An end effector for use in the packaging industry has compression wedges that bookend subgroups of carrier assemblies on the end effector. The compression wedges are attached to the frame of the end effector via wedge blocks, which may be fixed to the frame or slidingly engaged with the frame.

End effectors, also known as end-of-arm tools, in general are well-known in the art. In the packaging industry, an end effector is typically attached to the end of a robotic arm from a robot such as a Delta robot. The robot controls the robotic arm, which in turn controls movement of the end effector. The robot further includes a rotatable shaft (also sometimes referred to as a rotary axis or a fourth axis) controlled by a servo to actuate an actuation mechanism of the end effector, to control movement of individual carrier assemblies. This is done typically to retrieve (pick) items (e.g., candy or protein bars, potato chip bags, or other food items) from a first conveyor belt, and deliver (place) them into containers such as boxes on a second conveyor belt for retail distribution. Such a process is thus often referred to as "pick and place."
A typical end effector has carrier assemblies that each include a carrier block either fixed to the frame of the end effector, or slidingly engaged to the frame, with one or more carriers (also referred to as pick-up members) attached thereto and operatively connected to a vacuum source through vacuum ports to enable picking up items during the "pick" operation. Typical pick-up members are suction cups. The quantity and arrangement of the pick-up members may vary depending on the application.
Typically, a first set of parameters associated with the items on the first conveyor belt are determined, such as their shape, dimensions, configuration, orientation, distance between each item, and distance between each group of items, and the first conveyor belt moves at a known speed. These parameters may be preset, programmed, and/or adjusted as needed. Likewise, the packages, boxes, or cartons that receive the items are on a second conveyor belt, with a known second set of parameters that may differ from the first set of parameters. The end effectors are typically custom-designed and the robot programmed to accommodate the parameters for specific applications. In this manner, the robot and end effector may be programmed and designed to pick up items at a first diverged pitch (e.g., 1 row of 24 items) and place them into packaging at a second converged pitch (e.g., 3 groups of 8 each).
For the pick-up members to pick up items at a first pitch, and place them into a carton at a second pitch, some or all of the carrier assemblies must be moveable. During a typical pick-and-place cycle, the carrier assemblies are moved from a diverged pitch (pick) to a converged pitch (place) while the robotic arm is moving the end effector from the pick location to the place location. For a more detailed description of such end effectors and their operation, see the '222 patent, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Both the rotary axis and the carrier blocks typically move at high speeds during the cycle, causing various forces to act on the items being picked up. In some instances, the items may still be moving during the place operation, causing slight misalignment that hinders or prevents proper placement. For example, in a tight-fitting packaging application with little or no leeway for extra space, if the items being placed are swaying even slightly, an outside item might contact the top edge of a carton wall during the place operation, damaging the item and/or the carton wall. When the items being packaged are bars (candy, protein, granola, etc.) the swaying is referred to as "bar-swing." There is thus a need for an improvement to existing end-effector technology that addresses bar-swing.


Nitroxide labeled hybridization probes are formed from novel nucleotides. The novel nucleotides are formed by substituting a nitroxide moiety at the C-5 position of the pyrimidine ring of either cytosine or uracil. The hybridization probes are formed by nick translation with E. coli polymerase I or T4 DNA polymerase or other template dependent enzymes. The hybridization probes can then be detected using electron spin resonance spectroscopy or alternately using a colorimetric method.

Many different techniques are currently used to identify nucleic acid sequences of deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA). Nick translation with E. coli polymerase I or polymerization with T4 DNA polymerase produces complementary DNA strands. By these approaches, hybridization probes, specific nucleic acid stretches which can be analytically identified, are formed. These hybridization probes can be used to identify some target DNA and RNA. This permits a scientist to detect the presence of specific DNA or RNA sequences in a genome.
There are different types of hybridization probes. By far the most commonly used hybridization probes contain radioactive DNA building blocks, wherein one of the atoms are radioactive and identifiable by radioactive assay methods. These radioactive DNA building blocks form excellent hybridization probes because they act in the same manner as a naturally occurring nucleic acid. In other words, the Pol I enzyme cannot distinguish the radioactive DNA building block from a non-radioactive one. The radioactively labeled nucleic acid stretches which contain the radioactive DNA building blocks are detected by X-ray film.
Radioactive hybridization probes present three distinct problems. The detection method for these probes involves multiple separation steps and cannot be conducted in solution preventing automation of genetic screening. More significantly, because of a much greater concern with the health and environmental hazards posed by these radioactive probes, appropriate safe handling of the hybridization probes is becoming more expensive and difficult. Finally, .sup.32 P radiolabeled DNA probes are unstable and have a limited shelf life.
There are alternatives to radioactive hybridization probes. Probes which can be detected colorometrically are known. For example, Langer, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Vol. 78, No. 11, pp. 6633-6637, Nov. 1981, discloses a biotin labeled nucleic acid. Specifically, Langer et al. report the production of a biotin labeled uridine triphosphate as well as a biotin labeled deoxyuridine triphosphate. Both of these building blocks are labeled with biotin at the C-5 position of the pyrimidine ring using an allylamine linker arm. The biotin labeled deoxyuridylic acid can be then incorporated into DNA using E. coli polymerase I. These hybridization probes are visualized by colorimetric assays.
There are problems with the colorimetric identification of biotin labeled DNA. Although kits have been made available by Enzo Biochem, Inc., New York or Bethesda Research Laboratories, Maryland, the required multiple steps for identification of biotin labeled DNA make it necessary to use specifically trained personnel. In addition, the color generating process that uses an enzyme to catalyze the synthesis of a colored or fluorescent molecule requires many hours for the visualization of the labeled DNA.
A number of nitroxide labeled nucleic acids have been reported, for example, Bobst et al in Journal of Molecular Biology (1984), 173, 63-74, reported various nitroxide labeled deoxyuridines wherein the nitroxide group was attached to the C-5 position of the pyrimidine ring. The structures reported are set forth below. ##STR1##
Further, these nitroxide labeled nucleic acids can be identified by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Such a method is advantageous since it can be conducted using solution chemistry which greatly simplifies the identification process. Bobst et al also determined that these nitroxide labeled nucleic acids could be incorporated into nucleic acid homopolymers using terminal transferase. However, they were not taken up by the Pol I enzyme in nick translation experiments or by the T4 DNA polymerase with double stranded DNA as a template. Therefore these are totally unsuitable for use in formation of hybridization probes using template specific enzymes.

Nitroxide labeled nucleotides and nitroxide labeled hybridization probes


Package for a very high frequency integrated circuit comprising a housing provided with a recess whose bottom is metallized and provided with peripheral connectors, and including a connection device inserted in the recess between the integrated circuit and the connectors, this connection device including a substrate that presents an upper surface comprising microstrip lines to connect contact studs of the integrated circuit to the connectors of the housing and a metallized lower surface to form a ground plane. The housing comprises two parts fastened to each other, the first or peripheral part accommodating the connectors, a first zone of the connection device and a chamber provided in the recess, of which chamber the dimensions are independent of those of the integrated circuit to be protected, and which is suitable for accommodating, the second or central part, the latter accommodating the integrated circuit and a second zone of the connection device termed complementary zone, whose dimensions depend on those of the integrated circuit to be protected, so as to come as near to the latter as possible, in a manner such that the length of the connector wires between the microstrip lines and the studs of the integrated circuit is the smallest possible.

The invention relates to a package comprising a housing provided with a recess whose bottom is metallized, and including connectors arranged along the periphery of the recess, and including a connection device inserted in the recess between the integrated circuit and the connectors, this connection device including a substrate that presents an upper surface comprising microstrip lines to connect contact studs of the integrated circuit to the connectors of the housing and a metallized lower surface to form a ground plane.
The invention finds its application in the domain of very high frequency integrated circuits where the frequency of the signals is situated between 30 and 60 GHz.
To date the integrated circuits operating at such high frequencies have come to witness an important development. They can only be marketed when comprising a package arranged for not reducing their performance. Now it applies that, to be more exact, technological progress concerning very high frequency integrated circuits has been faster in the research centers than in the industrial development centers to such an extent that packages capable of accommodating such integrated circuits are not yet found to be marketed having the indispensable performance.
For this purpose, it is good to recall that packages already existing for very high frequency circuits cannot be used in the domain from 1 to 6 GHz, or also packages for digital integrated circuits, neither can then be unreservedly transposed in order to be used in a domain where the frequency is of the order of 10 times higher. For that matter, the technical problems occurring in the 30-60 GHz frequency domain are extremely specific.
Thus, from European Patent Application No. EP 88202608.1 is known a package for digital integrated circuits. This package comprises a housing provided with a recess to accommodate the integrated circuit and contact studs disposed on the housing along the periphery of the recess. This package further comprises a connection device lying in the recess of the housing. This connection device is constituted by a wafer of alumina, itself provided with a central opening to receive the integrated circuit, and carries on its upper surface microstrip lines having an impedance of 50 .OMEGA., in addition to resistors and capacitors arranged radially extending from the edge of the central opening near to the integrated circuit along the periphery near to the recess in the housing. This connection device is also provided with a ground plane disposed on its lower surface to make contact with a ground plane disposed on the bottom of the recess in the package.
In order to connect a ground stud of the integrated circuit to the ground plane of the package, a ground line surrounds the substrate layer through the recess, which causes the distance to be very long for this connection.
This restricts the use of such a system to a frequency domain which is smaller by an order of magnitude than the frequency domain searched for the application of the present invention.
Alternatively, once the integrated circuit and the connection device are in position, each microstrip line having an impedance of 50 .OMEGA. is connected by a short wire to a stud of the housing which wire is extended by a metallic stripline printed on the housing and which line surrounds this housing through the recess to reach its lower surface. This stripline Which constitutes the connection device with the circuits on the outside of the package, is thus a simple conductor and not a connector of a given impedance of 50 .OMEGA.. The package is of the type without pins.
This also restricts the use of such a package for low-frequency integrated circuits or digital circuits, and does not enable to attain the high frequencies searched for the present applications.
Moreover, the housing of this package is of a resin which does not allow of realizing the screening necessary for the operation at the required frequencies. Finally, in the above document, nothing is observed about matters of sealing nor about matters of heat dissipation.
The technical problems posed by the realization of packages for integrated circuits operating at such high levels as 30-60 GHz or over, are the following:
This package is to present at least one line having the given impedance of for example 50 .OMEGA. connecting a very high frequency input or output of the integrated circuit to a connector of the coaxial type having a corresponding impedance, this connection line in fact being a very high frequency (VHF) line over its entire length;
This package is thus to present along its periphery at least one such coaxial connector to establish this connection;
This package is also to present standard connectors located along its periphery and lines for connecting these connectors to d.c. power supply studs of the integrated circuit;
This package is to present a ground plane without discontinuities;
This package is to constitute a screening, be tight, be able to withstand temperatures from -40.degree. to +125.degree. C.;
This package is further to be manufactured in an easy manner and at low cost.
For this purpose it is to be able to accommodate integrated circuits of any dimension without substantial modifications of its structure.

Package for very high frequency integrated circuits


A machine arrangement sequentially processes sheet-like substrates with multiple different processing stations each having a substrate-guiding unit and a substrate-processing unit. At least one of the processing stations has, as a substrate-processing unit, at least one non-impact printing device which prints on the substrate. The processing station with the at least one non-impact printing device has a printing cylinder. Each non-impact printing device is arranged at the circumference of the printing cylinder. The printing cylinder is triple-sized or quadruple-sized. A double-sized or a triple-sized transfer drum, or a corresponding feed cylinder, is arranged directly upstream of this printing cylinder. Alternatively, a double-sized or a triple-sized transfer drum, or a corresponding transfer cylinder, is arranged directly downstream of this printing cylinder.

WO 2004/013704 A1 describes a digital printing machine for direct, contactless sheet-fed printing, which includes a digital printing couple that is format-free in the circumferential direction and which has a transport device downstream of the digital printing couple, the transport device having grippers for holding sheets on its periphery, and the transport device preferably having a plurality of transport cylinders and/or conveyor belts and/or impression cylinders.
EP 2 540 513 A1 describes a machine arrangement for the sequential processing of multiple sheet-type substrates, each having a front surface and a back surface, said machine arrangement comprising a first printing cylinder and a second printing cylinder, wherein at least one first non-impact printing unit for printing onto the front surface of the relevant substrate and, downstream of the first non-impact printing unit in the direction of rotation of the first printing cylinder, a dryer for drying the front surface of said substrate that has been printed by the first non-impact printing unit, are each located on the periphery of the first printing cylinder, and at least one second non-impact printing unit for printing onto the back surface of the relevant substrate and, downstream of the second non-impact printing unit in the direction of rotation of the second printing cylinder, a dryer for drying the back surface of said substrate that has been printed by the second non-impact printing unit, are each located on the periphery of the second printing cylinder, wherein the first printing cylinder transfers the substrate in question, the front surface of which has been printed and dried, directly to the second printing cylinder.
EP 1 440 351 B1 discloses a digital printing machine for direct, contactless sheet-fed printing, which has a transport device covered with a layer of elastic material on which a printing substrate is transported, the transport device having at least one gripper for holding the sheet on the periphery of the transport device and/or having a stop for positioning the leading edge of the sheet, said digital printing machine also having a digital printing mechanism which is format-variable in the circumferential direction of the transport device, wherein the distance between the highest point on the gripper and/or stop and the surface of the printing substrate to be printed during the printing operation is shorter than the distance between the surface of the printing substrate to be printed and the digital printing mechanism, and the highest point on the gripper and/or stop projects beyond the surface of the transport device that is not covered.
DE 10 2015 211 637 A1 discloses a device for transporting sheets through a printing unit that includes an inkjet printing cylinder and at least one transfer drum, in which each sheet is held on an inkjet printing cylinder and is transferred by a transfer of the leading edge from an upstream transfer drum; a tensioning roller is provided for crease-free positioning of the sheet on the inkjet printing cylinder.
DE 103 12 870 A1 discloses a digital printing machine for sheet-fed printing, having a digital printing mechanism which is format-free in the circumferential direction, an intermediate cylinder located downstream of the digital printing mechanism and coated at least partially with an elastic material, and an impression cylinder located downstream of the intermediate cylinder, wherein the impression cylinder is equipped with grippers for holding the sheet and the intermediate cylinder is provided with recesses on its periphery for receiving the grippers.
DE 10 2014 010 904 B3 discloses a device for the duplex printing of sheet-type printing substrates, in which the printing substrate is guided through more than 360° on an impression cylinder, wherein the active zone of an ink application unit, which has already printed the recto surface of the printing substrate on an impression cylinder upstream, is re-entered by the printing substrate, this time with its verso surface facing the ink application unit, wherein the ink application unit can preferably be pivoted between two impression cylinders arranged one downstream of the other, and wherein the pivotable ink application unit is, e.g. an inkjet print head.
DE 10 2009 000 518 A1 discloses a sheet-fed printing machine having a feed unit for loading sheets to be printed into the sheet-fed printing machine, and having at least one printing element and/or coating unit for printing the sheets with a static print image that is identical for all printed sheets, and having a delivery unit for discharging printed sheets from the sheet-fed printing machine, and having at least one printing unit that does not include a printing forme and that is integrated into the sheet-fed printing machine for printing the sheets, in particular with a dynamic, variable print image, wherein the or each printing unit that includes no printing forme is integrated into the sheet-fed printing machine, where it can be controlled on the basis of process parameters or operating parameters or order parameters or quality parameters.
DE 10 2009 002 580 A1 discloses a printing machine, in particular a sheet-fed offset printing machine, in which a sheet delivery base module is located downstream of a plurality of base modules that are arranged in a row and are each configured as a printing unit or coating unit, wherein the sheet delivery base module includes a printing cylinder that guides the sheet-type material, and an inkjet device for marking the printing substrate is disposed on the periphery of the printing cylinder of the sheet delivery base module.
DE 200 06 513 U1 relates to a sheet-fed rotary printing machine that includes a sheet feed unit, a sheet delivery unit, and a plurality of base modules, which are similar in terms of their basic structure and are arranged between the sheet feed unit and the sheet delivery unit, and which include a sheet guiding cylinder and a sheet conveying means and can be equipped with a printing unit, a coating unit, or a dryer unit; a multifunction module that includes a sheet conveying means and a sheet guiding cylinder is located between the last base module and the sheet delivery unit in the direction of sheet conveyance, and the multifunction module is prepared for the addition of multiple different auxiliary units, the multifunction module being equipped, e.g. for the addition of an inkjet marking unit.
DE 10 2016 207 398 B3, US 2009/0284561 A1, US 2009/0244237 A1, and US 2011/0205321 A1, all subsequently published, each disclose a machine arrangement for the sequential processing of sheet-type substrates, with the machine arrangement in each case including multiple different processing stations; at least one of the processing stations of each machine arrangement includes a non-impact printing unit that prints on each of the substrates, and said processing station which includes the non-impact printing unit has a printing cylinder, with the respective non-impact printing unit being located on the periphery of said printing cylinder.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,909,454 B2 discloses a printing machine for the sequential printing of sheet-type substrates, in which an inkjet printing unit is disposed on the periphery of a printing cylinder and a feed cylinder is located immediately upstream of the printing cylinder, and both the printing cylinder and the feed cylinder are equipped with grippers for holding substrates to be printed.
EP 2 610 064 A1 discloses an inkjet recording apparatus that includes: a) a conveyance device which has a moving suctioning surface for conveying a cut paper medium by suctioning the medium onto the suctioning surface, and suctioning holes that are arranged uniformly in the regions of the suctioning surface; and b) a recording head, which forms an image by ejecting ink by an inkjet method onto a surface of the medium which is conveyed by the conveyance device.
JP 2015 63 398 A discloses an inkjet recording device that includes a transport cylinder configured as a suctioning drum.
EP 2 752 380 A1 discloses a conveying device and image producing device, in which the conveying device comprises a drum having multiple suction fields.

Machine arrangement with printing unit for the sequential processing of sheet-type substrates


A polarization modulator device for modulating a polarization of an electromagnetic wave includes a corrugated metallic waveguide having an interior cylindrical opening defined therein and situated along a longitudinal axis of the waveguide. The corrugated metallic waveguide also has a first waveguide section and a second waveguide section. The waveguide sections are separated by a dielectric break. A central structure is situated along the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. The central structure is supported substantially in the center of the interior cylindrical opening of the waveguide. The cylinder is substantially situated within the dielectric break of the waveguide. A magnetic field source is configured to permit a controllable magnetic field in the cylinder, wherein the magnetic field modulates a polarization of the electromagnetic wave by an angle related to the strength of the magnetic field. A polarimeter using the polarization modulator is also described.

Electromagnetic waves, such as microwaves, can have a polarization, such as a linear polarization. The polarization of linearly polarized electromagnetic waves can be characterized by a polarization angle. A polarization modulator operates on these linearly polarized waves to cause a change, or rotation, of the polarization angle. In the prior art, polarization modulation at millimeter-wavelengths (microwave) has been done by physical rotation of mechanical devices, such as by mechanical rotation of a waveguide polarizer, rotation of a wire grid polarizer, or rotation of a birefringent half-waveplate or mechanical rotation of a dielectric card in a waveguide.
Brian Keating (one of the present inventors) previously designed a polarization modulating device having no moving parts, based on the principles of Faraday rotation. The device was built in a smooth walled waveguide structure and was only capable of operating at specific microwave frequencies (over a very narrow bandwidth). Keating's first Faraday rotation device described above, albeit without moving parts, proved unsuitable for cosmic microwave background ("CMB") polarimeter applications because of the narrow band operation.
Measurements of the polarization of the CMB have the promise to revolutionize our understanding of the early universe. Unlike the temperature anisotropy of the CMB which has been measured to relatively high precision over a wide range of angular scales, the polarization of the CMB has only recently been detected and remains relatively unexplored. Polarimeters potentially useful for such studies have typically employed mechanical mechanisms to modulate the incident CMB radiation field about an optical axis.
In conjunction with an analyzer (to decompose the radiation into orthogonal polarization states), a polarization modulator can be used to exchange the polarized intensity between the two detectors or amplifiers (or to switch the polarization incident on a single detector). If the modulation is done rapidly enough, this technique is useful to mitigate the effects of detector gain instability. Since polarization measurements are often low signal-to-noise, modulation, without such mitigation, gain and offset instability can masquerade as polarization.
It can be advantageous to operate a polarimeter polarization modulator at as high a speed as possible. Prior art mechanical modulators were only capable of modulation rates up to 100 Hz, if that high, as limited for example, by mechanically rotating plates. The problem is that while a modulation frequency of 100 Hz can mitigate the affects of some detector gain and offset variations, it does not help for higher frequency changes in gain and offset, nor is it fast enough to attenuate 1/f noise caused by electronic amplifiers, such as detector and difference amplifiers, used in most polarimeters. Another problem with mechanical polarization modulators of the prior art is that the mechanical vibration from moving elements can introduce a false electrical signal related caused by mechanical vibration.
What is needed is a polarization modulator having no moving mechanical components that can continuously vary an angle of polarization modulation over a wide bandwidth, and that can operate at modulation frequencies over 100 Hz and over a broad band.

Wide-bandwidth polarization modulator for microwave and mm-wavelengths


A molded or pre-fabricated Central Core Unit module, containing the aligned attachment points, surfaces, or brackets necessary for incorporating the Float Connection Assemblies for the retraction of a trimaran's stabilizing floats, to be along side the center hull of a trimaran. The Float Connection Assemblies are attached to and aligned by this Central Core Unit. The Core Unit module replaces a number of brackets or surfaces and bulkheads that had to be independently constructed and aligned in the central hull. With the Central Core Unit module, the Float Connection Assemblies can be self-contained and independent from the trimaran hulls, which can then be constructed of any material. The Central Core Unit module and associated Float Connection Assemblies can be removable and used in a wide range of trimaran designs of similar size.

Wide beam has always been a problem with trimarans, and the Float Connection Assemblies as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,166 have solved this with a simple and effective method of retracting the stabilizing floats of a trimaran. The system is now widely used. However, the incorporation of these Float Connection Assemblies into a trimaran has proven to be difficult and time consuming.
Two construction methods have been used. The first is the standard wood frame, stringers and plywood planking construction method. With this method the Float Connection Assemblies require two carefully aligned bulkheads or frames either side of each connecting beam, to which pivot brackets are then attached. The position of these bulkheads is critical for accurate alignment of the connecting beams and the pivot assemblies. These bulkheads are of the usual wood frame type construction, and are used to support wood stringers, which in turn support plywood planking. In accordance with normal boat building practice these are built in during construction of the hull, and the pivot brackets must then be carefully attached and aligned. Accurately aligned mounting surfaces for the connecting beams must also be established between the bulkheads.
While this method has been reasonably successful, it requires a high level of building skill, a considerable amount of labor, and the two bulkheads take up interior room. The attachment of these bulkheads to the hull structure can be very important, and may limit the type of materials used to that as originally designed. Being a very labor intensive process, this method is not suitable for commercially produced trimarans and has only been used for amateur built trimarans.
The second construction method is the well established fiberglass production method of utilizing female molds in which the fiberglass hull is formed. With this construction a single fiberglass bulkhead at the center of each connecting beam is used in conjunction with very accurately aligned hull surfaces in this area, to provide correctly aligned mounting surfaces for the pivot brackets for the guide frame assemblies and a mounting surface or recess for the connecting beams. This method offers labor savings compared to the first method, but requires a considerable initial investment in very close tolerance tooling and is only suitable for production type molded fiberglass trimarans.
Both methods require integrating the Float Connection Assemblies, and their associated supports, piece by piece, very accurately, into the boat structure as it is built. This requires very detailed design, considerable building skills, very careful alignment, and a lot of labor.
Construction materials for the boat are also limited to what the designer has specified, due to the many varied stresses involved, and their resolution into the particular materials specified.
In all cases, the Float Connection Assemblies have been designed for a specific design, and are not suitable for use in other similar but different designs. A simple change in design shape of the hulls may require a complete redesign of the Float Connection Assemblies. Once a trimaran using this system is assembled, the Connecting Assemblies became part of that boat and can not be easily transferred to a similar size but different trimaran design. This is a particular disadvantage for racing trimarans, where a hull design is easily outdated, and a new hull design may be required. The ability to transfer the Float Connection Assemblies easily into a new central hull and/or stabilizing floats would offer great savings in time and expense.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a construction method that will overcome the above and other disadvantages, and a method that will be easy and efficient to use. In particular, it is an object of this invention to provide a construction method in which the assembly of many different parts is not required. Other objects are to provide a construction method that eliminates accurate alignment of many different parts, and to provide a construction method that is independent of the materials used in the rest of the craft.

Float connection assembly construction method for trimarans


A semiconductor device and process for making the same are disclosed which use organic-containing materials to reduce capacitance between conductors, while allowing conventional photolithography and metal techniques and materials to be used in fabrication. In one structure, patterned conductors 18 are provided on an interlayer dielectric 10, with an inorganic substrate encapsulation layer 32 deposited conformally over this structure. A layer of an organic-containing dielectric material 22 (pure parylene, for example) is then deposited to substantially fill the gaps between and also cover the conductors. An inorganic cap layer 24 of a material such as SiO.sub.2 is deposited, followed by a photolithography step to define via locations. Vias are etched through the cap layer, and then through the organic-containing dielectric (this step may also be used to strip the photoresist). An inorganic via passivating layer 30 is conformally deposited and then anisotropically etched to clear the bottom of the vias while leaving a passivating liner in the via, preventing the via metal from contacting organic-containing material. A second application of these steps forms a second, overlying structure of patterned conductors 38, inorganic encapsulating layer 36, organic-containing dielectric layer 40, and inorganic cap layer 42.

Semiconductors are widely used in integrated circuits for electronic devices such as computers and televisions. These integrated circuits typically combine many transistors on a single crystal silicon chip to perform complex functions and store data. The need to integrate more functions and more storage capacity onto a chip has caused the semiconductor industry to search for ways to shrink, or scale, the size of individual transistors and other devices commonly integrated on a chip. However, scaling devices to smaller dimensions can create a multitude of undesirable effects. One of these effects is an increase in the capacitive coupling between conductors in a circuit, since the capacitive coupling is inversely proportional to the distance between the conductors. This coupling may limit the ultimate speed of the device or otherwise inhibit proper device operation, if steps are not taken to reduce the coupling.
The capacitance between conductors is also highly dependent on the insulator, or dielectric, used to separate them. Conventional semiconductor fabrication commonly employs silicon dioxide as a dielectric, which has a dielectric constant of about 3.9. Many alternate materials have been used or suggested as a way of providing a lower dielectric constant. One such group of materials is organic polymer-containing dielectrics.


A method for analyzing a physical condition based on at least two images. The method selects a plurality of images based on a time lapse interval associated with the plurality of images and a specific physical characteristic being monitored. The method further detects a degree of change in the specific physical characteristic being monitored, wherein the degree of change comprises a change in one or more pixel patterns of at least one image within the plurality of images correlated with the specific physical characteristic being monitored, based on the time lapse interval associated with the plurality of images. The method further displays an alert in response to the degree of change exceeding a prescribed threshold for the specific physical characteristic being monitored.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the field of computing and more particularly to data processing and analyzing images, over a period of time, for detecting and monitoring health issues.
Individuals may not be aware of minor changes in their own physical condition, or of others, on a daily basis. For example, a blemish on one's skin, a change in color of one's pimple, an increase in small wrinkles, and a slight tilt of one's posture may all be examples of health issues that increase gradually over time and go unnoticed by ourselves, our family, and our friends.
In the digital age of today's world, a majority of people use mobile devices with built-in cameras, have social media accounts, and post photographs of themselves and others to their social media accounts, to be shared with friends and family. Additionally, friends and family post photographs of others, to be shared across social media.
The current state of the art in photographic analysis does not provide for analyzing images, over a period of time, for detecting and monitoring health issues.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Detecting and monitoring a user's photographs for health issues

International Business Machines Corporation


The different advantageous embodiments provide an apparatus that comprises a number of data storage units, a data extraction tool, a data warehouse, and a data processing system. The data extraction tool is configured to extract data from the number of data storage units. The data warehouse has a number of data files comprising the data extracted from the number of data storage units. The data processing system is configured to process selected data for a number of selected systems from the number of data files.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to system diagnostic designs and more specifically to built-in-test diagnostics and analysis.
2. Background
Diagnostic designs, known collectively as built-in-test (BIT), consist of hardware circuits and software code that are designed as a series of automated tests used to sense when a system performance parameter has exceeded some preset limits.
BIT data and recorded parameters are often provided by the diagnostic design. However, due to the volume of data, format of data, or BIT design, the analysis of the BIT data may be time consuming or difficult because of the need to interpret the data or make the data understandable. Furthermore, other data of interest may need to be identified and used with the BIT data to identify and isolate the cause of a particular system condition.
For example, diagnostic systems utilize information captured during system operation in a data storage unit. This information is captured in the form of a hexadecimal data file. The data file captured may contain a multitude of recorded parameters in addition to the built-in-test data for components in the system of interest. Manual analysis of this file may be difficult due to the size and format of the hexadecimal file. Manual analysis is further complicated by the need to interpret which portions of the hexadecimal file represent built-in-test data and additional data of interest as opposed to other data which is not useful for diagnostic analysis. Current methods of data extraction are tedious, and require multiple steps by the human analyst before the information is in a form suitable for analysis. The current methods may also require manually referencing the system schematics and subsequent operational data interpretation to evaluate the health of the system.


An array controller of a data storage system initiates a test of another array controller of the data storage system to determine the operational condition of the controller under test (CUT) as well as an array of storage devices to which the CUT is connected and a network fabric over which the CUT receives commands from host devices of the data storage system. If the CUT or devices connected thereto are not functioning properly, the controller initiating the test can diagnose the problem. The controller initiating the test instructs the CUT to perform certain normal operating functions, e.g. data read and write functions, and checks whether the functions are completed correctly. Additionally, a loopback test checks the operation of the network fabric, and the read and write functions also check the operation of the storage devices.

This invention relates to data storage in a computerized storage area network (SAN) or system utilizing multiple controllers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new and improved technique of determining whether one of the controllers or a device connected to the controller is functioning properly. Rather than merely detecting a lack of response to a data access request and inferring that something is not working, a test of certain capabilities of the controller is initiated so that particular problems can be diagnosed.
In a computerized storage area network (SAN), various storage devices, such as hard drives, compact disc (CD) drives, tape drives and the like, are used to store data. The storage devices are typically arranged in groups, such as a RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Drives) configuration. One or more redundant disk array controllers (a.k.a. RDAC) are connected to each group of storage devices to control access to the storage devices. The groups are sometimes contained in storage units, such as storage arrays, so the controllers handle data accesses between the individual storage devices within the storage array and other components of the SAN outside of the storage array.
The storage area network (SAN) also typically includes a plurality of host devices connected through a switched, or network, fabric to the storage arrays. The host devices access a plurality of logical data volumes present on the storage devices in the storage arrays, usually on behalf of a plurality of client devices which are typically connected to each host device. Each storage array is connected at the controllers to one or more host devices through the network fabric.
Each host device can typically transfer data with each storage array and the logical data volumes stored therein through more than one data path. Each data path extends through the switched fabric to one of the controllers in the storage array. Since the storage array typically contains two (and possibly more) of the controllers, the host device typically has two (and possibly more) data paths to each storage array. The controllers are xe2x80x9credundantxe2x80x9d because typically either one can satisfy data access requests from any host device to any storage device or logical data volume on the storage array.
The redundancy ensures that the logical data volumes will be available to the host devices in the event that one of the data paths develops a problem or fails to operate. If a host device detects a failure in one of the data paths to a storage array, the host device switches to the other data path to access the storage array.
The host device typically detects the failure when the host device sends a data access request through the data path, but either a response is not returned within a predetermined time period or the response includes an error notification. The problem that caused the error or failure may have occurred in the data path (e.g. in the switched fabric, a networking device, a cable or other component of the data path) or in the host device (e.g. in a network interface card or host bus adapter through which the host device accesses the switched fabric) or in the storage array (e.g. in the array controller, the storage device or other component of the storage array). However, no determination is made by the host device regarding the cause of the failure. Instead, a notification is sent to a system administrator indicating the data path that is not responding. It is typically then left to the system administrator to perform the burdensome task of diagnosing or troubleshooting the problem that caused the failure.
It is with respect to these and other background considerations that the present invention has evolved.
The present invention relieves some of the burden from the system administrator for troubleshooting the problem that caused a failure in a data path by automatically initiating a test of one or more of the array controllers in the storage array and disabling certain non-functional equipment when a problem is detected. The present invention also monitors the functional condition or status of the storage array by periodically initiating the test of the array controller(s), so the status of the storage array can be determined even before the host device has detected a failure or error.
One of the array controllers initiates the test of the other array controller, so if the controller under test is not functioning properly, the controller initiating the test can provide explanatory results of the test to the host device or the system administrator. The test checks the operation of parts of the array controller, the storage devices and the network fabric, so if the problem exists in one of these components of the storage area network, the explanatory results can provide the location of the problem for the system administrator, who can then quickly correct the problem. Even if the test does not identify a problem in any of the checked components, when the host device, nevertheless, has detected a failure, then the test will have eliminated the checked components as the source of the problem, so the system administrator can focus any troubleshooting efforts elsewhere.
These and other improvements are achieved by testing the operational condition of one of the controllers in a computerized system that has at least two controllers and one or more storage devices. The controllers are for controlling access to computerized data stored on the storage devices. The second controller sends a test command to the first controller to cause the first controller to execute predetermined operating functions. In response, the first controller attempts to perform the predetermined operating functions, preferably by directing certain data access commands to the storage devices. The outcome of the attempted predetermined operating functions is analyzed to determine whether the first controller was successful in performing the predetermined operating functions. The operational condition of the first controller is then determined based on whether the first controller was successful in performing the predetermined operating functions.
The controller under test preferably performs a read operation and/or a write operation on one or more of the storage devices to test its ability to access the storage devices. For the read operation, the controller initiating the test preferably writes some test data to the storage devices and then passes some test information to the controller under test with which the controller under test can check the test data after reading the test data from the storage devices. For the write operation, the controller under test preferably generates additional test data from the same test information and writes the additional test data to the storage devices, so the controller initiating the test can read the additional test data and check it with the original test information. Additionally, to perform either or both of the read and write operations, the controller under test preferably issues read and/or write commands to itself, to which the controller under test responds in a normal fashion as if the read and/or write commands were generated externally. Furthermore, the computerized system is preferably part of a networked storage system, and the controller under test preferably sends the read and/or write commands to an external device, such as a network device, that returns, or xe2x80x9cloops back,xe2x80x9d the commands to the controller under test.
The previously mentioned and other improvements are also achieved in a storage array for servicing data access requests received from the host devices through the network. The storage array includes an array of storage devices, two array controllers and a memory device (e.g. memory RAM). The array controllers are connected to each other, the network, the array of storage devices and the memory device. The memory device contains firmware instructions that cause the array controllers to perform a test of the operational conditions of one of the array controllers in which the second array controller initiates the test of the first array controller to determine whether the first array controller is operating. The first array controller attempts to perform predetermined operating functions, preferably reading data from and writing data to the array of storage devices. The outcome of the predetermined operating functions are analyzed to determine whether the first array controller was successful in performing the predetermined operating functions, which indicates the operational condition of the first array controller.
Under the read data function, the firmware instructions preferably cause the second array controller to generate test data and write it to the array of storage devices and the first array controller to read the test data from the array of storage devices and detect whether the test data is correct. Additionally, the second array controller preferably generates test information, which it uses to generate the test data and which the first array controller uses to detect whether the test data is correct.
Under the write data function, the firmware instructions preferably cause the first array controller to generate the test data and write it to the array of storage devices and the second array controller to read the test data from the array of storage devices and detect whether the test data is correct. Additionally, the first array controller preferably generates the test data from the test information that the second array controller sent to the first array controller. The second array controller uses the test information to determine whether the test data is correct. To perform the write data function under the firmware instructions, the first array controller preferably issues a write command to itself by sending the write command to the network with instructions to return the write command to the first array controller, so the first array controller can respond to receiving the write command by performing the write data function.
A more complete appreciation of the present invention and its scope, and the manner in which it achieves the above noted improvements, can be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly summarized below, and the appended claims.

Testing components of a computerized storage network system having a storage unit with multiple controllers


The present invention relates to a truck mixer with at least one extension chute which for transport can be received on a holding means in a locked manner, wherein the holding means can be swiveled rotatorily and/or translatorily between a transport position and a removal position.

This invention relates to a truck mixer with at least one extension chute which for transport can be received on a holding means in a locked manner.
In the rear open region of their mixing drum, truck mixers have a discharge funnel below which a so-called swivel chute is arranged. This is a chute which is pivotally mounted to the truck mixer at the rear end of the vehicle. To extend this swivel chute arranged below the discharge funnel, one or more extension chutes are used. When unloading the drum contents of the truck mixer, the extension chute is hung into the end of the swivel chute. The extension chute can consist of several parts, which during transport usually are fixed on the rear fenders of the truck mixer. On the rear fenders, the extension chutes are retained on correspondingly provided chute supports. The chute supports are sheet metal strips firmly arranged on the rear fenders of the truck mixer, which partly are adapted to the outer shape of the extension chute, so that after correspondingly locking the same by a so-called chute holder, the extension chutes are firmly held in their position on the rear fenders.
This holding situation is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the attached drawings. The truck mixer 10 shown here only in part includes a usual mixing drum 12. In the rear region of the chassis of the truck mixer the discharge funnel 14 is arranged, below which the swivel chute 16 is pivotally arranged. On rear fenders 18, extension chutes 20 are mounted on two chute supports 22 made of curved plates, wherein the extension chutes 20 are held in position by means of a chute holder 24. The chute holder 24 includes a tension spring (cf. FIG. 4), which retains the extension chute 20 on the chute supports by its spring force. As shown in FIG. 3, the chute supports 22 are connected with the fender 18 via screw connections.
For removing an extension chute 20, a number of working steps must now be performed:
1. First, the hook of the chute holder 24 must be lifted against the tension spring and must be deposited at the side.
2. For removal, the extension chute 20 must then be removed from the chute supports 22 and be rotated against the stop of the chute support in the chute support 22.
3. Thereafter, the extension chute must be removed from the chute support 22 by the operating personnel by a vertical upward movement.
4. For depositing the extension chute 20, these working steps must be performed in reverse order.
This handling of the extension chute is quite laborious. It should be considered that the mounting height of the chute support is dependent on the vehicle height and the fender attachment. This means that the chute support is located at a height of 1.30 m to 1.60 m. For supporting the chute on the fender, the operator must lift the extension chute with a weight of up to 20 kg to a height of 1.50 m to 1.80 m, so that he can position the extension chute in the extension chute holder. On a truck mixer, up to four extension chutes can now be supported on the fenders. For comparatively small or weaker operators, this means a considerable exertion.
Due to the open construction of the extension chute holder on the fender of the truck mixer, a high cleaning effort is necessary. In addition, the open construction of the chute support and chute holder on the fender is not optically appealing either.


The present invention is directed to a circuit breaker lockout device installed on a circuit breaker switch. The circuit breaker lockout device includes a first body section and a second body section. A handle extends through the first body section and the second body section. The handle includes a lockout screw with a screw head having a plurality of slots and a handle pin for engaging one of the plurality of slots. The lockout screw is turned by the handle to control the movement of the first body section and the second body section with respect to each other to engage the circuit breaker switch.

Circuit breaker lockout devices generally include multiple pieces that slide together to fit around a switch or lever of a circuit breaker. The lockout devices generally grip the switch or lever to lock the circuit breaker. However, prior lockout devices are difficult to install on the circuit breaker and fail to adequately grip the circuit breaker switch or lever. During installation, the lockout device often damages the switch or lever of the circuit breaker leaving markings on the switch or lever when the lockout device is removed.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a circuit breaker lockout device that is easy to securely install on a circuit breaker without damaging the circuit breaker switch or lever.


A direct current to direct current converter includes first and second switches to output voltages on first and second output terminals in response to appropriate turn-on voltages at first and second control terminals. The first control terminal may selectively communicate with one of N>2 different voltages. The converter may include a first multi-level controller in communication with the first control terminal, the controller including N drivers to selectively apply the N>2 different voltages to the first control terminal.

In some applications, DC/DC converters may be operated using high switching frequencies. For example, in order to meet response time requirements for particular loads, switching frequencies on the order of tens to hundreds of megahertz may be needed. However, with higher switching frequencies, the power dissipated as a result of the gate switching loss may increase to an unacceptable level.
FIG. 1 shows a DC/DC converter system 100 in a step-down configuration known as a "buck" configuration. A pulse width modulator (PWM) controller 110 controls a p-switch 120 and an n-switch 130, which are implemented using power transistors. A load 140 may be coupled with the output of p-switch 120 and n-switch 130 via an inductor 150 and a capacitor 160.
System 100 may dissipate power in a number of ways, each of which decreases the efficiency of the system. For example, resistive losses due to the on-state drain/source resistance (referred to as Rds-on) reduce the efficiency of the system. In order to reduce power loss due to Rds-on, larger transistors may be used.
However, larger transistors exhibit increased capacitance between the gate and the source, Cgs. This in turn increases what is termed the gate loss of the transistor. For a voltage V being switched at a frequency f across a capacitance Cgs, the gate loss is given by Equation (1) below:Gate loss=½Cgs V2 f  Equation (1)
At relatively low frequencies (for example, frequencies on the order of about 100 kHz), the gate loss may be significantly less than Rds-on. However, as higher switching frequencies are used, gate loss may make a substantial contribution to the power dissipation in system 100.

Low loss DC/DC converter including a multi-level controller that applies a monotonic sequence of voltage levels


A biological information processing apparatus includes the following elements. A light source irradiates biological tissue with light. A transducer functions as an ultrasonic wave transmitting unit that applies an ultrasonic wave to a local region in the biological tissue. A photodetector detects modulated light obtained by modulating the light from the light source with the ultrasonic wave in the local region. The transducer also functions as an acoustic wave detecting unit that detects an acoustic wave emitted from the local region at a time when the local region absorbs the light from the light source. An absorption characteristic in the local region is calculated using an acoustic signal, serving as an output of the acoustic wave detecting unit, on the basis of a light intensity in the local region calculated based on a modulation signal, serving as an output of the photodetector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing biological information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Research on optical imaging apparatuses for irradiating biological tissue with light emitted from a light source such as a laser, and imaging biological information obtained on the basis of incident light is being advanced actively in the medical field.
One of optical imaging techniques is photoacoustic tomography (PAT) called photoacoustic imaging. The photoacoustic imaging is a method of obtaining a distribution of optical characteristic values in biological tissue using the properties of an ultrasonic wave that is scattered in vivo less than light (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,023 and M, Xu, L. V. Wang, "photoacoustic imaging in biomedicine", Review of scientific instruments, 77, 041101, 2006 (hereinafter, referred to as "Non-patent Document 1").
According to the method, biological tissue is irradiated with pulsed light generated from a light source to detect an acoustic wave generated from biological tissue which has absorbed the energy of the pulsed light propagated and diffused inside the biological tissue. Specifically, using the difference between the absorptance of optical energy of a region of interest, such as a tumor, and that of another tissue, a transducer receives an elastic wave generated from the region of interest when the region momentarily expands by absorbing the energy of applied light. Detected signals are analyzed, thus obtaining a distribution of optical characteristic values in the biological tissue, especially, a distribution of optical energy absorption densities (hereinafter, referred to as "optical energy absorption density distribution").
One of such optical imaging techniques other than the PAT is diffuse optical tomography (DOT) called diffuse optical imaging. The diffuse optical imaging is a technique of irradiating biological tissue with light emitted from a light source, detecting weak light propagated and diffused in the biological tissue through a high-sensitive photodetector, and imaging a distribution of optical characteristic values in the biological tissue on the basis of detected signals.
Furthermore, one of imaging techniques using light and an ultrasonic wave is acousto-optical tomography (AOT). The AOT is a technique of irradiating biological tissue with light, applying a focused ultrasonic wave to a local region in the biological tissue, and detecting modulated light through a photodetector using such an effect (acousto-optic effect) that the light is modulated by the ultrasonic wave (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,096). It is known that the AOT and the PAT yield higher resolution than the DOT because these techniques each detect a signal of a local region where light and an ultrasonic wave interact with each other.
According to the PAT, an acoustic wave absorbed and generated in a local region of interest is measured, thus obtaining local optical absorption information. A pressure p of the acoustic wave generated in the region of interest is expressed using a distance z between the region and a light irradiation point by the following expression:P(z)=Γμa(z)Φ(z)  (1)where Γ denotes a Gruneisen coefficient (thermal-to-acoustic conversion efficiency), μa(z) denotes an absorption coefficient at a position in the distance z, and Φ(z) denotes the intensity of light (hereinafter, referred to as "light intensity") at the position in the distance z. The Gruneisen coefficient Γ, serving as an elastic characteristic value, is obtained by dividing the product of an isobaric volume expansion coefficient β and a squared sound speed c by a specific heat Cp.
It is known that Γ takes a substantially constant value so long as a biological tissue is determined. Accordingly, a change in sound pressure P, indicating the magnitude of the acoustic wave, is measured in a time-resolved manner, thereby obtaining the product of μa and Φ, namely, an optical energy absorption density distribution H (refer to Non-patent Document 1).
To accurately image a distribution of absorption coefficients μa(z) in biological tissue on the basis of the sound pressure P as a measured value, the light intensity Φ(z) at the position z of the region of interest has to be estimated accurately, as will be understood from Expression (1).
According to the technique disclosed in Non-patent Document 1, as an approach to estimation of the light intensity Φ(z), an average light attenuation coefficient Φeff(γ) in biological tissue is used and the Lambert-Beer Law and the diffusion theory are used to obtain the light intensity Φ(z). Using the light intensity Φ(z), the absorption coefficient μa(z) is obtained based on the sound pressure P(z). The attenuation coefficient μeff(γ) is expressed by the following expression.μeff=√{square root over (3μa(μ′s+μa))}  (2)
In Expression (2), μ's denotes an equivalent scattering coefficient. When a specimen is optically homogeneous, Expression (2) can be used. If the specimen is heterogeneous optically, however, it is difficult to accurately estimate the light intensity Φ(z). For example, the specimen is irradiated with light and diffused light radiated from the specimen is measured, so that the attenuation coefficient μeff(γ) can be estimated. The attenuation coefficient μeff(γ) is seriously affected by the optical characteristics of part in the vicinity of the surface of the specimen. In addition, the intensity of light which has reached a region of interest relatively deeper than the surface is affected by the optical characteristics of heterogeneous tissues between the surface and the region. Unfortunately, the light intensity Φ(z) of the region of interest is extremely shifted from the light intensity estimated using the attenuation coefficient μeff(γ). If the light intensity Φ(z) is not estimated accurately, the absorption coefficient μa(z) of the region of interest is not obtained with high accuracy.

Apparatus and method for processing biological information


One particle group in a sample undergoing measurement is demarcated from another particle group in the sample by drawing a discriminant on a plot of a two-dimensional distribution of the particles. To draw the discriminant, the two-dimensional distribution is divided into a grid pattern of a plurality of areas arranged in a number of columns, the number of particles contained in each area is determined, and an area containing the smallest number of particles is selected from a plurality of areas in a specific column. Next, in a column neighboring the specific column, an area containing the smallest number of particles is selected from those areas adjacent the area selected in the specific column. This operation for the neighboring column is thenceforth successively repeated for all subsequent columns to select the area containing the smallest number of particles in each column. Finally, a representative point is set in each area selected in each column, and an approximation curve is obtained by connecting each of the points. The approximation curve serves as the discriminant.

This invention relates to a method of demarcating a two-dimensional distribution in which, when a specimen containing two or more types of particle groups is measured by a particle analyzer capable of measuring two analytical parameters regarding various particles of interest, one particle group is differentiated from other particle groups by drawing a discriminant on a plot of a two-dimensional distribution in which the two analytical parameters are adopted as the two axes.
In order to demarcate one particle group from another particle group in particle analysis, a common practice in the art is to draw a plot of a two-dimensional distribution regarding the particles of interest and draw a discriminant within the plot of the distribution. For example, the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,706 describes a method of measuring a blood sample, which is fluorescently dyed with acridene orange, by means of a flow cytometer, and differentiating the particle groups in the blood sample by drawing a discriminant within a plot of a two-dimensional distribution prepared from signals indicative of fluorescence and scattering detected from individual particles. FIG. 9 is a view of FIG. 8B of the drawings in the above-mentioned specification. The horizontal axis represents the signal strength of red fluorescence detected from the particles, and the vertical axis represents the signal strength of scattered light detected from the particles. A red blood cell (RBC) particle group and a reticulocyte (RETICS) particle group in the center of the view are demarcated from a platelet (PLT) particle group by a diagonally extending linear discriminant.
In a case where particle groups on a plot of a two-dimensional distribution are differentiated by a linear discriminant as set forth above, the manner in which the discriminant is drawn is simple and no particular problems are encountered. In actual practice, however, there are many instances in which it is necessary to draw a more complicated discriminant. Since the acridine orange used in the aforesaid U.S. patent exhibits strong background fluorescence due to the dye solution itself, the dye tends to produce an error in the measurement of the intensity of fluorescence ascribable to the blood cells. Thus, it has been found that this dye is difficult to actually use. These findings are set forth in the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 61-280565. Accordingly, the same publication discloses use of a more practical dye (auramine 0) instead of acridine orange as a reagent for measuring reticulocytes. When auromine 0 is used, however, the red blood cell particle group and reticulocyte particle group cannot be demarcated from the platelet particle group by a simple linear discriminant, as shown in FIG. 1. Here the horizontal axis represents the relative intensity of fluorescence and the vertical axis the relative intensity of forward-scattered light. Each point in FIG. 1 corresponds to an individual particle, A represents the red cell particle group, B the reticulocyte particle group and C the platelet particle group. The curved line in FIG. 1 is a discriminant which demarcates the red cell particle group and reticulocyte particle group from the platelet particle group. The vertically extending straight line in the plot of FIG. 1 does not have a direct bearing upon the present invention but is a discriminant distinguishing the red blood cell group from the reticulocyte particle group. This line is shown for reference purposes only.
The characters and lines in FIGS. 2 through 6 have the same meansings. FIG. 1 is a plot of results obtained when measuring the blood sample of a healthy individual. When a specimen having an idiosyncrasy is measured, however, the distribution of the platelet particle group (C) exhibits a greater spread toward the upper right in comparison with the healthy individual, as shown in FIG. 2. As a result, the positions of the discriminants in FIGS. 1 and 2 clearly differ. This means that it is necessary to find an optimum discriminant for each and every sample in order to accurately quantify the number of platelet and/or reticulocyte particles.

Method of demarcating two-dimensional distribution


A programmable device including: an antifuse; a resistive heating element having a substantially temperature to power response, the resistive heating element adjacent to but not in contact with the antifuse; and means for passing an electric current through the resistive heating element in order to generate heat to raise the temperature of the antifuse sufficiently high enough to decrease a programming voltage of the antifuse, a time the programming voltage is applied to the antifuse or both the programming voltage of the antifuse and the time the programming voltage is applied to the antifuse.

The present invention relates to user-programmable antifuse devices; more specifically, it relates to combinations of antifuse devices and antifuse heater elements and the method of programming antifuse devices having antifuse heater elements.
An antifuse is a programming device that is essentially an open circuit before programming and a closed circuit after programming. One type of antifuse is a capacitive antifuse. A capacitive antifuse is a structure composed of an insulator with a conductive plate on opposite sides of the insulator. The antifuse is programmed by applying a voltage across the two plates sufficient to break down the insulator between the plates, thus shorting the plates together.
Generally, very high voltages are required to program an antifuse. This presents two problems in applying antifuse technology to advanced semiconductor chips. First, the programming voltage may be so much higher than devices of a semiconductor chip are designed to withstand that damage to the devices results when the antifuses are programmed. Second, in certain applications, the high programming voltage may not be available on the semiconductor chip. The conventional method of overcoming these two problems has been to try to use a lower than ideal voltage for a shorter time. However, this approach results in increased process time and costs as well as decreased reliability in terms of the programmed antifuse staying programmed, i.e. staying shorted and not opening up over the life of the chip, thus causing chip failure in the field.
A first aspect of the present invention is a programmable device comprising: an antifuse; a resistive heating element having a substantially linear temperature to power response, the resistive heating element adjacent to but not in contact with the antifuse; and means for passing an electric current through the resistive heating element in order to generate heat to raise the temperature of the antifuse sufficiently high enough to decrease a programming voltage of the antifuse, a time the programming voltage is applied to the antifuse or both the programming voltage of the antifuse and the time the programming voltage is applied to the antifuse.
A second aspect of the present invention is a method of programming an antifuse comprising: providing an antifuse; providing a resistive heating element having a substantially temperature to power response, the resistive heating element adjacent to but not in contact with the antifuse; passing an electric current through the resistive heating element in order to generate heat to raise the temperature of the antifuse sufficiently high enough to decrease a programming voltage of the antifuse, a time the programming voltage is applied to the antifuse or both the programming voltage of the antifuse and the time the programming voltage is applied to the antifuse; and passing the programming voltage through the antifuse to form an electrically conductive path through the antifuse.

Semiconductor antifuse with heating element

International Business Machines Corporation


This motion simulator uses a spherical shape driven by controlled wheels to produce any rotational motion within certain limits. The range of pitch and roll motions can be at least −15 to +15 degrees; yaw is unlimited. There are no moving electrical connections such as slip rings. The physical system can be produced inexpensively. Control and simulation display use a smart phone or computer tablet, which, for example, could be one already owned by a family using the simulator.

1. Field of the Invention
The purpose of this invention is providing a low-cost motion simulator to be used in homes and other venues. The invention can be adapted for children or adults.
The invention has a seat which moves in response to signals from a smart phone or smart tablet, hereinafter referred to as "computer tablet." The nature of the motion is determined by application-specific software (an "app") in the computer tablet. The computer tablet's display is used to display motion-related images. The seat can rotate about any axis. Pitch and roll are limited, but the range of each is sufficient for many simulations. Yaw is unlimited.
2. the Prior Art
Many motion simulators have been developed. A well-known early one was the Link Trainer, which had an analog control system and a mechanical arrangement based of pneumatic devices. There are many modern motion simulators using digital computers for control. Some are large and very expensive, so they are used only by such persons as professional aircraft pilots.
One marketed by Simcraft is small enough for nonprofessional use. It has a seat mounted on gimbals, so any rotation is possible. The control system is a conventional digital computer with application-specific software. There seem to be no patents for this device.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,490,784 and 6,629,896 describe large simulators with spherical moving platforms, supported by drive wheels which move the sphere by friction. These inventions are not suitable for home use.
In contrast, the present invention is small enough to be used in homes. Since it uses a computer tablet as the main control device, a family can purchase a basic physical unit, then use an already-owned computer tablet for the control. Thus the physical units can be sold inexpensively.

Three-axis ride controlled by smart-tablet app


A method and apparatus for charge transfer comprising a resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cell, coupled to a common source voltage line (CSL) for controlling state of the ReRAM cell, and a charge transfer circuit, coupled to the memory cell through the CSL and a charge consumption circuit, for transferring charge from the CSL to the charge consumption circuit when the state of the memory cell is modified.

The growing demand for high performance data storage and access in various consumer electronic and computing devices has driven the development of nonvolatile memory (NVM) technologies. Resistive random access memory (ReRAM) is one of alternative NVMs used because of its low operating voltage, high speed and scalability. ReRAM is employed in computers, mobile computing devices, memory cards, and the like. For more information regarding ReRAM, please see commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,867,996, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
A ReRAM module is composed of a plurality of memory tiles. Each of the memory tiles further comprises an array of memory cells. The memory cells each represent a "bit" in memory. Each memory cell comprises, minimally, a transistor coupled to a resistive material, further coupled to a common source line voltage (CSL). The transistor is further coupled to a bit-line and a word-line. A bit is modified in the memory cell based on the direction bias across the memory cell. For example, the "set" operation sets a high resistance to a low resistance in the resistive material of the memory cell. A "reset" operation has the polarity of the direction bias reversed, setting a low resistance to a high resistance in the resistive material of the memory cell.
However, due to the small size of the memory tile in a ReRAM module and the large number of cells in each memory tile, the CSL tends to accumulate a large parasitic capacitance. The large parasitic capacitance can generate parasitic oscillations in the ReRAM module, increases the rise and fall times of digital pulse signals for selecting and modifying memory cells, and can cause other unwanted side effects in the circuit resulting in undesired and excessive power usage.
Therefore, there is a need in the art to prevent the unwanted side effects of the large parasitic capacitance in the CSL of ReRAM modules.

Method and apparatus for common source line charge transfer


A fuel vapor purging method controls fuel vapor purging during stratified operation. Several factors influence vapor purge control, including fuel vapor concentration in the cylinder and temperature of the emission control device. The fuel vapor passes through the cylinder unburned by maintaining the concentration within allowable limits. The unburned fuel vapor reacts exothermically in the emission control device thereby generating heat. To guarantee that the fuel vapor reacts in the first emission control device, the fuel vapor purge is restricted to a certain temperature range. To guarantee that the fuel vapor does not burn in the cylinder, the concentration is kept to a restricted value.

Internal combustion engines are coupled to fuel vapor recovery systems to allow purging of fuel vapors generated in fuel tank systems. Conventional systems control total purge flow based on an estimated purge fuel vapor concentration. This estimated purge fuel vapor concentration represents the amount of fuel vapor contained in the total purge flow from the fuel system. Fuel injection control is also adjusted based on this estimated purge concentration.
The inventor herein has recognized a disadvantage with prior art methods. In particular, the prior art methods do not show an accurate method for determining cylinder fuel vapor purge concentration. Further, the prior art does not even recognize uses of cylinder fuel vapor purge concentration. Cylinder fuel vapor purge concentration represents fuel vapor concentration in an engine cylinder, taking into account total purge flow, purge fuel vapor concentration, and cylinder fresh charge.

Method for determining cylinder vapor concentration


In one example, a first swath is caused to be printed by a print unit on a media. The media is advanced with respect to the print unit. For a nominal second swath to be printed to beneath and adjacent to the first swath, a plurality of adjustment regions along the width of the nominal second swath are determined in accordance with a profile of non-constant advance errors for the media. An adjusted second swath is formed by, for each of the regions, adjusting the height of the nominal second swath in memory based on the determined amount of advancement error for the region. The print unit is caused to print the adjusted second swath on the media.

Printers may include a print unit to print swaths on media to form images and a media transport unit to transport the media to the print unit. The printed images may include distortions from overprinting, banding, and/or other artifacts based on respective advancement errors corresponding to the transportation of the media. Such printers may include inkjet printing systems.
The same part numbers designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The bearing arrangement includes a one-piece gas bearing sleeve (32) configured to rotatably support the drive shaft (4) and made in molybdenum or in a molybdenum alloy, the one-piece gas bearing sleeve (32) including a radial bearing surface (33) configured to Surround the drive shaft (4).

As known, a centrifugal turbo-compressor may include:                a casing,        a drive shaft rotatably arranged within the casing and extending along a longitudinal axis, the drive shaft including a radial thrust bearing member,        a first and a second compression stage configured to compress a refrigerant, the first and second compression stages respectively including a first and a second impeller, the first and second impellers being connected to the drive shaft and being arranged in a back-to-back configuration,        an axial bearing arrangement configured to limit an axial movement of the drive shaft during operation, the axial bearing arrangement including:                    a first axial bearing plate and a second axial bearing plate being parallel and each having an annular disc shape, the first axial bearing plate having a first surface axially facing the second axial bearing plate and a second surface opposite to the first surface of the first axial bearing plate, the second axial bearing plate having a first surface axially facing the first axial bearing plate and a second surface opposite to the first surface of the second axial bearing plate,            a spacer ring clamped between the first surfaces of the first and second axial bearing plates at radial outer portions of the first and second axial bearing plates, the spacer ring defining an axial distance between the first and second axial bearing plates, radial inner portions of the first and second axial bearing plates defining a space in which extends the radial thrust bearing member of the drive shaft, and                        a radial bearing arrangement configured to rotatably support the drive shaft, the radial bearing arrangement including a bearing sleeve surrounding the drive shaft and abutting against the second surface of the second axial bearing plate.
The manufacturing of such a turbo-compressor is expensive and time consuming due particularly to the hard material, such as tungsten carbide, used to make the drive shaft, the first and second axial bearing plates and the bearing sleeve. Indeed, such a hard material is expensive, and difficult to machine due to its high surface hardness.
Further, the axial bearing arrangement and the radial bearing arrangement of such a centrifugal turbo-compressor could be respectively a gas axial bearing arrangement and a gas radial bearing arrangement. Gas bearings particularly require very small clearance to be stable while requiring enough clearance to avoid bearing seizure.
So the provision of gas bearing arrangements requires a very high level of machining accuracy to manufacture the bearing sleeve and the first and second axial bearing plates, notably regarding the dimensions and surface finishing of said parts, in order to ensure a perpendicularity between the drive shaft and the first and second axial bearing plates and therefore to confer an appropriate reliability and stability to the drive shaft and thus to the turbo-compressor. Moreover, some re-machining steps for re-machining the bearing sleeve and the first and second axial bearing plates may be required in order to ensure the above-mentioned perpendicularity.
Consequently, the provision of gas bearing arrangements further increases the manufacturing cost of a turbo-compressor.

Bearing arrangement for a drive shaft of a turbo-machine, and a turbo-machine including such a bearing arrangement


An actuator system is provided for acting upon a material in a vessel. The system includes an optical fiber and a shape memory polymer material operatively connected to the optical fiber. The shape memory polymer material is adapted to move from a first shape for moving through said vessel to a second shape where it can act upon said material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to actuators and in particular to a shape memory polymer actuator.
2. State of Technology
U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,868 for an expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices and methods of use, by Ressemann et al, patented Nov. 17, 1998, provides the following description: xe2x80x9cThe present invention generally relates to constructions for intravascular treatment devices useful for removing vascular occlusion material from a vascular occlusion or from a vascular lumen. The invention more specifically relates to expandable intravascular occlusion material removal devices, as well as to methods of using those devices to treat vascular diseases.
Vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and the like, have become quite prevalent in the modern day. These diseases may present themselves in a number of forms. Each form of vascular disease may require a different method of treatment to reduce or cure the harmful effects of the disease. Vascular diseases, for example, may take the form of deposits or growths in a patient""s vasculature which may restrict, in the case of a partial occlusion, or stop, in the case of a total occlusion, blood flow to a certain portion of the patient""s body. This can be particularly serious if, for example, such an occlusion occurs in a portion of the vasculature that supplies vital organs with blood or other necessary fluids.
To treat these diseases, a number of different therapies are being developed. While a number of invasive therapies are available, it is desirable to develop non-invasive therapies as well. Non-invasive therapies may be less risky than invasive ones, and may be more welcomed by the patient because of the possibility of decreased chances of infection, reduced post-operative pain, and less post-operative rehabilitation. One type of non-invasive therapy for vascular diseases is pharmaceutical in nature. Clot-busting drugs have been employed to help break up blood clots which may be blocking a particular vascular lumen. Other drug therapies are also available. Further non-invasive, intravascular treatments exist that are not only pharmaceutical, but also revascularize blood vessels or lumens by mechanical means. Two examples of such intravascular therapies are balloon angioplasty and atherectomy which physically revascularize a portion of a patient""s vasculature.
Balloon angioplasty comprises a procedure wherein a balloon catheter is inserted intravascularly into a patient through a relatively small puncture, which may be located proximate the groin, and intravascularly navigated by a treating physician to the occluded vascular site. The balloon catheter includes a balloon or dilating member which is placed adjacent the vascular occlusion and then is inflated. Intravascular inflation of the dilating member by sufficient pressures, on the order of 5 to 12 atmospheres or so, causes the balloon to displace the occluding matter to revascularize the occluded lumen and thereby restore substantially normal blood flow through the revascularized portion of the vasculature. It is to be noted, however, that this procedure does not remove the occluding matter from the patient""s vasculature, but displaces it.
While balloon angioplasty is quite successful in substantially revascularizing many vascular lumens by reforming the occluding material, other occlusions may be difficult to treat with angioplasty. Specifically, some intravascular occlusions may be composed of an irregular, loose or heavily calcified material which may extend relatively far along a vessel or may extend adjacent a side branching vessel, and thus are not prone or susceptible to angioplastic treatment. Even if angioplasty is successful, thereby revascularizing the vessel and substantially restoring normal blood flow therethrough, there is a chance that the occlusion may recur. Recurrence of an occlusion may require repeated or alternative treatments given at the same intravascular site.
Accordingly, attempts have been made to develop other alternative mechanical methods of non-invasive, intravascular treatment in an effort to provide another way of revascularizing an occluded vessel and of restoring blood flow through the relevant vasculature. These alternative treatments may have particular utility with certain vascular occlusions, or may provide added benefits to a patient when combined with balloon angioplasty and/or drug therapies.
One such alternative mechanical treatment method involves removal, not displacement, as is the case with balloon angioplasty, of the material occluding a vascular lumen. Such treatment devices, sometimes referred to as atherectomy devices, use a variety of means, such as lasers, and rotating cutters or ablaters, for example, to remove the occluding material. The rotating cutters may be particularly useful in removing certain vascular occlusions. Since vascular occlusions may have different compositions and morphology or shape, a given removal or cutting element may not be suitable for removal of a certain occlusion. Alternatively, if a patient has multiple occlusions in his vasculature, a given removal element may be suitable for removing only one of the occlusions. Suitability of a particular cutting element may be determined by, for example, its size or shape. Thus, a treating physician may have to use a plurality of different treatment devices to provide the patient with complete treatment. This type of procedure can be quite expensive because multiple pieces of equipment may need to be used (such intravascular devices are not reusable because they are inserted directly into the blood stream), and may be tedious to perform because multiple pieces of equipment must be navigated through an often-tortuous vascular path to the treatment site.xe2x80x9d
U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,415, for an apparatus for removing blood clots from arteries and veins, by Guenther et al, patented Apr. 7, 1992, provides the folowing description: xe2x80x9cA triple catheter for removing of blood clots from arteries and veins is equipped with an outer catheter that can be inserted into a blood vessel and an inner catheter with an inflatable baloon at its distal end that can be inserted into the outer catheter. The inner catheter is surrounded by an intermediate catheter also inserted into the outer catheter. The intermediate catheter has a radially expandable distal end receptacle made of an elastic mesh structure of spring wires or plastic monofilaments covered by or embedded in an elastic plastic coating. A very small puncture channel is required for the insertion of such a triple catheter through the wall of a blood vessel.xe2x80x9d
U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,564 for microfabricated therapeutic actuator mechanisms, by Northrup et al, patented Jul. 8, 1997, provides the folowing description: xe2x80x9cElectromechanical microstructures (microgrippers), either integrated circuit (IC) silicon-based or precision machined, to extend and improve the application of catheter-based interventional therapies for the repair of aneurysms in the brain or other interventional clinical therapies. These micromechanisms can be specifically applied to release platinum coils or other materials into bulging portions of the blood vessels also known as aneurysms. The xe2x80x9cmicroxe2x80x9d size of the release mechanism is necessary since the brain vessels are the smallest in the body. Through a catheter more than one meter long, the micromechanism located at one end of the catheter can be manipulated from the other end thereof. The microgripper (micromechanism) of the invention will also find applications in non-medical areas where a remotely actuated microgripper or similar actuator would be useful or where micro-assembling is needed.xe2x80x9d
U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,917 for a shape memory polymer (SMP) gripper with a release sensing system, by Maitland et al, patented Aug. 15, 2000, provides the following description: xe2x80x9cA system for releasing a target material, such as an embolic coil from an SMP located at the end of a catheter utilizing an optical arrangement for releasing the material. The system includes a laser, laser driver, display panel, photodetector, fiber optics coupler, fiber optics and connectors, a catheter, and an SMP-based gripper, and includes a release sensing and feedback arrangement. The SMP-based gripper is heated via laser light through an optic fiber causing the gripper to release a target material (e.g., embolic coil for therapeutic treatment of aneurysms). Various embodiments are provided for coupling the laser light into the SMP, which includes specific positioning of the coils, removal of the fiber cladding adjacent the coil, a metal coating on the SMP, doping the SMP with a gradient absorbing dye, tapering the fiber optic end, coating the SMP with low refractive index material, and locating an insert between the fiber optic and the coil.xe2x80x9d
U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,118 for fibered micro vaso-occlusive devices, by Sepetka et al, patented Dec. 1, 1998, provides the following description: xe2x80x9cThis is a vaso-occlusive device made up of at least one short retainer and a longer fiber bundle. The retainer may be radio-opaque. The fibers may be straight, looped, or tufted. The primary use of the device is in the very small vessels at the distal portion of the vasculature.xe2x80x9d
U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,398 for a method of using a clot capture coil, by Wensel et al, patented Apr. 20, 1999, provides the following description: xe2x80x9cA clot and foreign body removal device is described which comprises a catheter with at least one lumen. Located within the catheter is a clot capture coil that is connected to an insertion mandrel. In one embodiment, the clot capture coil is made out of a solid elastic or superelastic material which has shape memory, preferably nitinol. The elasticity or superelasticity of the coil allows it to be deformed within the catheter and to then reform its original coil configuration when the coil is moved outside of the catheter lumen. In another embodiment the coil is a biphasic coil which changes shape upon heating or passing an electric current. Once the coil configuration has been established, the coil can be used to ensnare and corkscrew a clot in a vessel. A clot is extracted from the vessel by moving the clot capture coil and catheter proximally until the clot can be removed or released into a different vessel that does not perfuse a critical organ. Foreign bodies are similarly captured by deploying the coil distal to the foreign body and moving the clot capture coil proximally until the foreign body is trapped within the coil. By removing the device from the body, the foreign material is also removed.xe2x80x9d
The present invention provides an actuator system. The system uses heat to activate a shape memory material. The shape memory material will change shape when heated above a transition temperature. The shape memory material is adapted to move from a first shape to a second shape where it can perform a desired function. In one embodiment of the present invention a method of removing matter from a vessel is described. A catheter with a shape memory material is transported to the site of the matter to be removed. The shape memory material is passed through or around the matter. Heat is utilized to activate the shape memory material and expand the shape memory material. By withdrawing the catheter and the shape memory material through said vessel the matter is carried from the vessel. Additional aspects, advantages, and features of the invention are set forth in part in the following description. Various aspects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the description and by practice of the invention.

Shape memory polymer actuator and catheter

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