A pre-existing reference number on a legacy website provided by a legacy website provider may be supplemented with an enhanced reference number capable of identifying an internet user engaged in a web session on the legacy website. A check may be made to establish whether the internet user's computing device has a state object, including a web user ID (wUID) unique to the internet user's computing device. A processor may create an enhanced reference number based on the pre-existing reference number upon receipt of a request, and an association between the wUID and the enhanced reference number may be stored in a database accessible by the website provider. The enhanced reference number may be made available to the user by displaying it in place of the pre-existing reference number on the legacy website via the web session.

In the fields of internet shopping, website error management and the provision of customer services, the customer may be an internet user, for example. For example, in these fields, a vendor may provide a website which is navigated by a user and which allows the user to contact the vendor by telephone, for example.
Transactions prompted by the use of an internet shopping website may be completed offline rather than through the website. In this way, the internet shopping website may be used as an initial source of information for a shopper who prefers to complete a purchase by another means, typically by discussing a purchase with an agent.
There are various reasons for this practice. Firstly, shoppers may want additional information about a product advertised on an internet shopping website which is not available on the website. This is particularly the case for expensive or niche items, about which a shopper may require further information before making a purchase to enable an informed choice, for example.
Internet shoppers who find themselves in such a predicament may make contact with the vendor and explain the circumstances to an agent. Whilst ultimately achieving the desired end result, this interaction with an agent typically involves discussing information already given or received via the internet shopping website and, to that extent, is tedious and time consuming for the shopper.
In addition to the disincentives for the shopper, this practice involves a great deal of extra work for the vendor, which must operate a well-staffed call centre at great expense to process the shoppers' enquiries. Any reduction in the time taken to process such enquiries will result in improved efficiency and reduced cost for the vendor, as well as a better service for the shopper.
Internet shoppers may have unique identities recognizable to the internet shopping website for assisting a shopper to purchase items. Such identities may be used to store contact information and bank details of the shopper, for example, and are typically accessible with a username and password known only to the shopper.
Once an internet shopper has created an identity, it is often possible for an agent to gain access to the identity to find out the stored information without needing to consult the shopper. However, the vendor must still be given enough information by the shopper to locate the identity within a database. A shopper may be reluctant to divulge personal information (particularly their internet usernames) to an agent over the telephone, particularly if the shopper is merely enquiring of a particular product. Accordingly, it is very difficult to associate a shopper with his or her identity during a subsequent interaction.
Sophisticated internet shopping sites may track the shopping trends of a shopper, based on the items they look at and purchase using the internet shopping website. Such schemes enable internet shopping sites to make recommendations to a shopper or even to tailor adverts used on the sites to the particular shopper, based on their preferences.
Such tracking techniques may be used to tailor the display of the internet shopping website to the particular shopper, to increase the likelihood of successfully attracting the shopper to consider an alternative product. These techniques may not help the shopper to find further information about a particular product. Nor do they allow agents to tailor their service to the shopper in a subsequent interaction unless the shopper has created an identity on the website and is prepared to divulge that identity to the agent.
Legacy website providers may use reference numbers for referring to specific products or services. Such website providers may not wish to redevelop their websites to provide enhanced services such as user tracking since it would be particularly laborious to do so.

Accessing information from an internet user's web session


The present invention is a cell-based method of identifying a set of signal transduction proteins having an intracellular localization pattern responsive to toxic compounds. The method requires identifying and screening an initial set of signal transduction proteins against a set of toxic compounds, and determining changes in intracellular localization pattern of each of the proteins. Proteins whose changes in intracellular localization pattern are redundant are discarded from the initial set, and new proteins are added to provide a new set of proteins. I repeat the method steps with new sets of proteins until the set of proteins provides me at least 5 principal components with respect to the range of compounds marketed as small organic molecules.

The value of recognizing the toxicity of compounds intended as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foods, or other applications where the compounds come into contact with humans or other animals is evident. Because of ethical considerations, not to mention economic ones, of using animal models to predict toxicity against humans, a number of surrogate toxicity tests have been developed permitting more efficient and less controversial approaches to evaluating the capacity of compounds to impact the viability or well being of organisms. For example, a human keratinocyte cell line (SVK-14) has been validated as a model for the effects of mustard vesicants on basal epidermal keratinocytes (Smith, C. N., et al., Human Exp Toxicol (1997) 16:247-253). Normal human epidermal keratinocytes in vitro have also been used to monitor sulfur mustard damage to nuclei and mitochondria (Cook, J. R., et al., Toxicol Pathol (1997) 25:481-486). Apoptosis and necrotic cell death have also been studied as a result of contact with toxic compounds (Kressel, M., et al., Cell Tissue Res (1994) 278:549-556).
The cosmetics industry has been particularly concerned with substituting in vitro tests for in vivo evaluations of toxins. LeClaire, J. et al. Toxicol Lett (1998) 102-103:575-579 describes the experience of L'Oreal in substituting an in vitro system whereby Langerhans cells are introduced into reconstructed epidermis as an alternative test for skin sensitization. The article states that L'Oreal was able totally to ban animal testing on cosmetic products. However, Benassi, L. et al. Contact Dermatitis (1999) 40:38-44 describes a similar attempt to provide a model for whole animal testing. The validity of a monolayer culture system of human keratinocytes was used as a surrogate for in vivo acute skin irritancy tests for several compounds. The results did not entirely correlate, and the authors conclude that this suggests that the keratinocyte monolayer cell culture technique cannot directly replace in vivo methods. Further, Curren, R. et al. in an abstract published in Environ Health Perspect (1998) 106 (Suppl. 2):419-425 reviews the current state of in vitro testing and concludes that in order to progress in the areas of eye and skin irritation, it is necessary to expand knowledge of toxic markers in humans and the biochemical basis of irritation. Thus, attempts to replace in vivo testing with in vitro models have not been entirely successful.
Other approaches will be familiar to the practitioner. Gene expression profiles obtained in response to treating cells or tissues with toxins or other compounds are commonly used as indices of the effects of these compounds. Gene expression can be evaluated either by assessing the pattern of distribution of various mRNAs or by looking directly at the protein levels or activities that result. U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,231 (Xenometrix) discloses a surrogate marker comprising detection of gene transcription from any of several disclosed "stress response" promoters. It is desirable to create surrogates for other kinds of toxicity, such as hypertension, for example, which requires correlating molecular and physiological phenotypes. One such surrogate is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,588 (Acacia) which discloses methods for drug screening by providing a plurality of separately isolated cells, each having an expression system with a different transcriptional regulatory element. Contacting this plurality of cells with a drug candidate and detecting reporter gene product signals from each cell provides a profile of response to the drug with regard to this multiplicity of regulatory elements. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,888 (Acacia) describes a system for generating and analyzing a stimulus response output from a collection of signals. The description includes artificial intelligence systems such as expert systems and neural networks for this purpose. These methods, however, rely on gene transcription which is a downstream effect from protein localization as provided hereinbelow.
Since mRNA abundance is now known to be poorly correlated with protein abundance in many instances (Gygi, S. P., et al. Mol Cell Biol (1999) 19:1720-1730 which is incorporated herein by reference), direct examination of the proteins is useful. Standard methods to analyze thousands of proteins in parallel, typically using 2-D gels and mass spectroscopy, are complicated by the frequent occurrence of post-translational modifications. Since the functional impact of many of these modifications is to change subcellular localization, direct visualization of protein location simplifies the analysis. Since degradation can be considered a translocation to the void compartment (typically, via the proteosome degradation machinery), abundance of the protein can be included in the same analysis. Thus, as used here, "intracellular localization" includes a determination of protein levels and changes therein.
Structure activity relationships of compounds having similar toxicities have also been used to predict the behavior of compounds of analogous structures. In addition, cell-based high throughput assays wherein a flow cytometer can be used to identify dead cells, especially after staining with a membrane-impermeable dye, can be used to assess a response. None of these methods is based on assessing intracellular localization.
It has previously been suggested to use multivariate statistical methods to analyze toxicity data obtained from a multiplicity of assays. The National Cancer Institute has assayed over 60,000 compounds for cytotoxicity against 60 cell lines, thus creating an oncology oriented database. Compounds with similar mechanisms of cellular destruction show strong correlations in their activity profiles across the panel. For example, microtubule disrupting agents are particularly effective in some of the cell lines and particularly ineffective on others. A candidate compound which shows a similar pattern has a high probability of exerting an effect on microtubules. This panel was also evaluated with respect to specific responses to the compounds, such as the expression of particular proteins, for example, p53. A cluster of proteins was identified whose expression is correlated with poor efficacy of alkylating agents, but not correlated with efficacy of antitubulin drugs. Thus, by testing a candidate against the 60 cell lines and evaluating the expression of this cluster of proteins, it would be possible to predict whether the compound would or would not be an effective alkylating agent.
Many toxicities encountered clinically affect only a small fraction of the population, but the undetectable effects on the remainder of the population are undoubtedly more widespread. Therefore, assays which assess damage below the clinical threshold and below the threshold detectable by gene transcription are desirable.
There remains a need to develop systems that can serve as accurate surrogates for predicting a wider range of potential toxicity of candidate compounds, assessing the nature of the mechanism by which they exert their toxic effects, and evaluating efficacy of treatment protocols. The present invention offers such a system.

Method of identifying a useful set of signal transduction proteins from a multiplicity of potentially useful proteins


A planar backplane is arranged in a horizontal orientation in a server configured for rack mounting. The planar backplane is configured to accept and mount a plurality of disk drives in a vertical orientation in a dense server arrangement.

Rack-optimized servers can have severe volumetric constraints resulting from market demand for multiple features and extensive functionality implemented within a chassis with a limited vertical height and limited depth. For example, a chassis is configured to house hard disk drives, Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) cards, processors, memory, and others. Chassis depth is commonly defined and limited by cable management constraints. For example, standard 36-inch deep racks may be the maximum allowable in light of bulkiness and/or electromagnetic interference reduction for rack input/output and power cable constraints.
Typically, hard disk drives make electrical and power connection to server electronics via a vertical backplane as shown in FIG. 9A. The arrangement consumes a significant amount of the total available chassis depth due to the alignment of the longest dimension of the hard disk drive with chassis depth. FIGS. 9A and 9B show approximate volumes of two standard versions of hard disk drives used in servers. For example, a conventional four-inch format drive has a longest dimension or length (L4) of 7.3 inches, a width (W4) of 4.3 inches, and a thickness (T4) of 1.05 inches. A conventional 2.5 format drive has a longest dimension or length (L2.5) of 5.9 inches, a width (W2.5) of 3 inches, and a thickness (T2.5) of 0.62 inches. A typical arrangement may have a 0.045 inch gap between drives.
A further difficulty with the conventional vertical backplane arrangement is that the backplane is a solid impediment positioned essentially perpendicular to airflow pathways of cooling fans. Accordingly, the vertical backplane forms a blockage which obstructs airflow, creating a significant airflow resistance.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences includes accessing a user-definable preferences list that identifies a plurality of channels from a plurality of different sources. One of the plurality of identified channels is selected for provision to a user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the field of entertainment systems. More particularly, this invention relates to allowing users to channel surf through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences.
2. Background
A recent trend in the electronics and computer industry is the convergence of computer systems and more traditional entertainment system components. Such convergence allows an increasingly broad range of information to be made available for system users over and above the broadcast television programming which has long been provided via conventional televisions. Accompanying this convergence is the expansion of television programming transport media (e.g., the mechanism or "pipe" via which the programming is transported to the television). While analog broadcasts and analog cable were once the standard transport media for television programming, digital cable and digital satellite systems are becoming more and more commonplace. Additionally, other transport media, such as digital broadcasts, are starting to appear as options for viewers.
Using different transport media has increased the number of sources from which television programming can be received, and thus has also increased the number of television programs available for viewing. These increases are due to both the increase in number of transport media, as well as the additional bandwidth capabilities of some of the newer types of transport media. Additionally, other "local" sources (e.g., video cassette recorders) can also supply programming, thereby further increasing the programming options available to users. Furthermore, this convergence of computer systems and more traditional entertainment system components can result in different types of programming becoming available to users. For example, analog radio broadcasts or digital cable music broadcasts can be made available to the user through such convergence systems.
However, one problem presented with convergence systems is the ease in which a user can choose from the large number of programming choices available. While a user may have had a choice of a dozen local broadcast channels or 30-40 cable channels a few years ago, the additional transport media currently being used has increased programming options into the hundreds, and will commonly be in the thousands in the not-too-distant future. The time required for the user to "surf" through all such channels from a variety of different sources becomes burdensome, thereby reducing the user's enjoyment of the system. Furthermore, in many situations a user will simply be interested in watching and/or listening to the programming, and not be particularly interested in what the source (e.g., analog broadcast or analog cable) is.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved way for a user to surf through channels from a variety of different sources.

Method and apparatus for channel surfing through multiple sources based on user-definable preferences


To provide a method for producing an oyster meat essence that more amply incorporates an antioxidant substance with high ORAC value as follows. A portion of an oyster meat extract more amply incorporating an antioxidant substance with high ORAC value is selected. An extraction method that allows incorporating further large amount of antioxidant substance with high ORAC value is employed. The beneficial oyster meat extract can be efficiently extracted in large amounts.

Recently, recognition that an essence of an oyster meat is an extremely superior product including many beneficial substances as a dietary supplement product is growing day by day.
Currently, for example, a dietary supplement product or similar product regarding an oyster meat essence extracted by a wide variety of extraction methods has come to be sold (Patent document 1).
Especially, among minerals, whose insufficient dietary intake has become a problem, trace elements of taurine, zinc, and selenium are indispensable for humans, but is prone to being missed. Accordingly, taking in an appropriate amount of the minerals in daily living habits is desired.
Diabetes is a disease that weakens an action of "insulin", which is a hormone reducing a blood sugar, and abnormally increases sugar content in blood due to insufficient insulin. Minerals, such as zinc and selenium, help "action of blood sugar reduction" performed by this insulin. As these minerals are said to "have an insulin action", it is recognized that actually replenishing these minerals to a diabetes patient reduces the blood-sugar level of the diabetes patient. The oyster meat incorporates a large amount of these active ingredients.
To extract the essence of the oyster meat incorporating a large amount of the active ingredient, the following is desired. The oyster meat essence that richly incorporates human body-friendly minerals such as zinc and selenium required for the human body nowadays and beneficial substances, for example, vitamin, taurine, glycogen, and protein in a balanced manner is efficiently extracted. Additionally, a good oyster meat essence is produced. The inventors have continuously invented methods for producing the oyster meat essence satisfying these requirements and obtained patents on the method.
Recently, it has been confirmed that the oyster meat also incorporates a large amount of antioxidant substance with a so-called high antioxidative property, which has recently attracted attention. The inventors of the present invention further clarify the above-described matters through various studies and experiments by the inventors of the present invention. Especially, development of a method for producing an oyster meat essence that more amply incorporates a large amount of antioxidant substance with a high antioxidative potency and ORAC value has been strongly desired.
Especially, the inventors of the present invention have recently been studying on the portion of the oyster meat including a large amount of the antioxidant substance with a high antioxidative potency and ORAC value, and the method for extracting the oyster meat essence that incorporates a large amount of antioxidant substance with a high antioxidative potency and ORAC value. The inventors have been conducting inventive and creative activities regarding the production method where an oyster meat extract incorporating a large amount of antioxidant substance with a high antioxidative potency and ORAC value can be efficiently extracted, that is, the production method where the oyster meat essence incorporating a large amount of antioxidant substance with a high antioxidative potency and ORAC value can be appropriately extracted and produced.
So-called reactive oxygen is generated by aerobic life and causes oxidation of lipid, protein, and nucleic acid, thus damaging a cell. Usually, the oxidation level of a living body is maintained substantially constant by a balance between a reactive oxygen producing system and a scavenging system using an antioxidant substance. The balance is lost due to various factors such as drugs, radiation, ischemia, or similar cause. An inclination to the reactive oxygen producing system is referred to as oxidant stress.
It is considered that accumulation of this oxidant stress is one cause of various diseases such as cancer, arteriosclerotic disease, an ischemia/reperfusion injury, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, a neurological disorder such as an Alzheimer's disease and a Parkinson's disease; and aging.
An oyster, for example, Crassostreagigas is a bivalve belonging to a family Ostreidae in the order Pterioida. The habitat covers the entire East Asia region including Japan. Nowadays, the Crassostreagigas is also cultivated in France and Australia, and is renowned as the most eaten oyster in the world. Since it is highly nutritious, the oyster has been used for food since ancient times. As described above, the oyster meat essence extracted from the oyster meat includes a large amount of minerals such as calcium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, or similar material as well as glycogen and protein. Furthermore, the oyster meat essence incorporates the large amount of the antioxidant substance with the high antioxidative potency and ORAC value.
As a value indicating the extent of the antioxidative potency, a so-called ORAC value is generally used. The ORAC value, for example, is said to be a value extremely frequently used for food product and supplement typically in the United States of America. In other words, the ORAC value is a value of "Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity". The ORAC value is an index made by analyzing, and converting into a numerical value, to what extent a food product or supplement has "the power to absorb reactive oxygen (antioxidative potency)." That is why the ORAC value is said to be a value indicating strength of antioxidative potency.
The reactive oxygen is one kind of so-called free radical and is generated when oxygen is taken up by respiration. If the reactive oxygen in a body increases too much due to illumination with ultraviolet light, stress, smoking, or similar cause, the cell is damaged. This is said to be a cause of wrinkles, liver spots, and other aging, and a cause of lifestyle-related disease such as diabetes.
Daily taking in a food product with a high antioxidative potency or similar product is a key to remove reactive oxygen, which is a cause of aging.
The "ORAC value" is a reference for taking in the food product with a high antioxidative potency. The higher the value, the higher the antioxidative potency is. Taking the food product with the high ORAC value allows protection from aging and a disease.
[Patent document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H10-136946

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for producing oyster meat essence containing large amount of antioxidants having high antioxidative power and high ORAC value

Abstract: Object

Abstract: An oyster meat is stored in an extraction container where water is accumulated. An oyster meat essence is extracted to generate an extract liquid. The extract liquid is injected to a centrifuge, and concurrently the centrifuge is rotated at a centrifugal acceleration where an antioxidant substance with high antioxidative potency and ORAC value is separated and removed from the extract liquid. The antioxidant substance with higher antioxidative potency and ORAC value is separated. Thus, the oyster meat essence incorporating a large amount of antioxidant substance with high antioxidative potency and ORAC value is obtained.


An optical fiber has a section of the first kind having a chromatic dispersion not less than a given positive value x and a negative chromatic dispersion slope at a given wavelength and a section of the second kind has a chromatic dispersion not more than xe2x88x92x and a positive chromatic dispersion slope at the same wavelength. Another optical fiber has a chromatic dispersion higher than a positive value x and a negative chromatic dispersion slope at a given wavelength band.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber suitable as an optical transmission path and a method for making such an optical fiber.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, a dispersion managed fiber as an optical transmission path composed of plural fiber sections having different fiber characteristics at respective sections and can solve problems not solvable by an optical fiber composed of a single kind of section is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,537, for example. In this dispersion managed fiber, a dispersion managed transmission path is constituted of sections having a positive chromatic dispersion and sections having a negative chromatic dispersion, so that the deterioration in transmission characteristics due to the nonlinear optical interaction among optical signals having different wavelengths and the distortion of optical pulses due to total chromatic dispersion can be reduced simultaneously.
Among methods for making such a dispersion managed fiber, following two methods are provided, for example. The first is a method which changes the refractive index of the core region along the fiber axis. For example, the core region is doped with such materials that the refractive index of core region changes by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The fiber is exposed to ultraviolet radiation after fiber drawing so as to obtain a desired refractive index. The second is a method which changes the diameter of the core region along the fiber axis.
However, both of the above-mentioned two methods have problems as follows. In the first method, usually, since the change in refractive index induced by exposure to ultraviolet radiation is approximately 10xe2x88x923 and hence is small, it is difficult to change the chromatic dispersion widely along the fiber axis. Accordingly, the absolute value of the local chromatic dispersion cannot be increased and hence, it is impossible to sufficiently suppress the nonlinear optical interaction among optical signals having different wavelengths. Further, it is also difficult to change the sign of the chromatic dispersion slope along the fiber axis so that the total chromatic dispersion slope increases. As a result, the wavelength bandwith sufficiently small total chromatic dispersion gets narrow and hence, the capacity of the transmission path becomes small.
Further, in the second method, it is difficult to have the cross-sectional distribution of refractive index change drastically along the fiber axis. To realize a negative chromatic dispersion slope, the refractive index distribution having a depressed portion, i. e., a refractive index distribution having, between the core region having a high refractive index and the outer cladding region having a low refractive index, an inner cladding region (the depressed portion) whose refractive index is lower than the outer cladding region is suitable. On the other hand, to realize a positive chromatic dispersion slope, the refractive index distribution having no depressed portion, i. e., the refractive index distribution where the refractive index takes the minimum in the outer cladding region is suitable. However, it is usually difficult to make a preform where a section has a refractive index distribution having a depressed portion and another section has a refractive index distribution having no depressed portion. Accordingly, the absolute value of total chromatic dispersion slope becomes large and the wavelength band with sufficiently small absolute value of total chromatic dispersion becomes narrow.
Further, as the change in the chromatic dispersion along the fiber axis becomes steeper, the fabrication of the fiber becomes more difficult. For example, when the preform diameter is 50 mm and the fiber diameter is 125 xcexcm, to realize a change in chromatic dispersion at a period of 640 m along the fiber axis, it is necessary to change the ratio of the core diameter to the cladding diameter in the preform at a period of 4 mm along the preform axis. Accordingly, in case of grinding the core preform, a minute processing technique becomes necessary, and in case of elongating the core preform, a highly position-selective heating technique becomes necessary. Further, the shorter the period of the change in the chromatic dispersion along the fiber axis, the number of the parts in the preform to be processed increases so that the fabrication becomes laborious.
Conventionally, there has been known a dispersion compensating fiber which has negative chromatic dispersion and negative chromatic dispersion slope to compensate for positive chromatic dispersion and positive chromatic dispersion slope as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,695. However, a dispersion compensating fiber having positive chromatic dispersion and negative chromatic dispersion slope has not been known and hence, it has been difficult to compensate for negative chromatic dispersion and positive chromatic dispersion slope. A dispersion managed fiber including sections having positive chromatic dispersion and negative chromatic dispersion slope and sections having negative chromatic dispersion and positive chromatic dispersion slope has not been known either. Accordingly, in the conventional dispersion managed fiber, locally-zero-dispersion wavelength, at which local chromatic dispersion becomes substantially zero, is present in the short wavelength side of the operating wavelength range. The band in the vicinity of this wavelength is not suitable for the wavelength division multiplexing transmission because of the deterioration of the transmission quality due to the four-wave mixing or the cross phase modulation and hence, the conventional dispersion managed fiber cannot expand its operating wavelength range to the short-wavelength side.
So-called microstructured optical fiber, which has a high degree of freedom in setting the local chromatic dispersion is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,236. This microstructured optical fiber has microstructures (usually voids) in a cladding region and it is possible to increase the effective refractive index difference between the core region and the cladding region. As a result, this optical fiber can realize large absolute value of the chromatic dispersion and small mode field diameter.
A method for manufacturing such a microstructured optical fiber is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,236, wherein tubes and a rod are bundled to form a preform from which a microstructured fiber is drawn. Another method of making a microstructured fiber is disclosed in the International Publication WO00/16141 wherein a plurality of rods of given shape are bundled to form a preform from which a microstructured fiber is drawn.
In a microstructured optical fiber, to obtain desired characteristics with respect to chromatic dispersion or mode field diameter, it is important to accurately control the area fraction of void in the fiber, which is the ratio of the area occupied by the void to the area of a given region in the fiber cross section.
However, in the conventional method in U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,236, it is difficult to accurately control the area fraction of void because of the gaps among the tubes. To prevent the gaps among tubes from remaining in the drawn fiber, it is necessary to raise the pressures in the voids of the tubes above those in the gaps. However, such an operation is difficult because it requires selective manipulation of pressure in the preform. On the other hand, when the fiber is drawn so that the gaps among tubes remain as the voids in the fiber, it becomes unnecessary to perform the selective manipulation of pressure. However, it is difficult to maintain close contact of tubes so that the structure in the cross section of the preform is tend to be disordered. The same problems arise also in the method disclosed in the above-mentioned International Publication WO00/16141.
Further, to enhance the strength of the drawn optical fiber and to prevent the fiber from breaking during fiber drawing, it is desirable to raise the drawing temperature. However, when the temperature of the preform rises, the viscosity of the preform is decreased and the voids are apt to be collapsed. Accordingly, increase in the pressure inside the voids is necessary to raise the drawing temperature. However, as mentioned above, since selective manipulation of pressure is difficult in the conventional technique which forms the preform with tubes and/or rods, increase in the pressure inside the voids also elevates that in the gaps, so that the drawn fiber tends to have unintentional voids corresponding to the gaps in the preform and the microstructure in the cross-section of the drawn fiber tends to be disordered. As a result, it is impracticable to enhance the strength of the fiber by raising the drawing temperature.
As described above, conventionally, it has been difficult to fabricate a microstructured optical fiber which realize optical properties like local chromatic dispersion and mode field diameter as desired. It is much more difficult to realize the dispersion managed optical fiber whose optical properties are deliberately varied along the fiber length.
The present invention has been made in view of the above and it is an object of the present invention to provide a dispersion managed fiber with small total chromatic dispersion slope and a dispersion managed fiber which enables expansion of the operating wavelength band to the short wavelength side, a dispersion compensating fiber which realizes compensation of negative chromatic dispersion and positive chromatic dispersion slope, and a method of making such optical fibers easily and securely.
That is, the optical fiber according to the present invention is an optical fiber composed of at least a section of the first kind having chromatic dispersion not less than a given positive value x and negative chromatic dispersion slope at a given wavelength, and at least a section of the second kind having chromatic dispersion not more than xe2x88x92x and positive chromatic dispersion slope at said given wavelength.
According to such a constitution, distortion of optical pulse due to total chromatic dispersion and deterioration in transmission quality due to the nonlinear optical phenomena can be suppressed over a wide wavelength range, which can be used for the operating wavelength band. Further, the wavelength band adjacent to the operating band in the short wavelength side can be made free of the locally-zero dispersion wavelength at which local chromatic dispersion substantially becomes zero. In the wavelength band in the vicinity of the locally-zero dispersion wavelength, deterioration of transmission quality due to the above-mentioned nonlinear optical phenomena is liable to occur and hence such a wavelength band is not suited for wavelength division multiplexing. However, according to the optical fiber of the present invention, since the wavelength band in the short wavelength side of the operating band can be made free of the locally-zero dispersion wavelength, it becomes possible to expand the operating wavelength band toward the short wavelength side to meet an increase in demand.
Such an optical fiber can be realized by, for example, an optical fiber composed of a core and a cladding which surrounds the core and has a mean refractive index lower than that of the core, at least one of the core and cladding includes regions spaced apart in cross section and made of sub mediums whose refractive indices are different from those of main mediums constituting the optical fiber, and at least one of the cross-sectional areas and refractive indices of the regions made of the sub mediums change along the fiber axis.
Here, the main mediums are mediums which can practicably constitute an optical fiber by themselves such as silica glass. An optical fiber has to contain at least and not more than one region made of the main medium. On the other hand, the sub mediums are present in regions surrounded by the main mediums may be mediums which can not practicably constitute an optical fiber by themselves, such as gas. Vacuum also can be employed as sub medium.
By changing at least one of the cross-sectional areas and the refractive indices of regions made of the sub mediums along the fiber axis, a large change in chromatic dispersion along the fiber axis can be realized so that large local chromatic dispersion is realized whereby the nonlinear optical interaction among optical signals having different wavelengths can be sufficiently suppressed. Further, it becomes easy to drastically change the cross-sectional distribution of refractive index along the fiber axis. Accordingly, an optical fiber where the cross-sectional distribution of refractive index has a depressed portion in some fiber sections and does not have a depressed portion in other fiber sections can be easily realized. As a result, change in the sign of chromatic dispersion slope along the fiber axis can be realized, so that total chromatic dispersion slope can be sufficiently made small. Accordingly, the wavelength band with small absolute value of total chromatic dispersion can be broadened, resulting in increased transmission capacity.
It is preferable that the chromatic dispersion at this given wavelength is larger than 1 ps/nm/km in the section of the first kind and smaller than xe2x88x921 ps/nm/km in the section of the second kind and the total length of the fiber sections whose absolute values of the chromatic dispersion are below 1 ps/nm/km is less than {fraction (1/10)} of the full length of the optical fiber.
In this manner, the lengths of respective fiber sections and the chromatic dispersion values are designed so that the absolute value of local chromatic dispersion becomes large and the absolute value of total chromatic dispersion becomes small. As a result, an optical fiber where the deterioration of transmission quality due to the nonlinear optical phenomena among optical signals having different wavelengths and the distortion of optical pulses due to total chromatic dispersion are both reduced can be realized. Such an optical fiber can be suitably used as a transmission path for a large capacity optical communication.
Here, it is preferable that sections which do not contain sub mediums are spaced apart along the fiber axis. Such an optical fiber can be cleaved at the section which does not contain sub mediums in cross section and spliced to another optical fiber by fusion. Splicing is difficult in the conventional microstructured optical fiber because the microstructures make it difficult to observe the core for alignment and because the microstructures tend to be deformed and/or collapsed due to fusion resulting in weakened optical confinement and increased optical attenuation. On the other hand, in the present fiber, the problems of the deformation or collapse of microstructures due to fusion and difficulty in observing the core do not arise, so that fusion splice can be easily performed and optical attenuation at the splice can be made small.
It is preferable that at least one of the cross-sectional areas and the refractive indices of the regions made of the sub mediums change at a given period along the fiber axis and the other are uniform or change at same period along the fiber axis. According to such a constitution, an optical fiber having the local chromatic dispersion periodically changed along the fiber axis can be realized. In such an optical fiber, even when the fiber length is changed by an integer times of the period of the dispersion change, the wavelength at which total chromatic dispersion becomes zero is not changed. Since the change of the chromatic dispersion characteristics of the transmission path due to the change of the length of the transmission path can be reduced, it becomes easy to change the length of the transmission path without affecting the transmission quality. It is preferable that this period exceeds 1 m.
It is preferable that the optical fiber has at least a transition section of a given length or more where at least one of the cross-sectional areas and the refractive indices of the regions made of the sub mediums change continuously along the fiber axis and the other are uniform or change continuously along the fiber axis. According to such a constitution, change in the cross-sectional area and the refractive index distribution along the fiber axis can be made sufficiently mild so that the loss due to the mode coupling at the transition sections can be reduced. As a result, the transmission loss across the whole fiber can be reduced.
The optical fiber may be constituted such that the main medium is silica glass and the sub medium is air. According to such a constitution, by adjusting the furnace temperature or pressure in voids during fiber drawing, the cross-sectional areas of the voids can be easily changed along the fiber axis. Since the relative index difference between silica glass and air is as large as approximately 35%, it is possible to drastically change the chromatic dispersion by changing the cross-sectional areas of the voids. As a result, the change of the chromatic dispersion characteristics along the fiber axis can be made more drastic than that in the conventional dispersion managed fiber. Further, since the transparency of silica glass and air is high, the transmission loss of the optical fiber can be suppressed.
Further, the optical fiber may have the chromatic dispersion not less than a positive value x and the negative chromatic dispersion slope at a given wavelength. According to such a constitution, it becomes possible to compensate for negative chromatic dispersion and positive chromatic dispersion.
Such an optical fiber can be realized by an optical fiber composed of a core and a cladding surrounding the core and having a lower mean refractive index than that of the core, wherein at least one of the core and the cladding has regions spaced apart in cross section and made of sub mediums whose refractive indices are different from those of main mediums constituting the core and the cladding.
According to such a constitution, large waveguide dispersion can be realized so that an optical fiber having positive chromatic dispersion and negative chromatic dispersion slope can be realized. Further, the absolute values of chromatic dispersion and chromatic dispersion slope can be made large, so that the fiber length required for compensation of dispersion and dispersion slope can be shortened.
The optical fiber of the present invention can be made by a method for making an optical fiber having voids extending along the fiber axis, comprising the steps of preparing the preform having a plurality of voids whose cross-sectional areas are uniform along its axis, and drawing the optical fiber from this preform, wherein a means to measure the area fraction of voids in the drawn optical fiber, a means to adjust the pressure in the voids of the preform and a means to feedback the measured area fraction of voids to adjusting means are included.
The cross-sectional areas of voids in the drawn optical fiber depend on the pressure in the voids during fiber drawing. Accordingly, by adjusting the pressure in voids during the fiber drawing, the cross-sectional areas of the voids in the drawn optical fiber can be varied as desired. Further, since it is unnecessary to change the cross-sectional structure of the preform along its axis, the optical fiber can be easily fabricated compared to the conventional fabrication technique. Further, since the pressure in voids can be changed rapidly, the structure in which the cross-sectional distribution of the refractive index of the fiber changes steeply along the fiber axis can be easily fabricated. As a result, the method is suitable as a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned optical fiber according to the present invention. Further, since the area fraction of the voids in the drawn optical fiber is measured and the result of the measurement is feedbacked to the pressure adjusting means, the fluctuation in the structure of the drawn optical fiber along its axis due to the fluctuation in the structure of the preform along its axis and the temporal fluctuation in the fiber drawing environment can be suppressed, whereby an optical fiber with desired optical characteristics can be fabricated with high yields. The area fraction of the voids is defined in the cross-section of a preform or a fiber as the ratio of the total area of the voids to the area of the cross section.
Alternatively, the method of making an optical fiber according to the present invention is a method of making an optical fiber which contains a plurality of regions made of sub mediums whose refractive indices differ from those of main mediums constituting the optical fiber comprising the steps of preparing a preform having a plurality of regions made of sub mediums whose cross-sectional areas are constant along the preform axis, and drawing the optical fiber from this preform, wherein a means to adjust the heating condition through varying at least one of the temperature of the drawing furnace for heating the preform and the time length for the fiber to pass the drawing furnace is included.
Change in the cross-sectional areas of the sub-medium regions during fiber drawing depends on the temperature in the drawing furnace and the time length to heat the preform. By changing at least either of the temperature in the drawing furnace and the time length to heat the preform, it is possible to change the cross-sectional areas of the sub-mediums in the drawn optical fiber along the fiber axis. As a result, the above-mentioned optical fiber according to the present invention can be favorably fabricated.
Here, it is desirable to measure the area fraction of voids or sub-medium regions in the drawn optical fiber, and feedback control the temperature in the drawing furnace and/or the time for heating the preform with the area fraction of voids or sub-medium regions thus measured. According to such an operation, the fluctuation in the structure of the drawn optical fiber along its axis due to the fluctuation in the structure of the preform along its axis and temporal fluctuation in the fiber drawing environment can be suppressed, whereby an optical fiber with desired optical characteristics can be fabricated with high yields.
For obtaining the area fraction of voids or sub-medium regions in the drawn optical fiber, the following means can be employed. In the first means, the speed at which the preform is supplied, the speed at which the fiber is drawn and the fiber diameter during fiber drawing are measured, and the area fraction of voids (or sub-medium regions) in the drawn optical fiber is calculated from these measured values, the preform diameter and the area fraction of voids (or sub-medium regions) in the preform, wherein the latter two quantities are measured before fiber drawing. Since the glass volume of the fiber drawn during a given period is equal to the glass volume of the preform supplied during the same period, the area fraction of the voids (or sub-medium regions) in the drawn fiber can be obtained from measurement of the above-mentioned quantities. In the second means, the speed at which the fiber is drawn, the fiber diameter, the drawing tension and the temperature in drawing furnace during fiber drawing are measured, and the area fraction of voids (or sub-medium regions) in the drawn optical fiber is calculated from these measured values. Since the drawing tension is related to the area fraction of voids (or sub-medium regions), the drawing speed, and the furnace temperature, the area fraction is obtained from measurement of the above-mentioned quantities. Since the area fraction of voids or the sub-medium regions can be grasped during the fiber drawing with above-mentioned techniques, an optical fiber with desired optical characteristics can be fabricated with high yields by them to the fiber drawing conditions.
Further, it is preferable that the method according to the present invention further comprises the preprocessing step of making a preform in a single piece, boring three or more voids in the preform along its axis, and cleaning the surfaces of the preform at the voids, and the drawing step includes a means to prevent contaminants from intruding into these voids.
The preform fabricated in this manner, different from those made by the conventional method of bundling tubes and/or rods, have no voids formed by the gaps among the tubes and/or the rods. Accordingly, it becomes easy to control the area fraction of voids in the drawn fiber to the desired amount, whereby an optical fiber with desired optical characteristics can be fabricated with high yields. Further, since the cleaning the wall surfaces of the voids is facilitated, the optical fiber with low transmission loss can be fabricated. And since the preform is formed in a single piece, the reproducibility of the fabrication can be also enhanced.
For boring the voids in the preform, it is desirable to insert boring appliances into the preform at a temperature above the glass softening point, and pull out the boring appliances from the preform immediately before or after lowering the temperature of the preform. Since the viscosity of the preform is low when it is bored, the energy required for boring can be reduced and thin and deep voids with uniform diameter can be easily formed so that the yields of the obtained optical fiber can be enhanced.
Alternatively, the method of making an optical fiber according to the present invention is a method of making an optical fiber which contains a plurality of regions made of sub mediums having refractive indices different from those of main mediums constituting the core and the cladding, comprising steps of injecting a medium whose refractive index is changeable on exposure to radiation into given regions of the optical fiber, and varying the refractive index of said injected medium along the fiber axis by exposing the fiber to radiation.
Here, since the desired refractive index profile can be obtained by injecting the medium having a large sensitivity of the refractive index change on exposure to radiation such as electromagnetic wave and electron ray, and thereafter exposing the optical fiber to radiation, compared with a case in which an optical fiber is constituted only by silica glass, the change in the cross-sectional distribution of refractive index along the fiber axis can be increased. Further, the change of the refractive index is performed not on the preform but on the fiber so that the optical fiber can be fabricated easily even with a structure where the change in the cross-sectional distribution of refractive index along the fiber axis is steep.
Alternatively, the method of making an optical fiber according to the present invention is a method for making an optical fiber having a plurality of voids, comprising the step of closing the voids by heating and fusing the drawn optical fiber selectively at a plurality of portions spaced apart along the fiber axis.
According to such a constitution, the cross-sectional areas of the voids along the fiber axis can be changed after drawing the optical fiber. According to the present invention, it is unnecessary to change the fiber drawing environment during fiber drawing to produce the change of the cross-sectional areas of the voids along the fiber axis and hence, the optical fiber can be easily fabricated. Further, the change of the refractive index is performed not on the preform but on the fiber so that the optical fiber can be fabricated easily even an optical fiber whose cross-sectional distribution of the refractive index distribution changes steeply along the fiber axis can be easily fabricated.

Optical fiber and method for making the same


A vortex control device for modifying a vortex in a fluid stemming from a wall is disclosed. The device includes a rotatable hub disposed within an opening in the wall. The device also includes an inlet port and an outlet port in the rotatable hub. The inlet port forms a suction port to suction fluid from or about the vortex, and the outlet port forms an injection port to inject fluid into or about the vortex.

Wall-bounded vortex arises in both nature and various engineering applications. There have been efforts to understand the dynamics of vortices and to develop techniques to modify their behavior. Flow control is often employed to diminish the appearance of vortices or alter the characteristics of vortices in a liquid. For example, in a sump pump, the emergence of submerged vortices may degrade pump performance. If the submerged vortices are sufficiently strong, these vortices can include strong low-pressure cores, which can entrain air/vapor along their vortex cores. If such hollow-core vortices are engulfed by the pump, they can cause unbalanced loading and vibration, leading to undesirable noise and possible structural failure. Strong wall-normal vortices appear inside and outside of many fluid-based machines as well as in natural settings, including tornadoes and hurricanes.
There have been numerous attempts to introduce passive vortex control techniques to prevent the generation of the aforementioned vortices or alter their pressure distributions. Yet passive control techniques do not offer the ability to adaptively adjust the control efforts to unsteady flow conditions (beyond design conditions). Moreover, some passive control devices are difficult to manufacture. Thus, these past efforts have shortcomings in offering reliable techniques to modify the pressure distribution of these vortices. Designing a more efficient and flexible vortex control strategy remains a challenge.

Systems and methods for actively controlling a vortex in a fluid

THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.


The present invention is characterized in comprising a semiconductor substrate, an embedded impurity layer of a first conductive type provided in the semiconductor substrate, a first impurity region of the first conductive type that becomes a first well region provided in the semiconductor substrate above the embedded impurity layer, a second impurity region of a second conductive type, which is an opposite conductive type to the first conductive type, that becomes a second well region provided in the semiconductor substrate in proximity to the first impurity region above the embedded impurity layer, and a third impurity region of the second conductive type that is provided around a region including the first impurity region and the second impurity region in the semiconductor substrate, and that becomes a guard ring region that electrically connects to the second impurity region.

The present invention relates to semiconductor integrated circuit apparatuses that require higher integration and their manufacturing methods.
As radiations enter a semiconductor substrate including a semiconductor integrated circuit, the entered radiation particles generate electron-positive hole pairs in the process of loosing their energy due to the interaction with the atoms of the semiconductor substrate. Signals caused by the generated electrons or positive holes become noises, and may cause erroneous functions in the semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus.
In particular, xcex1-rays cause to generate numerous electron-positive hole pairs (hereafter referred to as xe2x80x9ccarriersxe2x80x9d) in the semiconductor substrate. For example, when an xcex1-ray enters silicon, its flying distance is about 25 xcexcm, and 1.4xc3x97106 electron-positive hole pairs are generated along that trajectory. As the generated minority carriers flow in an integrated circuit element region, the potential on the impurity region of the integrated circuit element region changes, which then causes a soft error.
For example, where an N+ diffusion layer is formed in a P-type substrate, minority carriers are trapped in the following manner. Minority carriers that are generated in a depletion layer (electrons in this case) flow into the integrated circuit element region by the electric filed applied to the depletion layer. Minority carriers that are generated in the substrate spread within the substrate by diffusion. Those of the minority carriers diffused that reach the depletion layer flow into the impurity region, and the others may recombine with positive holes within the semiconductor substrate or may flow into electrodes on the side of the semiconductor substrate.
In the case of semiconductor integrated circuit apparatuses, radioactive elements included in a trace amount in the semiconductor package material and metal of wirings may emit xcex1 rays. When the xcex1 rays enter a semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus, there are cases in which a large amount of electron-positive hole pairs is generated, and information stored in the semiconductor integrated circuit such as a semiconductor memory may be destroyed. In this case, the semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus may cause xcex1 ray soft errors.
To cope with such xcex1 ray soft errors, there is a known technology to provide an embedded impurity layer. More specifically, an embedded impurity layer is provided on the entire area below integrated circuit elements that compose a memory cell array, to prevent minority carriers that are generated upon the incidence of xcex1 rays from entering into the integrated circuit element region.
Among semiconductor integrated circuits, higher integrations are being promoted even in SRAMs (Static Random Access Memories) that are difficult to achieve large scale integrations compared to DRAMs (Dynamic RAMs). SRAMs are advantageous in high-speed reading, and are suitable for cash memories for systems in which the number of parts is limited such as mobile type equipment, personal computers and work stations. Many SRAMs are equipped with an embedded impurity layer to cope with xcex1 ray soft errors.
A unit circuit that stores 1-bit information (a memory cell) in an SRAM includes a flip-flop circuit as a basic structure, in which a COMS circuit is indispensable. A memory cells are formed from N-well regions and P-well regions in a semiconductor substrate.
FIGS. 4(a) and (b) each show a SRAM memory cell region, wherein (a) is a plan view of wells, and (b) shows a cross-sectional view taken along a line 4Bxe2x80x944B of (a). As indicated in FIG. 4(a), N-well regions NWEL and P-well regions PWEL are alternately arranged. Sections with hatched lines are regions that are used for one memory cell, and at least each of the cells is insulated and isolated from others by an element isolation film (for example, by a trench isolation or the like). Memory cells, each being composed of the hatched regions as a unit region, are integrated in an array.
As indicated in FIG. 4(b), an embedded impurity layer is provided below each of the wells NWEL and PWEL across adjacent ones of the well regions. In here, an N-type layer B-N is provided as an embedded impurity layer. The N-type layer B-N is provided by, for example, forming a deep well in a P-type substrate P-sub. The N-type layer B-N may be provided across, for example, one memory block in its entirety. By this, minority carriers that are generated upon the incidence of xcex1-rays are prevented from flowing into the integrated circuit element region.
FIG. 5 shows a circuit diagram of one example of an SRAM memory. Inputs and outputs of CMIS inverters, each of which is composed of a P-channel MIS transistor Qp1 (Qp2) and an N-channel MIS transistor Qn1 (Qn2) between the power supply and the ground, are mutually connected, to thereby form flip-flops FF1 and FF2.
Selection transistors Qs contribute to transmission of signals respectively on bit lines BLL and BLR (data to be written or to be read out) by controlling the potential on a word line WL. The selection transistors Qs may be composed of P-channel MIS transistors, or N-channel MIS transistors.
With the structure described above, the SRAM cell continuously maintains stored information as long as a power supply voltage VDD is applied, and a refreshing operation is not required. By its CMOS circuit, its current consumption in the standby mode is extremely small, and a high-speed access time is achieved.
The P-channel MIS transistors Qp1 and Qp2 and the N-channel MIS transistors Qn1 and Qn2 are formed in any of the N-well regions NWEL and P-well regions NWEL shown in FIGS. 4(a) and (b), respectively. Also, the selection transistors Qs are formed in either the N-well regions NWEL or P-well regions NWEL.
In the SRAM cell having the structure described above, the power supply voltage VDD is supplied to the N-well region NWEL and an impurity region that forms the source region of the P-channel MIS transistors Qp1 and Qp2 that are composed there above. The power supply voltage VDD is supplied through vias from power supply lines that are arranged at predetermined locations that connect to power supply pads (not shown in the drawings).
On the other hand, the ground potential VSS is connected to the P-well region PWEL and an impurity region that becomes a drain region of the N-channel MIS transistors Qn1 and Qn2 that are composed there above. Also, a P+ tap of a high concentration P-type region is provided in the P-well region PWEL for each of the cells (or at intervals of a predetermined distance). The P+taps of the respective cells are electrically connected to wirings that are arranged at specified locations, and connected to ground pads (not shown in the drawings).
In the SRAM cell described above, an embedded impurity layer of a first conductive type is provided to cope with xcex1-ray soft errors. In this case, each of the first well regions that are impurity regions of the first conductive type is electrically connected to the embedded impurity layer. In this case, a potential can be supplied with one wiring to the embedded impurity layer and the plural first well regions. In contrast, for the second well regions that are impurity regions of the second conductive type, a high concentration impurity region of the second conductive type (hereinafter, this impurity region is called a tap region) is provided for the wiring and the wiring connection region in each of the second well regions. In other words, the wirings (and taps) are required to be disposed at intervals of specified distances. The provision of such wirings and taps is one of the causes to hinder the reduction of cell areas.
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and its object is to provide a semiconductor device having SRAMs which are provided with an embedded impurity layer for coping with xcex1-ray soft errors, which can omit a wiring or a ground tap for each of the second well regions, and which can reduce wirings (and taps) required.
A semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus in accordance with the present invention is characterized in comprising:
a semiconductor substrate;
an embedded impurity layer of a first conductive type provided in the semiconductor substrate;
a first impurity region of the first conductive type that becomes a first well region provided in the semiconductor substrate above the embedded impurity layer;
a second impurity region of a second conductive type, which is an opposite conductive type to the first conductive type, that becomes a second well region provided in the semiconductor substrate in proximity to the first impurity region above the embedded impurity layer; and
a third impurity region of the second conductive type that is provided around a region including the first impurity region and the second impurity region in the semiconductor substrate, and that becomes a guard ring region that electrically connects to the second impurity region.
With the semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the third impurity region that becomes a guard ring region is provided around the first impurity region and the second impurity region for providing a potential to the second impurity region. As a result, while the embedded impurity layer of the second conductive type for coping with soft errors is provided, a potential can be supplied from the guard ring region to the second impurity region.
(2) Further, a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit element in accordance with the present invention is characterized in comprising:
a step of forming an embedded impurity layer by injecting impurity of a first conductive type in a semiconductor substrate;
a step of forming a first impurity region that becomes a first well region above the embedded impurity layer by injecting impurity of the first conductive type in the semiconductor substrate;
a step of forming a second impurity region that becomes a second well region in a region above the embedded impurity layer and in proximity to the first impurity region by injecting impurity of a second conductive type, which is an opposite conductive type to the first conductive type, in the semiconductor substrate; and
a step of forming a third impurity region that becomes a guard ring region and that electrically connects to the second impurity region around a region including the first impurity region and the second impurity region by injecting impurity of the second conductive type in the semiconductor substrate.
With the method for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the third impurity region that becomes a guard ring region is provided around the first impurity region and the second impurity region for providing a potential to the second impurity region. As a result, while the embedded impurity layer of the second conductive type for coping with soft errors is provided, a semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus in which a potential can be supplied from the guard ring region to the second impurity region can be provided.

Semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus having an periphery impurity layer


The present application is generally directed to systems and methods for control and management of lighting components connected in a network. A user specified rule is executed to control lighting effects in a lighting network which comprises an interface module in communication with one or more lighting control modules. The interface module may receive a rule for controlling a lighting network. The rule may comprise a user identified input and a user specified lighting effect to occur responsive to the user identified input. The interface module detects receipt of the user identified input and executes the rule to trigger the user specified lighting effect via the one or more lighting control modules.

The Lighting Emitting Diode (LED) lighting industry is a fast growing market. LED lighting offers a strong value proposition as a lighting solution by reducing maintenance expense and lowering energy requirements for lighting systems while not producing hazardous materials. As such, traditional lighting original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) continue to adopt the LED light source for typical lighting applications. However the lack of standardization in the industry and special requirements for powering and controlling LED systems are a barrier to entry. There currently exists no LED "bulb" that provides adequate illumination as a light source. Most fixture manufacturers create new or retrofit existing luminaries to accommodate LED light sources. These LED light sources require proper thermal management and optical design. In addition to the overall mechanics, the electrical requirements of an LED source may be demanding. The LED is a low voltage DC device and sensitive to voltage and current fluctuations.
Some companies have developed packaged drivers, "LED Drivers", for LED luminaries. These LED drivers are essentially constant current power supplies configured to provide a set current value to the LEDs despite the input voltage to the luminaire. For example, an LED driver may take a 120VAC input and provide a 350 mA constant current output. In addition to these packaged "LED Drivers," other semiconductor OEMs are developing LED Driver "chips." These LED chips are integrated circuits that may be incorporated at the board level to integrate sensing technology and digital or analog input for providing power to the LED luminaire.
There are two typical LED driver customers. The first is what may be considered a traditional lighting OEM customer. These traditional OEM companies have specialized in packaging to incorporate standard ballasts and bulbs into metal and plastic housings with all components being plug and play and typically color coded. In most cases, this type of LED customer uses the traditional ballast style "LED Driver" packaged such that wire leads may be easily connected to predefined inputs and outputs. The second type of customer is one who understands electronic design and designs a printed circuit board ("PCB") that will accommodate an LED driver chip. This type of customer will specifically customize the PCB for the target application.
It is unlikely to find these two types of customers are one in the same. As such, the LED OEM driver typically provides either the simple plug and play LED driver or a customized LED driver solution. The first type of customer uses the simple LED Driver plug and play solution that provides conventional and convenient means of hookup. However, these plug and play solutions offer no means of advanced lighting control, such as flashing sequences, color mixing, etc. The second type of customer may obtain an advanced control solution but through the integration of highly sophisticated control system in which the programming is done at the job site such that sequencing and effects may be achieved at the control panel level. However, these integrated systems are complex, require much setup, customized for every job, and are expensive such that only the highest end applications receive such integration.

Systems and methods for providing an OEM level networked lighting system


A device for lost frame concealment comprises: a lost frame detector for detecting whether a voice frame is lost, a decoding module for decoding the current voice frame, a low band delay module for delaying the low band signal, a low band signal recovering module for recovering the lost low band signal, a high band lost frame concealment module for processing the lost frame concealment for the high band signal, and a QMF synthesis filter for synthetically filtering the low band signal and the high band signal. The invention makes full use of the delay of the coding/decoding device itself, enhances the effect of lost frame concealment for the low band signal and the high band signal, and introduces no nearby delay during the process of lost frame concealment.

The packet technology is widely used in network communication. With the packet technology, various encoded information, such as voice, image, and data, is transmitted on a network. Due to the restriction on the transmitting capacity at the transmitting end, or during a specified delay period, a packet information frame does not arrive at the buffer of the receiving end, and thus information is lost. This is a common scenario for lost frame. Moreover, a frame may be lost due to network congestion or transmission loss on a packet switching network.
At present, different lost frame concealment technologies comply with diversified voice encoding standards and are used to compensate loss of voice quality due to lost frames. An algorithm for lost frame concealment is embedded in some voice decoders based on code excitation linear prediction.
The existing waveform encoding technology provides an algorithm for lost frame concealment. This algorithm, however, can be used for only 8 kHz sampling narrowband signals instead of broadband signals, and cannot meet the requirements for high-quality calls.

Method of lost frame concealment and device


Apparatus, methods, system and devices for monitoring road surface temperature to detect hazardous road surface conditions. An indicator provides the sensed road surface temperature and hazardous road condition warning to a driver while a tail light interface automatically produce a tail light signal to warn drivers traveling behind the vehicle when a hazardous condition is detected. In an embodiment, the system includes a vehicle engine retardation system interfaced with the hazardous road condition warning system. When the retardation system is in use and hazardous road surface conditions are detected the controller automatically produces the brake light signal unless a tail light control switch is used to manually deactivating the automatic tail light flashing signal when the vehicle is traveling in a state that does not allow alternative control of the brake lights.

In most jurisdictions across North America laws have been enacted making it mandatory for a motor vehicle to be equipped with rear brake lights connected to a pedal activated brake. The brake lights are illuminated upon activation of the pedal activated brake. When one motor vehicle is following another, the illumination of the lights of the lead vehicle provides a driver of the following motor vehicle with warning that the lead vehicle is decelerating.
Most large trucks have an auxiliary braking system known as a retardation system. The retardation system is used to slow the vehicle down. The driver does not need to activate the pedal activated brake in order to activate the retarder. As a consequence, the brake lights are not illuminated.
Retarders, designed as a means of supplementing the service brakes on long, steep downgrades, are found almost exclusively on diesel-powered medium and heavy trucks. You won't find a retarder on your car or pickup truck, primarily because of cost, vehicle gross weight, and the fact that gasoline engines don't "freewheel" as easily as diesel engines. Recent reductions in aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance in newer trucks have put increased strain on the service brakes, making retarders even more important than in the past.
The most common type of retarder is the engine brake. The engine brake harnesses the high compression ratio of a diesel engine to decelerate the truck. The engine becomes an air compressor, powered by the wheels, with braking energy dissipated in the engine and exhaust system instead of in the service brakes. The release of compressed air causes the characteristic roar of an engine brake.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,649 issued on Sep. 23, 1980 discloses a motor brake control system for use in motor vehicles having a motor brake retarder and a throttle fuel control that is designed to respond to manual selection for sequentially retarding the selected cylinders in the motor. The brake control system is activated when the motor exceeds a predetermined high RPM value to fully brake the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,331 issued on Nov. 29, 1983 discloses a manually operated de-acceleration warning system with vacuum controlled override. The system includes a relay between a control loop containing a driver controlled switch and an operating loop for activating brake lights. The relay bypasses the brake pedal switch during downshift de-acceleration for manually flashing the lights. The system is held in a disable mode except during down shift de-acceleration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,301 issued on Jul. 12, 1988 discloses a light pre-warning system for diesel vehicles. The engine brake warning system is connected to the rear of the vehicle in the general area of the brake lights. The lights are hardwired to the engine brake housings to activate according to selected phases of engine braking from the three position switch operated by the driver of the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,109 issued on Apr. 18, 1989 disclose another warning light system for a vehicle powered by an engine employing an engine brake. The warning system takes a signal from an electrical control line associated with the engine brake and uses the signal to initiate a time delay. After the time delay, a switch is activated, turning on a warning light to warn drivers of other vehicles of the deceleration of the vehicle equipped with the warning light system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,472 issued to Wilson on Apr. 2, 1996 disclose a vehicle deceleration warning light that includes a pressure switch in fluid communication with the master hydraulic brake cylinder. When the pressure reaches a predetermined level that is representative of panic or emergency braking, the pressure switch activates a delayed and latched switch that, after a suitable interval, turns on a contrastingly colored flashing warning indicator on the rear deck of the motor vehicle to warn a following driver of the rapid deceleration. The flashing indicator continues its flashing for a predetermined amount of time, even after the pressure on the pedal has been released.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,137,401 issued to Barrows on Oct. 24, 2000 disclose an engine brake indicator system for use with a vehicular accessory power source and a pair of brake lights mounted on a rear of a vehicle. The system included is an engine brake, a stage switch, and an engine brake master switch with different orientations when the engine brake is not employed and when the engine brake is employed. In use, the brake lights are actuated when the engine brakes are employed, indicted by the orientation of master switch. An engine brake indicator system is provided for use with a vehicular accessory power source and a pair of brake lights mounted on a rear of a vehicle. Included is an engine brake having a plurality of engine brake coils, a stage switch, and an engine brake master switch with a first orientation upon the engine brake being unemployed and a second orientation upon the engine brake being employed. In use, the engine brake master switch is connected between the power source and the brake lights for actuating the brake lights only upon being in the second orientation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,495 issued to Bauerieon Feb. 26, 2001 disclose a system for generating a signal which represents a deceleration operation of a motor vehicle. With the system, a relatively precise index for a vehicle deceleration is obtained from the data present anyway in the motor control apparatus at least in newer or future motor control apparatus. If a drive of the brake lamps takes place in dependence upon the signal generated in accordance with the invention, then the traffic following is also made aware of the decelerations which are not directly attributable to an actuation of a brake.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,418 issued to Yen et al. On Jan. 13, 2005 disclose a system in a motor vehicle having a hazard warning light and a manual control switch, an improvement consisting of electronic circuitry which causes the hazard warning lights to automatically activate under circumstances of an engine stall and to remain activated until manually reset by the vehicle operator.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,819,234 issued to Bunker et al. on Nov. 16, 2004 discloses a method and system for providing an audible warning of approach of a moving vehicle that is undergoing hard braking. When hard braking is being applied and the initial vehicle velocity (just before hard braking is first applied) is at least equal to a selected threshold velocity, an artificially produced warning sound, resembling the screech or howl of one or more tires in a panic stop, is transmitted, in one or more selected angular sectors. If the initial vehicle velocity is less than the threshold velocity, the warning sound is witheld. The threshold velocity may depend upon one or more of initial velocity, initial deceleration, local road surface conditions and local weather conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,418 issued to Furgeson et al. on Jun. 20, 1995 discloses a brake light configuration for a truck having an engine brake which includes the engine brake, a pedal activated brake, a power source and brake lights. A power source and the pedal activated brake are connected with the brake lights so the brake lights illuminate when the brake is activated or alternatively, upon operation of the engine brake. This system is intended to prevent accidents occurring in which motor vehicles drive into the rear end of trucks that have slowed down using their engine brake.
However, a vehicle moving on a road that includes water, snow, ice, gravel, mud, dirt or similar substances, is brought to a sudden stop, this vehicle often skids to a stop without making a sound that might warn others about the sudden braking.
While prior art addresses the issue of warning other drives of deceleration when engine brakes are used, the prior art fails to provide apparatus, methods, system and devices that detect hazardous road conditions based on road surface temperature and warn the driver of the hazardous condition and warn the driver traveling behind the vehicle.

Overland Safety Technologies Corporation


A hydraulic lash assembly (HLA) for use in a valvetrain. The HLA preferably includes a first arm configured to transition a valve between a closed orientation and an open orientation. The first arm can include an engagement surface to receive a driving force from a timing member and to cause the valve to transition to the open orientation for a predetermined period. The HLA further preferably includes a second arm to receive a holding force from an actuator and a pivot section to couple to the first arm and displace the first arm based on the holding force from the actuator. Preferably, the first arm and the second arm form a lever arrangement whereby the pivot section of the second arm underlies and supports the first arm and allows for rotational movement of the first arm that is independent from the second arm.

Within engines of vehicles and other machinery, valves such as poppet valves can be used in valvetrains to control the operation of intake and exhaust valves. Poppet valves can be actuated via a rocker arm based on a cam follower or other timing member. The clearances between a poppet valve and components such as the rocker arm can significantly impact engine performance in terms of maximum power and/or efficiency as well as overall engine lifespan. The space/gap between the poppet valve and the rocker arm, where the other components in the valvetrain are held in contact with each other without a gap, and the cam is rotated to a position where the poppet valve is closed, is referred to as lash, and is generally predetermined in order to allow for thermal expansion to occur without increased wear and/or binding of parts during operation. However, due to factors such as component age and thermal cycling, the lash can become out of tolerance and lead to, for instance, less efficient engine operation, increased wear and tear on parts, increased noise during operation, and loss of power, or to the valve never completely closing.

Hydraulic lash assembly and valvetrain implementing same


A composition for administration to a subject, such as oral administration to a subject, for example, has been provided. Such a composition may comprise at least one magnesium-counter ion compound. A magnesium-counter ion composition described herein may be useful for any of a variety of applications provided herein, such as maintaining, enhancing, and/or improving health, nutrition, and/or another condition of a subject, and/or cognitive, learning, and/or memory function. A magnesium-counter ion composition provided herein may be useful for administration to a subject presenting magnesium deficiency, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ALS, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, migraine, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and/or hypertension. A kit, method, and other associated technology are also provided.

Magnesium is present in the human body and plays multiple roles. At the molecular level, magnesium is a cofactor for over 300 enzymes responsible for some of the most important biological activities in mammals, including humans. In living cells, magnesium is involved in the homeostasis of other minerals, such as sodium, potassium and calcium, and the formation, transfer, storage and utilization of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a principal source of energy in living cells. In the human body, magnesium is involved in the maintenance of normal muscle and nerve function, heart rhythm, bone strength, and immune system health. Magnesium is also involved in the regulation of blood sugar levels and the promotion of normal blood pressure.
It has been reported that magnesium plays a role in the regulation of synaptic plasticity (Slutsky et al., Neuron, 44, 835-849 (2004)), a cellular process believed to be involved in organization of neural circuits during early development and in storage of information in later stages. Magnesium appears to be involved in selective suppression of so-called background synaptic activity, or background noise, during which meaningful neuronal signals are unaffected. Magnesium thus appears to increase the signal to noise ratio (S/N) of synaptic transmission and thereby enhance synaptic plasticity.
Synapses are generally less plastic in the aging or diseased brain. Loss of plasticity in the hippocampus, a brain region associated with short-term memory, may cause forgetfulness that is common in older people. Such loss of plasticity may lead to pathological conditions associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or, more seriously, with Alzheimer's disease (AD). As to the latter, it has been reported that deceased humans who had been afflicted with AD had significantly lower levels of magnesium in regions of their brains than did deceased humans of the same age who had not been afflicted with AD (Andrasi et al., Magnesium Res. 13(3), 189-196 (2000)). As to aging effects, it has been reported that supplementing the diet of aging rats with magnesium appears to increase the expression level of a particular brain molecule, the NMDA receptor, an effect associated with improvement of cognitive function (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2006/0089335 A1)
Despite the physiological role of magnesium in human health, people may not consume enough of the mineral in their diets. Studies have shown that the dietary intake of magnesium has historically been inadequate in the U.S. population (Ford et al., (2003) J. Nutr. 133, 2879-2882) or relatively low for certain population segments (Institute of Medicine, For Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Flouride, 202 and 393 (1997)). Magnesium deficit may lead to or may be associated with many pathological symptoms, such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, diabetes, and/or cardiovascular disease, for example. According to several studies, magnesium deficit may lead to or may be associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and symptoms associated therewith (Kozielec et al., Magnes. Res. 10(2), 143-148 (1997) and Mousain-Bosc et al., Magnes. Res. 19(1), 46-52 (2006)).
Commercially available magnesium supplements include magnesium oxide tablets or capsules, various inorganic magnesium compounds, such as magnesium hydroxide and magnesium sulfate, for example, various organic acid magnesium salt compounds, such as magnesium salts of gluconic acid, citric acid, and lactic acid, for example, and various magnesium chelate compounds. Magnesium oxide may be high in elemental magnesium content, but very low in magnesium bioavailability, or absorption rate in the human body (Ranade et al., Am. J. Therapeut. 8(5), 345-357 (2001)). Inorganic magnesium compounds, such as magnesium hydroxide and magnesium sulfate, may also be poor in terms of magnesium bioavailability and may give rise to an undesirable side-effect, diarrhea. Organic acid magnesium salt compounds, such as magnesium salts of gluconic acid, citric acid and lactic acid, may be associated with gastrointestinal distress, laxative effect, and/or diarrhea. While various so-called magnesium chelate compounds have been promoted as having better magnesium bioavailability, these compounds may be highly alkaline and poor in terms of palatability.
The recommended daily intake of magnesium for an adult is generally from about 15 mmol to 20 mmol (30 mEq to 40 mEq), and normal magnesium serum levels range from 0.7 mmol/L to 1.0 mmol/L. Foods that are rich in magnesium include legumes, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, nuts, coffee, chocolate and milk. Although these foods are readily available, some individuals do not consume adequate quantities to satisfy the daily nutritional requirement. Furthermore, expanded consumption of processed foods, which tend to contain less magnesium, may account for the perceptible decline in dietary magnesium in the United States during the past century. Thus, continued use of an oral magnesium supplement that offers reliable absorption and bioavailability is recommended for people with magnesium deficiency. Oral magnesium supplements are available in a number of formulations that utilize a different anion or salt—such as oxide, gluconate, chloride or lactate dihydrate. However, these preparations are not interchangeable because they have differences in absorption, bioavailability and palatability.
Magnesium is absorbed primarily in the distal small intestine, and healthy people absorb approximately 30% to 40% of ingested magnesium. Since magnesium is predominately an intracellular cation, the effectiveness of a dosage form is assessed by its solubility and rate of uptake from the small intestine into the bloodstream and by its transfer into the tissues. Magnesium balance is regulated by the kidneys. When magnesium levels in the blood are high, the kidneys will rapidly excrete the surplus. When magnesium intake is low, on the other hand, renal excretion drops to 0.5 mmol to 1 mmol (1 mEq to 2 mEq) per day.
Means for providing magnesium to the human body as a supplement have been proposed in the art. For example, for the treatment of arrhythmia, magnesium sulfate has been intravenously administered to patients. Other dietary supplements have included magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate. Despite the ability of these compounds to increase magnesium levels, they are primarily insoluble in the gastrointestinal tract, and hence, not easily delivered to the gastrointestinal system, without side-effects. As such, there is a considerable need for improved magnesium compositions, uses thereof, and/or associated technology. The subject invention satisfies these needs and provides related advantages as well.

Magnesium compositions and uses thereof for neurological disorders


The present invention provides a wireless power-supply control assembly 100 for wirelessly controlling a boat's main power supply. The assembly 100 comprises an enclosure assembly 110, wherein a latching relay 600 and a wireless-receiver relay 300 are mounted. The wireless receiver relay 300 is controlled by commands from a wireless transmitter and causes the latching relay 600 to connect or disconnect the boat's main power. In other embodiments, an ignition-sense relay 400 is also mounted within the enclosure and disconnects power to the wireless-receiver relay 300 when the boats ignition is on. In yet another embodiment, a manual override switch 200 is provided within the enclosure for bypassing the latching relay 600 and manually connecting the boat's power.

Water vehicles, such as boats (also referred to as a vessel), require electrical power to operate various on board systems such as lighting and engine ignition, and electrical power is commonly provided by batteries or banks of batteries. To conserve energy and to make boats safer by reducing fire hazards when they are not in operation (e.g., docked), electrical components called switches (or relays), which can break an electrical circuit thereby interrupting the current or diverting it from one conductor to another, are used to disengage the boats' battery systems from the boats main power or common supply cable when the ignition is turned off and the boat is not being used. The boat's operator or captain will manually turn the switch off (which opens a circuit within the switch) when leaving the boat to prevent any electrical components from draining the battery of the boat. And, the operator will manually turn on the switch (which closes the circuit within the switch) when returning to the boat in order to make the boat operational.
Typically, such a manual battery switch is inconveniently located in a central console or below deck. To operate the manual switches to disengage and reengage the batteries, individuals must actually board the boats, and boarding and moving around a boat to find and operate a relay or switch is inconvenient, especially in the dark. Because the boat's batteries are disconnected, the boat's lighting is not available. For example, when preparing to get under way at night, individuals such as vessel masters must find their way in the dark or bring a flashlight to find and activate the relay or switch.
Accordingly, there is a need for a wireless control system for controlling a boat's power supply, where the wireless control system may be remotely controlled by a wireless transmitter (e.g., by wireless key FOB while an operator is on dock). There is further a need prevent such wireless control being activated while the boat is operational as accidentally disengaging power while the boat is operating as losing power on a boat during operation could be catastrophic. Indeed, the chances of inadvertently activating a wireless remote are increased when individuals are being moved about on boats by rough waters, which is precisely when a loss of power is most dangerous. Still further, there is a need for such a wireless control system to be capable of being conveniently retrofitted with a conventional boat's systems. Still further, there is a need for such a wireless control system to be self-contained and have a compact form factor. Still further, there is a need for such a wireless system to be enclosed in a water tight enclosure to prevent damage from the wet environment. Still further, there is a need for such a wireless system to be manually overridden in event of a malfunction or if its wireless transmitter is lost.

System, method, and device for wireless control of a vehicle's power supply