A method and apparatus for estimating a porosity and a saturation in a subsurface reservoir. The method includes determining a plurality of mathematical relationships relating a plurality of fundamental physical parameters that govern elastic wave propagation in the subsurface reservoir to the porosity and the saturation in the subsurface reservoir, forward modeling a plurality of seismic attributes using the mathematical relationships to derive a plurality of conditional probability density functions for the seismic attributes, applying a Bayesian inversion to the conditional probability density functions for the seismic attributes to derive a joint probability density function for the porosity and the saturation in the subsurface reservoir, and integrating the joint probability density function for the porosity and the saturation to derive a probability density function for the porosity and a probability density function for the saturation.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method for estimating subsurface reservoir properties, such as porosity and saturation.
2. Description of the Related Art
For many years seismic exploration for oil and gas has been conducted by use of a source of seismic energy and the reception of the energy generated by the source by an array of seismic detectors. On land, the source of seismic energy may be a high explosive charge or another energy source having the capacity to deliver a series of impacts or mechanical vibrations to the earth's surface. Acoustic waves generated by these sources travel downwardly into the earth's subsurface and are reflected back from strata boundaries and reach the surface of the earth at varying intervals of time, depending on the distance traveled and the characteristics of the subsurface traversed. These returning waves are detected by the sensors, which function to transduce such acoustic waves into representative electrical signals. The detected signals are recorded for later processing using digital computers. Typically, an array of sensors is laid out along a line to form a series of detection locations. More recently, seismic surveys are conducted with sensors and sources laid out in generally rectangular grids covering an area of interest, rather than along a single line, to enable construction of three dimensional views of reflector positions over wide areas. Normally, signals from sensors located at varying distances from the source are added together during processing to produce "stacked" seismic traces. In marine seismic surveys, the source of seismic energy is typically air guns. Marine seismic surveys typically employ a plurality of sources and/or a plurality of streamer cables, in which seismic sensors are mounted, to gather three dimensional data.
Initially, seismic traces were used simply for ascertaining formation structure. Recently, however, exploration geophysicists have subsequently developed a plurality of time-series transformations of seismic traces to obtain a variety of characteristics that describe the traces, which are generally referred to as "attributes". Attributes may be computed prestack or poststack. Poststack attributes include reflection intensity, instantaneous frequency, reflection heterogeneity, acoustic impedance, velocity, dip, depth and azimuth. Prestack attributes include moveout parameters such as amplitude-versus-offset (AVO), and interval and average velocities.
It has been observed that specific seismic attributes are related to specific subsurface properties. For example, reservoir porosity and the hydrocarbon saturation may be estimated from surface seismic data to predict the amount of oil or gas reserves in the subsurface reservoirs. Generally, the reservoir porosity is estimated while keeping the hydrocarbon saturation fixed, and the hydrocarbon saturation is estimated while keeping the reservoir porosity fixed. Such methodology, however, often leads to inaccurate estimates of the porosity and saturation.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for an improved method for estimating porosity and saturation in a subsurface reservoir.

Method for estimating porosity and saturation in a subsurface reservoir


An anti-glare member prevents reflection of external light by surfaces of displays or screens without causing reduction of contrast and glare of displayed images. The anti-glare member has an anti-glare layer comprising microparticles and a transparent binder wherein the microparticles are black microparticles having a value (n), obtained by dividing absolute value of complex index of refraction of the black microparticles by index of refraction of the transparent binder, of 0.95 to 1.05. The arithmetical mean roughness (Ra) according to JIS B0601:2001 of surface of the anti-glare layer is 0.3 to 1.0 μm.

If lights of interior illuminations such as fluorescent lights are reflected by surfaces of displays such as LCDs and various screens, displayed images become hard to see, and display quality is degraded.
Therefore, a matted anti-glare layer is provided on surfaces of displays or screens. The mainstream of the method for forming such an anti-glare layer is constituted by methods of coating a resin containing dispersed microparticles and drying the resin to form a coated layer, since structure can be easily made finer and good productivity can be attained by such methods (Patent document 1).    Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication (KOKAI) No. 2004-46258 (claims)

Anti-glare member, display and screen using the same


The invention provides a method and a composition for enhancing the dissolution and bioavailable properties of propofol (2, 6 diisopropyl phenol) for use as an intravenously administered anesthetic in mammals. The method produces a self-microemulsifiable emulsion base composition that is utilized in the production of a water-based microemulsion preparation. In a preferred two (2) component base composition, the base composition consists of: a surfactant, containing polyethylene glycol; and liquid propofol. The microemulsion is prepared by mixing the base composition with a carrier liquid, which results in the formation of a microemulsion containing concentrations of propofol of up to about 4% by weight of propofol to the volume of the microemulsion. In a four (4) component base composition, the base composition consists of: a surfactant, containing polyethylene glycol; liquid propofol; a water-immiscible solvent; and ethanol. The microemulsion is prepared by mixing the base composition with a carrier liquid, which results in the formation of a microemulsion containing concentrations of propofol of up to about 10% by weight of propofol to the volume of the microemulsion.

Systems for the water dispersion of drugs are necessary for intravenous administration of drugs that are not water soluble. Some of these systems use dispersions of hydrophobic liquids in water, also known as emulsions. Emulsions may be generally defined as somewhat uniformly-sized, stable or quasi-stable dispersions of liquid droplets in a second carrier liquid. Emulsions of microscopic size are often divided in the literature into nanoemulsions and microemulsions. Nanoemulsions cover the size range of 50-200 nm, and are kinetically stable systems with long term physical stability (against creaming or sedimentation, flocculation and coalescence). Because nanoemulsion systems are only kinetically but not thermodynamically stable, they must typically be created by energetic methods such as sonication and high pressure homogenization.
Emulsification systems in particular are needed for the administration of the anesthetic propofol (2, 6 diisopropyl phenol), a liquid which in is pure state is practically insoluble in water. Propofol is a well-known drug, which is relatively inexpensive to produce as a pure chemical, and which is presently used extensively in human and veterinary medicine as a general anesthetic agent. Propofol is capable of producing deep anesthesia, which resolves in a comparatively short time after administration of the drug is discontinued.
Presently, pharmaceutical propofol is prepared by dissolving it in soybean oil, then preparing an emulsion of this oil with egg phospholecithin in order to produce a final concentration of about 10% soybean oil in saline, with concentration of propofol standardized to 1% of the total liquid preparation. These emulsions, which have the appearance of milk, have droplet sizes of up to 200 nm and may be referred to as "nanoemulsions." Such commercial propofol emulsions, despite addition of preservatives, are similar to intravenous lipid nutritional preparations, and are excellent preservative media for viruses or even growth media for bacteria. For this reason, all propofol preparations in the United States are restricted to single-patient-use vials and ampoules, with directions for discarding of penetrated containers within hours after first use.
To be distinguished from nanoemulsions are microemulsions, a type of emulsion with a particularly small droplet size, usually ranging from less than about 5 to 50 nm in diameter. Microemulsions are characteristically optically transparent due to the small light scattering from very small droplets, giving them a visual appearance similar to true solutions. Microemulsions are also typically thermodynamically stable with respect to instability, and they often therefore form spontaneously, if given sufficient time. For present purposes, the most desirable microemulsions assemble spontaneously when certain hydrophobic chemicals and water are mixed by simply stirring the mixture, without the need for vigorous agitation, such as sonication.
In this regard, there is particular need for the development of propofol microemulsions for pharmaceutical intravenous use that are optically clear, enabling the use of light diffraction to detect the presence of potential contamination from foreign elements such as bacteria, which scatter light. Also, there is need for propofol preparations which are not as conducive to growth of bacteria and fungi, as the present oil and phospholecithin preparations are. There is a need for propofol preparations which have a long shelf life, and which are easily sterilized. Finally, there is a need for propofol preparations containing far more than the 1% concentration presently commercially available, for use in larger animals, such as horses. Presently such animals requiring general anesthesia must frequently be transported from the field to an urban anesthesia suit setting for gas anesthesia, a procedure which is difficult and expensive. An inexpensive high concentration propofol preparation which could be taken to the animal in the field might serve the general anesthetic needs of a significant fraction of these animals.
Generally, current commercially available emulsion systems for the intravenous delivery of propofol utilize ordinary opaque nanoemulsions of the oil-in-water type. Recently, however, a general microemulsion system for pharmaceutical delivery of active compounds has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,511, which generally describes a complex formulation for a microemulsion containing: water and a component for adjusting polarity, a "surfactant film modifier" (e.g. ethanol), a pharmaceutically acceptable oil (most preferably "a triglyceride containing at least 70% of fatty acids having 8-10 carbon atoms"), and a mixture of a hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfactant up to about 15% by weight of the total emulsion. The '511 patent claims that the formulation can be used to emulsify a broad range of active compounds such as a "proton pump inhibitor, calcium channel blocker, beta blocker, anesthetic, steroid, antioxidant, rennin inhibitor, alkaloid, cytostatica, anti-coagulant, lipid regulating agent, anti-depressant, neuroleptic, immunosuppressant, immunomodulator, antibiotic, [and] anti-inflammatory agent". Unfortunately, the patent discloses the application of its microemulsion formulation to only two active compounds: felodipine and "indeno indole". The usefulness of the invention as a microemulsion containing an anesthetic such as propofol is not disclosed. In this regard, it is noted that patent states that the invention produces a microemulsion which is "transparent and slightly viscous one phase liquid", but the patent is silent as to the transparency of the microemulsion after the addition of either felodipine or indeno indole. The present inventors note, however, that in order to adapt the complex formulation of the patent to intravenous use, it would be necessary to add a significant amount of carrier liquid and that doing so would cause a significant degradation in the transparency of the microemulsion. The patent also discloses the need for a two (2) component surfactant system: a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic surfactant, which further adds to the complexity of the formulation. Here, the '511 patent follows the common belief that microemulsions systems are most easily made by use of a "co-surfactant" to decrease droplet interfacial tension. However, the inclusion of a hydrophobic surfactant actually retards the formation of the desired microemulsion in water, and is completely unnecessary if the hydrophobic surfactant is chosen properly.
As a result, what is needed is a simple propofol formulation for the production of high concentrations of propofol in a completely transparent microemulsion that can be used as an intravenously administered anesthetic, and if necessary can be suitably colored in order to identify different concentrations of propofol in different preparations. In addition, there is needed a propofol self-microemulsifiable base composition which uses only a single hydrophillic surfactant, is easy to sterilize, can be stored indefinitely until the anesthetic is needed, after which it can easily be reconstituted by addition of a physiologic saline or similar water-based carrier. The present invention satisfies these needs, among others.

Microemulsion preparation of high concentration propofol for anesthetic uses


Generic transport option invoked by a system administrator module (104) which defines what data type to send, the destination to which the data should be sent, the dissemination method, the mode of transport, the schedule, and which transport facility to be used. When the generic transport option has been invoked, the server (102) acknowledges the control command and proceeds to set up the appropriate connection (101), prepares a predetermined portion of a data container (400) with control header information (402), retrieves the proper data, and packs the data into the transport container (404). Further, confirmation is provided for each container sent that the message was received successfully.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication systems and, more particularly, to an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Program controlled switching equipment for Servers connects communication terminal equipment to one another and to communications networks. Such systems typically require a system administration module, typically implemented in software, associated with each Server in order to handle administrative and control functions such as supervising Server call detail recording (CDR), moves, adds and changes (MAC), automated call detail statistics (ACD), and other types of data.
When only one Server exists in the network, it is a relatively simple matter to manage reassignment of communication lines, for example, and update Server applications. Increasingly, however, communications facilities such as private ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Networks) networks linking multiple sites exist, requiring a plurality of Servers to adequately handle the communication needs of the customer (e.g., a company may maintain a single intranet at multiple locations). Typically, data for each Server is stored locally with the particular Server and it can only be ported to a centralized location or to other Servers via remote access (i.e., external to the network) through the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or via manually transporting a diskette or magnetic tape.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system for globally administering data among a plurality of Servers in a network. There is a still further need for a system for making data available network-wide. There is a yet further need to provide a method for transporting data among a plurality of Servers with low overhead processing and confirmation of receipt.
These and other drawbacks in the prior art are overcome in large part by a generic transfer option according to the present invention. More particularly, the present invention provides a generic transport option whereby data may be made available via the network to any of a plurality of servers within the network. The data may be transported in either a broadcast or relay fashion on either ISDN B-channels or D-channels or a combination thereof.
According to one embodiment, the generic transport option is invoked by a system administrator module which defines what data type to send, the destination to which the data should be sent, the dissemination method, the mode of transport, the schedule, and which transport facility to be used. When the generic transport option has been invoked, the server acknowledges the control command and proceeds to set up the appropriate connection, prepares a predetermined portion of a data container with control header information, retrieves the proper data, and packs the data into the transport container. Further, confirmation is provided for each container sent that the message was received successfully.

Generic transport option for transporting messages in relay or broadcast mode via combinations of ISDN B-channels or D-channels

Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.


A semiconductor memory device includes an SRAM provided on a chip, the SRAM including an SRAM cell array. A DRAM is provided on the chip, the DRAM including a DRAM cell array. An address input circuit receives an address signal, the address signal having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion carrying a unique value of row-column address information provided to access one of memory locations in one of the SRAM and DRAM cell arrays, the second portion carrying a unique value of SRAM/DRAM address information provided to select one of the SRAM and the DRAM.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device having an SRAM (static random access memory) and a DRAM (dynamic random access memory) that are provided on a single chip.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, in conventional portable telephones, SRAMs were often employed as the memory device. Recently, however, there is a demand for portable telephones that are equipped with large-capacity memory devices, such as DRAMs, in order to promote the interfacing between the portable telephones and the Internet.
Generally, in a DRAM memory cell, a read operation must be followed by a subsequent write operation. Charge stored on the capacitor of the memory cell does not remain on the capacitor indefinitely. Due to a variety of leakage paths, the charge can eventually leak off the capacitor, causing the memory cell to loose its information. To alleviate this problem, each memory cell in the DRAM must be periodically read, sensed, and re-written to a full level. This refresh requirement distinguishes the DRAM from the SRAM.
If a portable telephone is equipped with the DRAM, instead of the SRAM, the power consumption in its standby state will be increased since the DRAM requires periodical refresh operations to retain the stored information. Although the recent demand for large-capacity memory devices is met by the DRAM-equipped portable telephone, the time that allows the portable telephone to continuously work in the standby state will be considerably reduced.
The SRAM does not require the refresh operations to retain the stored information and hardly consumes the power during its standby state. However, the density of the storage elements in the SRAM is low compared to the density of the storage elements in the DRAM. If a portable telephone is equipped with a large quantity of the SRAM devices that meets the memory capacity needed by the recent demand, the cost will be significantly increased.
In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide an improved semiconductor memory device that reduces the power consumption of the entire system to a level lower than the power consumption level of the DRAM-only system and avoids the increase of the cost of the SRAM-only system while meeting the large memory capacity needed.
According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor memory device includes: an SRAM which is provided on a chip, the SRAM including an SRAM cell array; a DRAM which is provided on the chip, the DRAM including a DRAM cell array; and an address signal which has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion carrying a unique value of row-column address information provided to access one of memory locations in one of the SRAM and DRAM cell arrays, the second portion carrying a unique value of SRAM/DRAM address information provided to select one of the SRAM and the DRAM.
The semiconductor memory device of the preferred embodiment includes the SRAM and the DRAM provided on a single chip. The semiconductor memory device of the present invention is effective in reducing the power consumption of the entire system to a level lower than the power consumption level of the DRAM-only system and in avoiding the increase of the cost of the SRAM-only system while meeting the large memory capacity needed.
In another preferred embodiment of the semiconductor device of the invention, a semiconductor memory device includes: an SRAM memory block which is provided on a chip, the SRAM memory block including an SRAM cell array; a DRAM memory block which is provided on the chip, the DRAM memory block including a DRAM cell array; and a source voltage which is externally supplied to the DRAM memory block when the DRAM cell array is accessed, the source voltage to the DRAM memory block being set to a ground voltage when the DRAM cell array is not accessed.
The semiconductor memory device of the above preferred embodiment of the invention is effective in reducing the power consumption when the DRAM is not used. Further, the semiconductor memory device of the present invention is effective in reducing the power consumption of the entire system to a level lower than the power consumption level of the DRAM-only system and in avoiding the increase of the cost of the SRAM-only system while meeting the large memory capacity needed.
In another preferred embodiment of the semiconductor device of the invention, a semiconductor memory device includes: an SRAM memory block which is provided on a chip, the SRAM memory block including an SRAM cell array; a DRAM memory block which is provided on the chip, the DRAM memory block including a DRAM cell array and an internal power supply circuit, the internal power supply circuit producing control voltages that are internally supplied to the DRAM memory block; and a control unit which controls the internal power supply circuit based on control signals that are externally supplied to the control unit, wherein, when the DRAM cell array is not accessed, the control unit controls the internal power supply circuit based on the control signals so that an operation of the internal power supply circuit is stopped and the control voltages are set in a predetermined condition.
The semiconductor device of the above preferred embodiment of the invention is effective in reducing the power consumption of the entire system to a level lower than the power consumption level of the DRAM-only system and in avoiding the increase of the cost of the SRAM-only system while meeting the large memory capacity needed.
In another preferred embodiment of the semiconductor device of the invention, a semiconductor memory device includes: an SRAM memory block which is provided on a chip, the SRAM memory block including an SRAM cell array; a DRAM memory block which is provided on the chip, the DRAM memory block having a DRAM cell array; and a control unit which is connected to each of the SRAM memory block and the DRAM memory block, the control unit including a first pad and a second pad, the control unit activating an operation of one of the SRAM memory block or the DRAM memory block based on a combination of a first control value indicated by a first control signal presented to the first pad and a second control value indicated by a second control signal presented to the second pad.
The semiconductor device of the above preferred embodiment of the invention is effective in reducing the power consumption of the entire system to a level lower than the power consumption level of the DRAM-only system and in avoiding the increase of the cost of the SRAM-only system while meeting the large memory capacity needed.
In another preferred embodiment of the semiconductor device of the invention, a semiconductor memory device includes: an SRAM memory block which is provided on a chip, the SRAM memory block including an SRAM cell array having bit lines connected to column switches, the column switches connected to a data bus; a DRAM memory block which is provided on the chip, the DRAM memory block including a DRAM cell array, sense amplifiers and column gates, the DRAM cell array having bit lines connected to the column gates, the column gates connected to the data bus; and column select signals which are provided to the column gates in order to select which sense amplifier output to connect to the data bus, wherein, when accessing the SRAM cell array during a refresh operation of the DRAM cell array, all the column select signals are set to OFF state so that all the column gates are turned off by the column select signals.
The semiconductor device of the above preferred embodiment of the invention is effective in reducing the power consumption of the entire system to a level lower than the power consumption level of the DRAM-only system and in avoiding the increase of the cost of the SRAM-only system while meeting the large memory capacity needed.

Semiconductor memory device having an SRAM and a DRAM on a single chip


A method for reducing the scrap rate of fuse structures after laser repairing is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor wafer comprising integrated circuits, performing a yield test on the semiconductor wafer to determine defective circuits, predetermining a wavelength limit, and keeping the semiconductor wafer away from lights having wavelengths lower than the wavelength limit. The defects on the semiconductors wafer are repaired by burning laser fuses. For copper-based fuse structures, the wavelength limit is about 550 nm.

A typical integrated circuit may include millions of devices or sub circuits. Some of the integrated circuits contain numerous identical sub circuits. For example, a memory chip may contain millions of identical memory cells, and even if only one memory cell has defects, the entire chip may be rendered defective.
To increase yield, redundant memory cells are manufactured on the same chip. If some of the primary memory cells have defects, redundant memory cells can be used to replace the defective primary memory cells. This redundant configuration permits the semiconductor memory device to continue to operate in a normal state. The primary memory cells and redundant memory cells are all connected via fuses controlled by control circuits on the chip. As stated above, if a defective memory cell is discovered, a fuse coupled to the defective memory cell is blown and the redundant memory cell is connected instead. Accordingly, the semiconductor chip with defective primary memory cells can operate normally. This methodology is also used on other integrated circuits, particularly circuits having multiple identical units.
Highly integrated semiconductor memory devices have a fairly high manufacturing cost, which causes a significant loss if any defective cells are discovered. Types of fuses deployed in such semiconductor memory devices include electrical fuses selectively cut by the flow of excessive current and laser fuses selectively cut by an applied laser beam. In contemporary systems, laser fuses are widely used due to their simplicity in use and layout. Electrical fuses are commonly used in semiconductor memory devices such as electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) while the laser fuses are very often used in dynamic random access memory (DRAM).
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional laser fuse structure. A laser fuse 100 is formed close to the top surface of the chip. Through layers of metal islands 112 and vias 104, the laser fuse 100 is connected to two conductive lines 106, which are in turn connected to integrated circuits. By etching and opening a fuse window 118, a thin passivation layer 122 is left, and laser fuse 100 can be broken by a laser. An open circuit is formed between the conductive lines 106. A redundant circuit will then replace the malfunctioning circuit. The fuse structure is typically protected by a protection ring 116. Typically, multiple fuses are formed, connecting to multiple redundant circuits.
The laser fuse components 100, 112 and 104 are typically formed of conductive material like copper or aluminum. For a period of time after the laser burning and before packaging, copper is exposed. Copper is prone to corrosion from detrimental chemical elements such as fluorine, chlorine, sulfur, and the like. These detrimental chemicals may come from ambient environment, from which integrated circuits are fabricated, or from the wafer container, or even from other processes performed after the fabrication. Corrosion may result in the degradation of the repaired integrated circuits. A scrap rate, which measures a percentage of the wafers that become defective again after repairing, may reach as high as 26 percent in certain circumstances, thus the production yield is significantly reduced.
Therefore, what is needed is a method for eliminating/reducing fuse corrosion and for decreasing the scrap rate.

Production and packaging control for repaired integrated circuits

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A coated article comprising a substrate and a copper oxide and manganese oxide coating over the substrate, the coating having the molar ratio of copper to manganese in the range of about 6.8 to 1.2 and a blue color in transmission is disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to compositions and methods for forming coatings of selected color on a substrate and more particularly varying the components in aqueous suspensions of organometallic compositions and depositing the suspensions onto a glass substrate to pyrolytically produce a stable coating film-of selected color or colors on the glass substrate.
2. Description of the Currently Available Technology
In various industrial applications, it is desirable to form a coating on glass surfaces. For example, automotive windshields have coated areas known as "shade bands" or "fade zones". In many passenger vans, the backseat and rear windows are coated with a uniformly thick coating. These coated areas reduce visible, infrared or ultraviolet light transmittance to reduce glare, the visibility of the contents of the vehicle and/or decrease solar energy transmittance to reduce heat gain in the interior of the vehicle.
One method for forming coatings on a glass substrate is by the pyrolytic deposition of metal oxide films. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,061 to Donley et al., the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference, organometallic salts, such as acetylacetonates, are dissolved in an organic solution and are sprayed onto a hot glass surface to form a metal oxide film. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,127 to Greenberg, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference, aqueous suspensions of organometallic salts are sprayed onto a hot glass surface to pyrolytically form metal oxide coatings on the surface.
The presently available coating technology is used to form gray or dark gray coatings, particularly in the automotive industry, so that the coated glass can be used with the widest number of automobile body colors without "clashing" with the automobile body color. Additionally, many of the known coated substrates change color or shade upon subsequent heating during tempering and shaping of the coated substrate. This heat induced color shift makes it difficult to produce coated materials of consistent color stability. Further, many of the known coated substrates are not chemically durable e.g. when contacted with solutions having citric acid.
As can be appreciated, it would be advantageous to provide compositions and methods for applying coating(s) of selected transmitted color onto the surface of a substrate which reduce or eliminate the limitations associated with presently known compositions and methods.

Compositions and methods for forming coatings of selected color on a substrate and articles produced thereby


Methods, apparatus, and systems in accordance with this invention include memories that include a data array and a configuration array adapted to store configuration information for configuring the data array. The data array and the configuration array include a plurality of wordlines and a plurality of bitlines. The plurality of wordlines in the data array extend in the same direction as the plurality of wordlines in the configuration array. Likewise, the plurality of bitlines in the data array extend in the same direction as the plurality of bitlines in the configuration array. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.

The present application relates to memory arrays, and more specifically, the present invention relates to configuration arrays used to program or configure data arrays.
Non-volatile memory arrays designed for storing user data, for example, within various memory devices such as secure digital (SD) cards, memory sticks, compact flash cards, USB flash drives, picture cards, etc., may be configured using information stored within the memory devices. In some cases, the configuration information may be critical for the operation of the memory array. Thus, what is needed are methods and apparatus to cost-effectively and reliably manufacture configuration arrays for storing and accessing configuration information associated with a memory device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus for using a configuration array similar to an associated data array


First to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4 to be connected to a gate line 18 of a drive element 21 are arranged along a side of a liquid crystal display 2. Along a side of the first to four gate driver ICs G1 to G4, a FPC 5 for receiving signals is arranged. A first bus line 15 that branches between the first and second gate driver ICs G1 and G2 connects gate-low terminals 11b and 11a of the first and second gate driver ICs G1 and G2, respectively, to the FPC 5. A second bus line 16 that branches between the third and fourth gate driver ICs G3 and G4 connects gate-low terminals 11b and 11a of the third and fourth gate driver ICs G3 and G4, respectively, to the FPC 5. Gate-high terminals 10b and 10a, logic terminals 12b and 12a, and signal terminals 13 of the second and third gate driver ICs G2 and G3 are connected to the FPC 5. Gate-high terminals 10a and 10b, logic terminals 12a and 12b, and signal terminals 13 of the first and fourth gate driver ICs G1 and G4 are connected to corresponding terminals of the second and third gate driver ICs G2 and G3.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to displays, such as liquid crystal displays, having a driver IC that drives a drive element provided for each pixel of a display element. The present invention also relates to a glass substrate on which the display element and the driver IC are mounted.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional liquid crystal display is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H5-181153. This liquid crystal display has a liquid crystal display portion and a driver IC formed on a glass substrate. On the liquid crystal display portion, pixels including common electrodes formed on the opposing glass substrate are arrayed in a matrix. Each pixel is provided with a drive element made of a TFT. Each drive element is fed with a signal from the driver IC.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the wiring condition of the liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display 1 has first to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4 aligned in such a manner as to face one side of the liquid crystal display portion 2. Due to the trend toward a crystal display portion with increasingly higher resolution, four driver ICs are used.
The first to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4 are bonded face-down to the glass substrate 3, and thus provided in a COG (Chip On Glass) system. The first to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4 feed a high level or low level signal to be supplied to the gate of each drive element.
A plurality of source driver ICs S1 to Sn are aligned in such a manner as to face one side of the liquid crystal display portion 2 which side is adjacent to the side facing the first to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4. The source driver ICs S1 to Sn feed a picture signal to be supplied to the source of each drive element.
The first to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4 each have: input terminals 10a and 10b for a high level signal to be supplied to the gate of a drive element (hereinafter referred to as "gate-high terminals"); input terminals 11a and 11b for a low level signal to be supplied to the gate of a drive element (hereinafter referred to as "gate-low terminals"); input terminals 12a and 12b for drive source of the first to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4; and a signal terminal 13 for receiving a signal of scanning timing.
The terminals are symmetrically arranged with respect to the center line perpendicular to the direction in which the first to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4 are aligned (hereinafter referred to as "column direction"). This permits a connection position to be changed in accordance with the positions where the first to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4 are arranged. Thus, a common package can be used for the first to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4.
The glass substrate 3 has a plurality of conductors 14 so formed as to extend from the terminals of the first to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4 to the end portion of the glass substrate 3. Each of the conductors 14 is connected to a predetermined position of a FPC 5, to which a circuit substrate (not shown), etc. are connected. This permits each terminal of the first to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4 to receive a predetermined signal.
The conductors 14a that are connected to the gate-low terminals 11a and 11b of the first to fourth gate driver ICs G1 to G4 are so formed as to extend toward the FPC 5 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the column direction. This permits formation of the conductors 14a of the shortest and same length, thus reducing impedance and equalizing voltage drops caused by impedance.
Similarly, the conductors 14 connected to the other terminals that receive signals of the same type are so formed as to have the same distance from the FPC 5 and the same length. The same arrangement applies to conductors for the source driver ICs S1 to Sn on the source side. This reduces the voltage drop in the conductors 14 and also equalizes voltages fed by the conductors 14, thereby providing the crystal liquid display 1 with good visibility.
However, with the conventional liquid crystal display 1 described above, the conductors 14 extend from the respective terminals in substantially perpendicular to the column direction, so that a width A of the FPC 5 becomes large in the column direction. This results in a large-size liquid crystal device 1, making it difficult to effectively use the space on either side of the FPC in the column direction, which leads to upsizing of a device on which the liquid crystal display is mounted.

Display device and glass substrate therefor


An automatic winder has a base, motor, a transmission device and a reel. The motor is mounted on the base. The transmission device connects to the motor and has a pair of high-speed gears and a pair of low-speed gears. The reel is mounted on the transmission device and has a spool of a cord. When the motor is overloaded, the motor connects to the pair of the low-speed gears to drive the reel to prevent the break of the motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a winder, and more particularly to an automatic winder that has a motor and a reel connected to the motor and having a spool of a cord. A rotational speed of the reel decreases automatically when a load on a distal end of the cord is too heavy to the motor so that the motor will not be overloaded and broken.
2. Description of Related Art
Winders are generally used to move heavy items. For example, a winder may be used in a ship to extend or retract an anchor.
Conventional winders may be hand-driven or motor-driven. A conventional hand-driven winder has a base, a reel and a crank. The reel is mounted rotatably on the base and has two ends, an axle and a spool of cord. The crank is mounted on one end along the axle of the reel and may be held and driven manually to rotate the reel to extend or retract the cord.
However, when an article on the cord is too heavy and the motor is probably overloaded and damaged.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an automatic winder to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.


A method and apparatus is disclosed for predicting an effective and safe laser light energy range for sub-epidermal laser surgery. The method is especially useful in controlling beam energy during the treatment of PWS. The method is accomplished by first impinging a measurement laser pulse on a predetermined treatment area, wherein the measurement laser pulse has an energy below a predetermined threshold of coagulation and below a predetermined threshold of skin damage. The thermal emission caused by the measurement laser pulse emanating from the treatment area is then detected and the delay time from the measurement laser pulse to the detection of the thermal emission is measured. The rise rate of the thermal emission is then measured. The layer thickness is then calculated based upon the delay time, wherein the layer thickness is substantially the epidermal thickness. An internal measurement temperature rise is calculated based upon the layer thickness and the rise rate. Finally, the energy of the measurement laser pulse is multiplied by a minimum scaling ratio to obtain a minimum laser treatment energy, wherein the minimum scaling ratio is the known coagulation temperature divided by the internal measurement temperature rise, and the energy of the measurement laser pulse is multiplied by a maximum scaling ratio to obtain a maximum laser treatment energy, wherein the maximum scaling ratio is the known skin damage threshold temperature divided by the measurement temperature rise.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to measurement methods and specifically to controllers for laser surgery.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Malformed blood vessels just beneath the skin surface cause skin disorders such as birthmarks, spider veins, rosacea, and hemangenomas. These disorders respond to treatment by an intense pulse of laser radiation.
For example, a birthmark known as "Port Wine Stain" (PWS), named for its appearance, is one specific disorder that is treated with a laser radiation pulse. These blemishes appear at infancy as pink areas, usually on the face and neck, but darken to purplish red during childhood.
PWS occurs when an abnormally high concentration of blood vessels forms in the papillary and reticular layer of derma, just beneath the two outer skin layers, the statum corneum and stratum Malpighii, collectively identified with the epidermis. The epidermis is typically 0.1 millimeters thick in a typical laser treatment area, while the interlocking projections of the papillary dermis range from 0.5 to 0.9 millimeters thick.
Thus, the blood vessels targeted for treatment typically lie 0.6 to 1.0 millimeters below the skin surface in young facial skin.
A visible yellow wavelength, 585 nanometers, is the accepted optimum choice for the treatment laser. This wavelength traverses the epidermis with relatively little absorption, but is highly absorbed by the blood vessels. In effect, the outer skin layer acts like a slightly milky pane of glass with dark blood vessels pressed against its underside.
When laser treatment is applied to a predetermined skin site, the intense beam of laser light passes through the skin to the blood vessel layer. The laser beam energy is absorbed when it reaches the blood vessels. The absorbed energy heats the blood and vessels to such high temperatures that they coagulate, or "cook".
After treatment, a normal body function, lymphatic transport, removes the lifeless material. The body then heals, rebuilding the destroyed oversized vessels with normal sized vessels. When the healing process is complete, the properly treated skin has normal blood vessels, permanently removing the PWS birthmark.
The outer skin layer remains intact throughout the laser treatment and protects the underlying tissue. With this normal body defense in place, there is no risk of infection. Because the laser interaction takes place beneath the intact outer skin, the treatment is referred to as sub-epidermal laser surgery.
Prior to the development of the present invention, damage to the dermal and epidermal layers posed a difficult problem in PWS and related laser surgeries. Specifically, if the laser beam is too intense, heat from the coagulating blood vessels "cooks" the adjacent outer skin layers. Once the protective layers are destroyed, the treatment area becomes an open wound, inviting infection. Furthermore, the damaged surface often forms scar tissue on healing. As a result, laser surgery may remove the PWS, but a disfiguring scar replaces the PWS. The patient must then either endure skin graft surgery or live with the scar, depending on medical practicalities.
The skin surface destruction occurs because, prior to the present invention, there was no practical way to predict the necessary laser energy (intensity) required to properly treat PWS. Physicians generally set the laser beam energy, and hence the coagulating heat, based on personal experience. Consequently, some patients receive too much laser energy causing scars, some receive too little laser energy causing no improvement in the PWS condition, and others receive the correct amount and are cured.
One experimental guidance aid uses a Computer Aided Tomographic (CAT) image to improve PWS treatment. However, CAT images are expensive and difficult to employ. Specifically, acquiring the CAT data requires a very expensive infrared imaging camera; processing the image for tomographic display takes several minutes on a premium desktop personal computer; and calculations must be repeated for each 4 square millimeters of treated skin area.
The CAT image provides the physician with a picture of the underlying tissue, but offers no guidance for the desired laser energy settings. Thus, the CAT approach proves both expensive and slow, while leaving the physician to guess at an energy setting based simply on a picture of the underlying tissue.
After considering the prior art systems employed in the laser treatment of PWS and other disorders, it is clear that a convenient and reliable technique is needed by those afflicted with PWS and those treating the disorder. The present invention provides a beam energy control system overcoming the shortcomings of prior art techniques.

Method and apparatus for predictive beam energy control in laser surgery


A computer unit (10) arranged to establish contact between itself and a centralized server (12), in where the computer unit comprises means to establish a networked connection (22) with said server (12), and wake up means in case the computer unit is in an off or sleeping state, and optionally if the computer unit is on. The computer unit (10) comprises or is connected to a mobile unit that is active whether the computer unit is in off, in hibernation or sleeping state, or on state, and in where the mobile unit is adapted to receive a unique request from the server (12), via a mobile telecommunication connection (20), and if the request is identified as genuine, the computer unit (10) is adapted to establish a new and separate networked connection (20; 22) to the server (12).

US 20050166313 A1 describes a procedure to access a computer with Wakeup messages through the NIC (Network Interface Card), and describes how one through the network card can change data in BIOS, that again is stored in flash memory, and that BIOS gets new instructions so that an executable code is made.
US20080028053 A1 describes "Wake on LAN" (WoL) with control information that enables the boot of a computer through other equipment. It also describes how IT personnel may administer virus scans and do other maintenance tasks with a computer that is initially shut off, e.g. during the night hours. It also describes how the network card can be checked during normal boot to ensure that updated system information can be processed as a result of WOL-processing.
US20050086460 A1 describes WOL with BIOS and application in relation to three statuses: running mode, sleeping mode, abnormal off state, as well as to retrieve logs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,782 B describes WOL established using a supplemental LAN-adapter in a docking station providing secure access.
"Technical disclosure" titled "A method and apparatus for Sleep on LAN", from IBM with IP.COM Nr IPCOM000173706D describes a function called Sleep on LAN, however it uses network cards to access different sleep functions listed with S1-S5 by addressing the computer with MAC address, IP address, Group tags or Magic Packet. Wake on LAN is mentioned, and PNP BIOS.
None of the above mentioned documents mentions use of a mobile service to "wake up" the computer, or by using mobile broadband where the mobile part provides the networked connection even if the computer is in an off state.
It is an object of this invention to provide a solution that gives secure user support for computer units regardless of their physical location, and where the computer unit itself establishes a secured connection to an external server or another computer unit.

Method and apparatus for access to a computer unit


Devices for using a neural network to choose an optimal error correction algorithm are disclosed. An example device includes a decoding controller inputting at least one of the number of primary unsatisfied check nodes (UCNs), the number of UCNs respectively corresponding to at least one iteration, and the number of correction bits respectively corresponding to the at least one iteration to a trained artificial neural network, and selecting any one of a first error correction decoding algorithm and a second error correction decoding algorithm based on an output of the trained artificial neural network corresponding to the input, and an error correction decoder performing error correction decoding on a read vector using the selected error correction decoding algorithm. The output of the trained artificial neural network may include a first predicted value indicating a possibility that a first error correction decoding using the first error correction decoding algorithm is successful.

An electronic device may include a storage medium that temporarily or permanently stores data. During various operations, such as writing, reading, transmission or processing, data error or data corruption may occur.
In order to ensure reliability of data, the electronic device may use error correction techniques such as error correction encoding and error correction decoding.

Electronic device and method of operating the same


An amplifier biasing circuit that reduces gain variation in short channel amplifiers, an amplifier biasing circuit that produces a constant Gm biasing signal for short channel amplifiers, and a multistage amplifier that advantageously incorporates embodiment of both types of amplifier biasing circuits are described. Both amplifier biasing circuit approaches use an operational amplifier to equalize internal bias circuit voltages. The constant Gm biasing circuit produces a Gm of 1/R, where R is the value of a trim resistor value. The biasing circuit that reduces gain variation produces a Gm of approximately 1/R, where R is the value of a trim resistor value, however, the biasing circuit is configurable to adjust the bias circuit Gm to mitigate the impact of a wide range of circuit specific characteristics and a wide range of changes in the operational environment in which the circuit can used, such as changes in temperature.

The physical dimensions of transistors used to construct an integrated circuit determine the maximum frequency at which the integrated circuit can be operated. In general, the smaller the feature dimensions of a transistor, e.g., the gate dimensions, the higher the maximum frequency at which the transistor can be operated. For example, an example embodiment of a high frequency transistor, or short channel transistor, that is suitable for use in the Gm stage of a 5.5 GHz amplifier may have a channel length of approximately 60 nanometers (nm).
The gain response produced by a high frequency amplification circuit design that uses short channel transistors can vary when the same amplifier circuit design is implemented using different transistor technologies, i.e., process changes. Further, the gain response produced by a high frequency amplification circuit design that uses short channel transistors can vary in response to changes in the operating environment, e.g., the operating temperature, of the amplification circuit. In addition, the gain response produced by a high frequency amplification circuit that uses short channel transistors can be adversely affected by small manufacturing variances in the physical dimensions, e.g., physical gate dimensions, of transistors used in the circuit.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Reduced gain variation biasing for short channel devices


Provided are implementations for improved access to information stored on a storage device. A plurality of first nodes and a second node are coupled to one another over a communications pathway, the second node being coupled to the storage device for determining meta data including block address maps to file data in the storage device, and the first nodes being configured for accessing file data from the storage device using said meta data, wherein at least one first node caches data including meta data for a file accessed by said first node. A file application on said first node is configured to get requested file data by accessing said cached data for the file. A file notification system sends a file change notification to said first node indicating changes affecting the cached data, wherein the file application on the first node inspects the change notification to determine whether to get the requested file data directly using said cached data, whereby file accesses may be effected for an extended time with data locally cached at first nodes of the system.

The invention pertains to digital data processing and, more particularly, to the sharing of disk drives and other storage devices on a networked digital data processing system. The invention has application, for example, in the processing of video, graphics, database and other files by multiple users or processes on a networked computer system.
In early computer systems, long-term data storage was typically provided by dedicated storage devices, such as tape and disk drives, connected to a central computer. Requests to read and write data generated by applications programs were processed by special-purpose input/output routines resident in the computer operating system. With the advent of "time sharing" and other early multiprocessing techniques, multiple users could simultaneously store and access data—albeit only through the central storage devices.
With the rise of the personal computer and PC-based workstations in the 1980's, demand by business users led to development of interconnection mechanisms that permitted otherwise independent computers to access one another's storage devices. Though computer "networks" had been known prior to this, they typically permitted only communications, not storage sharing.
Increased power of personal computers and workstations is now opening ever more avenues for their use. Video editing applications, for example, have until recently demanded  specialized video production systems. Now, however, such applications can be run on high-end personal computers. By coupling these into a network, multiple users can share and edit a single video work. Reservation systems and a host of other applications also commonly provide for simultaneous access to large files by multiple parties or processes. Still other tasks may require myriad small files to be accessed by multiple different parties or processes in relatively short or overlapping time frames.
Network infrastructures have not fully kept pace with the computers that they interconnect. Though small data files can be transferred and shared quite effectively over conventional network interconnects, such as Ethernet, these do not lend themselves, for example, to sharing of large files. Thus, although users are accustomed to seemingly instantaneous file access over a network, it can take over an hour to transfer a sixty second video file that is 1.2 GBytes in length.
Some interconnects permit high-speed transfers to storage devices. The so-called fiber channel, for example, affords transfers at rates of up to 100 MBytes/sec—more than two orders of magnitude faster than conventional network interconnects. Although a single storage device may support multiple fiber channel interfaces, the industry has only recently set to developing systems to permit those workstations to share such files on a storage device. Moreover, when a file is to be accessed by multiple users, the overhead of server intervention can result in loss of speed advantages and efficiencies otherwise gained from the high-speed interface. In this regard, techniques such as locking, maintaining ghost files, monitoring file changes and undertaking multi-step access, check-in or housekeeping operations may be unworkable when multi-user access to many small files must be provided quickly.
In many situations, and for many specific types of networks, the coherence and security of a shared access storage system are desirable, but the nature of some of their usual storage transactions is ill-suited to such a file management protocol. For example, a web server application may commonly require hundreds or thousands of file-OPENs-per-second (FOPS) to be carried out on a small number of large graphic or web page files. Certain commercial transaction processing and reporting applications may require simultaneous access to read hundreds or thousands of files that are quite small, and some of these tasks may be carried out with tape systems, thus introducing long delays between opening of the files and completion of a processing task. The number of file-specific network communications involved in requesting, preauthorizing or monitoring and correcting data in these file transactions might bring a system to a standstill.
In view of the foregoing, an object of the invention is to provide improved digital data processing systems and, particularly, improved methods and apparatus of high-speed access to, and sharing of, disk drives and other storage devices on a networked computer system.
A related aspect of the invention is to provide such systems that achieve fast operation with files of diverse sizes.
A related aspect of the invention is to provide such systems as can be implemented with minimum cost and maximum reliability.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide such systems as can be readily adapted to pre-existing data processing and data storage systems.
Yet still another object of the invention is to provide such systems as can be readily integrated with conventional operating system software and, particularly, conventional file systems and other input/output subsystems.

Low overhead methods and apparatus shared access storage devices

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for reordering data by an electronic device is described, including receiving a first set of data packets via a first radio access technology (RAT). The method also includes receiving a second set of data packets via a second RAT. The first and second sets of data packets are from a data stream. The method further includes providing at least a portion of the first set of data packets or of the second set of data packets to an application processor. The method additionally includes buffering, in application processor memory, the at least the portion of the first set of data packets or the at least the portion of the second set of data packets. The method also includes reordering the at least the portion of the first set of data packets or the at least the portion of the second set of data packets.

Computing devices are common within modern society. Ranging from small mobile computing devices, such as a smart phone or tablet, to large server farms with numerous blades and memory banks, these devices are expected to communicate across myriad networks while providing various other base functions.
Improvements in network communications have increased data rates. For example, copper wires have been replaced with higher bandwidth fiber optic cables, and cellular networks have evolved with protocols capable of supporting higher data rates. As the data rates have increased, the need to be able to process these increased data rates within computing devices has also increased.
As can be observed from the foregoing discussion, increasing data rates and/or data loads may cause difficulties in handling the increased data rates and/or data loads. Accordingly, systems and methods that improve capacity for handling data may be beneficial.

Systems and methods for reordering data received from a plurality of radio access technologies (RATs)


An organic EL device includes a lower electrode formed on a substrate; an organic EL layer formed on the lower electrode; an upper electrode formed on the organic EL layer; a sealing member for sealing the lower electrode, organic EL layer and upper electrode on the substrate. The sealing member is made of an aluminum material coated with an insulating layer in its inner surface. Since the inner surface of the sealing member is coated with the insulating layer, contact of the sealing member with the upper electrode produces no trouble. Since the surface of the insulating layer 4 is porous, by removing the gas from the surface of the insulating layer 4, impurities in the internal space 5 can be taken into a large number of pores of the insulating layer 4. In such a configuration, a thin-profile and reliable organic EL device can be provided which can be manufactured with improved efficiency of manufacture and at reduced production cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic EL device, and more particularly to an organic EL device provided with a sealing member for sealing a lower electrode, an organic EL layer and an upper electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an conventional EL display panel 25 provided with an organic EL device. In the EL display panel 25, a plurality of strip-shaped transparent electrodes 11 of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) (hereinafter referred to as an ITO transparent electrode(s)) are arranged on a glass substrate 2 in a direction of arrow 93. Above the ITO transparent electrodes, a plurality of strip-shaped organic layers 12 are arranged in a direction of arrow 94. A plurality of strip-shaped upper electrodes 13 are superposed on the organic layers 12, respectively.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the conventional EL display panel 25, taken in line Ixe2x80x94I in FIG. 2. As seen from FIG. 3, the ITO transparent electrodes 11 as a lower electrode, organic EL layers 12 and upper electrodes 13 are covered with and sealed by a cap 15 on the glass substrate 2. The cap 15, which is made of metal or glass, is secured to the glass substrate 2 by adhesive. The internal space 17 of the cap 15 is filled with nitrogen.
Generally, deposition of impurities such as moisture on an organic EL device greatly changes a device characteristic. This largely attenuates reliability of the organic EL device. In order to over come such an inconvenience, an adsorbent 16 of barium oxide is provided within the cap 15 to adsorb the impurities such as moisture.
In the EL display panel 25, when a voltage is applied between a prescribed ITO transparent electrode 11 and a prescribed upper electrode 13, an organic EL layer 12 located at an area where these electrodes are overlapped, emits light. Therefore, by controlling selection of each ITO transparent electrode 11 and each upper electrode 13, a desired display can be realized using the EL display panel 25.
The above conventional organic has the following defects. Sealing by the cap 15 requires for the cap 15 to be formed in a prescribed shape. This leads to poor efficiency and high cost in manufacturing.
Particularly, when the cap 15 of metal is used, the upper electrode 14 and cap 15 must be kept into non-contact with each other. Therefore, in order to secure the cap 15 on the glass substrate 2, it must be adjusted in position and thereafter bonded to the glass substrate 2. This leads to poor efficiency and high cost in manufacturing. Further, in order to assure the non-contact between the upper electrode 13 and the cap 15, an insulator such as an insulating material or space (e.g. space L1 shown in FIG. 3) must be located therebetween. This impedes the thin-profiling of the organic EL device.
Further, provision of the adsorbent 16 within the cap 15 further impedes thin-profiling of the organic EL device. In addition, the provision of the adsorbent 16 results in poor workability and high cost in manufacturing.
A first object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL device which can provide high efficiency of manufacturing, reduce production cost, obtain great reliability and realize thin-profiling.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing such an organic EL device.
In order to attain the above first object, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an organic EL device comprising: a lower electrode formed on a substrate; an organic EL layer formed on the lower electrode; an upper electrode formed on the organic EL layer; a sealing member for sealing the upper electrode, organic EL layer and upper electrode on the substrate so that they are covered with the sealing member, wherein the sealing member is made of an aluminum material coated with an insulating layer in its inner surface.
In this configuration, since the sealing member is made of an aluminum material coated with an insulating layer in its inner surface, contact of the aluminum material with the upper electrode produces no trouble. Thus, such a fine alignment as required in sealing by a metallic cap is not required, thereby improving working efficiency and reducing the production cost. Further, any insulator for assuring non-contact between the aluminum material and the upper electrode is not required so that the organic EL device can be formed in a thin-profile style. In addition, the aluminum foil is so flexible that it can be deformed freely, thereby improving working efficiency and reducing the production cost.
Preferably, the aluminum material is a flexible aluminum sheet. Therefore, it is not necessary to form the aluminum material in a prescribed shape in advance, thereby improving working efficiency and reducing the production cost.
Preferably, the insulating layer is an aluminum oxide layer formed by anodic oxidation of the aluminum material. Since the surface of such an-oxide layer is porous, impurities can be taken into a large number of pores of the anodic oxide layer, thereby improving the reliability of the organic EL device. This oxide layer has both functions of insulation and absorbing the impurity such as moisture. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide an insulator and an impurity absorbing member individually, thereby providing a thin-profile EL device and improving working efficiency and reducing the production cost.
Preferably, the insulating layer is a porous aluminum oxide layer. Since such a porous oxide layer can have a function of xe2x80x9cgetteringxe2x80x9d of taking impurities into a large number of pores, it can take the impurities internally generated during use, thus lengthening the life of the organic EL device.
Preferably, the aluminum sheet is formed in such a manner that a surface of the aluminum oxide layer is subjected to gas flow-out treatment in vacuum, and thereafter the lower electrode, organic EL layer and upper electrode are sealed on the substrate in an atmosphere of inert gas.
In this configuration, the surface of the aluminum oxide layer is subjected to gas flow-out treatment, and the lower electrode, organic EL layer and upper electrode are sealed on the substrate by the sealing member. Therefore, gas can be caused to flow out from the large number of pores of the aluminum oxide layer so that the impurity can be taken into the pores, thereby improving the reliability of the organic EL device. In order to attain the second object, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an organic EL device comprising the steps of: forming a lower electrode formed on a substrate; forming an organic EL layer on the lower electrode; forming an upper electrode on the organic EL layer to provide the organic EL device; preparing an aluminum material coated with an insulating layer in at least its inner surface; and sealing the organic EL device so that it is covered with the aluminum material.
In the manufacturing method, preferably, the step of preparing the aluminum material comprises the steps of: making anodic oxidation to form an aluminum oxide layer on a surface of a flexible aluminum sheet; and removing gas contained within the aluminum oxide layer, and the step of sealing the organic EL device comprises the step of: fixing the aluminum sheet with the gas removed on a surface of the substrate in an atmosphere of inert gas or in vacuum.
In the manufacturing method, preferably, the step of removing gas is to heat the aluminum sheet with the aluminum oxide layer for several xe2x88x9260 minutes at 60-300xc2x0 C. in vacuum.
In the manufacturing method, preferably, the step of making anodic oxidation is to form a porous aluminum oxide layer; and the step of removing gas is to heat the aluminum sheet in vacuum so that impurities contained in pores of the porous aluminum oxide layer are discharged.
In the manufacturing method, the step of sealing the organic EL device comprises the steps of: mounting the organic EL device and aluminum sheet in a sealing chamber and once heating them at room temperature xe2x88x92150xc2x0C. in vacuum; introducing inert gas into the sealing chamber; and fixing the aluminum sheet on the substrate through an adhesive and heating it.
In the manufacturing method, preferably, the inert gas is argon gas.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Organic EL device and method of manufacturing the same


A high throughput virus in vitro infectivity assay method comprising growing cells in a multi-well format, infecting the cells with intact virion incubated with a test agent, and measuring expression of at least one viral nucleic acid sequence in the cells. The method also preferably comprises incubating intact virion without test agent to define a control. The cells are preferably human keratinocyte cells grown in monolayers. The viral nucleic acid sequence will generally comprise viral mRNA. In one preferred embodiment, the intact virion comprise Human Papilloma Virus, and more preferably Human Papilloma Virus-11. Measuring expression is generally carried out by releasing the viral mRNA from the cells by lysis, amplifying the mRNA as CDNA via RT-PCR, and detecting amplicons with specific probes. Cell lysis may be carried out by heating or by treatment with detergent.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a high-throughput in vitro method of testing antiviral activity of various agents. More specifically, it describes a method of testing effectiveness of anti-papilloma virus agents which act early in the infection process. The method is useful in testing effectiveness of existing and potential antiviral drugs, including the efficacy of vaccines, in particular, future drugs directed to treatment of human papilloma virus infections.
2. Description of the Background Art
Cervical cancer is strongly linked to human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. HPV types 6 and 11 are associated with condylomata and low grade dysplasia while HPV-16 and -18 are associated with high grade dysplasia and cervical cancer. Information on the human immune response against Human papilloma viruses (HPV) predominantly comes from serological studies that used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) targeted against HPV antigens. The simple detection of anti-HPV antibodies, however, fails to identify neutralizing antibodies (N-Abs) against HPV. Thus it has been widely recognized that only the detection of specific N-Abs against HPV will identify an effective immune response (protective antibodies). See, e.g., Foster et al., Papillomavirus Report 8,127-131 (1997).
Testing of the antiviral effectiveness of the new and existing agents against human papillomavirus are still performed in the in vivo testing involving use of laboratory animals and human subjects. These studies are expensive, time consuming and altered by individual differences among subjects.
A demonstration of efficacy prior to in vivo animal model testing would limit the candidate in vivo agents to the ones with increasing potential for in vivo effectiveness. This is especially important for those newer, more speculative agents for which purer antiviral effects are lacking. In vitro demonstration of efficacy can support a decision for expensive testing in animal model systems. In vitro studies are also useful for exploring drug-virus interactions which are awkward or infeasible in whole animal systems. In vitro testing offers the following advantages: 1) preliminary data on efficacy; 2) rapid turn around time; 3) economy; 4) ability to precisely control environmental conditions; 5) elimination of pharmacokinetics and variability of whole animal systems; and 6) small amounts of drugs are required.
There have been some encouraging developments, elsewhere and in our laboratory, for in vitro papillommavirus testing. Broker's laboratory has recently suggested that the xenograft system, which we originated, might be useful for antiviral testing (S. Dollard, et al., 1992, Gene Dev., 6:1131-1142).
In the Broker approach, fragments of HPV-11 infected human foreskin tissue is excised from the papillomatous cysts, growing beneath the renal capsule, and the fragments are placed onto a collagen gel "raft" culture. HPV-11 replication continues in the tissue fragment, as cells migrate laterally across the surface of the gel. We have explored the use of this system as a possible target for antiviral testing, and we have found that there is a high degree of regional variability in the extent of cell migration, tissue growth, and HPV-11 replication. This in vitro system, however, does not appear to be sufficiently consistent or precise to form a basis for tests. Further, since preliminary xenografts are required, the cost of the test includes the preliminary growth for three months, so some of the theoretical advantages of in vitro tests, economy and rapid turnaround are lacking.
Another in vitro system with potential was described by Laimins' group (Meyers, et al., 1992, Science, 257:971-973). In this system, human cervical cells, bearing HPV-31b episomal DNA are placed on collagen gel raft cultures and biosynthesis of complete virions occurs in the differentiating cells. It seems likely that this system may also be disadvantageously affected by regional variability.
Many of the disadvantages of the prior art methods of testing antiviral activity are overcome by the method of the present invention which precisely measures antiviral activity without the interferences of the regional variability, since the cell cultures are evenly dispersed monolayers.
Other in vitro methods have appeared in recent years but only one assay utilizes infectious virion. See, e.g., Smith et al., J Invest Dermatol 105, 438-444 (1995). Most vaccines and anti-viral agents to date prevent infection in the early stages of infection, i.e. binding to viral coat proteins, inhibition of viral nucleic to acids form entering the cellular nucleus or preventing RNA transcription. By using intact virion the infection of monolayers more closely mimics a true viral infection than the use of puesdo-virion. This in vitro PV assay relies on methods not conducive to high throughput screening. Past methodology required the isolation of RNA before RT-PCR could be performed to detect HPV mRNA expression within infected cells. Also nested set PCR was necessary for the detection of viral mRNA which is cumbersome in a high throughput method.
There is accordingly a need for an in vitro assay utilizing infectious virion which is amenable to use with high-throughput techniques. The present invention satisfies this need, as well as others, and generally overcomes the deficiencies found in the background art.

High throughput papilloma virus in vitro infectivity assay


An ultrasonic sensor detects the presence or absence of a fluid in contact with the sensor and a level of fluid along the sensor. The sensor includes a first probe having a. transducer element operably connected thereto. The transducer element is configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal through the first probe, A second probe has an other than straight shape. The second probe has a transducer element operably connected thereto that is configured to receive the ultrasonic signal transmitted by the first probe to determine the presence or absence of a fluid and when present, the location of fluid along the second probe. The other than straight shape of the second probe increases the path length of the received signal to increase the resolution and accuracy of sensing the presence or absence of the fluid, and when present, the resolution and accuracy of a location along the second probe at which the fluid is present.

Level sensors are known in the art. Various types of mechanical, electro-mechanical and electrical sensors are known. The type of sensor used for any given application will depend upon the application.
Fluid level can be determined using, for example, one type of electromechanical sensor is a float type sensor commonly found in most automobiles. Such a sensor consists of an arm whose height is fixed at one end, such as at a pivot, with the other attached to a float that is in positioned in part within the fluid. The arm can pivot in a vertical plane. Changes in fluid level results in changes of the angle of the arm with respect to the vertical. The change is sensed with a potentiometer and is thus converted to an indication of fluid level.
Another type of electromechanical sensor includes a magnet attached to a float that is constrained to move on a vertical rod. The rod is both magnetostrictive and capable of supporting ultrasonic waves. The magnet changes the acoustic properties of the rod, causing an ultrasonic pulse initiated at one end to he reflected at the magnet position. The time that elapses for a group of waves to traverse the rod from the initiating end to the magnet and back to the initiating end is a measure of the fluid level.
While these systems are widely used, they have several known drawbacks. First, the float can stick in a fixed position due to aging, debris or the like. Moreover, it has been found that the assembly can degrade over time because it has moving (mechanical) parts that may tend to wear. It has also been observed that in certain systems, turbulence and fast flowing liquids can damage the mechanisms. And, typically, the operating temperature range is restricted.
Among the sensors with no moving parts, there are two that propagate waves through the fluid vapor and reflect at the fluid/vapor boundary, with time of flight as the proxy for fluid level. One system uses electromagnetic waves in the microwave region, and the other uses ultrasonic waves. These systems can have issues with turbulence, liquid sloshing and variation in flight, times due to changes in vapor pressure and temperature.
A variation on this is to couple a transducer to the bottom of a tank and send an acoustic pulse through the liquid to reflect off the air/fluid interface and return to the transducer. This system has drawbacks similar to that as over the air, time of flight sensors, and is also very sensitive to aeration.
A further acoustic type includes two parallel rods. An acoustic pulse in the form of extensional waves is sent down one rod, and in the presence of a the extensional mode converts to a compressional mode which propagates across the fluid, and is received and converted back to an extensional mode by the second rod. The time interval from the start of the pulse in the first rod, across the fluid, to a receive transducer in the second rod is used to determine level. Problems have been observed with this type of sensor in that due to the large differences in acoustic impedance between practical rod materials and typical fluids, the received signals are very small and require substantial signal processing.
Other sensors, such as those disclosed in Knowles, U.S. Publication 201010024535, and WO 2008/089209, both of which are incorporated herein by reference, use an elongated probe with a transducer operably connected thereto. The transducer is configured to produce extensional waves in the probe and circuitry for detecting acoustic energy that is emitted into the liquid when liquid is in contact with the probe. These probes, too, while functioning well in certain applications such as discrete water level detection, have been observed to have limited use in fluids that may be aerated.
Accordingly, there is a need for a level sensor with enhanced depth resolution. Desirably, such a sensor permits determining the density of the fluid and the viscosity of the fluid. Desirably, such a combination of this measurements allows for the characterization of a fluid and the fluid level in a single sensor.


Fault detection in a feedback air/fuel ratio control system using an exhaust gas oxygen sensor compares the expected transport delay time to the time between exhaust gas oxygen sensor output level switching. A fuel system failure is determined when there is an inappropriate switching rate of the oxygen sensor output level.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to onboard diagnostics of vehicle operating parameters.
2. Prior Art
It is known to use oxygen sensors in the feedback control of air/fuel ratio of internal combustion engines. It is desirable to know when there has been a failure of an oxygen sensor or of the air/fuel ratio control system. It would be generally expected that throttle position transitions due to a vehicle operator actuation would result in exhaust gas oxygen sensor output level switching. Accordingly, it is known to monitor the number of throttle position transitions and compare it to a predetermined number of throttle position transitions. If the actual number of throttle position transitions is greater than the predetermined number, a transition in the output level of an exhaust gas oxygen sensor would be expected. If no such switching or output level transition of the oxygen sensor has occurred, it is assumed that there is some incorrect operation of the fuel control system, such as, for example, exhaust gas oxygen sensor failure.
However, this is only an approximate determination of a fault. For example, there may well be other failure modes which cannot be detected by such a simplistic method. These are some of the problems this invention overcomes.

Onboard detection of oxygen sensor switch rate for determining air/fuel ratio control system failure


Determining an error in position of at least two heads coupled to a piezoelectric material, and changing a potential applied to a piezoelectric material to reduce the error in position of the at least two heads.

Several types of tape drives include a transducer having a plurality of read/write transducing elements for use with a plurality of channels. The transducer can include a plurality of read/write heads having the capability to read and write data to multiple tracks or channels on a flexible medium such as tape. The transducer can also include at least one servo head for reading servo information from the tape. In some tape drives, the read and write transducers are merged. Some tape drives do not include a separate servo element, and servoing is done by the data head. In some instances, the transducer can include at least two servo heads positioned at or near the edges of the tape. The transducer, therefore, includes a plurality of read/write heads and at least one servo head that are positioned on a ceramic bar. The position of each of the heads is fixed.
The tape includes servo information written on the edges of the tape. The servo head reads the servo information and produces a position signal used to determine the position of the transducing head with respect to the tape. The position signal is also a control signal in a feedback control loop used to position the transducer and keep the read/write heads on track.
In a multi-channel read/write recording system like the one described above, any expansion or contraction of the recording medium results in an error in placement of the track on the tape relative to the read/write head associated with that track. In other words, if the tape shrinks or expands, the position of the track with respect to the read/write head shifts. Past solutions have included formulating tapes that do not contract or expand as much, usually resulting in higher cost tape, or limiting the spacing between tracks such that the amount of tape contraction or expansion is small compared to the separation between tracks. The later solution limits the ultimate capacity of the tape product.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for the production of a highly water absorptive resin comprises the steps of neutralizing acrylic acid with alkali metal hydroxide to form an alkali metal acrylate; mixing the alkali metal acrylate, methacrylic acid, a polymerization initiator, and a first crosslinking agent; suspending and dispersing the mixture in an aqueous medium to for an initial mixture; polymerizing the initial mixture to produce a polymerized intermediate, and separating the moisture from the polymerized intermediate by azeotropic distillation to reduce the water content to 15-35% by weight; adding a second crosslinking agent, said second crosslinking agent having two epoxy radicals; and mixing "Syloid" of silicate, to form a highly water absorptive resin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a highly water absorptive resin and more particularly, to a process for producing a highly water absorbing resin having a high water absorption rate, and an excellent gel strength and fluidity and its manufacture.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various water absorbing materials such as natural sponge, pulp, paper and the like, are well known in the art. Also various synthetic products made by graft polymerization of materials having a water absorbing group, such as --OH, --NH.sub.2, --COOH, and the like, have been used conventionally. However, such water absorbing natural materials, e.g. a sponge, a pulp, a paper are characterized with physical mechanism for absorbing water so that such materials have defects in that the majority of the absorbed water can be easily squeezed out by the application of external pressure. In recent years, in order to solve these defects, the synthetic products having particular physical and chemical mechanisms have been developed. The majority of such synthetic water absorptive products are crosslinked polyacrylic acid salt, or polymethacrylic acid salt, crosslinked polyarcylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer, salt, crosslinked starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymer, and cellulose and acrylate-grafted copolymer. Such grafted products are on the market as sanitary napkins, sanitary pads, diapers in the sanitary field, water absorbing containers in the civil and gardening field, and anti-dewdrop agents in the construction field.
The processes for the preparation of these products are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,663 which discloses a process comprising graft polymerization of starch and acrylic acid, and hydrolyzing the starch-polyacryl-grafted polymer, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,776 which discloses a process comprising the polymerization carried out by suspending and dispersing an aqueous solution of crosslinked sodium polyacrylate. However, the products made by these processes have a lower water absorbing property so that these products are not properly utilized as sanitary pads or paper diapers.
In general, a high water absorptive resin requires water absorption rate, water absorptive capacity, and gel strength and they have mutual opposing properties with each other. On the other hand, each performance is sacrificed to some extent. For example, the sanitary pads or paper diapers require a high absorption capacity as well as a high water absorption rate because the liquid from the human body can contact the human skin so that skin diseases such as edema, dermatitis, or congestive skin are formed on the human skin. Furthermore, the water content can be leaked from the water absorptive products. Accordingly, the necessity of good products for desired pads or diapers requires that there are to be several types of water absorptive resins which are known in the art. One such water absorptive resin is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,930 which discloses a process for producing a water absorbent polymer comprising the steps of subjecting a crosslinked sodium polyacrylate to have a water content of 10 to 40% wt, and adding a crosslinking agent for crosslinking the surface thereof. However, such water absorptive resin has a insufficient water absorptive property and a lower gel strength.

Process for the preparation of a highly water absorptive resin from acrylic resin, epoxy crosslinker and hydrophilic silicate


A skin defense system and a skin rejuvenation and defense system. The skin rejuvenation and defense system includes a skin rejuvenation application and a skin defense application that work together synergistically to rejuvenate and defend the skin from environmental insults that can accelerate the aging process and deprive the skin of its vitality. The skin rejuvenation application invigorates, oxygenates, and detoxifies the skin. After the skin has been opened up and made receptive by the skin rejuvenation application, the skin defense application absorbs into the skin to deeply moisturize and revitalize the skin. In addition to moisturizers, emollients, and similar ingredients that improve health and appearance of the skin, the skin defense application includes ingredients that can reverse and protect the skin from damage caused by pollutants (e.g., pollutants up to 2.5 micrometers) and pre- and pro-biotics that promote the growth and development of beneficial skin flora.

Our skin suffers a host of insults every day—age related damage, UV damage, pollution, oxidative damage, etc. In addition to being enjoyable, there are a multitude of benefits to your skin and your overall health that can be gained from daily skin care.
Facials, face packs, aromatherapy facials and massage with facial creams and other remedies help deep cleanse the skin, removing toxins caused by pollution, grease and dirt found in your everyday environment. Such facials help to reduce an overabundance of sebum, which is a natural substance that moisturizes and lubricates the skin. Overproduction of sebum can cause skin problems, including blackheads and acne. Cleansing facials open the pores of the skin, remove dead skin and toxins from the face, and clean the surface of the skin through exfoliation that tightens and firms the skin.
Facial treatments help to improve and restore circulation to facial skin layers, increasing the flow of oxygen-enriched blood to skin cells. This rush of blood to the skin gives your skin a healthy glow and plumps skin cells with vital nutrients and water, which reduce the appearance of wrinkled and dry skin. Nutrients like blood, vitamins and minerals found in the blood, along with adequate hydration, help develop and maintain new skin cells, essential for a youthful, healthy appearance.
In addition to the obvious outward benefits, facial treatments feel good, offering soothing relaxation. Daily facial care increases circulation and the flow of blood, and includes a variety of creams, aromatherapy and oils that moisturize the skin, smell good, and relieve stress as well as encourage peace of mind and contentment.


Example systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed sensing a flow of fluid using a thermopile-based flow sensing device. An example apparatus includes a flow sensing device comprising a heating structure having a centerline. The flow sensing device may further comprise a thermopile. At least a portion of the thermopile may be disposed over the heating structure. The thermopile may comprise a first thermocouple having a first thermocouple junction disposed upstream of the centerline of the heating structure. The thermopile may further comprise a second thermocouple having a second thermocouple junction disposed downstream of the centerline of the heating structure.

Industrial and commercial applications are increasingly utilizing flow sensors to measure and control the mass flow rates of gases and liquids. However, conventional flow sensor designs often exhibit drift characteristics that decrease their measurement sensitivities.
Applicant has identified a number of deficiencies and problems associated with conventional flow sensors. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, many of these identified problems have been solved by developing solutions that are included in embodiments of the present disclosure, many examples of which are described in detail herein.


Described herein is a multi-host computing system (100) having multiple host processors running different operating systems. In one implementation, a method of playing audio streams received from a plurality of hosts of a multi-host computing system (100), the method comprising receiving a second audio stream from a second host, and changing audio stream parameters associated with the second audio stream from second host to match the corresponding parameter values associated with a first audio stream received from a first host to generate an updated second audio stream. The method further comprises mixing the updated second audio stream with the first audio stream to generate a combined audio stream, and playing the combined audio stream using at least one audio codec (104) of the multi-host computing system (100).

Computing systems, such as laptops, netbooks, workstations, and desktop computers typically include a central processing unit (CPU), also known as a host processor, running an operating system for carrying out various functionalities of the computing system. The host processor generally includes softwares, known as system drivers, such as audio drivers, video drivers, and wireless drivers for interacting with and controlling various peripheral devices connected to the computing systems for providing various functionalities of the computing systems. The peripheral devices include, for instance, audio controller for providing output of audio files playing in the computing system, microphone for recording audio files in the computing system, and modems for connecting to a network environment. For example, the audio driver is configured to control the audio controller for playing an audio file.
Further, the system drivers generally interact with the peripheral devices through hardware interfaces, known as device controllers provided in the computing systems for controlling the peripheral devices. For example, the computing systems include audio controllers and audio codecs for controlling the audio players connected to the computing systems.
Further, with advancement in computing technologies a single computing system may include two host processors having two separate operating systems. In order to reduce system costs and power consumption both the host processors are configured to share the same peripheral devices and device controllers. Sharing the same peripheral devices and device controllers, however, may not be possible in cases when both the host processors need to access the same peripheral device. A second host processor, which was not initially using a particular peripheral device, may thus need to wait for a first host processor, presently using the peripheral device, to release the peripheral device, thus effecting experience of a user using the second host processor.