strategy.
Fabricant et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,887, refers to a method for separating X-and Y-sperm by polymeric phase separation based on differential expression of a sperm cell-surface sulfoglycolipid (SGG). However, the authors state that the evidence for sex-linked differences in this lipid is indirect--it is based on the sex-linked expression of enzymes which metabolize lipid substrates--and the authors expess only the expectation that SGG, itself, will prove to be sex-linked.
Another potential separation approach for X-sperm and Y-sperm is based on the known differences in the DNA contents of X-sperm and Y-sperm. Because the DNA content of X-sperm cells is greater than the DNA content of Y-sperm cells, investigators hoped that the respective live cell populations could be separated by density gradient sedimentation or flow cytometry. However, neither has proven to be possible.
One reason for this failure may be that the DNA content differences between X-sperm and Y-sperm are small. For example, the difference is believed to be only about 3.9% for bulls, 3.7% for boars and 4.1% for rams (Sumner 1971; Pearson, et al., 1973; Evans et al., 1972; and Gledhill, 1985). This translates into an approximate 0.003 difference in bouyancy--not enough to permit separation of whole sperm using available methods. While other mammals display somewhat higher differences in the relative DNA contents of X-sperm and Y-sperm, e.g., the vole (Microtus oregani) which has about a 9% difference, separation of whole sperm has also not been possible for these animals (see Pinkel et al., 1982). For example, investigators have tried to separate sperm based on their differing DNA content by density gradient sedimentation, but enrichment results could not be verified--one report claims to have slightly enriched a fraction of bull sperm, but not rabbit sperm (Schilling, 1971; Brandriff et al., 1986). Attempted separation on the basis of surface charge density imparted by DNA differences has also been inconsistent (Hafs and Boyd, 1971), or was based upon controversial quinacrine staining (Garner, 1984).
Another reason for these failures may be that the head, tail, and plasma membranes of the sperm, its other cellular material, and its highly compact nucleus all act to mask the small DNA content differences between X-sperm and Y-sperm. Some evidence for this masking effect is the fact that cytometric separation, while not feasible for whole sperm, has been useful to prepare enriched subpopulations of denuded sperm nuclei. Using this technique, the sperm nuclei are first separated from the membranes and other material of whole sperm. They are then stained and partially sorted using a flow cytometer (Johnson and Pinkel, 1986). The result has been nuclei subpopulations enriched for the X- and Y-chromosome.
Investigators have also used this cytometric technique to test the results of various attempts to separate the X- and Y-sperm of whole sperm (a non-enriched sperm population). The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Oklahoma State University made a comparative study of several of the above-described "enrichment" approaches (Pinkel et al., 1985). They analyzed sperm separated by convection-counterstreaming-galvanizaton, albumin gradient, density gradient, electromotility, and anti-H-Y antibodies. The results: "In no case was enrichment of either sperm population observed." (Id. at p. 130.) This finding is consistent with other studies of attempted enrichment: albumin density gradient (Brandriff et al., 1986) and monoclonal anti-H-Y antibodies (Hoppe and Koo, 1984).
Monoclonal antibodies to sperm surface antigens which have heretofore been prepared also do not distinguish X- and Y-sperm. They bind to both X-sperm and Y-sperm, and either inactivate or immobilize both types of sperm cells (Schmell et al., 1982, and Peterson et al., 1981). Monoclonal antibodies appear to inhibit sperm-egg binding without regard to whether they bind to the sperm acrosome, head, midpiece, or tail. Further, antibodies specifically binding to the midpiece or tail have also been observed to immobilize sperm cells. (For a review of antibodies inhibiting fertility see Alexander and Anderson, 1987.)
Prior to this invention, it was not known whether one could isolate subpopulations of cells enriched in either X-sperm or Y-sperm. Nor was it known whether the plasma membranes of these enriched subpopulations would contain unique, sex selective constituents, such as proteins, glycoproteins, or lipoproteins.
In light of these failures, we decided to focus on the sperm cell surface as a possible tool for sperm separation. Studies of the cell membrane of unsexed mammalian sperm indicated that more than 1000 proteins are present on it. See, e.g., Noland et al. (1983 and 1984); (Russell et al., 1983); (Bradley et al., 1981); and (Hughes and August, 1981, and Crichton and Cohen, 1983). All of these studies used mixed membranes of both X- and Y-sperm. Therefore, they failed to distinguish between membranes and constituents characteristic of X-sperm-enriched subpopulations and those of Y-sperm-enriched subpopulations. Consequently, no one, until now, has been able to perform an analysis of X-sperm or Y-sperm membranes, to obtain usable quantities of whole cells enriched for X- or Y-sperm, to identify a sex-chromosome associated membrane protein of mammalian sperm, or to isolate such proteins.

Sex-associated membrane antibodies and their use for increasing the probability that offspring will be of a desired sex


An inkjet printing apparatus includes a first and second tanks, and a printer section including an inkjet head which ejects ink droplets toward a printing medium. The inkjet printing apparatus includes a first supply system which supplies ink from the first tank to the second tank, a second supply system which includes an ink supply pump and supplies ink from the second tank to the printer section, and a remaining amount detection unit which detects the amount of ink remaining in the first tank. The remaining amount detection unit calculates the amount of ink transferred from the first tank to the second tank in a measurement period during which ink is supplied from the first tank to the second tank, based on an increase in the amount of the ink stored in the second tank in the measurement period and the operation state of the pump in the measurement period.

Inkjet printing machines, particularly large-scale inkjet printing machines, include a conveyance portion which conveys a printing medium such as paper, a printer portion which ejects ink droplets toward the printing medium conveyed by the conveyance portion, and an ink supply portion which supplies ink to the printer portion. The ink supply portion includes an ink tank which stores the ink, and an ink supply system which feeds the ink from the ink tank toward the printer portion (e.g., PTL 1).

Inkjet printing device and ink remaining quantity detection method in inkjet printing device


Novel multi-component conjugates are provided having at least two components which are superoxide dismutase and catalase. Novel therapeutic agents utilising these conjugates are provided which are effective to reduce harmful levels of superoxide and hydroxyl free radicals in body tissues.

The human and animal body produces highly reactive free radicals by a variety of normal metabolic processes. The action of xanthine oxidase on xanthine, for example, results in the single-electron reduction of oxygen and produces both superoxide and hydroxyl free radicals (Kuppusamy & Zweier (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 9880-9884). Free radicals have been implicated in the causation of a wide range of clinical conditions including atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, pulmonary diseases of the newborn and the normal ageing process, and have been reported to be associated with reperfusion injuries following ischemic episodes associated with myocardial infarct, cerebral ischemia and vasospasm and surgical intervention.
Superoxide and hydroxyl free radicals and hydrogen peroxide can result in peroxidation of membrane phospholipids and oxidation of cellular proteins and nucleic acids. These species are thought to be involved in various pathological conditions including tissue injury, inflammatory conditions and radiation damage.
A variety of endogenous defence mechanisms are thought to protect the organism from the deleterious effects of these reactive oxygen species under normal physiological conditions. One of these is the enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD), which occurs widely in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. SOD catalyses the dismutation of the superoxide free radical (O.sub.2.), in the presence of hydrogen, to produce hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide, which is itself a potentially deleterious reactive species, is reduced to oxygen and water by the enzyme, catalase. Catalase also destroys the hydroxyl free radical (OH.) by removing H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and hence decreasing the reaction of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 with O.sub..sub.2. to produce OH.
The effect of exogenously administered SOD as a therapeutic agent to protect against superoxide free radical damage has been studied in mammals with mixed results. The variability of the effect produced by SOD makes it somewhat unsatisfactory as a therapeutic agent.
One factor contributing to the variability of effect found with exogenous SOD administration is the very short half-life of SOD in the mammalian circulation, of the order of 4 to 5 minutes.
Previous work has shown that the half-life of SOD in the circulation can be increased by conjugation of the enzyme with a larger molecule, for example, albumin or polyethylene glycol (PEG). SOD-albumin conjugates have circulation half-lives of 4-6 hours and show reduced immunogenicity compared to SOD alone (Mao & Poznansky (1989), Biomat. Art. Cells & Art. Org., v. 17 (3) , p. 229-244).
Another factor which likely plays a role in the variable results found with exogenous SOD administration is the strong inhibition of SOD by hydrogen peroxide, one of the products of its own catalytic activity.
A further limitation on the usefulness of SOD, and also of SOD-albumin conjugates, is that SOD is not able to remove hydroxyl free radicals. At high levels of exogenous SOD administration, SOD actually increases hydroxyl free radical production and a similar effect is seen with high levels of SOD-albumin conjugate.
The SOD-careless conjugates of the invention are advantageous as novel free radical scavengers capable of removing both oxygen and hydroxyl free radicals.


A composite material includes a polymer matrix and a pigment dispersed in the polymer matrix. The pigment includes an alumina hydrate particulate material and a dye. The dye is covalently bonded to a surface of the alumina hydrate particulate material.

In general, colored plastics or polymer materials are desirable for use in a variety of applications, such as plastic consumer products and polymer composite building materials. Such colored plastics and polymer materials provide improved appearance and aesthetic character to the objects into which they are formed. Typically, pigments or dyes are added to polymer materials to produce the colored polymer materials.
However, traditional colored polymer materials can fade, lose color, or undergo aesthetically displeasing color changes. Traditional dyes may leach from the polymer material or may lose color or bleach through thermal degradation or degradation caused by exposure to radiation, such as ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation. Leaching is a particular problem for dyes blended in halogenated polyolefins. As such, polymer materials including such dyes may have poor color fastness.
In addition, dispersion of traditional pigments with polymer materials is difficult. Poor dispersion leads to swirling and color variability with the colored polymer material. Further, poor dispersion of the pigment within the plastic article may lead to undesirable mechanical properties. As such, compatibilizers are typically used to disperse pigment within a polymer material. Such compatibilizers include a variety of organic compounds that aid in dispersing the pigment. In addition, pigments are dispersed using high shear mechanical processes. However, compatibilizers typically are expensive and may also influence mechanical properties of the colored polymer material.
Accordingly, there is a continued need within the industry to provide pigments and plastics having improved fastness, stability and resistance to bleaching and color leaching.

Pigments comprising alumina hydrate and a dye, and polymer composites formed thereof


A system and device for mounting and protecting exterior sheathing on a building. The system comprises a sheath-protecting bracket coupled to a wall with a sheath panel coupled to the wall with a bottom edge of the sheath panel positioned in the sheath-protecting bracket. The sheath-protecting bracket comprises a back plate, a bottom plate coupled to a bottom edge of the back plate, a front plate with a bottom edge coupled to the bottom plate. The sheath-protecting bracket has one or more spacers coupled to a front of the back plate to support the sheathing while allowing any moisture in the sheathing to weep out and fall into gaps above the bottom plate. A plurality of drain holes through the bottom plate allows water to drain out of the sheath-protecting bracket.

The installation of sheathing on buildings, typically oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood, is typically done by hand. This is a labor-intensive process, particularly for the lowest row of sheathing. Typically, at least one worker holds a piece of sheathing in place and while at least one other worker nails or otherwise attaches the piece of sheathing to the frame of the building. Ideally, the sheathing should extend down past the top of the concrete foundation of the building. However, the concrete prevents a worker from quickly tapping in a few nails on which to rest the sheathing, so typically at least two workers maneuver the piece of sheathing into place and then attached it to the frame of the building. After the lowest row of sheathing is installed, pieces of sheathing in additional rows above can be set on pieces of sheathing in the rows below while being secured to the frame of the building. Most of the time, this step can be performed by a single worker.
Also, the traditional way installing sheathing leaves the bottom edge of the sheathing exposed to the elements. Building standards and codes tell workers to observe a ground clearance minimum (typically 6 inches) for keeping the sheathing above grade. This is required for several reasons, but most importantly it is required so that the bottom edge of the sheathing does not contact standing water on the ground or have water splashed up on it when people, animals or vehicles run through standing water under the sheathing. Unfortunately, this does not prevent all splashed water from contacting the sheathing. Also, even if the ground clearance minimum is observed during construction, later events—such as actions by the building owner or erosion deposits can raise the level of the grade, reducing the separation between grade and the sheathing.
What is needed is a way to hold pieces of lowest row of sheathing in position while it is secured to the building frame while also protecting the sheathing from water damage.


The invention is directed toward a loadable interprocess communication manager and generally to a computer operating system capable of supporting plural threads running in a computer having a working memory, the computer operating system including a kernel resident in the working memory at link time and a loadable interprocess communication manager resident at link time outside of the working memory and dynamically loadable into the working memory at run time upon request by one of the threads in one address space to communicate with an other thread in an other address space. The kernel includes a loader for loading the interprocess communication manager into the working memory in response to the request by the one thread. The computer further includes a storage memory separate from the working memory, the loadable interprocess communication manager residing at link time in the storage memory. The loader loads the interprocess communication manager from the storage memory to the working memory. The loadable interprocess communication manager is terminable from the working memory upon lack of a need for communication between threads in different address spaces.

1. Technical Field
The invention is related to computer operating systems and in particular to a computer operating system which is highly componentized and has dynamically loadable operating features which may be loaded and unloaded during system run time.
2. Background Art
The progressive computerization of society involves a number of diverse computing platforms beside the general-purpose computer:
Embedded control systems, including consumer devices, intelligent sensors and smart home controls.
Communication-oriented devices such as digital cell phones and networking infrastructure.
Programmable peripherals and microcontrollers.
In all these cases, the general-purpose platform approach is either not applicable, or it is prohibitively expensive. The microprocessor might be a DSP, a VLIW, or a micro-controller; the memory budget is severely restricted; there might be no MMU; the network connection might be sporadic; and Real-Time support is essential.
Current operating systems are either inflexible, big, lack Real-Time support, have complex hardware requirements, or are so special purpose that good development tools are unavailable and code reusability is low.
Microkernels [Black92, Engler95] attempt to modularize the operating system. But they confuse modularity with security by mandating that system services be in separate address spaces. Many of the services moved into separate server processes are still necessary for these systems to function and often the services have to trust each other.
C++ and Java provide objects at a very fine granularity level, and they are extremely successful with application programmers. Unfortunately, both languages confine their objects to a single address space. Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) [Brockschmidt95] and other similar systems extend objects across address spaces and across machine boundaries. OLE seamlessly integrates independently developed components. When editing an Excel spreadsheet inside a Word document it is in fact the Excel process that operates on objects inside of Word""s address space. Unfortunately, it only works for user mode applications.
Modularity has always been an important paradigm in software design. By breaking a complex system into pieces, the complexity becomes more manageable. Address spaces provide security by installing virtual-memory based firewalls between applications. These two issues are orthogonal, but the distinction has been lost in systems research that has been concentrating on so-called microkernels. These issues have been discussed in the following publications:
[Bershad95] Brian Bershad, S. Savage, P. Pardyak, E. G. Sirer, M. Fiuczynski, D. Becker, S. Eggers, C. Chambers. Extensibility, safety and performance in the Spin operating system. In 15th ACM Symposium on Operating System Principles, pages 267-284, Copper Mountain Resort, Colo., December 1995.
[Black92] David Black, David Golub, Daniel Julin, Richard Rashid, Richard Draves, Randall Dean, Alessandro Forin, Joseph Barrera, Hideyuki Tokuda, Gerald Malan, David Bohman. Microkernel Operating System Architecture and Mach. In 1st USENIX Workshop on Micro-kernels and Other Kernel Architectures, pages 11-30, Seattle, April 1992.
[Brockschmidt95] K. Brockshmidt. Inside OLE, Second ed. Microsoft Press, Redmond Wash., 1995.
[Cheriton94] David Cheriton, Kenneth Duda. A Caching Model of Operating System Kernel Functionality. In 1st Symposium on Operating Systems Design and Implementation, Seattle, 1994.
[Cheriton88] David Cheriton. The V distributed system. In Communications of the ACM, pages 314-333, March 1988.
[Draves97] Richard Draves, Scott Cutshall. Unifying the User and Kernel Environments. Microsoft Research Technical Report MSR-TR-97-10, 16 pages, March 1997
[Engler95] D. R. Engler, M. F. Kaashoek, J. O"" Toole Jr. Exokernel: an operating system architecture for application-specific resource management. In 15th ACM Symposium on Operating System Principles, pages 251-266, Copper Mountain Resort, Colo., December 1995.
[Ford97] Bryan Ford, Godmar Back, Greg Benson, Jay Lepreau, Albert Lin, Olin Shivers. The Flux OSKit: A Substrate for Kernel and Language Research. In Proceedings of the 16th ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles, pages 38-51. ACM SIGOPS, Saint-Malo, France, October 1997.
[Golub90] David Golub, Randall Dean, Alessandro Forin, Richard Rashid. UNIX as an application program. In USENIX 1990 Summer Conference, pages 87-95, June 1990.
[Helander94] Johannes Helander. Unix under Mach: The Lites Server. Master""s thesis, 71 pages, Helsinki University of Technology, 1994. Available from http://www.cs.hut.fi/xcx9cjvh/lites.MASTERS.ps
[Hildebrand92] D. Hildebrand. An architectural overview of QNX. In 1st USENIX Workshop on Micro-kernels and Other Kernel Architectures, pages 113-126, Seattle, April 1992.
[ISI95] Integrated Systems Inc. pSOSystem System Concepts. Part No. COL0011, May 1995, ISI, Sunnyvale Calif.
[Jones96] Michael B. Jones, Joseph S. Barrera, III, Richard P. Draves, Alessandro Forin, Paul J. Leach, Gilad Odinak. An Overview of the Rialto Real Time Architecture. In Proceedings of the 7th ACM SIGOPS European Workshop, pagg. 249-256, September 1996.
[Jones97] Michael B. Jones et al. CPU Reservations and Time Constraints: Efficient, Predictable Scheduling of Independent Activities. In Proceedings of the 16th ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles, pages 198-211. ACM SIGOPS, Saint-Malo, France, October 1997.
[Jones 97b] Michael B. Jones. The Microsoft Interactive TV System: An Experience Report. Microsoft Research Technical Report MSR-TR-97-18, July, 1997.
[Julin9l] Daniel Julin, Jonathan Chew, Mark Stevenson, Paulo Guedes, Paul Neves, Paul Roy. Generalized Emulation Services for Mach 3.0: Overview, Experiences and Current Status. In Proceedings of the Usenix Mach Symposium, 1991.
[Lee98] Dennis Lee, Patrick Crowley, Jean-Loup Baer, Tom Anderson, Brian Bershad. Execution characteristics of desktop applications on Windows NT. In Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium on Computer Architecture, Barcelona, Spain, June 1998.
[Liedtke95] Jochen Liedtke. On xe2x96xa1-kernel construction. In 15th ACM Symposium on Operating System Principles, pages 237-250, Copper Mountain Resort, Colorado, December 1995.
[Mogul87] Jeffrey Mogul, Richard Rashid, Michael Accetta. The Packet Filter: an Efficient Mechanism for User-level Network Code. In 11th ACM Symposium on Operating System Principles, November 1987.
[Rashid87] Richard Rashid. From RIG to Accent to Mach: The evolution of a network operating system. Carnegie Mellon University Technical Report, August 1987.
[Rozier88] M. Rozier, A. Abrassimov, F. Armand, I. Boule, M. Gien, M. Guillemont, F. Hermann, C. Kaiser, S. Langlois, P. Leonard, W. Neuhauser. CHORUS distributed operating system. In Computing Systems, pages 305-370, Vol. 1-4, 1988.
[Young89] Michael Wayne Young. Exporting a User Interface to Memory Management from a Communication-Oriented Operating System. Ph.D. Thesis CMU-CS-89-202, Carnegie Mellon University, November 1989.
Mach [Black92] defined an interface for external memory managers [Young89] and was able to split virtual memory into functionally distinct parts, allowing part of the functionality to reside outside the privilege-level component (the xe2x80x9ckernelxe2x80x9d). Mach also separated part of the Unix operating system services out of the kernel [Golub90, Helander94], achieving modularity but limited additional functionality. The multiserver project [Julin91] went further in the modularization by splitting the Unix services into multiple independent servers. The componentization added structure and generality to the services. However, keeping the services in multiple address spaces did not add any security or robustness since components had to be available and trusted in any case. The most interesting new functionality was in the ability to emulate multiple OS interfaces, at the same time.
Contemporary research systems take the minimization of the xe2x80x9ckernelxe2x80x9d concept even further by defining even lower level abstractions and demonstrating the ability to split states across address space boundaries. None of these systems defines a new application programming interface (API) different from the Unix they emulate. The API that their predecessors [Rashid87, Cheriton88, Rozier88] did define, based on RPC and message exchanges, were not very successful with programmers.
The Cache Kernel [Cheriton94] uses Mach""s external memory manager metaphor uniformly for the management of all kernel objects. Threads, Address Spaces and User Kernels are all handled through this page in-pageout logical interface. An actual application is statically linked with a number of libraries, which provide default implementations of the required User Kernel components (VM, scheduling, IPC). This offers some flexibility by letting untrusted applications have their custom application kernel. Overall complexity is not decreased; it seems an application kernel would have to be as complicated as any other operating system. The ability to write your own application kernel would seem useful for a limited number of users, in teaching operating systems for instance.
Exokernel [Engler95] goes along the same lines demonstrating further ability to run operating system code in user mode. While it is highly successful in this and offers some added flexibility, it is questionable whether the premises differ from that of microkernels. The main contribution is in the mechanisms for application-specific resource management.
[Liedtke95] argues that microkernels have failed exclusively on performance grounds, and that poor performance is their only cause for inflexibility. Our argument is the opposite: inflexibility is inherent in the design, and leads to unavoidable inefficiencies that can only be mitigated by good implementations, never eliminated.
Spin [Bershad95] addresses the issue of expensive address space crossings by letting user code compiled by a trusted compiler run inside the kernel. This can be viewed as smart proxies that can do a lot of the work locally that otherwise would require communication. It is similar to loading packet filters into network drivers [Mogul87], to running database application query language inside database engines [reference], or to sandboxing Java applets. Applying these techniques to operating systems is beneficial when a trust boundary must be crossed and the cost would otherwise be high. It does not address the issue of whether or not a trust boundary is necessary. Spin uses an object-based language (Modula3) to provide extensibility. The pointer-safety property of the language is what permits execution of untrusted code in privileged mode. Trust relationships, as in the user-versus-kernel separation, should not dominate system decomposition. It is important to return to a global system view. The present invention addresses the issue of how to minimize the set of base services, and how to dynamically extend them on demand.
[Ford97] shows how a base set of system components can be composed in different ways to build an operating system kernel. The granularity is fairly coarse, and the techniques are limited to static linking. Components that should be of interest to OS researchers (VM, IPC, scheduling, etc.) cannot be replaced or removed, neither statically nor dynamically. The decomposition is otherwise limited to the xe2x80x9cOSxe2x80x9d component; it is not meant as a whole-system approach. This does not go far enough in the componentization. It provides a few convenient components, such as bootstrap loader and filesystems, but is mostly concerned with reusing existing device drivers and Unix code. It fails to componentize the core kernel services or extend the paradigm to applications.
Componentization and location independence has also been studied in the context of filesystems and network protocols [Maeda93] and in a number of existing embedded systems, such as pSOS [ISI95]. In a typical embedded system there is no loader, and components can only be chosen at static link time when the load image is built. Services are extremely limited, sometimes exclusively to the scheduling component. The number and priority of threads might have to be specified statically as well.
Chorus [Rozier88] can be configured to use either a page-based or a segment-based VM system.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to a flexible system architecture that is suitable for a wide range of applications. The system is built out of minimal but flexible components, which can be deployed as needed. Instead of mandating a fixed set of operating system services and hardware requirements, the system preferably provides a menu of well-defined components that can be chosen to compose a complete system depending on hardware capabilities, security needs, and application requirements.
Dynamic loading and unloading of components provides the flexibility that lets the system adapt to changing requirements.
The componentization makes it possible to change the implementation of a component without affecting the rest of the system. Minimalism makes it possible to use the system with severely restricted hardware budgets. It also forces the system to be understandable and flexible. Software components, when possible, are not tied to a particular layer of the system, but can be reused. For example, the same code that implements the system physical memory heap is used to provide application heaps over virtual memory. The key system building blocks are componentized. This includes the virtual memory system, IPC, and the scheduler in addition to filesystems, networking, drivers, and protection policies. Preferred embodiments of the present invention extend object-orientation both across address spaces and across protection levels.
In a preferred embodiment, components are located in separate address spaces only when there is a real reason for it, such as security or specific address space requirements. Thus, the price of multiple address spaces (and transitions thereof) is paid only where needed.
The invention is directed toward a loadable interprocess communication manager and generally to a computer operating system capable of supporting plural threads running in a computer having a working memory, the computer operating system including a kernel resident in the working memory at link time and a loadable interprocess communication manager resident at link time outside of the working memory and dynamically loadable into the working memory at run time upon request by one of the threads in one address space to communicate with an other thread in an other address space. The kernel includes a loader for loading the interprocess communication manager into the working memory in response to the request by the one thread. The computer further includes a storage memory separate from the working memory, the loadable interprocess communication manager residing at link time in the storage memory. The loader loads the interprocess communication manager from the storage memory to the working memory. The loadable interprocess communication manager is terminable from the working memory upon lack of a need for communication between threads in different address spaces.
Preferably, the kernel of the operating system includes an interprocess communication fault handler for interprocess communication faults occurring in the absence of the interprocess communication manager in the working memory.
The kernel also includes a Namespace for registering the interprocess communication manager upon the interprocess communication manager being loaded into the working memory, whereby the interprocess communication manager becomes available to each thread through the Namespace. The Namespace includes an object supporting plural interfaces exposable by the threads, the plural interfaces including a query interface through which a thread invokes the interprocess communication manager, an add reference interface by which the Namespace manages each request for the interprocess communication manager from any of the threads, and a release reference interface, by which Namespace manages termination of the interprocess communication manager from the working memory. The loader is responsive to the Namespace in maintaining the interprocess communication manager in the working memory whenever the add reference interface has a reference to the interprocess communication manager.
The loadable interprocess communication manager includes an object with plural interfaces exposable to other objects, the plural interfaces of the interprocess communication manager supporting methods including an interprocess communication trap handler (IPC Trap Handler) and copy (IPC Copy).
The operating system can include plural loadable interprocess communication managers resident outside of the working memory at link time, the loader being capable of loading different ones of the plural interprocess communication managers into the working memory at run time.

Highly componentized system architecture with a loadable interprocess communication manager


A apparatus and method for separating and purifying chemical species is presented. A supported liquid membrane is oscillated at frequencies sufficient to enhance the molecular diffusion of solute species across the supported liquid membrane.

The present invention relates to a device useful for separating or purifying chemical species in solution based on their relative rates of diffusion. More particularly this invention is directed to an apparatus and method for separation of solute species by their selectively enhanced diffusion through an oscillated liquid membrane.
The use of liquid membranes and the selected diffusion of substrates through liquid membranes have been the focus of significant research and development efforts in the art. Much work has been reported particularly with respect to the use of unsupported liquid membranes in the form of minute surfactant stabilized globules. Other liquid membrane structures known in the art are so-called supported liquid membranes wherein a liquid phase is contained within the confines of a porous support structure, for example by surface tension phenomena. The porous support structure is typically one which exhibits high affinity for the contained membrane-forming liquid. It is known also that the membrane-forming liquid can be modified to contain chemically reactive species or species which otherwise interact with solute species to promote or decrease the rate of diffusion of said species through the liquid membrane structure.
Industrial use of liquid membranes have been limited by problems associated with translating laboratory successes into industrial scale devices. Because of costs and difficulties associated with the creation and breaking down of stable emulsions, liquid surfactant membrane separation techniques provide an attractive alternative to traditional separation processes only when the target species must be extracted to very low concentration levels, for example, where metal ions or hazardous organic compounds are to be removed from water for discharge into the environment. Supported liquid membranes avoid many of the problems associated with emulsion technology, but they suffer from other practical problems such as limited surface area, solvent stability within the membrane structure and low solute species molecular diffusion rates.
The present invention makes use of supported liquid membrane structures in a device for purification or separation of selected solute species. However, the present device overcomes the problem associated with low diffusivity and concomitant poor membrane transport rates by oscillation of the supported liquid membrane. The present method and device embodying that method enables an enhanced mass transport of selected solute species across a supported liquid membrane. Applicant's discovery of oscillation enhanced membrane diffusion allows practical use of supported liquid membranes in separation/purification processes for a wide range of preparative and industrial applications.
Several investigators have published works dealing with the dynamics of single phase fluid flow through cylindrical tubes. Aris (Proc. Roy. Sec. A. 259, p. 370, 1960) discussed dispersion of a solute in pulsating fluid flow through a tube. Aris reported that the calculated diffusion constant for a viscous fluid can be proportional to the square of the amplitude of the pressure pulsations. For a viscous flow under a pulsating pressure gradient, the effective dispersion coefficient of a solute can be markedly enhanced. A similar theoretical analysis of this phenomenon has also been reported by Watson (J. Fluid. Mech.. 133, 233, 1983).
Experiments demonstrating an increase in molecular diffusivity in a gas filled cylindrical tube have been conducted by Joshi et al. (J. Fluid. Mech., 133, 245, 1983). Joshi found the increase in effective molecular diffusivity for axial transport of a contaminant gas subjected to oscillatory flow in a tube to be in agreement with the theoretical predictions of Watson. The experiment conducted by Joshi et al. measured methane transport through a gas filled tube. Experiments by Kurzweg and Howell (Phys. Fluids Vol. 27, No. 5, pp. 1046-48) have also indicated enhanced molecular gas dispersion coefficients for tubes of varying radii. Isotopic separation by differentially enhanced molecular diffusion of gaseous isotopes in a carrier gas has been reported by Howell (Phys. Fluids, 31 (6) 1988).

Separation device utilizing oscillatory liquid membrane


Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for continuous integration testing of network access devices. A testing platform includes a virtual environmental library and a processor. The processor executes a test code, where the test code in cooperation with the virtual environmental library generates a virtual environment for testing a network access device loaded with a device code, the virtual environment includes virtual clients, a virtual service provider, and emulates communication interfaces and network message behavior for the virtual clients and the virtual service provider as perceived by the network access device, exercises the device code and the network access device by instructing the virtual clients and the virtual service provider to engage the network access device to perform defined activities, captures events in response to performance of the defined activities, evaluates the captured events against expected events, and outputs results including the captured events and pass/fail determinations.

Continuous integration, continuous deployment, and continuous delivery (collectively "continuous integration") employ a variety of automated techniques and processes for testing applications or code changes that are to be deployed onto a network access device. These techniques generally involve insuring code executability, compilation testing, and the like. The network access device has to be tested once the applications or code is loaded onto the network access device. For example, network access device testing requires multiple layers of testing including transmitting WiFi signals at the radios in the network access device to test the radios, running generic tests to verify proper routing, and testing certain configuration settings.
There is a lack of automated testing once the application or code is loaded onto the network access device. Manual testing of the network access devices with the newly loaded application or code is cumbersome and time consuming. Applications are getting smarter that run on the network access device, and the development and testing cycle is jarring and manual. If an application is written to limit the network access device to only 4 connected clients, to validate the application a developer must manually connect 5 clients and view the logs of their application to see the output. Configuring the network access devices for testing each new software or firmware delivery is inefficient. Moreover, all of these tests are run against a monolithic firmware build that could fail at any layer.

Method and apparatus for continuous integration testing of network access devices


When a temporally compressed video stream is decoded and subsequently re-encoded, quality is typically lost. The quality loss may be mitigated using information about how the source video stream was encoded during the re-encoding process. According to some aspects of the disclosure, this mitigation of quality loss can be facilitated by decoders that output such information and encoders that receive such information. These decoders and encoders may be separate devices. The functionality of these decoders and encoders may also be combined in a single device, such as a transcoding device. An example of the information that may be used during re-encoding is whether each portion of the original stream was intra-coded or non-intra-coded.

Video content is often compressed in order to save bandwidth during distribution. Some video compression standards, such as MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, part 10 (also known as AVC or h.264), utilize temporal compression. An example of temporal compression is encoding the image in a region, such as a frame or a portion of a frame, by referring to an earlier and/or later region. For instance, the image in a region may be encoded by the following three components: (1) a reference to an earlier region, (2) a motion vector, which specifies how the image from the earlier region should be moved, and (3) a residual error region that indicates how the image created from components (1) and (2) should be further modified. Encoding in this manner often requires less data than specifying the image without reference to an earlier region.
Regions that specify an image without reference to any other images are referred to as intra-coded. Intra-coded regions provide an initial image that temporally compressed regions may reference. Intra-coding may also save space. For example, the first image of a new scene may differ significantly from previous images. As a result, the above-referenced motion vector and residual error region may require more data to describe the image than would intra-coding and may also result in a greater loss of quality than intra-coding.
Where an intra-coded region is a whole frame, the frame is often referred to as an I-frame. (The "I" stands for intra-coded.) Non-intra-coded frames are often referred to as P-frames or B-frames. P-frames, or forward predicted frames, are frames that refer to an earlier frame in order to specify an image. (The "P" stands for predictive.) The three components described in the example above may constitute a P-frame. B-frames are frames that may refer to both an earlier frame and a later frame to specify an image. (The "B" stands bi-predictive.) The frames that these non-intra-coded frames refer to may be either intra-coded or non-intra-coded.
In some video compression schemes, each frame is divided up into regions. In some compression schemes these regions are known as slices. Further, frames may be divided into regions due to use of interlaced encoding instead of progressive scan encoding. Like entire frames, regions, such as slices, may be intra-coded or non-intra-coded. An I-frame may be made up of I-slices, a P-frame made up of P-slices, and a B-frame made up of B-slices. However, frames may also intermix regions, such as slices, of various types. For example, a frame may include some regions that are intra-coded and some regions that are non-intra-coded.
With most known video compression techniques, including those that use temporal compression, image quality is lost each time the video is encoded or transcoded. The quality loss may occur, for example, because intra-coded images and the above-referenced residual error regions are often spatially compressed. During the encoding or transcoding process, techniques such as spatial compression techniques (e.g., discrete cosine transforms and chroma subsampling) are often performed such that some image quality is lost during encoding in order to save space. Quality loss that occurs when a video is encoded or transcoded may be noticeable to a viewer. The loss may be amplified if an already encoded video is decoded and then encoded again. Thus, a need exists for systems and methods that help to minimize the quality loss that occurs when video is encoded, transcoded, or otherwise processed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Preserving image quality in temporally compressed video streams


A geographic database used by a navigation system includes data regarding which corners of an intersection are connected by a crosswalk and the type of crosswalk. The geographic database also includes data regarding locations of crosswalks at a location other than an intersection. Using this information, the navigation system can provide crosswalk information to a pedestrian regarding where to cross a road.

Navigation systems are available that provide end users with various navigation-related functions and features. For example, some navigation systems are able to determine an optimum route to travel along a road and/or a pedestrian pathway from an origin location to a destination location in a geographic region. Using input from the end user, and optionally from equipment that can determine the end user's location (such as a GPS system), the navigation system can examine various potential routes between the origin and destination locations to determine the optimum route.
The navigation system may then provide the end user with information about the optimum route in the form of guidance that identifies the driving and/or walking maneuvers required to be taken by the end user to travel from the origin to the destination location. The guidance may take the form of visual and/or audio instructions that are provided along the way as the end user is traveling the route. Some navigation systems are able to show detailed maps on displays outlining the route, the types of maneuvers to be taken at various locations along the route, locations of certain types of features, and so on.
In order to provide these and other navigation-related functions and features, navigation systems use geographic data. The geographic data may be in the form of one or more geographic databases that include data representing physical features in the geographic region. The geographic database includes information about the represented geographic features, such as the positions of the roads, speed limits along portions of roads, address ranges along the road portions, turn restrictions at intersections of roads, direction restrictions, such as one-way streets, and so on. Additionally, the geographical database may include information about pedestrian pathways, such as whether the pathway is paved or unpaved, whether the pathway is wheel chair accessible, and is whether crosswalks exist. The geographic data may also include information about points of interest, such as restaurants, hotels, airports, gas stations, stadiums, police stations, and so on.
While navigation systems provide useful information to users, there continues to be room for new features and improvements. One area in which there is room for improvement relates to crosswalks. A pedestrian crossing or crosswalk is a designated point on a road at which some means are employed to assist pedestrians wishing to cross. Crosswalks are designed to keep pedestrians together where they can be seen by motorists as they cross the flow of vehicular traffic. Crosswalks are often at intersections, but may also be at other points on busy roads that would otherwise be difficult to attempt to cross. Crosswalks are also common near schools or in other areas where there are a large number of children.
One method of representing a crosswalk using geographic data is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,182, which is assigned to the same assignee as the subject application. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,182, crosswalk information may be included as an attribute of a road segment data entity and/or a node data entity. The crosswalk information associated with a road segment data entity may include crosswalk location data that indicates the locations along the length of a represented road segment at which a pedestrian crosswalk exists. The crosswalk location data associated with a node data entity may include data that indicates which of the road segments meet at the location represented by the node data that have pedestrian crosswalks.
Although the crosswalk representation described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,182 is useful, there exists room for improvement. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to represent a pedestrian crosswalk based on data that represents corners of an intersection.

Method and system for representing pedestrian crosswalks in a geographic database used by a navigation system


A method of controlling a hybrid automobile is provided. Only a drive force of the motor is outputted to wheels by stopping the engine while operating the motor when a required drive force is below a predetermined switch value, and at least a drive force of the engine is outputted to the wheels by operating at least the engine when the required drive force is above the switch value. The method includes estimating, when the required drive force is below the switch value, a switching possibility of the required drive force increasing above the switch value, operating the engine so that a temperature of a catalyst becomes a first temperature when the estimated switching possibility is above a predetermined level, and operating the engine so that the temperature of the catalyst becomes a second temperature lower than the first temperature when the estimated switching possibility is below the predetermined level.

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling a hybrid automobile in which only a drive force of a motor is outputted to wheels by stopping an engine but operating the motor when a required drive force is below a predetermined switch value, and on the other hand, a drive force of at least the engine is outputted to the wheels by operating at least the engine when the required drive force is above the predetermined switch value.
Recently, hybrid automobiles provided with engines and motors as drive sources of the vehicles have been disclosed. For example, JP2004-092428A discloses such a hybrid automobile in which a motor travel and an engine travel are switched therebetween according to a required drive force. In the motor travel, the engine is stopped but the vehicle travels only by a drive force of the motor, and in the engine travel, the engine is operated and the vehicle travels by a drive force of the engine (note that, the drive force of the motor may also be used).
Since engines of such hybrid automobiles are operated intermittently while traveling, emission performance may degrade. For example, JP2004-092428A also discloses an art for suppressing an emission degradation when a catalyst temperature is decreased during the motor travel and an activation of the catalyst is required to maintain an activated state of the catalyst in preparation of switching to the engine travel, by retarding an ignition timing of the engine to activate the catalyst rapidly while operating the engine in a no-load state by releasing clutches arranged on a drive path between the engine and drive wheels.
However, with the art disclosed in JP2004-092428A, as described above, when the activation of the catalyst is required during the motor travel, the ignition timing of the engine is retarded while operating the engine in the no-load state. Therefore, the required drive force does not increase. When the motor travel continues, even though there is no risk of emission degradation, a consumption amount of fuel increases unnecessarily, causing a problem of fuel consumption degradation.

Method and device for controlling hybrid automobile


An anti-contamination suit having one-way valves for use in expelling air from the suit of protective clothing so that a constant flow of air from an outside source can supply fresh, uncontaminated air to the suit of the wearer to facilitate respiration and provide cooling to the wearer.

This invention generally relates to valves and garments as described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/956,740, filed Oct. 6, 1992, entitled "One-Way Valve" the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Air-tight protective clothing has long been used for protecting workers in contaminated areas, an example of which being U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,680 of Childers et al. issued on Jul. 10, 1984. A major problem encountered with such suits is that disclosed by Childers is that the suit will generally operate satisfactorily when the wearer is standing with arms straight. However, many times the wearer is required by the specific job to bend over or crouch in position in which the air flow to portions of the suit is cut off which will restrict the out flow of air through some of the valves, thereby requiring all of the air entering the suit to be exhausted through only one or two valves. This occurrence can cause excessive ballooning or even rupture of the anti-contamination suit.
In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that there is a need for a new design for an anti-contamination suit which includes strategic locations of exhaust air valves combined with one-way exhaust valves of construction which can provide adequate exhausting capability and prevent bursting and excessive ballooning of the anti-contamination suit.


A collapsible golf fairway distance marker including a visible structure that can assume two discrete configurations, and an anchor structure. The visible structure is generally cone-shaped when raised and flat when collapsed and is comprised of a base support ring, a spring-loaded plunger assembly disposed in the center thereof, and a plurality of generally trapezoidal shaped leaves. Each leaf has its narrower end captured within an annular recess formed between the plunger top and a cap screwed into the plunger, while its wider end is captured within an annular recess formed in the base support ring. Numerals indicating distance are affixed to or embossed in an upper part of one or more leaves. The anchor structure is connected to the base support ring and is buried beneath the ground to provide a fixed location for the visible structure on the fairway. An annular skirt affixed to and surrounding the base support ring extends the footprint of the marker and prevents grass from growing so near as to interfere with the visibility of the marker.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices that assist in the play of golf, and more particularly, to a distance-indicating device for allowing golf players to make a quick estimate of the distance between their ball position on the fairway and the center of the green.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
For the purpose of making it easier to select the proper golf club and speeding up the play on a golf course, distance markers are placed on course fairways. Distance markers provide players a quick estimate of the distance between the ball's position on the fairway and the center of the green. It is common for these markers to be permanently fixed to the ground so that they can not be easily moved. Some golf courses use sprinkler heads as distance markers. This method of distance marking is useful since each fairway is equipped with numerous sprinkler heads and such heads remain at fixed positions.
A major problem that exists with such markers is that they rise above ground level and interfere with maintenance operations conducted on the fairways (e.g. grass cutting). These devices must either be removed prior to grass cutting or must be avoided by the mowers. In either case the maintenance operations are impeded. In the first instance, the mowing operation is slowed down by the constant removal and reinstallation of the markers. In the second instance, the grass cutting around the markers cannot be done by large-scale cutters without damaging the markers. Thus, alternative cutting mechanisms must be employed to cut the grass.
One prior art solution to this problem is to have markers that are level with respect to the surrounding ground so as not to impede these fairway maintenance operations. The teaching of Zausmer (U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,981) is an example of such a marker. In Zausmer, the marker is comprised of a base plate and a top plate. The base plate has a plurality of pins having cone-shaped barbs on the ends, and numerals raised upwards from the base. The barbs anchor the base plate permanently into the fairway turf. The raised numerals indicate the applicable fairway distance. The top plate is attached to the base plate, and features a cutout that frames the numerals rising up from the base plate. Markers of this type fail to provide easily visible information to golfers during the course of play. The numerals on such a marker are virtually invisible to a golfer standing any distance away from the marker. The numerals would only be visible if the golfer were standing overhead or virtually next to the marker. Thus, in many cases the golfer will not see the marker and therefore will not be assisted in calculating the distance from his ball to the green.
Another prior art solution provides markers with elastically deformable visible elements rising above the level of the surrounding fairway turf, which are not damaged even when run over by fairway maintenance equipment. The teaching of Carman (U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,669) is an example of such a marker. Carman's marker comprises an elastic dome connected to a base. The dome extends upward from the base, rises above ground level, and may be inscribed with numerals to indicate range distances along the fairway. Although a golfer does not have to stand over the element to read the distance, as in the Zausmer teaching, because of the curved surface the distance at which the inscribed numerals are visible is still quite limited.
A significant shortcoming of the Carman-type markers is that its visible element deforms rather than collapses out of the way of potentially damaging devices. When the element encounters a sufficient pressure only the localized area in contact with the force deforms: a simultaneous collapse of the entire element does not occur. Areas that are not exposed to such sufficient pressure remain elevated above the ground and may be damaged by the oncoming mower device.
Another signal or marker found in the prior art, although not specifically utilized on golf fairways as a yardage marker, is disclosed by Vogeler (U.S. Pat. No. 1,771,667). Vogeler's ancient marker device, installed in a roadway and used as a traffic signal, includes a casing, a resiliently biased post centrally disposed within the casing and mounted thereto to slide vertically, a plurality of segments with their upper ends hingedly supported at the upper end of the post and with the segment's lower end slidably mounted within the casing.
In operation, the marker is installed at traffic intersections, and its segments, elevated above the road surface, are inscribed with cautionary words (i.e. "STOP", "GO", etc). If a motor vehicle is driven over the marker, the vehicle weight will cause the several segments to move downwardly thereby imparting a downward motion, via the post, to all of the remaining segments. Once the vehicle weight is removed, the spring-biased post will restore the segments to their respective normal positions.
If the Vogeler marker was installed on a golf fairway it would be quickly rendered inoperable. More specifically, the Vogeler marker's segments are hinged at their upper ends and slidably mounted at their lower ends. Due to the slidably mounted support configuration, the marker has gaps or openings existing between adjacent segments at their lower ends. Since these gaps would be located close to the fairway surface, grass clippings and other fairway debris could easily invade the marker, through the gaps, such that over a period of several grass cutting sessions, the clippings and debris would accumulate and block the lower segment ends from freely sliding, thereby impeding both the collapsibility of the marker and its return to an upstanding position. It should be noted that, in contrast to the lower end of the segments, clippings and debris can not enter between the upper end, hinged joints and impede the collapsibility of the marker because, due to the hinged manner of support, there are no gaps between the adjacent segments at their upper ends.
Finally, the prior art discloses using a system of determining the distance from a point on the fairway to its associated green. KARSTEN PING discloses a system wherein a plurality of yardage markers are disposed at twenty-five yard intervals along the fairway. Each marker, set at ground level, displays the distance from its location on the fairway to various points on the green. Since the markers used in the KARSTEN PING system are set at ground level they have the same shortcomings as those identified with the Zausmer markers. That is, markers of this type can only be read by golfers standing overhead or virtually next to the marker. Golfers positioned any distance away from the marker cannot read the range information stamped on the marker and in many cases cannot even see the marker itself. Thus, a system utilizing such flat markers cannot assist the golfer in calculating the distance from his ball to the green.

Collapsible golf fairway distance marker


A semiconductor memory includes a group of memory cells arrayed in a matrix, memory cell electric power source lines configured to connect the respective memory cells arrayed in a direction of rows of the group of memory cells of each of the rows, two electric power source terminals configured to be mutually independent, and switches configured to be connected between the memory cell electric power source lines and the two electric power source terminals respectively, to be controlled to turn ON/OFF by a inversion logic operation based on a test mode switching signal for switching to and from a test mode and a normal operation mode, and to connect the memory cell power source line to either of the two electric power source terminals according to the ON/OFF control.

This application claims benefit of priority under 35 USC xc2xa7119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-091296 filed on Mar. 27, 2001, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory such as a static random access memory, and more particularly relates to a semiconductor memory implemented with a test circuit and a method of testing a semiconductor memory.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, the increases in the storage capacity and improvements in the power saving structure on the standby mode of semiconductor memories such as the static random access memory have been advanced. The frequency of occurrence of defective bit locations tends to increase as the storage capacity increases, so that, in the test process, defective memory cells are replaced by redundancy memory cells in accordance with the redundancy circuitry technique in order to relieve malfunctions resulting from defective bits.
It is sometimes the case, however, that there is a memory cell(s) through which current leakage exceeding an allowable value passes, while the static random access memory including the defective memory cell can be normally operated without a problematic function. If there is such a memory cell, however, the consumption current of the standby mode increases.
Therefore, the semiconductor memory including a test circuit which tests to detect the location of a memory cell through which a leakage current is flowing has been proposed. Then, a laser fuse connecting the detected memory cell and electric power source terminals is fused and disconnected in order to interrupt the leakage current path, then the defective memory is replaced by a redundancy cell.
However, the conventional semiconductor memory including the test circuit has the following problem.
When measuring a leakage current value, a long time is needed in order to set the initial value to a desired value of static memory cell data in particular in a static memory cell consisting of flip-flop. As a result, in the case of recent semiconductor memories of large capacity, there is the problem that test time becomes enormous.
A semiconductor memory in one embodiment according to the present invention includes a group of memory cells arrayed in a matrix, memory cell electric power source lines configured to connect the respective memory cells arrayed in a direction of rows of the group of memory cells of each of the rows, two electric power source terminals configured to be mutually independent, and switches configured to be connected between the memory cell electric power source lines and the two electric power source terminals respectively, to be controlled to turn ON/OFF by a inversion logic operation based on a test mode switching signal for switching to and from a test mode and a normal operation mode, and to connect the memory cell power source line to either of the two electric power source terminals according to the ON/OFF control.
In addition, a semiconductor memory in another embodiment according to the present invention includes a memory cell array in which memory cells are arrayed in a matrix, a plurality of word lines provided within the memory cell array, each of the word lines connected to a same number of the memory cells in a row direction, a word line selection circuit including an input terminal connected to a row selection line for selecting a row and configured to select a predetermined word line among from the plurality of word lines, a plurality of memory cell electric power source lines arrayed in the row direction of the memory cell array, a row decoder configured to output a selection signal for selecting the row selection line based on a row addressing signal, first and second electric power source terminals configured to be mutually independent, and electric power source switching circuits respectively provided to either end of the memory cell electric power source lines and configured to supply electric power from the first electric power source terminal to the memory cells of the rows to be tested and to supply electric power from the second electric power source terminal to the memory cells except the memory cells of the rows to be tested in the test mode.
Furthermore, a method of testing a semiconductor memory in one embodiment according to the present invention includes, sequentially selecting memory cell electric power source lines of rows to be tested from a plurality of memory cell electric power source lines arrayed in the row direction of a memory cell array in which memory cells are arrayed in a matrix, supplying leak testing electric power from a first electric power source terminal to the memory cells of the selected rows to be tested and supplying electric power from a second electric power line to the memory cells of the rows except the rows to be tested, and measuring a leakage current value of the rows to be tested in order to detect a row including a memory cell where the leakage current is occurring.

Semiconductor memory and method of testing semiconductor memory


A process for fabricating a microelectromechanical optical component from a silicon substrate is disclosed. The component comprises optical propagation guides; a wall which can move with respect to the propagation guides; and an electrostatic actuator associated with return means formed by at least one beam capable of causing the moving wall to move with respect to the rest of the substrate. The substrate is single-crystal silicon having (111) crystallographic planes parallel to the plane of the substrate. The process comprises a first series of deep reactive ion etching steps during which the heights of the moving wall, of the electrodes of the actuator, and of the beams of the return means of the actuator are defined with different values, and a second wet etching step, making it possible to free the moving wall, the electrodes and the beams from the rest of the substrate.

The invention relates to the field of microelectromechanical components also called MEMS standing for Microelectromechanical Systems. It relates more particularly to MEMS components used in fibre-optic communication devices. The invention relates more specifically to a process for fabricating microelectromechanical components which make it possible to optimize their performance and their manufacturing cost. This process may serve for fabricating various types of optical components which include a moving member moving under the effect of a control command. There may be optical switches, obturators or variable attenuators.
In the rest of the description, the invention will be more particularly described in respect of an optical switch, but it could easily be transposable to an optical obturator or attenuator.
In general, an optical switch receives at least one input optical fibre and at least two output optical fibres. These optical fibres are placed in optical propagation guides oriented very precisely with respect to one another, most generally at 90xc2x0 with respect to one another. The optical switch comprises a mirror which can move in order to intercept the beams propagating in propagation guides. When the moving mirror is in a first position, it allows reflection of the optical beam output by an optical fibre towards a second fibre. When this mirror is in a second position, it does not modify the propagation of the beam output by the first optical fibre, which is therefore transmitted in the optical fibre located in alignment with it.
The movement of this mirror takes place by means of an actuator. Various types of actuators have already been proposed and especially electrostatic actuators, such as in particular that described in document U.S. Pat. No 6,229,640. This type of electrostatic actuator comprises a number of electrodes distributed in two interdigitated combs. These two interdigitated combs partially penetrate one another to form a capacitor thanks to their facing surfaces. Application of an electrical voltage between the two interdigitated combs causes a relative movement of one comb with respect to the other.
Since the mirror is fastened to one of the two combs of electrodes, it moves under the action of this voltage. Positional return takes place when the electrical voltage disappears, owing to the effect of return means which generally consist of one or a number of beams which connect the comb of moving electrodes to the rest of the substrate.
One of the objectives of the invention is to allow the mirror to move using an electrical voltage of a relatively limited value, while obtaining a sufficient excursion of the mirror. However, the use of a voltage of low value causes the facing surface area of the two combs of electrodes to increase.
Moreover, to obtain a movement of the greatest possible amplitude, it is important that the return means do not exert too large a force and that their stiffness be therefore relatively limited. However, this stiffness is determined inter alia by the thickness of the beams which constitute it. Therefore to increase the travel of the mirror, it is tempting to reduce the thickness of the beams of the return means of the actuator.
A problem then arises when it is desired to combine the two aforementioned effects, namely, on the one hand, an increase in the surface area of the electrodes and, on the other hand, a reduction in the thickness of the beams of the return means.
This kind of inconvenience is observed in the microcomponents produced on SOI (Silicon On Insulator)-based substrates. This is because, on SOI substrates, the definition of the electrodes and of the return means of the actuator is produced by etching down to the oxide layer. The electrodes and the return means are then freed by subsequent etching, carried out after the oxide layer has been etched. In this type of component produced from an SOI substrate, the beams of the return means and the electrodes therefore have the same height. To increase the force exerted by the actuator, it is therefore necessary to increase the number of electrodes, which results in a greater consumption of energy by the actuator and a greater occupation of the surface area of the substrate.
It has also been proposed to produce optical switches from a single-crystal silicon substrate, these also being called xe2x80x9cbulkxe2x80x9d switches. Various processes have been developed which depend on the crystallographic orientation of the substrate used. Thus, when the substrate used has an upper face parallel to the (100) plane of the silicon crystal structure, it is possible to carry out, in the same operation, etching of the mirror and of the propagation guides. This is because, thanks to the orientation of the crystal planes which form stop planes for the chemical etching, it is possible to obtain perfect alignment of the propagation guides lying along the same axis, and perfect perpendicularity of the orthogonal propagation guides. However, the thickness of the mirror obtained by this chemical etching depends on the etching time. The precision on the thickness of this mirror is therefore subject to the variations in the conditions under which the etching is carried out. Thus, a slight temperature drift may introduce considerable inaccuracy in the thickness of the mirror.
Wet etching operations are also carried out using substrates whose upper face is parallel to the (110) plane of the silicon crystallographic structure. In this case, the chemical etching stop planes correspond to the vertical sidewalls of the mirror, thereby making it possible to achieve very good precision on the thickness of the mirror.
However, in this situation, it is necessary to produce the propagation guides in a second phase, since the crystallographic axes do not coincide with the directions of these propagation guides. It is therefore necessary to produce them by a subsequent step, generally requiring the use of dry etching, of the reactive ion etching or RIE type.
One of the objectives of the invention is therefore to allow optical components to be produced from single-crystal silicon with a minimum number of steps.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,275 has described a process for producing microstructures from single-crystal silicon, the (111) crystallographic planes of which are parallel to the principal plane of the substrate. The process described in that document consists in linking dry etching steps for defining the contours of a microstructure on the substrate. This process is continued by a chemical etching step which makes it possible to free the structure predefined by the dry etching.
The invention therefore relates to a process for fabricating a microelectromechanical optical component which is produced from a silicon substrate. Such an optical component generally comprises:
at least two optical propagation guides, especially intended to receive optical fibres;
a wall which can move with respect to the propagation guide;
an electrostatic actuator capable of causing the moving wall to move with respect to the rest of the substrate, the said actuator comprising:
facing electrodes which can move with respect to each other, some of the electrodes being mechanically linked to the moving wall, the other electrodes being fastened to the rest of the substrate;
return means formed by at least one beam produced in the substrate and opposing the movement of the electrodes with respect to one another.
In accordance with the invention, the substrate used is made of single-crystal silicon, the (111) planes of which are parallel to the planes of the substrate. This process firstly comprises a first series of deep reactive ion etching steps during which the heights of the moving wall, of the electrodes of the actuator, and of the beams of the return means of the actuator are defined with different values. This process continues with a second wet etching step, making it possible to free the moving wall, the electrodes and the beams of the actuator from the rest of the substrate.
In other words, it is possible to produce a mirror having a height substantially greater than the height of the electrodes and of the beams of the return means of the actuator. It is thus possible to optimize the ratio of the various heights of the members of the component. Thus, the electrode etching height will be chosen to be greater than that of the beams of the return means. In this way, the height of the electrodes, and therefore the force which is exerted between the two sets of electrodes, is increased for the same control voltage. At the same time, by reducing the thickness of the beams of the return means, the stiffness of the latter is reduced, thereby making it possible to increase the excursion of the mirror. This possibility is provided by differentiated deep reactive ion etchings whereby the contours of the electrodes or of the walls of the return means are defined.
The depth of the deep reactive ion etching used to define the mirror may be chosen in various ways. Thus, this depth may be chosen so that the optical fibre can be completely included within the propagation guide, thereby facilitating the subsequent encapsulation phases.
The depth of this first etching may also be less, provided that it is sufficient to ensure interception by the mirror of the beam output by the optical fibres. In this case, since the reflecting region of the mirror lies close to the upper face of the substrate, it exhibits better planarity and verticality, and therefore better reflecting properties.
In practice, before the deep reactive ion etching steps, a masking step for defining the subsequent position of the optical propagation guides of the moving wall, of the electrodes and of the return means of the actuator is carried out. The masking may for example take place by depositing an SiO2 layer, for example by PECVD (Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition) techniques. This layer is then configured by a conventional method consisting of lithography followed by etching.
Advantageously in practice, the process comprises two successive deep reactive etching steps, namely:
a first deep reactive ion etching step during which the heights of the moving wall, of the electrodes and of the return means of the actuator are defined; and
a second deep reactive ion etching step during which the volumes from which the subsequent wet etching step may be initiated are defined.
In practice, between these two deep reactive ion etching steps, the following are carried out:
firstly, conformal deposition of an SiO2 layer in the regions etched by the first etching step; and
then removal of this SiO2 layer from the bottom of the initially etched regions.
The term xe2x80x9cconformalxe2x80x9d deposition is understood to mean that the deposition is carried out over the entire visible surface of the substrate, with a constant thickness.
It is in the bottom of these regions that the subsequent step of reactive ion etching will take place, allowing the volumes from which the wet etching step can start to be defined.
After the wet etching step, a metallization step is carried out, which allows the moving wall to be made reflecting. This step also allows the electrodes to be metallized, thereby allowing the control voltage to be applied.
According to another characteristic of the invention, during the deep reactive ion etching steps, a number of small protection beams, located on either side of the beams forming part of the return means of the actuator, are defined. These small protection beams are joined to the beams of the return means via linking portions of small dimensions. These small protection beams are then freed from the rest of the substrate during the wet etching step. These small protection beams, lying on each side of the beams of the return means, allow the loading effects during deep etching of the substrate to be increased.
This is because, to obtain a sufficient excursion of the mirror, it is necessary for the return means to deform relatively substantially. Certain parts of the beams of the return means therefore move by a distance approximately equivalent to that travelled by the mirror.
The beams of the return means therefore lie in the widely open spaces. However, it is known that the depth of deep reactive ion etching depends on the surface area of the etched features. Features of smaller surface area are etched less deeply than features of larger dimensions. This phenomenon, known by the name xe2x80x9cload effectxe2x80x9d, is used when defining the beams of the return means in order to make two factors which seem a priori contradictory compatible, these being, on the one hand, the desired precision on the dimensions of the beams of the return means and, on the other hand, the width of the opening in which these beams are located.
This is because the cross section of the beams of the return means is a dominant parameter in determining the stiffness of these return means. To obtain a precise stiffness, it is therefore necessary to control the cross section of these beams of the return means. To do this, the precise contour of the beams of the return means is defined by features of very small width. Outside these features, the small protection beams, which will be more exposed to the deep reactive ion etching in the relatively open space which surrounds the beams of the return means, are produced. The load effect phenomena during deep reactive ion etching therefore are observed in the narrow features separating the beams of the return means from the small protection beams.
The reactive ion etching depth will be different on the two sides of the small protection beams. Thus, on that side of the small protection beams facing the open space in which the return means will move, the etching will be relatively deep. On the other hand, on that side of the small protection beams facing the beams of the return means, this etching will be substantially shallower, so as to produce a beam of small thickness, and therefore having a more controlled and therefore optimized stiffness. The use of small protection beams therefore makes it possible to create an additional etching depth level and to control the cross section and therefore the stiffness of the beams of the return means.
Since the small protection beams are joined to the beam of the return means by linking regions of very small dimensions, they play virtually no part in determining the stiffness of the beam of the return means, but act as weights distributed over the length of this beam.
The process according to the invention can be employed for obtaining various types of optical components. These may be components of the variable attenuator or obturator type, which possess two collinear optical propagation guides.
There may also be components of the switch type incorporating two pairs of collinear propagation guides, one pair being perpendicular to the other. In this case, the mirror moves in a plane at 45xc2x0 with respect to the propagation guide.
By optimizing the compromise between the stiffness of the return means and the volume of electrodes, an actuator of substantially smaller size than that of the prior art is obtained. It is therefore possible to bring the optical propagation guides closer together in a manner sufficient to produce multiple switches based on elementary cells in the form of matrices, by increasing the concentration and the integration density of the elementary switching cells.

Process for fabricating a microelectromechanical optical component


Provided is a black pigment that enables pattern formation of pixel division layer while suppressing generation of development residue. The black pigment comprises (a) a core containing at least one organic black pigment selected from the group consisting of benzodifuranone-based black pigments, perylene-based black pigments, azo-based black pigments, and isomers thereof and (b) a coating layer containing silica and/or a metal oxide and/or a metal hydroxide.

Many products using organic electroluminescence (EL) display are recently developed in the field of display apparatus such as smartphone, tablet PC, and TV having a flat panel display. An organic EL display typically has a first electrode of a light-transmitting silver/magnesium alloy or the like on the light extraction side of the light-emitting device and a second electrode of indium tin oxide (ITO) or the like and a metal reflective layer of silver/copper alloy or the like on the side of the light-emitting device that is not the light extraction side, and since the pixels of each of the red/blue/green light-emitting device are divided, patterned pixel division layer having an insulating layer function is provided between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are typically formed by sputtering, and the pixel division layer is required to have a pattern morphology with a small taper angle in order to prevent breakage of the first electrode.
An organic EL display is a self-luminescent device which emits light by using the energy generated by re-contact of the electron from the cathode and the electron-hole from the anode. Accordingly, visibility and contrast are lost upon entrance of the exterior light such as sunlight by the reflection of the exterior light, and there is a need for a technology capable of reducing the reflection of the exterior light. Typical such technology of reducing the exterior light reflection is the one wherein a pixel division layer having a light-shielding property is formed by using a photosensitive composition. Typical colorants used for providing the light-shielding property are organic black pigments having high insulation and coloring capability, and examples include bis-oxodihydroindolylene-benzodifuranone which is a benzodifuranone-based pigment (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Other disclosed organic black pigments include perylene-based black pigment (see, for example, Patent Document 2) and azo-based black pigment (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Black pigment, method for producing same, pigment dispersion liquid, photosensitive composition and cured product of said photosensitive composition


Note bending in a MIDI interfaceable fretted string instrument is detected by sensing relative phase shifting in an echo return of an ultrasonic acoustic signal propagated along each string. The delay between the propagated signal and echo return is indicative of the musical note obtainable by playing the string. The propagation and sensing may be accomplished by means of a single piezoelectric transducer coupled to each string, and the same transducer can sense string vibration in the audible frequency range indicative of the timing and amplitude of a musical note played on the string.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains generally to the field of electronic musical instruments and is more particularly directed to a novel sound pick-up for string instruments and associated electronic circuits for encoding the pick-up output in M.I.D.I. compatible serial digital format for driving a sound synthesizer or other sound processing system equipped with a standard M.I.D.I. interface.
2. State of the Prior Art
Sound or music synthesizers have come into widespread use and are available from a growing number of manufacturers. While the various models currently offered differ in terms of capability flexibility and complexity many are equipped with a M.I.D.I. (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) interface, a unified data communication standard for electronic musical intruments which enables systems of different manufacture to be used together. For example two or more synthesizers of different make may be simultaneously controlled or played from a single keyboard.
At present, the keyboard remains the most commonly used input device to MIDI sound synthesizers. However, many performers and musicians are more proficient with or have a preference for non-keyboard musical instruments, particularly among the great numbers of guitar players. A need therefore exists for MIDI interfaceable string instruments and more precisely, for sound pick-up systems for musical string instruments having a MIDI compatible output.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,255 issued Aug. 19, 1986 to Hayashi et al. and other patents cited therein, particularly U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,852 issued Nov. 9, 1982 to Suenaga, are directed to guitars for use with a sound synthesizer. These guitars derive an input signal to the synthesizer by detecting the fundamental frequency of a vibrating guitar string. This requires that the guitar pick-up be connected to circuits capable of accurately discriminating between the fundamental and the multiple harmonic frequencies simultaneously generated when any of the guitar strings is played. In practice however, it happens under certain circumstances that the system erroneously identifies a harmonic frequency as the fundamental, and thus causes the sound synthesizer to generate an output note other than the one actually played by the performer. In addition, the currently available MIDI guitar sound pick-up systems are excessively costly and not widely affordable.
A continuing need therefore exists for more reliable and lower cost MIDI interfaceable pick-up systems for musical string instruments.

Acoustic detection of note bending in stringed M.I.D.I. compatible musical instruments