A hybrid type thermal ink jet (TIJ) pen and method of manufacture wherein a plurality of individual thin film ink jet printheads, each including an orifice plate, are selectively spaced on and secured to an insulating substrate having ink feed ports therein which supply ink to the printheads. Buss lines and integrated circuit driver-decoder packages may be mounted in a planar fashion with respect to the printheads and electrically interconnected to drive the printheads.. Alternatively, the individual printheads may be mounted on a unitary insulating support and ink feed structure such as a ceramic substrate and interconnected to off-substrate TIJ driver circuitry by way of printed or silk-screened electrical leads. These leads may be laid down in a controlled pattern on the surface of the ceramic substrate and used to interconnect bonding pads on the TIJ printheads with the above off-substrate driver circuitry and power supplies. If desired, integrated circuit packages may be mounted in slots cut in the ceramic substrate in a planar arrangement with respect to the printheads.

In the field of ink jet printing, various approaches have been taken to increase the printing speed of ink jet printers, and one such approach to this problem is to increase the pen operating frequency. But this solution sometimes suffers from problems associated with overheating and overdriving the printhead resistors or other associated transducer elements and also problems associated with ink meniscus instability when the ink jet nozzles are driven at high speeds.
Another solution to increasing printer speed has been to increase the number of ink jet ejection orifices in the output orifice plate or orifice plates (also sometimes referred to as nozzle plates). However, when one attempts to increase the size of an orifice plate in order to accommodate for a corresponding increase in the number of ink ejection orifices, it becomes increasingly difficult to provide good interface bonding between, for example, a metal orifice plate of large area and an underlying substrate support member. The substrate support member will, for example, normally be an insulating material having a thermal expansion coefficient substantially different from that of the metal orifice plate material. Therefore, when one attempts to bond large area metal orifice plates with matching large area insulating substrates by utilizing a combination of heat and pressure in a heat staking process, the above mismatch in thermal expansion coefficients produces an unacceptable bowing in the sandwich structure thus produced, and this design flaw in turn greatly reduces yields and mean time to failure.

Large expandable array thermal ink jet pen and method of manufacturing same


Among other things, a processor executes instructions to (a) during a current instance of an exercise activity having a predefined scope and being performed by a subject competitor on a machine, compute a first performance metric for the subject competitor using performance data from the subject competitor's performance of a lesser scope than the predefined scope of the current instance of the exercise activity, the first performance metric being normalized to reflect a hypothetical performance over the predefined scope, (b) receive performance data representing an historical performance during a previous instance of the exercise activity by at least one other competitor on a machine, and (c) present to the subject competitor comparative data based on the first performance metric and on a second performance metric for the historical performance by at least one other competitor that is based on the received performance data and that reflects performance of the at least one other competitor of a scope of the previous instance that is substantially the same as the predefined scope.

This description relates to rank listing of competitive performances of exercise on a machine.
Leaderboards are a form of rank listing often used to present to competitors and observers the relative progress of leaders during and up to an end time or other end point of a competition, such as golf or track or rowing. In some kinds of competition, such as those in which the competitors use instrumented exercise machines (for example, cycling or rowing machines), progress of the competitors can be measured continuously and the results compared frequently (such as every few seconds) to show current leaderboard information. Relative performance of competitors can be reported in terms of variables such as distance covered since the start of the competition.
Exercise machines can be used in a "live" mode for live real-time competitive exercise activities, in an "on-demand" mode for virtual competitive exercise activities, or in a combination of the two.
In some uses of exercise machines in a live mode, live competitors located remotely from one another compete in real time. Live real-time video and performance data for a live competitor can be presented to the other live competitors through displays at their exercise machines to enhance their competitive experience.
In some typical uses of exercise machines in an on-demand mode, a live subject competitor engages in a virtual competition with other competitors whose prior performances for the exercise activity have been previously stored as historical performance data. The other competitors can be considered virtual competitors in that they are not competing live and in real-time but rather their historical performance data is used to create the impression of virtual competition of the virtual competitors versus the subject competitor. When such stored historical performance data is available, the subject competitor can engage in the virtual competitive exercise activity by choosing that exercise activity through a user interface of the exercise machine at a time and in a context convenient to the subject competitor. In some cases, one of the virtual competitors can be the subject competitor herself in an instance when she previously engaged in exercise activity. In other words she can be competing against her prior performance (a prior instance) of the same exercise activity.
Historical performance data for a competitor engaging in an exercise activity can include speed, distance traveled, heart rate, stroke rate, watts, and calories burned, at closely spaced exercise moments during the exercise activity.
In either an on-demand mode or a live mode of competition, an electronically determined leaderboard can be presented to the subject competitor.

Rank listing of competitive performances of exercise on a machine


A water treatment system which includes a control valve with a venturi for drawing air into a tank. The passage of untreated water into the control valve draws air into a tank for oxidation of the water. The flow of the air into the tank is independent of the flow of treated water from the system.

The present invention relates generally to water treatment systems for removing contaminants from a water supply prior to delivery to an end user. More particularly, in one form the present invention relates to a water treatment system utilizing a venturi to draw air into a treatment tank independently of the passage of treated water to the end user.
It is well recognized that most well water contains many contaminants. Common naturally occurring contaminants in well water include iron, sulfur, and manganese. These mineral contaminates may cause stained plumbing fixtures and corroded pipes and in addition, may result in the presence of disagreeable odors and an unpleasant taste in the water.
Many different water treatment systems have been developed over the years in attempts to remove contaminants from water supplies. These water treatment systems have been utilized for municipal water systems and individual well systems. It is generally recognized that the three prominent water treatment system types for removal of contaminates from water include chlorination, ion exchange, and oxidation/filtration. In water treatment systems, it is known that many of the contaminants must first be oxidized to permit subsequent removal by filtration.
While many of the prior water treatment systems have been a step in the right direction, there remains a need for further technological development. The present invention provides a novel and non-obvious water treatment system applicable to all types of water supplies.


A decorative painting is made by wetting a paper substrate, stretching the paper onto a rigid flat board, drying the paper, defining outlines of figures on the paper, masking the outlines, applying watercolor to the paper, applying crystals of rock salt on the watercolor by a method such as dropping, throwing, or scattering while the watercolor is wet, drying the watercolor, removing the rock salt, paining the figures, removing the masking, and painting the outlines. The rock salt reacts with the wet watercolor to create decorative gradiations in pigmentation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the art of decorative painting. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process of wet-on-wet painting using watercolors, which includes the application of rock salt.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Painting methods which include application of granular materials have been the subject of prior patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,093,462 to Rapport discloses a process for making a decorative painting wherein adhesive is applied as the outline for a picture, and granulated materials are applied to the adhesive. After the granulated materials are secured to the adhesive, and excess granules removed, the picture is painted.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,666 to Pierce discloses a process for coloring the border panel of a cardboard picture mat. Finely divided powder containing pigment and whitenet are filled into a dry surface, then buffed to produce an even tone.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,725 to Nakashima discloses a surface treating method wherein a powdered glassy material is sprayed onto a surface to be further painted.
Wet-on-wet application of coats of differing materials during multi-coat painting processes are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,020 to Wilfinger et al. discloses water-dilutable coating compositions which are used as the base or first coat of a multi-coat system where there is wet-on-wet application of a clear coat on the first or base coat. The composition includes a vinyl, vinylidene, or acrylic acid polymer component, solvents, and one or more coloring (or optical effect imparting) component.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,340 to Cripe discloses a method for simulating natural desert varnish with a composition that includes a solution of an alkali base and a solution of a metallic salt.
Rock salt has been used in the production of pigments. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,018 to Kranz et. al. discloses a method for making pigments which includes grinding crude colors with rock salt and dialkyl phthalates, phenoxyethanol, 2-phenylethanol and/or dialkyl benzoates.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

Method for watercolor painting using rock salt


The present invention relates to a blowing-suction device, selectively operating in a blowing mode or a suction mode, comprising: a main body; a motor located inside the main body, the motor having a motor shaft providing rotational motion; a fan assembly driven by the motor to rotate; and a blowing assembly and a suction assembly connected to the main body; wherein the fan assembly includes an axial fan that, while in the blowing mode, the blowing assembly is connected to the main body, and wherein the axial fan rotates around a first rotary shaft, and, while in the suction mode, the suction assembly is connected to the main body.

A blowing-suction device is a common outdoor cleaning tool, mainly for cleaning and collecting garbage such as leaves. To improve user's convenience of use, the blowing-suction device generally has blowing and suction functions. Faced with the situation that leaves scatters on the ground, a user can concentrate the scattering leaves by using the blowing function of the blowing-suction device. By use of the suction function of the blowing-suction device, the concentrated leaves are suctioned into a collection device to facilitate treatment. The collection device may be a garbage bag, a garbage can and the like. Such a leaf collection and treatment manner saves more manpower than the traditional manual cleaning, and has higher work efficiency.
Currently, the blowing-suction device on the market includes a main body into which a motor and a fan are mounted, and the motor drives the fan to rotate to generate airflow. However, as the fan in the main body should combine the use of blowing and suction, a centrifugal fan is employed. Due to the limitation of the structure of the centrifugal fan, the amount of air blown out by the blowing-suction device is often not big enough, the air-out efficiency and effect are not ideal, and users' demand cannot be met. In a blowing device using an axial fan, although the amount of air blown out meets the users' demand, the axial fan can only blow air but cannot perform a suction function, and cannot meet the users' demand.
Therefore, it is necessary to improve the existing technical means.


A checking unit includes a power net extractor for extracting a power net with power attribution, which is segmented by a power-decoupling element, with reference to circuit design data of a printed wiring board; a parts number extractor for extracting a parts number of an integrated circuit connected to the extracted power net; a parts headcount calculator for calculating a headcount of the extracted parts; a judging unit for comparing the extracted parts headcount with a predetermined reference value; and a representing unit for representing a name of the power net and the parts number of the integrated circuit as an unprocessed location of power decoupling when the headcount is larger than the reference value, thereby inspecting quickly whether a power supply in use, shared by each of the integrated circuits, is decoupled at higher frequencies by the power-decoupling element.

In a printed wiring board provided with a high-speed integrated circuit, a through current, which is generated at a power supply terminal when the integrated circuit is switching, is one of factors of radiated noise or conducted noise. This is because the generated through current flows via a power wiring to form a long loop which can generate the radiated noise or an excitation source for resonance between a power plane and a ground plane. In addition, in a case in which the integrated circuits share a power source in use, a through current flowing from one circuit may be conducted to another circuit to exert an adverse affect on the latter. Furthermore, in another case in which the power wiring is connected to a connector, noise may spread out through the connector to other boards or may be radiated noise from a cable.
As a countermeasure against the through current generated at the power supply terminal of the integrated circuit, a decoupling capacitor is interposed between a power line and a ground around the power supply terminal so that the through current generated at the power supply terminal reflows into the ground around the power supply terminal, thereby eliminating propagation of RF energy on a power supply plane. Further, in a case in which a plurality of integrated circuits share a power source in use, it is known that the power source used for each of integrated circuits can be decoupled at higher frequencies using a power-decoupling element to avoid the above-described problem. Furthermore, the power-decoupling element is also around the power supply terminal of a connector to avoid noise spreading from the connector.
In recent years, however, integrated circuits have become more complicated and more sophisticated with a very large number of power terminals, and the number of the integrated circuits used on a printed wiring board may be several tens or more. Thus, it is not easy to check whether or not such countermeasure as describe above is adopted correctly in all cases.
Considering the above problem, as to existence and decision of both optimum interposed position and optimum capacitance of a decoupling capacitor interposed around a power supply terminal of an integrated circuit, for example, a checking method and a checking system disclosed in the following patent document 1 is known.
[Patent Document 1] JP-2002-16337-A

System and method for checking decoupling of power supply in printed wiring board


Embodiments of the invention are related to methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for transferring data between two devices using an interconnect bus. On each conductive line of the bus, a bit representing a first logic state is transferred if a current bit is the same as an immediately previously transmitted bit. If the current bit is different from the immediately previously transmitted bit, then a bit representing a second logic state is transferred.

Modern electronic devices generally contain one or more devices that communicate with each other over a bus. For example, a computer generally comprises a processor or memory controller that communicates with a memory device over a bus to access programs and data contained in the memory device. The performance of modern electronic devices such as processors and memories continues to improve by operating the devices at higher clock speeds and/or widening the bus connecting the devices. Increasing clock speed and widening the bus, however, result in increased power consumption by the bus. Furthermore, the toggling of bits on the bus during sequential data transmissions may generate noise on the bus.


A linear motor has an armature; a moving member movable relatively to the armature; first and second magnetic pole tooth trains each having magnetic pole teeth magnetically coupled to one of two magnetic poles of the moving element, the first and second magnetic pole tooth trains being separated from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the moving member; and third and fourth magnetic pole tooth trains each having magnetic pole teeth magnetically coupled to the other of the two magnetic poles of the moving element, the third and fourth magnetic pole tooth trains being separated from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the moving member and the moving member being arranged between the first and second magnetic pole tooth trains and the third and fourth magnetic pole tooth trains.

This invention relates to a linear motor, and more particularly to a linear motor in which a moving member is interposed or sandwiched through a gap between magnetic pole teeth of an armature opposite to each other.
The conventional linear motor comprises a stator having a plurality of magnetic pole members and a moving member supported so as to be movable relatively to the stator through a gap. In general, the conventional linear motors are of a type cutting and opening a rotary machine and developing the opened rotary machine on a straight line.
Of such conventional linear motors, disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-174481 (1998) is a linear motor in which a moving member is interposed through gaps between magnetic pole teeth of an armature opposite to each other to be relatively moved in order to reduce burdens on the moving member supporting mechanism by canceling out forces acting between the stator and the moving member.
However, the conventional linear motor is complicated in construction since a plurality of windings are wound on one stator unit. Further, adjacent stator magnetic pole members are wound with windings different from each other. Therefore, there is much waste in the space that the stator occupies.
An object of the present invention is to provide a linear motor which comprises a plurality of magnetic pole teeth while compact in construction because of the low number of windings and is capable of canceling out magnetic attracting forces acting between an armature and a moving member, in order to overcome the above defects of the conventional linear motor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a linear motor in which an amount of change in inductance to an amount of relative displacement between the armature and the moving member is so reduced that thrust ripples are reduced.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a linear motor is provided which comprises an armature; a moving member movable relatively to the armature; first and second magnetic pole tooth trains each comprising magnetic pole teeth magnetically coupled to one of two magnetic poles of the moving element, the first and second magnetic pole tooth trains being separated from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the moving member; and third and fourth magnetic pole tooth trains each comprising magnetic pole teeth magnetically coupled to the other of the two magnetic poles of the moving element, the third and fourth magnetic pole tooth trains being separated from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of the moving member; the magnetic pole teeth of the first magnetic pole tooth train and the magnetic pole teeth of the third magnetic pole tooth train being alternately arranged in the moving direction of the moving member, the magnetic pole teeth of the second magnetic pole tooth train and the magnetic pole teeth of the fourth magnetic pole tooth train being alternately arranged in the moving direction of the moving member, and the moving member being arranged between the first and second magnetic pole tooth trains and the third and fourth magnetic pole tooth trains.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a linear motor is provided which further comprises means for reducing an amount of change in inductance to an amount of relative displacement between the armature and the moving member so as to reduce detent forces.


The present disclosure relates to methods for preventing progressive heart failure in subjects with persistent left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Such methods may also be used for treating or preventing progressive heart failure in subjects with a proximal left anterior descending (LAD) lesion and persistent left ventricular dysfunction.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is still one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in developed countries. A recent update of US Medicare records was published that evaluated data involving 350,509 acute MI hospitalization in patients >65 years who were discharged alive after their event (Schuster et al. (2004) Physiol Heart Circa Physiol., 287(2):525-32). Within the first year post the index event, 25.9% of the MI patients died with 50.5% re-hospitalized. In the month after a MI, the likelihood of death was 21 times higher and the likelihood of hospitalization and was 12 times higher than among the general Medicare-age population.
Patients who have larger infarcts post MI and more post-infarct LV dysfunction are at significantly increased risk of experiencing mid-to-long term cardiac events and death. Specifically, subjects having anterior wall infarcts, larger infarcts, and more LV dysfunction in the post-infarct period are at significantly increased risk of experiencing mid-to-long term cardiac events and death (Eitel et al. (2010) J Am Coll Cardiol., 55:2470-9).
An infarct due to proximal LAD occlusion continues to be a major risk factor for progressive LV dilatation, remodelling, and symptomatic progressive heart failure. In the post-angioplasty era, 3-year mortality post MI is still the highest for proximal LAD lesions (10% vs 3% for distal LAD) (Elsman et al. (2006) Am J Cardiol., 97(8):1137-41) and this is most likely due to the 40% greater infarct size associated with this anatomical lesion (Elsman et al. (2006) Am J Cardiol., 97(8):1137-41). Since infarct size >18.5% has been shown prospectively to result in a 30% incidence of Heart Failure-related Major Adverse Cardiac Events (HF-MACE, defined as heart failure hospitalization or death) over 2 years (Wu et al. (2008) Heart, 94:730-736), this suggests that a population of MI patients with proximal LAD lesions, low ejection fraction and large infarcts is at the highest risk of subsequent HF-MACE.
Clearly, there is a need in the art for treating or preventing progressive heart failure.


An electro-optical device includes a pixel electrode provided on a substrate, a transistor provided between the substrate and the pixel electrode, a first capacitor electrode provided between the pixel electrode and the transistor, and be electrically connected to the pixel electrode and the transistor, a second capacitor electrode provided between the pixel electrode and the first capacitor electrode, be located so as to be opposite the first capacitor electrode via a capacitor insulating film, and be supplied with a predetermined electric potential, and a light-shielding film provided between the pixel electrode and the second capacitor electrode, be located so as to be at least partially overlapped by the transistor, and be electrically connected to the second capacitor electrode via a contact hole formed in an insulating film disposed between the second capacitor electrode and the light-shielding film.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electro-optical device, such as a liquid crystal device, an electronic apparatus including the electro-optical device, such as a liquid crystal projector.
2. Related Art
As this kind of an electro-optical device, there is an electro-optical device of active matrix drive type, which includes, for example, on a substrate thereof, pixel electrodes, scanning lines for selectively driving the pixel electrodes, data lines, and pixel switching thin-film transistors (TFTs). The switching elements, such as TFTs, and various wirings are formed on the substrate as a laminated structure.
In such an electro-optical device described above, by forming storage capacitors in the laminated stricture, reduction of occurrences of black unevenness (i.e., enhancement of contrast characteristics) with respect to displayed images and prevention of shortening a life span for pixels are intended. For example, in JP-A-2005-55661, a technology, which enables realization of a storage capacitor having a superior pressure-withstanding capability by allocating two electrodes, each including an oxidized film, so that the two electrodes can be opposite each other via a dielectric film, has been proposed.
With respect to a TFT used as a switching element, for example, during an operation of a device, light rays radiating from a light source are inputted to the device owing to reflections thereof and the like, so that an optical leakage current occurs. Since the optical leakage current is likely to be a cause of defects of the device, it is desirable to enhance a capability of optically shielding the TFT to the maximum extent possible.
However, the technology according to JP-A-2005-55661 is not sufficient because layers existing at the upper layer side of the TFT are electrode layers each having an oxidized film, which form the storage capacitor. That is, in the above-described technology, there exists a technical disadvantage in that it is difficult to certainly prevent occurrences of the optical leakage current with respect to the TFT.

Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus


The invention related to a hydrogel forming aqueous composition of water soluble polymers having a sufficiently high coherency that it substantially not is dispersed when being injected into an aqueous environment of a body site such as the capsular bag of the eye to undergo a photoinitiated crosslinking reaction. The water soluble polymers either can be a water-soluble polymer bearing free acrylic, or other vinylic groups capable of facile free radical reaction with a polymeric water-soluble photoinitiator also present in the composition, or a water-soluble polymer bearing both free acrylic, or other vinylic groups capable of facile free radical reaction and photoinitiator, wherein both polymers are capable of being crosslinked when irradiated with light of wavelengths greater than about 305 nm to form the hydrogel.

The present invention refers to aqueous solutions of reactive polymers suitable for the production of hydrogel materials upon irradiation with blue light. The hydrogels are especially useful for production-of intraocular lenses, which can be formed in-situ in the capsular bag in an eye having undergone surgical excision of a natural lens.
The natural lens of the human eye is a precisely formed structure of fibre cells containing about 65 percent water and 35 percent organic material, chiefly structural proteins. The proteins are responsible for the relatively high refractive index of 1.42 of the lens and are structured in such a way that there are negligible local variations in their density, resulting in a transparent lens. Aging or large stresses can change the morphology of the proteins causing a progressive loss of transparency. This is termed cataract formation and is irreversible and can eventually result in blindness.
Implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL) following cataract surgery is performed to replace the optical function of the natural lens. In order to remove the natural, cataractous lens, as well as to prepare for the introduction of the IOL, an incision is made into the eye. For many years most IOLs were made of poly(methylmethacrylate), a material with good optical characteristics and compatibility with the tissues of the eye. A disadvantage of PMMA is, however, that it is a very rigid material and the incision must be made large enough, at least 5-6 mm, for implantation of the IOL. With improved devices for less traumatic removal of the natural lens by phacoemulsification, requiring only a rather small, there was a need for lenses with deformable optics. In such small incision surgery an opening of only 3 mm, or less is required. Various silicone, acrylate and hydrogel lenses have been commercialized.
All incisions in the eye are accompanied by trauma, and so, although foldable lenses have been a great improvement, there is still a need for lenses than can be placed through an even smaller incision. A lens can be implanted through a 1.2 mm opening by injecting the lens material into the capsular bag as a fluid, followed by formation of a solid full size lens in-situ in the eye. An additional advantage of this technique is that, due to the formation of a fill sized lens, complications of conventional IOL implantation namely decentration and posterior capsular opacification may be overcome. Full sized lenses show excellent centration and there is evidence that they may prevent posterior opacification (PCO). Hydrogels are a class of materials that are very interesting for an injectable lens because they have the added advantage is that their aqueous composition approximates to that of the natural lens.
Hydrogels can be made by crosslinking aqueous polymer or monomer/crosslinker solutions. Since monomers are often toxic, the use of polymers is preferred for applications in the eye. Polymers to which a reactive group is attached, for example, an acrylate group, can be polymerized in the presence of water and form a hydrogel. This is a process of crosslinking polymer or prepolymer solutions have been described before. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,840 crosslinkable water-soluble prepolymers based on copolymers of vinylalcohol and vinyllactams are claimed for contact lens application. Several other publications also disclose the production of hydrogels after crosslinking crosslinkable water-soluble (pre)polymers. The crosslinkable water-soluble (pre)polymers are designed to polymerize in a mould yield hydrogel. However, in-situ in the eye, water is present which demands certain specific requirements of the crosslinkable water-soluble prepolymers not described in any of these publications.
It is evident that the coherence of the aqueous solution during injection and prior to crosslinking is very important. This coherence prevents, or limits, the water in the eye from interfering with the solution before crosslinking. Without it, the carefully regulated hydrogel composition, required for generating an IOL of precise refractive index, may be diluted or altered and it is also needed to prevent leakage of polymer from the capsular bag before the polymer is crosslinked.
In addition, all hydrogels have an equilibrium water content, which is controlled both by the structure of the hydrogel and its crosslink density. Water-soluble polymers, when crosslinked, have a tendency to swell in water. For this invention it is important that after injecting the aqueous hydrogel solution into the eye, and crosslinking it, the amount of water that it takes up afterwards, the additional swelling, is limited, that is to say that the solution concentration of water in the injected hydrogel solution is equal to, or very close to, the equilibrium water concentration of the crosslinked hydrogel formed in the eye. Any additional swelling will decrease the refractive index of the lens and in more severe cases will cause collapsing of the capsular bag or even damage the eye.
A few publications and patents describe the design of injectable and crosslinkable water-soluble (pre)polymers and some polymerizations, which form hydrogels in-situ in the eye.
Ravi et al. reported in Polymer Preprints, 1999, 40, 630 on an injectable hydrogel material made by thermally curing poly(ethylenglycol) monoacrylates and diacrylates (PEGMA and PEGDA, respectively). They, were, however, not studied for possible lens refilling material but as potential probes to study the accommodation mechanism. The polymer content and, therefore, the refractive indices of the materials were very low ( less than 1.36) and the materials showed severe swelling after curing.
In the International Patent Application WO 93/02639 an injectable collagen-based intraocular hydrogel lens is described. The concentration collagen was very low which resulted in a low refractive index of the intraocular lens (1.363). It was claimed that high refractive lenses could also be made. To achieve re-active indices closer to that of the natural lens much higher collagen concentrations are needed, than those reported in the patent, and this will increase the problem of swelling, post-injection.
In the International Patent Application WO 01/08604 it was claimed that with aqueous solutions of modified linear polymers, accommodative lenses could be prepared in-situ. The water-soluble polymers were modified to low degrees, to obtain lightly crosslinked hydrogels in order to keep the elasticity modulus of the hydrogel lenses low. The moduli of the hydrogels were measured directly after crosslinking the aqueous polymer solution. The hydrogel were, however, after crosslinking not subjected to an aqueous environment. If these materials would be made in the eye in the presence of an excess natural aqueous fluid, densities they may be expected to swell significantly due to their low crosslink density. Such swelling is to the detriment of the refractive indices of the lenses they form.
In the International Patent Application WO 00/47185, a method of producing an injectable hydrogel intraocular lens is described. The hydrogel lens materials are based on macromolecular particles. However, !the problems of obatining a suffcient coherence and avoiding additional swelling are not addressed in this disclosure.
It can be concluded that the specific requirements regarding coherence and prevention of additional swelling for injectable hydrogel lenses still needs attention if a clinically acceptable surgical process is to be attained.
An object of the present invention is to provide an aqueous composition of a water soluble linear polymer that can fill the capsular bag of the eye and upon a crosslinking reaction by means of irradiation with light in the visible range can form a hydrogel intraocular lens implant of a predetermined refractive index.
It also an object of the present invention to provide an aqueous composition of a linear water soluble which has suitable coherence to avoid leaking from the capsular bag or avoiding dispersion effects in the capsular bag, while having suitably low retention time before starting the lens forming light induced crosslinking reaction.
An another object of the invention is to sufficiently crosslink the lens so that additional swelling is prevented and in this way ensure that the implanted lens permanently retains its predetermined shape and refractive value.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide hydrogel lens with no or minimal extractable polymer material.
In its most general terms the present invention pertains to an aqueous composition of a of water soluble polymers having a sufficiently high coherency that it substantially not is dispersed when being injected into an aqueous environment to undergo a crosslinking reaction into a hydrogel. The water soluble polymers can either be a water-soluble polymer bearing free acrylic, or other vinylic groups capable of facile free radical reaction with a polymeric eater-soluble photoinitiator also present in the composition, or a water-soluble polymer bearing both free acrylic, or other vinylic groups capable of facile free radical reaction and photoinitiator groups. Both these polymers will be crosslinked when irradiated with light of wavelengths greater than about 305 nm induces the photoinitiator groups to form free radicals so as to form the hydrogel. Preferably, the aqueous composition shall form a clear hydrogel with a refractive index of between about 1.36 to about 145, a transmission of visible light of at least about 35% with no, or substantially no, absorption of water from an aqueous environment during its formation or subsequently thereafter, so it becomes dimensionally stable and substantially free from swelling after the forming crosslinking process. These features will render the aqueous compositions improved properties to form an intraocular lens, in-situ in the capsular bag of the eye, from which defect natural lens has been surgically excised.
It is an important aspect of the invention that the aqueous composition has a suitable coherence to enable a surgical procedure comprising injection into the capsular bag of the eye and crosslinking to form a lens implant replacing an excised natural crystalline lens. The coherence at zero shear stress of the aqueous composition shall be sufficiently high, so that the injected composition does not leak from the capsular bag and that the composition does not disperse when injected through a standard injection needle into an aqueous environment, such as the capsular bag of the eye. It is therefore preferred that the composition has a zero shear stress viscosity of at least 3.0 Pas, preferably 10.0 Pas, and most preferably greater than 30.0 Pas. At the same time, the coherence of the inventive aqueous composition at zero shear stress must not be too high, since this will lead to an inconveniently long relaxation time of the injected aqueous composition before it is sufficiently relaxed to assume precisely the interior contours of the capsular bag and is ready to undergo crosslinking into the lens implant. An excessively coherent aqueous composition will compromise the capacity of the capsular bag to act as a forming mould for the lens surface by exerting a backpressure, with the result of an uneven or bumpy surface of the final lens implant. The coherence of an aqueous solution is determined by the interactions between the solvated polymer molecules, and the stronger these interactions the higher the coherence. These interactions derive from some combination of the generally recognized intermolecular forces, van der Waals, polar, H-bonding, and London or dispersion forces, and for polymers an additional form of interaction, chain entanglement, is a significant contributor. Chain, entanglements are physical crosslinks, which occur in polymer solutions, where the polymer has a molecular weight above a context-determined threshold. The degree of chain entanglement is also concentration dependent. These various interactions combine in any given solution to determine that solution""s viscosity, and so a solution""s viscosity is a useful indicator of its coherence threshold.
In order to determine if the presently invented compositions exhibit a sufficient coherency, rheological tests similar to those provided in Carbohydrate Polymers, 2000, 47, 109-119 (GS Harding et al) can be followed. According to these to tests cohesive compositions of hyaluronic acid, such as Heaton(copyright) 5, have a distinguishable behavior when flowing in PTFE, tube that are desirable for the presently invented compositions.
In the present invention the interactions between the polymer chain is determined by the chemical nature of the modified polymer the concentration and the molecular weight. Generally, a polymer modified with a hydrophobic crosslinker, will have greater coherence for a given molecular weight and concentration than a polymer modified with a hydrophilic crosslinker, where a higher molecular weight or concentration is needed for the same coherence. It is a part of the present invention to select the polymer, its molecular weight, the functional groups for crosslinking and polymer concentration in such a way that the refractive index of the aqueous solution and the coherence are in a suitable range for an injectable solution that shall form a lens implant with a controlled and predetermined refractive value.
It is a prerequisite for the present invention that the aqueous composition shall have suitable refractive to be able to provide a lens with a refractive index similar to that of the natural crystalline lens, i.e. the composition shall have a refractive index in the range of about 1.36 to 1.45. For a given hydrophilic polymer, the refractive index of a hydrogel lens is dependent upon both the mole fraction of the polymer, and the mole fraction of water in the hydrogel and the refractive index of each. Experience has shown that, for example, when polyvinyl alcohol with a refractive index of 1.51 is used to form a hydrogel, a polymer concentration of 14 to 54 wt % is needed to obtain refractive indices of 1.36 to 1-45. For the linear, water soluble, polymers employed in the present invention, the aqueous concentration required to obtain any desired refractive index will exceed the critical concentration of about 5%. Above this concentration polymer coils start to overlap and the polymer solutions to attract water, to reduce the concentration. If the equilibrium concentration is not attained during injection swelling of the formed crosslinked gel, the lens, will result as it reverts to its equilibrium water content. According to the present invention, the tendency of swelling of the finally crosslinked lens is entirely or substantially eliminated by introducing a sufficiently high crosslink density, as is dependent by the amount of the introduced functional groups for crosslinking on the linear water soluble polymers and above exemplified with acrylate groups. The interaction parameter of the polymer and the crosslinker with water will determine the optimal crosslink density. When the polymer as well as the crosslinker have a relatively high interaction parameter with water, more crosslinks are needed to prevent additional swelling, compared to a polymer and crosslinker with a lower interaction parameter. This also counts for the interaction parameter of the polymer and crosslinker separately. If the same polymer is used, and a crosslinker with a high interaction parameter is used, the needed crosslink density is higher than in case of a crosslinker with a lower interaction parameter. With the same crosslinker, a polymer with a high interaction parameter needs more crosslinks than a polymer with a low; interaction parameter. The interaction parameters "khgr" of the polymer and cross linker will also determine the transparency of the hydrogel. When the interaction parameter of the polymer and crosslinkers are too different, this means that the two components are not miscible which will lead to phase separation and opacification of the hydrogel. For a good transmission the interaction parameters of the crosslinker and polymer should be in the same range. In a preferred embodiment hydrophilic water soluble polymers are copolymers of vinyl alcohol and have at least one monomer unit having a lactam group, such as vinyl pyrrolidone.
Further, the copolymers have at least one monomer unit capable of acting as a functional group in the crosslinking reaction, such as an acrylate group or a derivative thereof. Advantageously these monomer units are randomly distributed on the polymer chains and present in an amount yielding between about 15 and 20 mol % of acrylate groups to obtain a sufficiently high cross linking density. A complementing advantage of a highly crosslinked hydrogel according to the present invention, is that all the polymer chains are incorporated into the gel and so the system has no, or a minimum amount of extractable agents.
In one embodiment, the present; invention relates to a mixture of two water-soluble polymers of which one is a polymer having functional groups for crosslinking attached and one is a polymer having photoinitiator groups attached. The copolymers have a general formula (A)m(B)n(C)p(D)q and (A)m(B)n(D)q(E)r in which A can one of the following monomer, vinyl amides, vinyl lactams, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-substitued acrylamides, N-substitued methacrylamides, vinylamine, ethyleneoxide, vinylsulfuric acids, vinylphosphonic acids, maleic acid, vinylpiperidine, vinylacrylate, methylvinylether, ethylene imine, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, and vinylammonium salts. B is vinylalcohol or similar alcoholic group, C is a crosslinkable group attached to vinylalcohol or another alcoholic group, by its reaction with a suitable reagent such as acrylic acid chloride, methacrylic acid chloride, isocyanato acrylate, isocyanato methacrylate, epoxy acrylates, epoxy methacrylates, or itaconate or aconitate acid anhydride. D is optionally a monomer to modify the refractive index of the polymer, such as methylmethacrylate, styrene, or methyl- or benzyl-N-acetamidoacrylate, and E is a photoinitiator moiety carrying a photoinitiating group which is described per se in the International Patent Application WO 00/55214 which hereby is incorporated as a reference.
An alternative to this polymer mixture is a water-soluble copolymer to which both the functional group for crosslinking, and the photoinitiator group are attached to the and has the following general formula (A)m(B)n(C)p(D)q(E)r where A, B, C, D, E are equally as described above.
According to a preferred embodiment, the water soluble polymer has the general formula:
(A)m(B)n(C)p(D)q
in which A, B, C and D are each are vinyl groups (xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CHxe2x80x94) to which a pyrrolidone group (A), a hydroxyl or acetate group (B), an acrylate group (C), and a photoinitiator group (D), respectively, is attached; and where the respective mole fractions of the different monomer units is: m=0.1-0.5; n=0.1 to 0.5; p=0.1-0.2; and q=0.0-0.1. The photoinitaitor groups and the acrylate groups are preferably randomly distributed on the polymer chains. Most advantageously, all groups A, B, C and D are randomly distributed along the chains in order to avoid zones with different hydrophilic characteristics which at worst may lead to phase separation and a compromised optical quality.
The photoinitiator groups are preferably selected so as to be able to bring about a crosslinking reaction induced by irradiation with blue light at a wavelength of about 400 to 500 nm. To accomplish this performance, the photoinitiator groups suitably comprise a phosphine oxide moiety. Typically suitable monomers (D) are 2,6-dimethylvinylbenzoyldiphenylphospine oxide, preferably 2,6-dimethyl-4-vinylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide that typically can be present in an mole fraction of amount in the range of about 0.05 to 0.
In a specific example of the aqueous composition the water soluble polymer can follow the formula (A)m(B)n(C)p(D)q, wherein A, B, C and D are each are vinyl groups (xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CHxe2x80x94) to which a pyrrolido group (A), a hydroxyl or acetate group (B), an acrylate group (C), respectively is attached and where the respective mole fractions of the different monomer units are: m=0.1-0.5; n=0.1-0.5; p=0.1-0.2; and q=0. The photoinitiator is present as a separate water soluble polymer entity, which is a copolymer of 2,6-dimethyl-4-vinylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide and N,N-dimethylacrylamide with 2,6-dimethyl-4-vinylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide present in the water soluble photoinitiator in mole fractions in the range of 0.05 to 0.25. Alternatively, the photoinitiator is present as a separate water soluble polymer having the formula (A)m(B)n(D)q, wherein A, B and D are each are vinyl groups (xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94CHxe2x80x94) to which a pyrrolidone group (A), a hydroxyl or acetate group (B), and a photoinitiator group (D), respectively, is attached; and where the respective mole fractions of the different monomer units is: m=0.1 to 0.5; n=0.1 to 0.5 and q=0.05-0.25. In the photoinitaitor group (D) the phosphine oxide can be linked to the vinyl groups through a urethane band as outlined in detail in the above mentioned WO 00/55214. In this specific example of the invention the water soluble polymer to be reacted with the polymeric photoinitiator suitably is a copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl alcohol wherein a fraction of the hydroxyl groups modified with a functional acryl group for crosslinking. Typically about 15 to 20 mol % of the hydroxyls are modified in order to obtain the suitable crosslinking density as earlier discussed.
The aqueous compositions so far disclosed typically will find use in methods of forming a rigid and dimensionally stable hydrogel intraocular lens in situ in the eye by. The compositions will be injected with a conventional syringe into the capsular bag of the aphakic eye. Due to the suitable coherence and viscosity of the composition this can be performed without complications in the form high injection pressure, air bubble formation or material dispersion which otherwise may jeopardize patient safety or lens quality. Subsequent to injection and relaxation of the material the eye is irradiated with a sufficient amount of light exceeding about 305 nm, preferably with blue light to form the hydrogel lens
The present invention also relates a method of forming a dimensionally stable clear hydrogel that includes at first the provision of a vinyl alcohol monomer containing polymer having a refractive index of at least 1.41. A first part of the polymer is chemically modified so a sufficient amount of a first part of said vinyl alcohol monomers obtains functional acrylic groups for crosslinking. A second part of said vinyl alcohol containing polymer is chemically modified by attaching a blue light activated photoactive group comprising a phosphine oxide moiety, for example by means of an urethane bond, so as to obtain a polymeric water soluble photoinitaitor. The first and second part is mixed into an injectable aqueous composition with a sufficient polymer concentration to obtain a refractive index of about 1.36 to 1.45. Finally, the composition is injected into the eye or into another body site and irradiated with light of a wavelength exceeding about 400 nm, so as to form a hydrogel by means of crosslinking.
Besides preparation of intraocular lenses the inventive aqueous hydrogel foxing compositions will find use in numerous other medical applications including tissue engineering, tissue adhesive processes. The hydrogels may also act as slow release or depot formulations for a wide variety of pharmaceuticals as for example illustrated by, but not limited to agents that inhibit epithelial cell growth on an implanted intraocular lens.
The following detailed description aims to illustrate examples of hydrogels according to present invention and should not be regarded as limiting for the scope of the invention or its applicability.

Compositions capable of forming hydrogels in the eye


A three dimensional semiconductor memory device has a stacked structure including cell gates stacked therein that are insulated from each other and first string selection gates laterally separated from each other, vertical active patterns extending through the first string selection gates, multi-layered dielectric layers between sidewalls of the vertical active patterns and the cell gates and between the sidewalls of the vertical active patterns and the first string selection gates, and at least one first supplement conductive pattern. The first string selection gates are disposed over an uppermost cell gate of the cell gates. Each vertical active pattern extends through each of the cell gates stacked under the first string selection gates. The first supplement conductive pattern is in contact with a sidewall of one of the first string selection gates.

Semiconductor devices are very attractive in an electronic industry because of small size, multi-function and/or low fabrication cost thereof. High performance semiconductor devices and/or low cost semiconductor devices have been increasingly demanded with the development of the electronic industry. The semiconductor devices have been more highly integrated in order to meet the above demands.

Three dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same


An image forming apparatus includes an engine including circuitry that expands first image data, converts the expanded first image data into second image data in a format printable by the image forming apparatus, adds a positioning element to the second image data, the positioning element to be used for correcting positions of a first image and a second image, and controls a mechanical system of the image forming apparatus to print the second image data.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, and an information processing method.
Background Art
In production printing, a technology that prints cutting marks (i.e., trimming marks or crossmarks) on four corners of paper to guide a user in cutting for binding books is known. Furthermore, to match positions of images between the front surface and the back surface of paper, a technology is known, which adds marks for positioning on four corners of paper (hereinafter, marks used for cutting and positioning are referred to as "crossmarks") to K component or Y component of the image, scans crossmarks using a sensor after printing the image on the front surface, calculates a position of the image to be output on the back surface, and adjusts the position of the image using a correcting method.
However, in the known technologies, parameters for correction are determined using a chart previously prepared for positioning. Since correction is not performed for each paper by measuring crossmarks on each paper using a sensor every time printing is performed, there are variations in correction among paper. Furthermore, in the known technologies, a digital front end processor (DFE), which adds crossmarks, are not capable of printing crossmarks if K component does not exist. While it is still possible to consider adding crossmarks to Y component, monochrome sensors can easily read K color compared to Y color.

Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method


Producing high quality depth maps. A time of flight camera and stereo cameras of a stereo camera arrangement are mapped into a common coordinate system. A correspondence between an RGB image taken from the time of flight camera and an RGB image taken from a reference stereo camera of the stereo camera arrangement is established. Intensity values of the plurality of pixels of a stereo camera left of the reference stereo camera, a stereo camera right of the reference stereo camera and the reference stereo camera are determined. These intensity values of the stereo camera left of the reference stereo camera and the stereo camera right of the reference stereo camera are compared to the reference camera. Based on the comparing, matching intensity values are determined.

Computers are widely used today to perform a variety of functions. For example, computers may be used within cameras to assist in producing higher quality images. Important technology in producing higher quality images is that of depth sensing. In "depth sensing", the distance between a point at a scene and a camera is determined using various techniques. By measuring the distance as such for many pixels, a depth map may be acquired.
One technique that used to sense depth is a time of flight sensor. A time of flight sensor sends out light and measures the time it takes for the light to travel from the camera, in one example, to the scene, and then back to the camera. By measuring this round-trip travel time, the distance from the point at the scene to the camera may be measured in real time. Many measurements may be taken for many pixels, thus generating a depth map. However, there exist many limitations to the conventional depth sensing technology.
The drawings referred to in this description should not be understood as being drawn to scale unless specifically noted.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An ultrasonic motor has a piezoelectric element having an electrode pattern and driven by a voltage signal to undergo expansion and compression. An oscillator is connected to the piezoelectric element and is vibrationally driven by the expansion and compression movement of the piezoelectric vibrator. A rotor is disposed on the oscillator to be frictionally driven by expansion and compression movement of the piezoelectric element. A pivot member is connected to a central portion of the rotor. A pressing member is in pressure contact with the pivot member for urging the rotor into pressure contact with the oscillator. The pressing member and the pivot member are comprised of different materials, and the material of the pivot member has a hardness greater than that of the pressing member.

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic motor used for a clock, an automatic focusing system of a camera, an opening and closing operation of a shutter and a drive operation of an X-Y stage, and more particularly to an improvement of an ultrasonic motor and an electronic apparatus with an ultrasonic motor which reduces an abrasion in a pressure-contact portion between a pressing member and a pivot member.
In recent days, an attention has been given to an ultrasonic motor which generates an oscillating wave in an oscillator connected to a piezoelectric element and which can move a moving body by applying a frictional force due to the oscillator (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. 62-92781).
Further, an ultrasonic motor of a rotating type is provided with an oscillator fixed to a central shaft, a piezoelectric element connected to a lower surface of the oscillator, a rotor brought into contact with a projection provided in the oscillator, a pivot fixed to a rotating center of the rotor, and a pressing spring for pressing the pivot (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 8-107686).
In accordance with this structure, the pressing spring urges the pivot so as to apply a pressing force to the rotor and the oscillator, generates a suitable frictional force to the rotor and the projection in the oscillator, and rotates the rotor in a predetermined direction.
However, since the pressing spring and the pivot are made of the same kind of material, both are hard cohered and abraded. Further, even when a lubricating oil is supplied between the pivot and the pressing spring, the lubricating oil is lost after the rotor rotates for a long time rotation, so that the pivot and the pressing spring are abraded.
As a result abrasion of the pivot or the pressing spring is associated with the problems of changing the pressing force and the frictional force, lowering a rotating speed of the rotor and a torque of the motor, and further stopping the motor.
Further, since the pivot is always pressure-contact at the same point with the pressing spring, there is a problem that a load of the pivot against the frictional force generated in the pressure-contact portion is great, so that the pivot is highly abraded.

Ultrasonic motor and electronic apparatus with ultrasonic motor


In a process for producing a semiconductor chip, a functional semiconductor layer sequence (2) is grown epitaxially on a growth substrate (1). Then, a separating zone (4), which lies parallel to a main surface (8) of the growth substrate (1), is formed in the growth substrate (1) by ion implantation, the ion implantation taking place through the functional semiconductor layer sequence (2). Then, a handle substrate (6) is applied to the functional semiconductor layer sequence (2), and a part of the growth substrate (1) which is remote from the handle substrate (6) as seen from the separating zone (4), is detached along the separating zone (4).

Semiconductor components based on nitride compound semiconductors are predominantly used in optoelectronics, in particular for generating radiation in the ultraviolet, blue and green spectral regions. In the text which follows, the term "based on nitride semiconductors" means that a component or part of a component described in this way preferably comprises InxAlyGa1−x−yN, where 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1 and x+y≦1. This material does not necessarily have to have a composition which is mathematically precise according to the above formula. Rather, it may include one or more dopants and additional constituents which leave the physical properties of the material substantially unchanged. For the sake of simplicity, however, the above formula only includes the main constituents of the crystal lattice (Al, Ga, In, N), even though these constituents may be partially replaced by small quantities of further substances.
Epitaxy processes are usually used to produce semiconductor components based on nitride compound semiconductors. Since a reduction in the defect density in the nitride compound semiconductor is one of the main preconditions for increasing the internal efficiency of optoelectronic semiconductor chips based on nitride compound semiconductors, it is desirable to use a growth substrate which, like the layer sequence which is to be epitaxially grown, is formed from a nitride compound semiconductor. However, substrates made from a nitride compound semiconductor, in particular GaN, can only be produced at high technical cost and are therefore considerably more expensive than the alternative substrates made from SiC and sapphire which are customarily used.
A known process for producing optoelectronic components based on nitride compound semiconductors is based on what is known as thin-film technology. In this technology, a functional semiconductor layer sequence is first of all grown epitaxially on a growth substrate, then a new handle is applied to the opposite surface of the semiconductor layer sequence from the growth substrate, and then the growth substrate is detached. This has the advantage in particular that the growth substrate can be reused. The detaching of a sapphire growth substrate from a semiconductor layer sequence comprising a nitride compound semiconductor can be carried out, for example using a laser lift-off method which is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,075. However, this process cannot readily be applied to substrates made from a nitride compound semiconductor.

Method of fabricating a semiconductor chip with a nitride compound semiconductor material


The abbreviated jump field of the present invention enables each instruction word within the data processing apparatus to cause an instruction sequence branch to one of a limited number of destinations. Each instruction word of the data processing apparatus includes a limited number of bits which are decoded to specify one of a small set of instruction destinations. One of the possible destinations is the normal default destination of the next instruction word. In addition a relatively large number of branch instructions have been found to specify a rather limited number of destinations. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the limited number of bits of the abbreviated jump field is employed to specify one of these widely used destinations. The widely used destinations may include a return instruction, a conditional skip of execution of the next instruction and various error handling and error recovery routines.

The present invention relates to the field of digital computing systems and more particularly to the field of processing units for high speed and/or high capacity digital computing systems. Distal computing systems of this type often include data and instruction pipeline architecture in order to increase the speed of operation. A digital computing system with an instruction pipeline architecture includes a memory for storing a series of program instructions waiting to be executed. This is achieved by having the apparatus look ahead into the instruction memory and recall instruction words prior to the time they are needed for execution. In addition data such as later needed operands and results to be stored in memory may also be pipelined. These techniques can increase the rate at which the processing unit operates by reducing the delay needed for recall of the next instruction word to be executed. However, this pipelined architecture can cause control sequence problems for execution of branch instructions, particularly for the execution of conditional branch instructions.
It is typical of digital computing systems of this type to employ increased hardware resources in order to increase the speed of operation or the computing power of the system. One simple way to increase the machine resources is to operate on a relatively large data word. Digital computer systems of this type typically operate on 32 bit words, that is they are capable of doing simple operations such as a two word add or a two word logical AND or OR in a single instruction cycle. Additional hardware features may include the feature of hardware to perform a variable shift and mask operation in a single instruction cycle. Because digital computing systems of this type are often employed for computational intensive applications, any increase in speed and computing power of these systems would enhance their utility. Therefore, features such as increased use of the machine resources within a single instruction cycle or provision of hardware features to perform tasks previously performed by the use of software would be advantageous.

Data processing apparatus with abbreviated jump field


A device and a method are used to test integrated circuits, especially P.L.A.s. The possible faults of a circuit to be tested are determined including logic faults caused by the physical structure and relative position of the circuit elements in the integrated logic circuit. On the basis of the faults, a set of test vectors is determined, each fault modifying at least one of the test vectors applied to the circuit to be tested. It is possible to use test vectors which are modified by the greatest number of possible faults. By determining the test vectors on the basis of the faults which are to be detected, the tests can use a small number of vectors while, at the same time, there is certainty that it will be possible to detect all the faults in a given circuit. Advantageously, a hierarchically-organized set of cells is determined with certain cells consisting of small cells. The method and device can be used to test P.L.A.s by using a small number of test vectors, and are applicable to testing integrated circuits and P.L.A.s.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a device and method for the generation of test vectors and to a testing method for integrated circuits.
The use of present-day manufacturing technologies to increase the number of integrated circuits manufactured and, thus, to reduce their cost entails a trend towards reducing their size, often to the limits of what is technologically possible. In the manufacturing process, integrated circuits that work perfectly, as well as faulty ones, are made, and the integrated circuits that work perfectly must imperatively be separated from the faulty ones. Furthermore, it is desirable to test the circuits as early as possible. This is the case, for example, with wafers which have many circuits. Thus, the manufacturing process is pursued only for integrated circuits that have successfully undergone testing.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
One prior art method entails the testing of integrated circuits by applying all the possible combinations of signals to them and ascertaining that the responses given by the integrated circuits comply with the expected results. For combinational circuits, the test is then said to be complete, inasmuch as there is no memory effect internal to the circuit which would make the said circuit sequential. The length of an exhaustive test sequence increases exponentially with the number of bits of test vectors to be applied to the circuit. With modern circuits, which comprise a large number of inputs and, therefore, require long test sequences, it is generally impossible or extremely expensive to conduct an exhaustive test on an integrated circuit.
Such a test would last very long and would require an excessively large memory for the testing device.
It is also possible, in prior art methods, to reduce the number of test vectors applied to an integrated circuit.
Either the testing is restricted to test vectors which can detect a limited number of faults considered to be possible, or a sequence of pseudo-random vectors is sent with a high possibility of detecting any fault in the circuit.
The flaw in methods of the exhaustive type is that they use a large number of vectors. Furthermore, prior art methods are completely inapplicable to programmable logic arrays or circuits (hereinafter called P.L.A.).
Whereas, in combinational circuits with basic logic operators, it was possible to define a few classes of faults, both simple and general enough to offer the possibility of making models of failures (jamming at 0 or at 1 etc.) in various technologies, this is not possible for P.L.A.s.
The "jamming" of an integrated circuit equipotential element is a fault in which the value "0" is associated with this equipotential element independently of the signal present at the said equipotential element.
The jamming of an integrated circuit equipotentional connection at 1 is a fault of the said circuit in which the value "1" is associated with an equipotential element of the said integrated circuit independently of the value of the signal present.
A break is an interruption in an electrical conductor.
A short-circuit is the accidental connection of two equipotential elements of an electrical circuit.
The creation of an additional operator is the creation of an unwanted transistor or diode which was not planned when designing the integrated circuit.
This case is considered to be impossible in technologies using Schottky transistors (S.T.L.) as also in most bipolar type technologies.
In these technologies, testing a set of logic operators amounts to testing the proper functioning of each operator and each connection. However, a test of this type would not detect every possible fault in P.L.A. type circuits.
The problem of testing P.L.A.s therefore stems from the fact that it is impossible to establish general models of failures in these circuits.
The device and method according to the present invention enables the logic faults of an integrated circuit to be tested efficiently while, at the same time, it diminishes the number of test vectors needed.
In a first stage, all possible faults to be detected are determined. In a second stage, a testing sequence to detect these faults is generated; this is a test sequence which causes a sequence of false circuit responses whenever any of the faults is present.
This method is general enough for testing all logic circuits, including P.L.A.s.
Advantageously, an equivalent diagram of the circuit to be tested is made. The said equivalent diagram can be processed by a generator of test vectors of a known type. The equivalent diagram is constructed such that each possible failure of the circuit is represented, in the equivalent circuit, by one of the connections being jammed at "1". It is obvious that the equivalent diagram of the circuit to be tested, for example that of the P.L.A., performs the same logic function as the circuit replaced for the test.
The idea of the equivalent circuit diagram can be applied to any technology. However the structure of this diagram depends on the production faults envisaged. For certain faults, the physical structure of the circuit must be taken into account. This is the case, for example, with short circuits between adjacent tracks.
In one alternative embodiment of the invention, the equivalent circuit diagram has sets of hierarchically-organized cells. The basic cells of the equivalent circuit diagram use, for example, HILO simulator primitives: for example, NOT, BUF, AND, NAND, OR, NOR. An equivalent circuit diagram has the following characteristics:
It performs the same logic function as the circuit or P.L.A. to be tested; PA1 Each failure is represented by one of the wires being jammed at 1; the number of unnecessary jammings at 1 (i.e. those that represent no failure) is reduced to the minimum. PA1 There is a general standard structure by which the diagram can be easily adapted to any special circuit. PA1 The contiguity of the tracks; PA1 The relative position of the vertical connections, called VIAs, on the tracks of variables; PA1 The relative position of the diodes on the tracks of monomials; PA1 The relative position of the VIAs on the tracks of monomials; PA1 The relative position of the transistor emitters on the output tracks; PA1 The grouping of diodes in one and the same pattern; PA1 The grouping of transistors in one and the same pattern.
The use of a structure with hierarchically-organized cells, for example a structure using macrocells and basic cells, gives a regular structure of the equivalent circuit diagram. It is therefore possible to acquire it graphically or to describe the circuits directly in HILO language. The equivalent circuit diagram consists, therefore, in an assembly of cells common to all the circuits which are described once and for all. Solely the assembly of various cells depends on the particular circuit.
The determination of possible faults, through which an equivalent circuit diagram can be obtained, requires a knowledge of the physical organization of the P.L.A. and especially:
3. Summary of the Invention
The main object of the invention is a device for the generation of test vectors for integrated circuits, a device comprising communication means and at least one computer, the said communication means being used to acquire a description of a circuit, the computer being capable of taking into account possible faults in the integrated circuit, namely the jammings of its equivalent circuit diagram at one, and capable of associating a set of test vectors with these jammings at "1", with each jamming at "1" being capable of modifying at least one vector.
Another object of the invention is a method to generate test vectors for integrated circuits, a method comprising a stage in which the possible logic faults are determined and a stage in which at least one test vector per possible logic fault is generated, so that the said vector applied to the said logic circuit will give a response which will be affected by the existence of the said logic fault.

Device and method for the generation of test vectors and testing method for integrated circuits


A method, computer system, and computer program product for providing spatial weather map data to the visually impaired are provided. The embodiments may include receiving a weather map image that contains weather information and a subject of interest, wherein the subject of interest comprises a user current location, a business location, or an asset location. The embodiments may also include receiving a request from a user for current time, historical or forecast data depicted in the weather map and a request for a geo-location of the subject of interest. The embodiments may further include generating sounds corresponding with the requested weather map data, wherein the generated sounds appear to the user to originate in a particular direction and at a particular distance from the subject of interest, wherein the apparent location of the sounds correspond with a weather map feature including the location of approaching or surrounding weather.

Embodiments of the present invention relate, generally, to the field of computing, and more particularly to providing spatial weather map data to the visually impaired.
There have been significant advances in developing websites that are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Maps represent a very common visualization approach on web pages. A challenging aspect of accessible web design is developing equivalents of data visualizations for the visually impaired. Weather maps are typical examples of such visualizations. Blind and visually impaired persons may interact with weather maps in multiple ways. These multiple ways include using a screen reader to hear textual information on a user screen or using sonified maps. These ways use the non-textual audio output to allow users to comprehend detailed as well as trend data rendered within maps.

Spatial weather map for the visually impaired

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


The present invention provides polypeptide-polymer conjugates. A subject polypeptide-polymer conjugate is useful in a variety of applications, which are also provided.

The use of chemical tethers to create solid-phase forms of biologically active agents is a recurring theme across a wide range of medical and biological applications. Chemical tethers can be used to attach bioactive peptides or proteins to surfaces, to impart bioactivity to porous or hydrogel implants, or in drug delivery applications. Solid-phase presentation can alter the way that bioactive molecules function in a biological setting.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Polypeptide-polymer conjugates and methods of use thereof

The Regents of the University of California


A surgical tool includes first and second K-wire components that are configured to pivot relative to each other and their relative position can be securely locked. The locking mechanism may be a sleeve, a retention ring or a collet.

A Kirschner wire (also called a K-wire) is a thin, rigid wire that can be used to stabilize bone fragments in orthopedics and other types of medical and veterinary surgery. Kirschner wires were introduced in surgical procedures by Martin Kirschner in 1909. They are sterilized, sharpened, smooth stainless steel pins and have different sizes. Typical K-wire diameters range from 0.7 millimeters to 1.6 millimeters. Either one or both wire ends are sharpened to a point. Point styles include trocar or diamond points. K-wires can be drilled through the bone to hold bone fragments in place. They are placed percutaneously (through the skin), thus avoiding open surgery in some cases. In other cases, K-wires are used after surgery to hold bone fragments in place. In some cases K-wires include threads for threading into the bone.
In spine surgery K-wires are used as guide wires for the placement of spine fixation components, such as screws and pins. They are inserted either through an open surgical procedure or under fluoroscopic or X-ray observation and are removed after the insertion of the screws. In several instances it is desirable to move the guide K-wires out of line of sight without removing them from the bone locations.


An image-forming method for fixing a toner image onto a recording medium,

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image-forming method for forming images having good gloss characteristics and image quality, in printers and copying machines employing a system in which toner images formed by electrophotography are transferred to recording mediums and also the toner images are fixed to the recording medium.
2. Related Background Art
In general, it is well known that silver salt photography and printing have wide color reproduction space and good graininess, gloss uniformity and so forth and hence have a superior image quality. On the other hand, color images formed by electrophotography, though having remarkably been improved in image quality in virtue of digitization in recent years, have not yet achieved so high image quality as the silver salt photography and printing have done.
In full-color images, the gloss characteristics of images contribute greatly to the quality of images. In the silver salt photography and printing, sharp images which are smooth and free of any gloss non-uniformity are obtained by means of the smoothness of paper which is a recording medium, and a color-developing agent of submicrons in particle diameter.
In dry-process electrophotography, in general, electrostatic latent images are formed by means of exposure light on a photosensitive member which is an image-bearing member, the electrostatic latent images are developed with toners of yellow, magenta, cyan and black colors (prepared by mixing colorants such as pigments or dyes in thermoplastic resins) to form toner images, and then the toner images are electrostatically transferred to a recording medium, followed by melt-fixing by applying heat and pressure to form a color (or full-color) image.
In such dry-process electrophotography, usually, toners having particle diameters of from 3 xcexcm to 12 xcexcm are used, and it is common to form secondary colors and tertiary colors by the use of four color toners of yellow, magenta, cyan and black which have such particle diameters. Hence, a toner or toners of one color to three colors or four colors are used depending on a color or colors to be reproduced, so that the quantity in which the toner(s) is/are laid on the recording medium (i.e., toner laid-on quantity) may differ part by part. The unevenness of image surface has a tendency of coming small in proportion to the toner laid-on quantity (density) on the recording medium. Hence, where the toner laid-on quantity stands different over the whole image, its glossiness may come non-uniform.
For this reason, in images having a large density gradation as in portrait images, the images have a low gloss at halftone areas (low-density regions) like those of skin and a high gloss at solid areas (high-density regions) like those of hair, giving non-uniform gloss of image and hence a sense of incongruity.
It is also known that any unevenness the surface of such images may have makes them have a low color reproducibility under the influence of irregular reflection from the image surface to provide images having a low sharpness.
Under such circumstances, as disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-92965, a technique is proposed in which, on a transfer material such as paper provided with a transparent resin layer of 50 to 100 xcexcm thick, color toners with average particle diameter of, e.g., 10 to 15 xcexcm are superimposed in two to four layers to form color toner images, which are then heated by means of a heat roll to make the color toners melt in the transparent resin layer, followed by fixing to form a color image. As also similarly disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-38659, a technique is proposed in which, on a transfer material such as paper provided with a transparent resin layer of 10 to 500 xcexcm thick, and preferably 25 to 300 xcexcm thick and using color toners with average particle diameter of, e.g., 8 xcexcm, color toner images are formed, which are then fixed by means of a heat roll to form a color image.
In the techniques disclosed in the above publications, when color toner images are fixed onto a transfer material, the color toner images are pressed by means of a heat roll to heat and melt them and so fix them as to be buried in the transparent resin layer at the transfer material surface so that color images with less surface unevenness can be formed and any illumination light may less irregularly reflect to obtain color images having good quality.
However, in the above method, an oil film is formed between the toners and the transparent resin at the time of fixing, under the influence of a silicone oil which is a release agent, so that the toner images are not sufficiently buried in the transparent resin layer and hence some unevenness remains inevitably.
As also disclosed-in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-216322, a method is proposed in which toner images are electrostatically transferred to a recording medium provided on its surface with a transparent resin layer formed of a thermoplastic resin in a thickness of 20 to 200 xcexcm, and thereafter the toner images are buried in the transparent resin layer by means of a belt type fixing assembly. In this method, however, even if the toner images and the thermoplastic transparent resin layer are sufficiently melted, they are not sufficiently compatible with each other when melted. Hence, this may cause a lowering of color reproducibility, and may make the image surface remain a little uneven to cause color non-uniformity or narrow the region of color reproduction. This method has such problems.
To solve such problems, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-84719, for example, discloses that images free of any image non-uniformity and having a stable gloss can be obtained by specifying toner laid-on quantity, fixed-image density and image glossiness. This enables formation of high-grade images with less non-uniform gloss in the low-gloss region, but on the other hand has not achieved formation of sufficiently high-grade images in the high-gloss region. Moreover, because of a great difference in glossiness from that of the recording medium itself, there is a problem it gives a sense of incongruity.
The present invention was made taking account of the above problems. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image-forming method which promises a uniform image gloss without relying on the toner laid-on quantity on the recording medium, and can keep images from giving any sense of incongruity between the image gloss and the recording-medium gloss.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image-forming method having at least:
a developing step of developing an electrostatic latent image held on an image-bearing member, by means of a toner to obtain a toner image;
a transfer step of transferring the toner image to a recording medium; and
a fixing step of heating the toner image having been transferred onto the recording medium, to fix the former to the latter; and
having at least:
a low-speed mode (PS1) in which images are formed at a low speed; and
a high-speed mode (PS2) in which images are formed at a high speed;
so as to be able to form images at different speeds;
the recording medium having a gloss value (60-degree gloss) represented by G0 and the toner being laid on the recording medium in a quantity ranging from 0.05 mg/cm2 or more to 1.3 mg/cm2 or less, under conditions of which;
(i) when a recording medium having a high gloss (G0 greater than 40) is used, an image is formed at a low-speed mode (PS1) in which the process speed is from 20 mm/sec. or more to less than 130 mm/sec. and, where the maximum value and minimum value of gloss value of the image having been fixed are represented by Gmax1 and Gmin1, respectively, the Gmax1 and the Gmin1 satisfy the following expressions:
Gmax1xe2x89xa6G0+40 and Gmin1xe2x89xa7G0xe2x88x9225; and
(ii) when a recording medium having a low gloss (0xe2x89xa6G0xe2x89xa640) is used, an image is formed at a high-speed mode (PS2) in which the process speed is from 130 mm/sec. or more to 600 mm/sec. or less and, where the maximum value and minimum value of gloss value of the image having been fixed are represented by Gmax2 and Gmin2, respectively, the Gmax2 and the Gmin2 satisfy the following expressions:
Gmax2xe2x89xa6G0+20 and Gmin2xe2x89xa7G0xe2x88x9215.
The present invention also provides an image-forming method having at least:
a developing step of developing an electrostatic latent image held on an image-bearing member, by means of a toner to obtain a toner image;
a transfer step of transferring the toner image to a recording medium; and
a fixing step of heating the toner image having been transferred onto the recording medium, to fix the former to the latter; and
having at least:
a low-speed mode (PS1) in which images are formed at a low speed; and
a high-speed mode (PS2) in which images are formed at a high speed;
so as to be able to form images at different speeds;
in the fixing step, the relationship between fixing temperature (T1) in the low-speed mode and fixing temperature (T2) in the high-speed mode being:
T2 less than T1.

Image-forming method in high-speed mode and in low-speed mode

Abstract: (i) wherein when a high-gloss recording medium (G0 greater than 40) is used, an image is formed at a low-speed mode process speed of from 20 mm/sec. to less than 130 mm/sec. and, where the maximum and minimum gloss values of the fixed image (Gmax1 and Gmin1, respectively), satisfy: Gmax1xe2x89xa6G0+40 and Gmin1xe2x89xa7G0xe2x88x9225; and

Abstract: (ii) wherein when a low-gloss recording medium (0xe2x89xa6G0xe2x89xa640) is used, an image is formed at a high-speed mode process speed of from 130 mm/sec. to 600 mm/sec. and, where values of the fixed image (Gmax2 and Gmin2, respectively), satisfy: Gmax2xe2x89xa6G0+20 and Gmin2xe2x89xa7G0xe2x88x9215.


A semiconductor device includes first and second insulators over a substrate, a semiconductor over the second insulator, first and second conductors over the semiconductor, a third insulator over the semiconductor, a fourth insulator over the third insulator, a third conductor over the fourth insulator, and a fifth insulator over the first insulator, the first conductor and the second conductor. The semiconductor includes first, second, and third regions. The first region overlaps with the third conductor with the third insulator and the fourth insulator positioned therebetween. The second region overlaps with the third conductor with the first conductor, the fourth insulator, and the fifth insulator positioned therebetween. The third region overlaps with the third conductor with the second conductor, the fourth insulator, and the fifth insulator positioned therebetween. The fourth insulator is in contact with a side surface of the fifth insulator in a region overlapping with the semiconductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transistor and a semiconductor device, and a manufacturing method thereof, for example. The present invention relates to a display device, a light-emitting device, a lighting device, a power storage device, a memory device, an imaging device, a processor, or an electronic device, for example. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a display device, a liquid crystal display device, a light-emitting device, a memory device, an imaging device, or an electronic device. The present invention relates to a driving method of a semiconductor device, a display device, a liquid crystal display device, a light-emitting device, a memory device, or an electronic device.
Note that one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above technical field. The technical field of one embodiment of the invention disclosed in this specification and the like relates to an object, a method, or a manufacturing method. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a process, a machine, manufacture, or a composition of matter.
In this specification and the like, a semiconductor device generally means a device that can function by utilizing semiconductor characteristics. A display device, a light-emitting device, a lighting device, an electro-optical device, a semiconductor circuit, and an electronic device include a semiconductor device in some cases.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a transistor including an oxide semiconductor has attracted attention. It is known that a transistor including an oxide semiconductor has an extremely low leakage current in an off state. For example, a low-power CPU and the like utilizing the characteristics that a leakage current of the transistor including an oxide semiconductor is low is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).
A method for manufacturing a transistor including an oxide semiconductor by forming a gate electrode so as to fill an opening is disclosed (see Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3).

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A process for fabricating a strained layer of silicon or of a silicon/germanium alloy, includes:

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to integrated circuits and more particularly to the fabrication of strained layers of silicon (Si) or of a silicon/germanium (SiGe) alloy, the said integrated circuits generally being used in the fabrication of transistors.
2. Description of the Related Art
The application of a tensile stress to a silicon film results in a considerable increase in the mobility of the carriers.
The techniques currently employed for fabricating strained Si films are entirely based on the epitaxy of silicon or of a silicon/germanium alloy. The first silicon/germanium layer obtained by epitaxy on a bulk silicon substrate is in compression. However, as soon as this first layer exceeds a certain thickness (depending on the germanium concentration and on the deposition temperature), there is strain relief and the silicon/germanium film resumes its "bulk" lattice parameter. The latter is generally called a "relaxed substrate". Since this lattice parameter is higher than that of silicon, the epitaxial growth of an Si film on this relaxed silicon/germanium layer is again in tension.
Fabrication of transistors on this type of strained silicon film has clearly demonstrated the increase in the performance of the devices thanks to better carrier mobility. However, the fabrication of relaxed silicon/germanium substrates of high crystallographic quality remains a complex process. This is because relaxing the strain in the silicon/germanium film is manifested by the formation of a high dislocation density, which may make the material unusable.
By growing silicon/germanium films having a germanium gradient, the formation of an emergent dislocation at the surface may be avoided. However, in order to be relaxed, the silicon/germanium layer must have a thickness of greater than 1 μm (depending on the germanium concentration). This results in very lengthy deposition times that are therefore incompatible with industrial use.
In addition, after the deposition phase, the silicon/germanium layer requires a chemical-mechanical polishing step and therefore a cleaning step, which makes the process expensive.
Accordingly, there exists a need for overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art as discussed above.

Process for fabricating strained layers of silicon or of a silicon/germanium alloy

Abstract: a) the formation of a layer (2) of silicon or of a silicon/germanium alloy on a layer (1) of a material having a modifiable lattice parameter; and

Abstract: b) the modification of the lattice parameter.


In an embodiment, a towbarless airplane tug configured for receiving a landing gear of an airplane and towing the airplane thereby at an actual speed is disclosed. The towbarless airplane tug includes a chassis configured for receiving thereon at least a portion of the landing gear, and a propulsion arrangement configured to move the towbarless airplane tug in a direction along a trajectory. The towbarless airplane tug further includes a controller configured to compare between the actual speed of the towbarless airplane tug, when towing the airplane, and a predetermined desired speed thereof, and to direct the propulsion arrangement to maintain the actual speed of the towbarless airplane tug if: the actual speed is lower than the desired speed, and the actual speed was maintained within a predefined speed range during a predefined period that preceded the comparing.

Airplane tugs are often provided for towing airplanes between ground locations at an airport, thus obviating the need for the airplane to move itself under its own power, saving jet fuel. The tugs may be provided with a towbar, which connects a landing gear with the tug, or towbarless, in which a towbar is not provided, in which, typically, the landing gear sits directly on the chassis of the tug.