A monitoring tool is provided for monitoring wells for flow anomalies. The temperatures of flowing well fluid and ambient temperature are monitored and various methods applied to indicate if a well is normal flowing, at risk of flow stoppage or cessation of flow. Approaches are described for determining trending indicators from actual flow temperatures compared to a normal flow relationship for establishing the presence of flow anomalies. Temperature sensors, onsite processors and communications upload data for display of well status flags on a mapping module enabling pro-active detection and preventative action by operators.

Flowing wells can fail unexpectedly, the detection of which or preventative measures The Province of Alberta, Canada has over 70,000 low flow, shallow gas wells, producers annually lose 5-15% of their wintertime production due to freezing of wells and pipelines. The lost production can cost the producers in the range of $70-100 million annually. Due to the low revenue generation of individual wells, shallow gas fields and mature oil fields generally have very little instrumentation. Production measurement tends to happen at group meters and batteries, which reside throughout a field, and usually have dozens or more unmetered wells flowing into them. In the case of oil wells, the causes of failure are more numerous, including more mechanical apparatus in wells fit with pumping apparatus.
In the winter, producers watch their group meters for production drops, which typically indicate that wells upstream of the meter are frozen. Field personnel then either attempt to find the frozen wells and inject a freeze inhibitor such as methanol (methanol lowers the freezing temperature of water) in an attempt to break up the ice or simply "batch pour" methanol into wells more or less indiscriminately as a preventive measure. Methanol injection method, which has been used for decades, is often ineffective, expensive and potentially unsafe including arranging risky wintertime access to leases regardless whether wells are frozen or not.
Applicant believes, this method persists because there is currently no other solution which is not cost prohibitive. At current prices an average gas well produces $15,000-20,000 per year in revenue. Traditional instrumentation which could indicate the status of each well costs in excess of $5,000 per well. Given the large numbers of such wells, producers have not justified traditional instrumentation on most wells.
While oil wells have higher revenues, control is also more expensive, often implementing pump-off controls. It is not always economical to pump-off and related instrumentation on older lower flow oil wells.
In summer, producers note diminished flow rates from gas wells due to liquid loading in the wells and may take steps to rectify the problem by unloading the liquid from the well.


In a liquid heating apparatus according to the present apparatus, an external drum comprising a dual wall is provided in a water tank, the external drum has a combustion gas distribution chamber formed in the dual wall, an internal drum having a combustion chamber is provided therein and a partitioned water chamber is formed therebetween, an upper communicating tube penetrating the external drum and communicating to inside of the water tank and a lower communicating tube communicating the lower section of the partitioned water chamber to the base of the water tank are provided in the upper and lower sections of the partitioned water chamber respectively, a draft tube communicating a combustion chamber to a combustion gas distribution chamber is provided in the upper section of the partitioned water chamber, an exhaust tube opened to the outside of the water tank is provided in the lower section of the external drum, and a combustor support cylinder penetrating the external drum and the partitioned water chamber and thrusting from the side wall of the internal drum to outside of the water tank is provided.

This invention relates to a liquid heating apparatus in which a heat exchanger, such as boiler, making use of combustion gas up/down-draft method is installed within a water tank.
The liquid heating apparatus described above includes those proposed by this applicant and disclosed in (A) the Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 44093/1973 and (B) the Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 15168/1976. What is disclosed in (A) is the one as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, with a heat exchanger 21 provided in a water tank 22; said heat exchanger 21 comprising a partitioned water chamber 25 provided within an internal void section surrounded by a heat receiving wall 23 with the upper section and both sides of the lower section communicated with a communicating tube 24 and a water through hole 30 respectively to a water tank 22, a combustion chamber 26 communicated to a gas up-draft chamber 29 having a narrow upper section formed in one side thereof and a gas down-draft chamber 27 having a narrow lower section formed in the other side with upper sections of the two chambers 27 and 29 communicated to each other with gas through holes 28 formed in both sides of the communicating tube 24, a combustor 33 provided in the lower section of the combustion chamber 26 with an air supply path 31 to the combustion chamber 26 and an exhaust path 32 to the gas down-draft chamber 27 each provided in the lower section thereof.
Description is made hereinafter for phenomena in up/down-draft of combustion gas in the heat exchanger 21 as described above. In a gas combustion path having the gas up-draft chamber 29 shown in FIG. 11 and the gas down-draft chamber 27 having the same height H as that of the gas up-draft chamber, it is known that an internal draft power Pch as expressed by the following equations (1) and (2) is generated, assuming a heat generating point U, a middle point M, and an exhaust point EQU D: Pch=(.gamma.d-.gamma.u).times.H (1) EQU Pch=(PH/R)(1/Td-1/Tu) (2)
Herein;
.gamma.d: Specific weight of combustion gas in the gas down-flow chamber 27
.gamma.u: Specific weight of combustion gas in the gas up-flow chamber 29
H: Height of the middle point M from the heat generating point U
P: Pressure of the combustion gas
R: Constant for the combustion gas
Td: Temperature of the combustion gas in the gas down-flow chamber 27
Tu: Temperature of combustion gas in the gas up-flow chamber 29
As Tu is always higher than Td (Tu>Td), when the heat exchanger 21 is working, namely when the combustor 33 is working, (1/Td-1/Tu)>0, and the combustion gas flows from the heat generating point U to the middle point M and to the exhaust point D. In contrast to it, when operation of the heat exchanger 21 is down, Tu=Td=Temperature of peripheral water, and for this reason the internal draft power Pch=0, so that a combustion gas in a combustion gas path stops flowing and resides therein, which is useful in preventing cool air from coming in from the outside and keeping the internal temperature at a level.
What was described above is based on this principle, and a combustion gas generated within the combustion chamber 26 goes up in the gas up-draft chamber 29 and then goes down in the gas down-draft chamber 27 radiating heat with the temperature of the gas becoming lower and the weight becoming heavier and is exhausted through a flue 32 from the exhaust path 34 to the outside, and in this process the combustion gas contacts the heat receiving wall 23 and walls of the partitioned water chamber 25 to heat water within the water tank 22 so that the heat exchange is high, temperature of the water goes up rapidly, temperature drop of a combustion gas while flowing is large with the down-draft fluidity raised and the draft function promoted. In addition as the two paths 31 and 32 adjoin each other, a supply air flowing in the air supply path 31 is heated by exhaust gas flowing in the gas exhaust path 32 with the combustion efficiency raised, which is another merit of the system above.
In the apparatus disclosed in (A) above, however, the partitioned water chamber 25 is flat, so that the heat transfer area is small and the heat transfer efficiency is low, and in addition, as there is a clearance between a bottom face of the water tank 22 and that of the heat exchanger 21, convection fault occurs in the water residing in this section, which prevents all portions of the water from being heated evenly. Heat exchange is carried out more smoothly in the heat receiving wall 23 in the side of gas up-draft chamber 29 which is located in the opposite side to the heat receiving wall 23 and where water convection is carried out more smoothly than in the heat receiving wall 23 in the side of gas down-draft chamber 27 which is located near a wall face of the water tank 22 and where water convection is not carried out smoothly, and as a result combustion gas residing in the gas up-draft chamber 29 is cooled, and a satisfactory draft power can hardly be obtained.
Furthermore in the apparatus described above, the exhaust point D (FIG. 12) is located at a position higher by the range h from the exhaust point D, pressures Pu, Pm and Pd at points U, M and D respectively are calculated from the aforesaid equations (1) and (2) as follows. ##EQU1## And Pd is released to the atmosphere, Pd=Po (Atmospheric pressure). For this reason, the following equations are provided: EQU Po=Pm+.gamma.d.H-.gamma.d.h (5) EQU Pm=Po-.gamma.d.H+.gamma.d.h (6)
and applying these into the equation (3), the following equation can be obtained. ##EQU2##
Herein, while operations of the heat exchanger 21 are down, .gamma.d is equal to .gamma.u (.gamma.d=.gamma.u), so Pu=Po+.gamma.d.h, namely Pu-Po=.gamma.d.h>0, so that the relation of Pu>Po is always maintained, and the combustion gas in the combustion gas path always flow from the heating point U to the middle point M to the exhaust point D without residing in the combustion gas path, and for this reason intrusion of the external air into the inside is not prevented and heat of hot water inside the water tank 22 is radiated to the outside.
The apparatus disclosed in (B) above is like the one shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, wherein an internal drum 67 comprising a dual wall is provided in and at a space from an external drum 66 also comprising a dual wall, a combustion gas down-draft chamber 68 is provided between them, an external water chamber 71 having a hot water outlet port 69 and a water supply port 70 in the upper and lower sections thereof is provided outside of the the combustion gas down-draft chamber 68, a combustion chamber 74 communicating in the upper section thereof to the combustion gas down-draft chamber 68 is provided in the internal drum 67, and exhaust port 75 is provided in the lower section of the combustion gas chamber 68, an exhaust cylinder 78 is connected to this exhaust cylinder 78, and a combustor 77 is provided disconnectably through the inner and outer water chambers 71, 72. The hot water outlet port 69 is connected to hot water reserving sections such as water tanks not shown herein with appropriate pipings, and the numeral 79 indicates a port for cleaning. In the liquid heating apparatus as described above, a combustion gas gradually caused to satisfy the rating by the combustor 77 by means of up/down draft method rises in the combustion chamber 74 with the heat radiated from the combustion gas being absorbed, then reverses in the upper section thereof and flows down at a velocity g (m/sec) in the combustion gas down-draft chamber 68, being accelerated to a velocity G (m/sec) at the exhaust port 75 and exhausted therefrom. On the other hand, water is supplied from the water supply port 70 in the lower section thereof to the outer external water chamber 71, rises in this external water chamber 71 and the internal water chamber 72 communicated thereto with the communicating tubes 73 in the upper and lower sections thereof, while the combustion gas causes the temperature of the liquid to rapidly rise by raising the heat exchange rate between the combustion gas and the liquid because the combustion gas supplies a liquid in the internal and external water chambers 71, 72 with enough quantity of heat by means of radiation and thermal conduction and the down-draft fluidity of the combustion gas in the combustion gas down-draft chamber 68 is raised, which advantageously improves the combustion efficiency and prevents incomplete combustion.
The aforesaid apparatus has the advantages as described above, but at the same time it has problems as described below. Namely in this liquid heating apparatus, as water is supplied from the water supply port 70 located in the lower section thereof to the external water chamber 71 and rises in this external water chamber 71 as well as in the internal water chamber 72 communicated with the communicating tubes 73 in the upper and lower sections thereof to the external water chamber 71, interference is generated between cool water rising in the external water chamber 71 and hot water exhausted in the upper section thereof from the internal water chamber 72 and again descending the external water chamber 71, which prevents water from smoothly convecting in both the internal and external water chambers, and for this reason an efficient heat exchange between the gas and the water can not be achieved, and also as the entire apparatus is monolithically assembled to form a heat exchanging/water reserving section, the work for installation is difficult, and in addition cleaning inside the external water chamber 71 is extremely difficult.


A sharp corner judgment means judges as to whether a corner of cut shape in a workpiece is a sharp corner is not on the basis of a machining program. When the corner is regarded as the sharp corner, an additional locus producing means for producing sharp corner produces an additional locus for producing sharp corner when machining on the corner regarded as the sharp corner, and a sharp corner machining execution means executes machining on the corner on the basis of the produced additional locus for producing sharp corner. Then, the additional locus for producing sharp corner can be automatically produced for the sharp corner so as to execute machining.

The present invention relates to a laser beam machine for executing cutting machining on a workpiece in the shape of a plate.
FIG. 7 is a view showing how to cut a corner portion according to a conventional machining method wherein (a) is a view showing loop R of movement path, and (b) is a view showing a part of a machining program.
In order to cut a sharp corner formed by crossing straight lines of cut paths with a laser beam machine in a conventional method, for instance, in order to cut a sharp corner formed by crossing cut paths L1 and L5 (full line), which are straight lines, at position P1 (x coordinate is 0, y-axis coordinate is 0) as shown in FIG. 7(a), cut path L1 is cut in an arrow direction as shown in FIG. 7(a), and thereafter, the sharp corner is cut, circling outside the cut shape along loop R (LR) as shown by a broken line, passing through positions P1, P100 (x coordinate is 5, y-axis coordinate is 0), P101(x coordinate is 0, y-axis coordinate is 5) in order, without immediately cutting cut path L5. This method is adopted in order to prevent the sharp corner from not being cut in a desired shape for the reason that a workpiece 70 is overheated with laser beam so as to be melted when feed speed F temporarily becomes zero at the time of passing through position P1 by the torch. This machining method is executed by a machining program PRO which is comprised of a plurality of machining steps PS1, PS2, . . . , as shown in FIG. 7(b). In the machining program PRO, a loop R program LRP for circling on the above-mentioned loop R (LR) is inserted between machining steps PS, PS5.
That is, linear interpolation instruction (G01) where feeding speed F is 30,000 mm/min, and end point is position PI is instructed in block N1 of the first machining step PS1 of the top in the figure, and linear interpolation instruction (G01) of moving 50 mm in a negative direction of y-axis from position P1 is instructed in block N5 of the fifth machining step PS5 of the bottom. And, the above-mentioned loop R program LRP is inserted before block N5.
The loop R program LRP is comprised of three blocks N2, N3, and N4 of machining steps PS2, PS3 and PS4, as shown in FIG. 7(b). In the first block N2, linear interpolation instruction (G01) of moving 5 mm in a positive direction of x-axis along movement path S1 to end position P100 in order to elongate cut path L1, maintaining the feeding speed F, is instructed. When a torch reaches position P100, arc interpolation instruction (G03) of arc R1, connecting with both extended lines of cut paths L1 and L5, having 5 mm of radius R determined on the basis of a predetermined acceleration by which the feed speed F can be maintained, is instructed in the second block N3. When the torch reaches position P101, linear interpolation instruction (G01) of moving 5 mm in a negative direction of y-axis along movement path S2 to end position P1 in order to elongate cut path L5, maintaining the feeding speed F, is instructed in the last block N4. When returns to position P1, the loop R program LRP finishes, and linear interpolation instruction (G01) of moving 50 mm in a negative direction of y-axis is instructed in block N5 of machining step PS5, so as to continue cutting machining along cut shape of cut path L5, maintaining feed speed in cut path L1.
The torch moves along the loop R (LR) comprised of straight line S1, arc R1 and straight line S2, so that cutting machining is possible at the same feed speed F at any position in a cut shape, irrespective of a sharp corner. Therefore, the workpiece 70 can be cut in a desired cut shape by cutting a sharp corner, maintaining a good cut face having no machining irregularity.
In the above-mentioned machining method, it is necessary to move the torch along a movement path which is comprise of a straight line, an arc and a straight line every machining on the sharp corner, so that the time for circling on the movement path at a predetermined feed speed prevents speedy machining. In case where there are many sharp corners to be machined, such as a case where parts having a sharp corner in great number are located on the workpiece 70 (nesting), or such a case where parts to be cut have many sharp corners, the machining efficiency is lowered owing to increased number of circling, and it is further difficult to actualize speedy machining thereby.
Furthermore, it is necessary to insert the loop R program LRP having three blocks according to a straight line, an arc and a straight line every machining block of the sharp corner when producing a machining program. Therefore, longer time is necessary for such insertion, and more specifically, much work is necessary in case where many sharp corners are machined. Besides, program capacity for the loop R program LRP is also necessary according to the number of the sharp corner. More inconveniently, bigger locus of loop R to be inserted into a corner leads to meaningless cutting of a material, and nesting efficiency is lowered thereby.
Under these circumstances, the development of the laser beam machine for cutting a sharp corner on the basis of a desired cut shape, maintaining a good cut face having no machining irregularity, capable of actualizing speedy cutting machining in an easy way, has been desired.
A laser beam machine of the invention has:
a radiating means for radiating laser beam on a workpiece to be cut;
a means for moving and driving, for moving and driving the radiating means at predetermined feed speed;
a machining execution means for moving and driving the radiating means through the means for moving and driving on the basis of a movement instruction instructed by a machining program;
a sharp corner judgment means for judging as to whether a corner of cut shape in the workpiece is a sharp corner or not on the basis of the machining program;
additional locus producing means for producing sharp corner, for producing additional locus for producing sharp corner when machining a corner which is judged as the sharp corner by the sharp corner judgment means; and
a sharp corner machining execution means for machining the corner judged as the sharp corner on the basis of the additional locus for producing sharp corner produced by the additional locus producing means for producing sharp corner.
According to an aspect of the invention, an additional locus for producing sharp corner is automatically produced when machining on a corner judged as a sharp corner, and the corner is machined on the basis of the additional locus for producing sharp corner. Therefore, the sharp corner can be easily machined, maintaining a good cut face having no machining irregularity without spending longer time for programming for machining. More specifically, in case where there are many sharp corners to be machined, producing of machining program can be further lightened. Besides, more conveniently, it is not necessary to increase program capacity for machining on the sharp corner.
According to an another aspect of the invention, the sharp corner machining execution means can control feed speed of the radiating means so as to move the radiating means, decelerating feed speed from the feed speed before entering into the sharp corner, from passing of the corner till returning to the corner by the radiating means.
In this case, the additional locus for producing sharp corner shorter than a conventional locus can be produced when machining on the sharp corner since the torch moves, reducing feed speed from passage of laser beam on a corner judged as the sharp corner till return to the corner. Then, speedy machining can be realized, maintaining a good cut face having no machining irregularity. In case where there are many sharp corners to be machined, more speedy machining is possible. Besides, meaningless cutting of a material is saved by shortening the locus so as to improve nesting efficiency.
According to an another aspect of the invention, a sharp corner machining execution judgment means for judging as to whether a machining execution instruction of the sharp corner is instructed in the machining program or not is provided, whereby machining on the corner is executed by the sharp corner machining execution means when the sharp corner machining execution judgment means judges that the machining execution instruction of the sharp corner is instructed in the machining program.
In this case, as to whether sharp corner machining is instructed in a machining program or not is judged, and the corner is machined on the basis of the additional locus for producing sharp corner when the judgment is that the execution instruction is instructed. Then, an operator can freely select one of two options, that is, an operator executes automatic machining on the sharp corner using the additional locus producing means for producing sharp corner, or manually inserts a machining block in the machining program in a conventional way, so that the machining contents can be made flexible.
According to an another aspect of the invention, a laser beam radiation control means for controlling radiation of the laser beam on the workpiece from the radiating means is provided, whereby no laser beam is radiated on the workpiece through the radiating means by the laser beam radiation control means while the sharp corner machining execution means moves and drives the radiating means along the additional locus for producing sharp corner.
In this case, no laser beam is radiated on the workpiece during movement of the moving means along the additional locus for producing sharp corner, so that meaningless cutting of a material can be saved and nesting efficiency can be improved thereby.


Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described for initiating beam training in systems that use beamformed wireless communications. A user equipment (UE) and a base station may establish communications using a first beam, and the UE may determine that a signal quality of the first beam is lower than a threshold value and that a beam training procedure is to be initiated. The UE may transmit a beam training request to initiate the beam training procedure, which may be transmitted as part of a bit sequence that is used to transmit uplink control information to the base station, such as with acknowledgment/negative-acknowledgment feedback, a scheduling request, or other uplink control information.

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).
In some cases, wireless devices (e.g., base stations, UEs, etc.) may use beamformed or precoded signals for transmission and/or reception of wireless communications. For example, a base station may utilize beamformed or precoded transmissions to provide directional transmissions that may mitigate path losses that may be experienced by non-beamformed or non-precoded transmissions which may have a relatively wide beam or omnidirectional transmission pattern. In some cases, a UE may monitor one or more beams as part of a beam sweeping or beam training procedure to identify a particular beam or beams that are suitable for beamformed communications between the UE and the base station. In some cases, the UE may obtain beamforming parameters for communicating with a base station from information provided via the beam sweeping procedure, and communications may be established using identified beamforming parameters. In cases where an established beam becomes less suitable for communications, the UE and the base station may perform a subsequent beam sweeping or beam training procedure to establish a more suitable beam or beams for communications. Efficient techniques for identifying beams and associated information for communications may help enhance reliability and efficiency of a network utilizing beamforming.

Beam training request techniques in beamformed wireless communications


Disclosed is a method of fabricating a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. In this method, a dielectric layer is formed above a lower conductor layer and an upper conductor layer is formed above the dielectric layer. The invention then forms an etch stop layer above the upper conductor layer and the dielectric layer, and forms a hardmask (silicon oxide hardmask, a silicon nitride hardmask, etc.) over the etch stop layer. Next, a photoresist is patterned above the hardmask, which allows the hardmask, the etch stop layer, the dielectric layer, and the lower conductor layer to be etched through the photoresist.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method of fabricating a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor, where a hardmask is formed over the capacitor and a photoresist is patterned above the hardmask, which allows the capacitor and corresponding wiring layer to be simultaneously etched through the photoresist, without damaging the upper plate of the capacitor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Capacitors are widely used in integrated circuit technology. One type of well-known capacitor is the metal-insulator-metal capacitor (MIMCap). This type of capacitor has a lower conductive plate and an upper conductive plate separated by a dielectric. When manufacturing metal-insulator-metal capacitors, the dielectric and the upper plate are patterned on a conductive layer. A photoresist is then formed over the dielectric and upper plate in order to pattern the conductive layer into the lower conductive plate. However, the photoresist can sometimes be too thin at the corners of the upper plate, which causes the corners of the upper plate to be undesirably eroded (rounded) during the patterning of the underlying conductive layer.
In order to overcome this problem, a thicker photoresist could be used. However, as the photoresist becomes thicker, the spacing between structures (capacitors, adjacent wiring, etc.) that can be patterned by the thicker photoresist increases, which undesirably increases the pitch of the wiring. When there is an increase in the pitch of the lines (caused by the wider lines and spaces that result from the thicker resist), there is a decrease in wiring density of that level. This necessitates additional levels to compensate for loss in wirability, and makes the technology less attractive and more expensive.
Alternatively, this problem can be overcome by moving all MIMCaps to a level within the integrated circuit structure that already has a wider pitch. However, this is also unattractive because it necessitates that there be a wider pitch level for designs which have MIMCaps, which again adds cost and complexity.
The invention described below solves this problem without increasing the thickness of the photoresist, and in fact allows an even thinner photoresist to be utilized. Therefore, the invention overcomes the problem of upper plate corner rounding without increasing the pitch of the wiring.

Formation of metal-insulator-metal capacitor simultaneously with aluminum metal wiring level using a hardmask

International Business Machines Corporation


A self-propelled printing apparatus to perform printing on an object to be printed includes a moving unit that moves the self-propelled printing apparatus on the object to be printed and a printing unit that performs printing on the object to be printed on the basis of print processing data generated based on information of a position to which the self-propelled printing apparatus has been moved by the moving unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a self-propelled printing apparatus, a printing system, and a printing method and in particular, to a self-propelled printing apparatus that moves on an object to be printed to perform printing on the object to be printed, a printing system including the self-propelled printing apparatus, a printing method using the self-propelled printing apparatus, and a printing program for using the self-propelled printing apparatus.
2. Background Art
In the related art, when printing data such as images or text, a stationary printing apparatus is generally used. On the other hand, in response to a desire to perform printing outside, a portable printing apparatus that is designed compact and lightweight so as to be able to be carried has also been developed.
As an example of such a portable printing apparatus, the invention disclosed in JP-A-2007-129783 may be mentioned. The invention disclosed in JP-A-2007-129783 is to set printing paper having a specified size in a printing apparatus and perform printing continuously on the printing paper.
Therefore, since a width of the extent to which at least printing paper can be inserted is required in such a printing apparatus, there has been a limitation in miniaturization.
On the other hand, the invention disclosed in JP-T-2005-517553 is to perform printing on printing paper while moving the printing apparatus itself with respect to the printing paper. Such a printing apparatus can perform printing on printing paper of any size.
In the invention disclosed in JP-T-2005-517553, however, since the movement of the printing apparatus and printing on printing paper are performed simultaneously and continuously, the accuracy of printing could not be expected. In addition, the apparatus does not recognize which portion of the object is being printed, printing data fixed in advance is used as it is, and positioning is left to human hands and the apparatus expects that it would be accurate. For this reason, the result was inaccurate and the printing quality was low.
Therefore, a portable printing apparatus that is designed compact and lightweight and can also perform printing without degrading the quality, such as the accuracy of printing, has been in demand.


The present invention provides compounds comprising oligonucleotides complementary to a pyruvate kinase M transcript. Certain such compounds are useful for hybridizing to a pyruvate kinase M transcript, including but not limited to a pyruvate kinase M transcript in a cell. In certain embodiments, such hybridization results in modulation of splicing of the pyruvate kinase M transcript. In certain embodiments, such compounds are used to treat one or more symptoms associated with cancer.

The pyruvate kinase M (PK-M) gene has 12 exons. Exon 9 and exon 10 are alternatively spliced in a mutually exclusive fashion to give rise to the M1 and M2 isoforms of the PK-M gene. Inclusion of exon 9 and exclusion of exon 10 yields the PK-M1 isoform. Exclusion of exon 9 and inclusion of exon 10 yields the PK-M2 isoform. Exons 9 and 10 each encode a 56 amino acid segment that confers distinctive properties to the respective PK-M1 and PK-M2 isoforms. The PK-M2 isoform is expressed in a broad range of cancer cells, whereas PK-M1 is predominantly expressed in terminally differentiated tissues.
Antisense compounds have been used to modulate target nucleic acids. Antisense compounds comprising a variety of chemical modifications and motifs have been reported. In certain instances, such compounds are useful as research tools, diagnostic reagents, and as therapeutic agents. In certain instances antisense compounds have been shown to modulate protein expression by binding to a target messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding the protein. In certain instances, such binding of an antisense compound to its target mRNA results in cleavage of the mRNA. Antisense compounds that modulate processing of a pre-mRNA have also been reported. Such antisense compounds alter splicing, interfere with polyadenlyation or prevent formation of the 5′-cap of a pre-mRNA.
Certain antisense compounds have been described previously. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 7,399,845 and published International Patent Application No. WO 2008/049085, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.


The present invention generally refers to a process for the preparation of L-thyroxine derivatives. More in particular, the present invention relates to a iodination reaction of an aromatic derivative with an appropriate iodinating agent, so to afford the related iodinated compound as disodium salt, which may represent a useful intermediate for the synthesis of the L-thyroxine mono-sodium salt, and the free form thereof.

Hormonal derivatives are a class of compounds which plays an important biological role in several essential metabolic transformations. Among said class, thyroid hormones, and particularly, iodinated biphenyl compounds such as, for example, thyroxine ((2S)-2-amine-3-[4-(4-hydroxy-3,5-diiodoxyphenossyl)-3,5-diiodophenyl]propanoic acid), often abbreviated as T4), and triiodothyronine (T3), represent important key molecules, being involved in controlling the rate of various metabolic processes in the body. In particular, the mono-sodium salt of both L-thyroxine and L-triiodothyronine are widely employed in the treatment of several pathologies related to the malfunctioning of thyroid.
A variety of processes for the preparation of T4 and T3 have been disclosed in the past, initially by using animal natural sources as starting material (see U.S. Pat. No. 2,889,363), and later on by enzymatic or bio-mimetic synthesis (see U.S. Pat. No. 2,889,364). A further enhancement has been described in WO 96/11904 (Baxter), where an organometallic oxidative coupling is performed in order to obtain the thyroxine hydrochloride derivative, subsequently converted in the corresponding sodium salt, as appropriate.
IT 1302201 (Bracco) disclosed a process for the synthesis of the mono sodium salt of the L-thyroxine with an improved overall yield compared to a similar process known in the art (see e.g. Chalmers et al., J. Chem. Soc. 1949, 3424). According to the prior art teaching, the preparation of the monosodium salt of L-thyroxine occurs, in the most of the cases, by a proper and controlled acidification of the corresponding disodium salt, substantially as per scheme I, which is identified as FIG. 1.
Typically, the reaction may be carried out by reacting the disodium salt with a strong inorganic acid, for instance hydrochloric acid, followed by a proper pH regulation by using an alkaline base, such as Na2CO3.
In its turn, the disodium salt formerly indicated as compound II may be prepared, for instance, as disclosed in IT 1302201 (Bracco), according to the Scheme II, which is identified as FIG. 2.
As schematically shown above, the 3,5 diiodo thyronine (compound I) is reacted with the widely used KI/I2 system as the iodinating agent of choice (see for instance Taylor et al. The Ohio Journal of Science, Vol. 53, 37-41, 1953), in an aqueous medium and in the presence of a suitable amine.
The so obtained mixture of mono and di-potassium salts (herein general referred as "potassium salt mixture") is subjected to a subsequent separation and purification steps, including:
(a) the addition of an organic acid;
(b) the separation of the thus obtained "free form" (as a precipitate); and
(c) the final addition of an excess of sodium hydroxide to obtain the L-thyroxine di-sodium salt of formula II.
The applicant has now found a new process whereby compound II can be directly obtained by a conversion of compound I, substantially avoiding the above mentioned supplementary steps (a-c).
In particular, we have now found that by using NaI/I2 in lieu of KI/I2 as iodinating system, the iodination of the 3,5-diiodo thyronine of formula I leads to the L-thyroxine di-sodium salt II, in one step and in high yields and degree of purity. Surprisingly, in fact, and different to the corresponding potassium salt derivative of the prior art, the thus compound II is substantially insoluble in the reaction medium, and it may be promptly collected as such, or even employed as intermediate either in the preparation of the corresponding mono sodium salt or in the preparation of the free form thereof, as described below.

Process for the preparation of thyroid hormones and salts thereof


An electric submersible pump assembly. The electric submersible pump assembly comprises an electric submersible pump comprising a pump intake and a tubing configured to provide continuous fluid communication between a discharge side of the electric submersible pump and the pump intake.

Electric submersible pumps (hereafter "ESP" or "ESPs") may be used to lift production fluid in a wellbore. Specifically, ESPs may be used to pump the production fluid to the surface in wells with low reservoir pressure. ESPs may be of importance in wells having low bottomhole pressure or for use with production fluids having a low gas/oil ratio, a low bubblepoint, a high water cut, and/or a low API gravity. Moreover, ESPs may also be used in any production operation to increase the flow rate of the production fluid to a target flow rate.
Generally, an ESP comprises an electric motor, a seal section, a pump intake, and one or more pumps (e.g., a centrifugal pump). These components may all be connected with a series of shafts. For example, the pump shaft may be coupled to the motor shaft through the intake and seal shafts. An electric power cable provides electric power to the electric motor from the surface. The electric motor supplies mechanical torque to the shafts, which provide mechanical power to the pump. Fluids, for example reservoir fluids, may enter the wellbore where they may flow past the outside of the motor to the pump intake. These fluids may then be produced by being pumped to the surface inside the production tubing via the pump, which discharges the reservoir fluids into the production tubing.
The reservoir fluids that enter the ESP may sometimes comprise a gas fraction. These gases may flow upwards through the liquid portion of the reservoir fluid in the pump. The gases may even separate from the other fluids when the pump is in operation. If a large volume of gas enters the ESP, or if a sufficient volume of gas accumulates on the suction side of the ESP, the gas may interfere with ESP operation and potentially prevent the intake of the reservoir fluid. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as a "gas lock" because the ESP may not be able to operate properly due to the accumulation of gas within the ESP.

Electric submersible pump (ESP) gas slug mitigation system


A laser diode package includes a laser diode, a cooler, and control circuitry, such as an integrated circuit. The laser diode is used for converting electrical energy to optical energy. The cooler receives and routes a coolant from a cooling source via internal channels. The cooler includes a plurality of ceramic sheets. The ceramic sheets are fused together. The ceramic sheets include traces or vias that provide electrically conductive paths to the integrated circuit. The control circuitry controls the output of the laser diode, e.g. the output at each of the laser diode's emitters. Multiple laser diode packages are placed together to form an array.

Semiconductor laser diodes have numerous advantages. One advantage is the small size of the laser diodes. For example, an active region of a laser diode has a width that is typically a submicron to a few microns, a height that is usually no more than a fraction of a millimeter, and a length that is typically less than about a millimeter. Internal reflective surfaces, which produce emission in one direction, are formed by cleaving the substrate from which the laser diodes are produced and, thus, have high mechanical stability.
High efficiencies are possible with semiconductor laser diodes with some having external quantum efficiencies near 70%. Semiconductor laser diodes produce radiation at wavelengths from about 20 to about 0.7 microns depending on the semiconductor alloy that is used. For example, laser diodes manufactured from gallium arsenide with aluminum doping ("AlGaAs") emit radiation at approximately 0.8 microns (˜800 nm), which is near the absorption spectrum of common solid state laser rods and slabs manufactured from Neodymium-doped, Yttrium-Aluminum Garnet ("Nd:YAG"), and other crystals and glasses. Thus, semiconductor laser diodes can be used as an optical pumping source for larger, solid state laser systems.
Universal utilization of semiconductor laser diodes has been restricted by thermally related problems. These problems are associated with the large heat dissipation per unit area of the laser diodes that results in elevated junction temperatures and stresses induced by thermal cycling. Laser diode efficiency and the service life of the laser diode are decreased as the operating temperature in the junction increases.
Furthermore, the emitted wavelength of a laser diode is a function of its junction temperature. Thus, when a specific output wavelength is desired, maintaining a constant junction temperature is essential. For example, AlGaAs laser diodes that are used to pump an Nd:YAG rod or slab should emit radiation at about 808 nm because this is the wavelength at which optimum energy absorption exists in the Nd:YAG. However, for every 3.5° C. to 4.0° C. deviation in the junction temperature of the AlGaAs laser diode, the wavelength shifts 1 nm. Accordingly, controlling the junction temperature and, thus, properly dissipating the heat is critical.
When solid state laser rods or slabs are pumped by laser diodes, dissipation of the heat becomes more problematic because it becomes necessary to densely pack a plurality of individual diodes into arrays that generate the required amounts of input power for the larger, solid state laser rod or slab. However, when the packing density of the individual laser diodes is increased, the space available for extraction of heat from the individual laser diodes decreases. This aggravates the problem of heat extraction from the arrays of individual diodes.
One type of a cooling system for a laser diode package utilizes microchannel coolers made from metals, such as copper. These laser diode packages are small, e.g., 1 mm thick, and have small water channels running though them. The water channels pass close to a bottom side of the heat source (i.e., the laser diode bar), allowing for efficient thermal transfer. Because typical microchannel coolers are made from copper, electrical current and water coolant reside in the same physical space. Consequently, the coolant water must be deionized. However, the use of deionized water requires all the parts that are exposed to the water-supply to be glass, plastic, stainless steel, or gold-plated. Parts that are not made of these materials usually deteriorate quickly due to erosion and corrosion problems. Accordingly, one problem associated with current microchannel coolers is that they require a complicated and expensive deionized water system.
Additional problems relate to the failure of certain emitters of the laser diode. Often, a failure of one emitter can trigger the failure of the entire laser diode. Furthermore, certain characteristics (e.g., temperature) of the laser diode can cause different operating performances of the laser diode. Because laser diodes are small devices and must be packaged small to provide high outputs per unit area, it is difficult to provide additional devices to help protect against failures or for sensing certain characteristics.
Thus, a need exists for a microchannel cooling system for a laser diode that provides enhanced cooling while providing the ability to make electrical contact with several control or sensing devices.

Laser diode ceramic cooler having circuitry for control and feedback of laser diode performance


A method of controlling a power assist device that includes an operating handle, a force sensor, a robot arm, an actuator that drives the robot arm, and a conveying portion for conveying the robot arm. When a body in motion, the conveying portion is controlled to move in synchronization with the body, and when the motion of the body is stopped or has resumed, the drive of the robot arm is stopped for a predetermined time, and does not resume until after a predetermined time has elapsed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power assist device, and more specifically to a power assist device that prevents a workpiece from contacting with a counter workpiece due to vibration of the workpiece, and a method of controlling the power assist device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, on production sites and the like, a robot called a power assist device is used to reduce the burden on workers and to provide enhanced workability. As an example of a technique using such a power assist device, there is one in which, upon turning OFF of a deadman switch, which is used for stopping supply of electric power to an assist-conveyance motor to turn an assist-conveyance state OFF, the rotational speed of the assist-conveyance motor is gradually lowered to zero, thereby suppressing vibration of a workpiece due to an abrupt stop (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-28491 (JP-A-2005-28491)).
The characteristic feature of the assist-conveyance stopping method described in JP-A-2005-28491 is as follows. When the deadman switch is switched OFF, supply of power to a motor that constitutes an assist-conveyance actuator is interrupted. The output shaft of the motor is provided with a brake mechanism that engages when a solenoid is energized, and disengages when the energization is interrupted. With the above configuration, from a time t1 when the deadman switch is turned OFF, a delay td is set longer than the time that it takes for the rotational speed of the motor to become zero, thereby reducing the occurrence of an impact or a device breakdown.
However, the assist-conveyance stopping method disclosed in JP-A-2005-28491 takes no consideration to the risk of contact with another workpiece (counter workpiece) due to vibration of an arm following the running or stopping of a conveyor.
Specifically, if the technique described in JP-A-2005-28491 is applied to, for example, a task of fitting a windshield (it corresponds to a windscreen) to the body of an automobile that is conveyed by a conveyor, the following problems occur upon abrupt stop or restarting (abrupt start) of the conveyor. (1) The windshield and the body come into contact with each other. (2) Adhesive (reference numeral 12 in FIG. 6) applied to the surface of the windshield adheres to the body, and thus needs to be wiped off. Further, because the amount of adhesive decreases due to its adhesion onto the body, if bonding to a predetermined position is performed in this state, the amount of adhesive becomes insufficient, so there is a need to replenish adhesive. (3) When inserting the windshield into a gap between the trunk (it corresponds to a boot) and the body, the windshield hits the trunk or the body.
The above-described problems occur may occur for at least one of the following reasons. (a) The conveyor that conveys the body must be brought to an immediate stop in the event of emergency, resulting in an abrupt stop, so the impact becomes large. (b) Because the entire assist device is advancing in a synchronized manner in the advancing direction of the conveyor that conveys the body, the impact exerted upon the abrupt stop of the conveyor also causes the assist device to vibrate. (c) Because the worker riding on the conveyor is also advancing in synchronization with the advancing of the conveyor that conveys the body, the impact exerted upon the abrupt stop of the conveyor is applied to the operating handle held by the worker. (d) There is a delay between when the worker recognizes the stop of the conveyor, and when the worker actually releases the deadman switch and brake is applied by the actuator. That is, because the plurality of vibrations due to impact described above occur in an overlapping manner, there are such risks as collision between the windshield and the vehicle, adhesion of adhesive to the vehicle, and flatting the adhesive that has adhered.

Power assist device and method of controlling the power assist device


The present invention relates to novel compounds capable of activating BKCa channels. The use of a composition of the present invention can effectively activate the BKCa channels, and can be used for prevention or treatment of various diseases caused by the deactivation of BKCa channels or the degradation of BKCa channel activity.

Ca2+-activated K+ channel (BKCa channel) with great electrical conductance is activated by membrane polarization and/or intracellular Ca2+, and the channel allows K+ ions to pass through a cell membrane (Cui et al. 2009; Yang et al. 2015). The BKCa channel is widely expressed in various types of excitable and nonexcitable cells, and the channel involve in regulation of several important physiological processes including neurotransmitter release (Raffaelli et al. 2006), contraction of smooth muscle (Brenner et al. 2000; Herrera et al. 2000), and periodic behavioral rhythm (Meredith et al. 2016). The BKCa channel dysfunction is known to be cause of several diseases such as epilepsy (Lorenz et al. 2007; Du et al. 2005), erectile dysfunction (Werner et al. 2005) and overactive bladder (OAB) (Meredith et al. 2004).
The OAB is generally characterized by a presence of urinary urgency with increased day or night time frequency (Cerruto et al. 2012). The OAB affects about 17% of western world population, both men and women, and the influence thereof increases with age increase (Coyne et al. 2013). There are several classes of drugs for the OAB that target other receptors in the bladder, including antimuscarinics, mixed-action drugs and 3-adrenoceptor agonist (Abraham et al. 2015). Although OAB therapy focuses on antimuscarinic pharmacology, side effects and reduced efficacy thereof cause a long-term compliance problem (Jayarajan et al. 2013). Therefore, there is a great demand for new therapeutic treatments for OAB, which directly target urinary bladder smooth muscle (UBSM) and have few side effects. A bladder K+ channel among therapeutic targets emerging for OAB showed great potential in preclinical experiments. However, up to now, disappointing results have been obtained for activators or initiators of clinically studied K+ channels (Andersson et al. 2013).
The BKCa channel is one of the most physiologically important K+ channels and the channel regulates UBSM function in health and disease (Petkov et al. 2014). The BKCa channel is highly expressed in UBSM (Hristov et al. 2011). The BKCa channel is uniquely activated by both membrane polarization and intracellular Ca2+. The BKCa channel activation acts as a basis for initial repolarization phase of spontaneous action potential for maintaining resting membrane potential and triggering UBSM phasic contraction. Furthermore, a series of studies reported that the BKCa channel plays an important role in reducing cholinergic and purinergic-induced contractility. It has been shown that changes in BKCa channel expression or function may contribute to OAB development (Werner M E et al 2007). Therefore, induction of UBSM mitigation by chemical activation of an endogenous BKCa channel is possible. Indeed, bladder relaxation effects by several activator compounds of the BKCa channel have been reported (dela Pena et al. 2009; Layne et al. 2010; Ahn et al. 2011; La Fuente et al; Park et al. 2014). Moreover, it has been suggested that the channel may be embodied as a therapeutic target for OAB syndrome. However, efficacy and specificity of BKCa channel activators remained problematic in terms of their clinical use (Nardi et al. 2006; Bentzen et al. 2014). Therefore, it is necessary to develop novel BKCa channel activators with higher specificity and better efficacy.
A number of papers and patent documents are referenced throughout the present disclosure and their citations are indicated. Contents of the cited and patent literature are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties such that the present disclosure and a technical level of a related technical art are more clearly described.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

GWANGJU INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


An internal gear shaving machine 1 which brings a shaving cutter 3 and an internal gear held by a workpiece chuck 2 into engagement with a crossed axes angle, and subjects the tooth flanks of the internal gear to final machining while it rotationally drives at least one of the shaving cutter 3 and the workpiece chuck 2. The workpiece chuck 2 and shaving cutter 3 are supported movably toward and away from each other in a vertical direction with the workpiece chuck 2 higher and supported movably in the horizontal direction relative to each other. The workpiece chuck 3 is constituted to hold the outer circumferential surface of the internal gear with the axis of rotation of the internal gear oriented in a up-down direction so that shavings produced during processing by the shaving cutter can fall downwardly from the internal gear.

In known general internal gear shaving machines as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-117729, an internal gear rotatably supported around a horizontal axis by a workpiece chuck engages a shaving cutter at a predetermined crossed axes angle, and the tooth flanks of the internal gear are finished while at least one of the shaving cutter and the workpiece chuck is rotationally driven.
However, in such a known internal gear shaving machine, shavings produced during shaving disadvantageously remain on the internal teeth of the internal gear and adversely affect the processing accuracy. Moreover, there is a problem of the difficulty in changing the workpiece and the engagement (phasing) of the shaving cutter and the internal gear in changing workpieces.


An ophthalmic device comprising a light source to emit fixation target light, and a reflecting face to reflect scanning light emitted by an emission section and scan the scanning light in a specific direction by changing orientation, the emission section being a scanning light source different to the light source. A concave mirror face is disposed so scanning light reflected by the reflecting face is incident on a subject's eye ocular fundus when the eye is at the concave mirror's focal point, and is arranged such that, when the eye is at the concave mirror's focal point, and when the light source emits fixation target light, that light and scanning light are simultaneously incident on the ocular fundus via different optical paths propagating via the concave mirror face and focal point, the target fixation light following a predetermined optical path for fixing the subject's eye gaze.

For convenience of explanation, optical coherence tomography is referred to as "OCT", and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy is referred to as "SLO" below.
Patent Document 1 describes an ocular fundus examination device provided with an OCT unit that generates an image using OCT. In the OCT unit described by Patent Document 1, a tomographic image that is an image taken in the thickness direction of the membrane of the ocular fundus of a subject's eye is generated based on an image signal detected by charge coupled devices (CCDs).
A liquid crystal display (LCD) is housed in the ocular fundus examination device of Patent Document 1, and the LCD displays a fixation target to cause the gaze of the subject's eye to be fixed in a specific orientation in a case in which the ocular fundus is imaged by the OCT unit. Light from the LCD is incident to the subject's eye via an optical system that includes lenses and mirrors, such that the fixation target is projected onto the ocular fundus of the subject's eye.


The folder superstructure is provided with a copy diverter for dividing up a product stream of individual copies. The copy diverter includes at least one rotating disc deflector and a tongue, arranged at a location where the product stream branches into two sub-streams. It is assigned at least one first belt conveying apparatus, which is arranged upstream of the tongue, as seen in the direction of the product stream, and at least one second belt conveying apparatus which is arranged in the region of the tongue. The rotating disc deflector has a plurality of disk segments arranged axially one behind the other on a spindle running transversely to the product stream. In order to set different deflecting positions, the disk segments can be fixed in different circumferential positions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a folder superstructure with a copy diverter, having at least one rotating disc deflector and a tongue, for dividing a product stream of individual copies into two sub-streams. A first belt conveying apparatus is arranged upstream of the tongue and a second belt conveying apparatus is arranged in the vicinity of the tongue. The invention also relates to a process for dividing up a product stream into two sub-streams.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,713 discloses a folder which has the features of the folder superstructure described above, in which a product stream guided vertically between the belt conveying apparatuses comes into contact with a fixed tongue and the copies are deflected alternately into a first or a second product path by disc deflectors arranged to the right and left of the tongue. The disadvantage with this known folder is the rigid arrangement of the disc deflectors, this arrangement only allowing the copies to be deflected alternately.
The object of the present invention is further to develop an apparatus and a process of the type mentioned in the introduction so as to provide flexible production options in the case of which both alternate deflection into the first or second product path and the introduction of all the copies into a single product path are made possible.
The essence of the present invention is that at least one of the disc deflectors has a plurality of disc segments which can be fixed in different circumferential positions and rotated preferably in relation to one another, with the result that one and the same disc deflector can deflect the copies into different product paths.
It is preferable for each disc segment to assume approximately a circumferential angle of 150xc2x0.
The diameters of the disc segments and the spacing between the spindle of the disc deflector and the second belt conveying apparatus are selected such that the relatively large-diameter outer region of the disc segments engages in interspaces between the belts of the second belt conveyor.
In contrast to the prior art described above, the present invention is also distinguished in that, by means of the second belt conveying apparatus, the product stream is guided essentially horizontally past the rotating disc deflector which is arranged beneath the second belt conveying apparatus. In a particularly straightforward embodiment, the gravitational force of the copies thus makes it possible to dispense with a second disc deflector, which is arranged above the second belt conveying apparatus.
According to a preferred embodiment, however, a second disc deflector is arranged above the second belt conveying apparatus, in the region of the tongue, and serves for the positive guidance of the copies into the second, bottom product path.
It is particularly advantageous if a braking arrangement for braking the copies by approximately 40 percent of their arrival speed is arranged upstream of the copy diverter, as seen in the direction of the product stream. This makes it possible to reduce to a considerable extent the wear on the tongue, damage to the copies and smearing of the ink of the newly printed copies.
A process according to the invention is distinguished in that the copies first of all are braked by means of a braking arrangement and are then guided, by means of a second belt conveying apparatus, to a copy diverter provided with a fixed tongue. At least some of the copies are introduced into a first branching path, before reaching the tongue, by disc segments of a first disc deflector, these segments engaging through interspaces between the belts of the second belt conveying apparatus, and other copies are introduced into a second branching path, beneath the tongue, by virtue of the disc segments being rotated away. The braking is preferably approximately 40 percent of the arrival speed.
This process may be modified in that rotation of the disc segments in relation to one another on the first disc deflector produces, in axial projection, a cylinder which, to the greatest possible extent, is closed, with the result that all the copies are guided into the first branching path.
Another modification provides that, by virtue of the disc segments on the first disc deflector being rotated away, all the copies are guided into the second branching path.
An advantageous configuration of the process makes provision for the copies, in the region of the tongue, during introduction into the second branching path, to be guided additionally from above by means of a second disc deflector, which is arranged above the second belt conveying apparatus.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

Folder superstructure with a copy diverter, and process for dividing up a product stream into two sub-streams


A pump assembly having a main pump and a prefeed pump which pumps fuel out of a tank. The fuel is pumped through a crank chamber of the main pump. Downstream of the crank chamber f the main pump a return line is provided for the portion of the fuel which is used as lubricant to return to the tank. Also downstream of the crank chamber feed course directs fuel to a metering unit and on to the main pump. To make the pump assembly as simply as possible the prefeed pump is mechanically driven, and a zero-feed course branches off between the metering unit and the main feed pump to return fuel to the intake side of the prefeed pump. A throttle is disposed in the zero-feed course.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pump assembly for fuel, having a main feed pump and a preceding prefeed pump, which pumps a fuel flow via a fuel line out of a tank and the pumped total fuel flow through a drive/crank chamber of the main feed pump, wherein downstream of the drive/crank chamber in terms of the flow direction of the total fuel flow, a return line for the lubricant flow to the tank and a feed course for the pumping flow to a metering unit and on to the main feed pump are provided.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A pump assembly as described above is known for instance from German Patent Application 198 01 355. In it, a pump assembly for fuel is disclosed which has a main feed pump, embodied as a high-pressure pump, and a preceding prefeed pump. The prefeed pump is embodied as an electric fuel pump and pumps a fuel flow out of a tank via a fuel line. The pumped total fuel flow is carried through the drive/crank chamber of the main feed pump. Downstream of the drive/crank chamber, the total fuel flow is split into a lubricant flow and a pumping flow. The lubricant flow returns to the tank via a return line. The pumping flow, via a feed course, first reaches a metering unit and then goes on to reach the main feed pump.
The main feed pump has at least one pump cylinder, which defines a pump chamber in which a piston is guided so that it can reciprocate. By the reciprocation of the piston, in a so-called intake stroke, the pumping flow is aspirated into the pump chamber, and in an ensuing pumping stroke, the fuel located in the pump chamber is compressed and pumped for instance into a storage volume of a common rail injection system.
To effect the reciprocation of the pump in the pump chamber, the main feed pump of the known pump assembly also has drive means, embodied for instance as a drive shaft. The drive means rotate or move at high speeds within a so-called drive or crank chamber. Upon the rotation or motion of the drive means in the drive/crank chamber, a major thermal and/or mechanical load occurs in this region. The total fuel flow pumped by the prefeed pump is therefore carried entirely through the drive/crank chamber of the pump assembly. Because of the high fuel throughput in the region of the drive/crank chamber, especially good lubrication and major heat dissipation are made possible. In particular, forced lubrication of the drive/crank chamber is also possible, since the total fuel flow is present at the full pumping pressure of the prefeed pump in the drive/crank chamber.
The object of the present invention is to improve a pump assembly of the type recited at the outset, and in particular to create a pump assembly which is especially simple and sturdy in design and functions especially reliably.
To attain this object, the invention, based on the pump assembly of the type recited at the outset, proposes that the prefeed pump is mechanically driven, and that between the metering unit and the main feed pump, a zero-feed course branches off, in which a zero-feed throttle is disposed and which discharges into the fuel line on the intake side of the prefeed pump.
In the pump assembly of the invention, the prefeed pump is embodied as a mechanically driven pump of especially simple and sturdy design. However, first, the pump assembly has to be adapted to an insert of a mechanically driven prefeed pump. For this reason, the pump assembly of the invention has a zero-feed course, which branches off between the metering unit and the main feed pump, or in other words on the intake side of the main feed pump, and discharges into the fuel line upstream of the prefeed pump, that is, on the intake side of the prefeed pump. A zero-feed throttle is disposed in the zero-feed course, in order to limit a zero pumping flow to a certain flow rate. It is conceivable for the zero-feed course to discharge into the tank instead of into the fuel line. However, if a filter is disposed between the tank and the prefeed pump, then the zero-feed course should discharge into the fuel line between the filter and the prefeed pump.
In an advantageous refinement of the present invention, it is proposed that the prefeed pump is embodied as a gear pump. A gear pump is especially simple in design, functions reliably, and has especially high efficiency. For use in the hydraulics of motor vehicles, gear pumps are especially highly suitable. In the pump assembly of the invention, however, piston pumps, vane cell pumps, roller cell pumps, or other pumps can also be used as the prefeed pump.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a check valve and a throttle are disposed one after the other in the return line.
Advantageously, parallel to the return line, a further return line, in which a venting throttle is disposed, is provided. The further return line is embodied for instance as a venting bore with a certain throttle cross section. If the pump assembly of the invention is used to pump fuel for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, then because of the further return line, restarting the engine after the tank has been emptied is possible without any problems. The further return line also branches off downstream of the drive/crank chamber of the main feed pump, in the flow direction of the total flow and also discharges into the tank. The return line and the further return line can also be embodied as a common return line, in which the venting throttle on the one hand and the check valve and the throttle on the other are disposed parallel to one another.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that from the feed course, an overflow course branches off, in which an overflow valve is disposed and which discharges into the fuel line upstream, in the flow direction of the total fuel flow, of the prefeed pump. The overflow quantity of the overflow valve carries the remaining flow, that is, the quantity of fuel not carried on from the metering unit to the main feed pump, back to the intake side of the prefeed pump.
Advantageously, the metering unit is embodied as a proportional slide valve.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the main feed pump is embodied as a high-pressure pump, in particular as a multi-cylinder radial-piston eccentric pump. This kind of radial piston pump has a drive shaft supported rotatably about its longitudinal axis in a housing of the pump. The drive shaft is embodied eccentrically or is provided with camlike protrusions in the circumferential direction. The radial piston pump has a plurality of pump cylinders disposed radially to the drive shaft. Each of the pump cylinders defines one pump chamber, in which a piston is guided to reciprocate. By rotation of the drive shaft, the pistons are moved back and forth into the pump chambers.
The pump assembly of the invention preferably pumps the fuel into a storage volume of a common rail injection system. A common rail injection system is used to supply fuel to internal combustion engines. In contrast to conventional high-pressure injection systems, in which the fuel is pumped to the individual engine combustion chambers via separate lines, in common rail injection systems the injection nozzles are supplied from a common storage volume, which is also called a common rail. Especially in common rail injection systems, the advantages of the pump assembly of the invention are especially valuable, since the production costs for common rail injection systems can be reduced, and the reliability of these injection systems can improved decisively, by the use of the pump assembly of the invention.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main feed pump and the prefeed pump are combined into an integral pump unit. The pump unit is made to communicate toward the outside with the tank via the fuel line and a return line for the lubricant flow and for venting purposes, and via a high-pressure line, it is made to communicate with the storage volume of the common rail injection system. The requisite connections for the communications with the tank and the storage volume of the common rail injection system can all be made toward the outside on a common flange, where they can be joined especially simply to the corresponding connection lines. The integral pump unit can also be made with an especially small size.


A job execution system comprises a job execution apparatus and a server apparatus interconnected via a network. The server apparatus stores in itself, counter data defining the range of using the job execution apparatus, which is allowed for a user who logs in the job execution apparatus by authentication. The job execution apparatus obtains entirely or partially the counter data of the login user from the server apparatus; returns the counter data that is reduced by job execution to the server apparatus when the user logs out thereof; judges according to conditions set on the job execution apparatus itself, whether or not the counter data returning operation should be suspended; and suspends the counter data returning operation if judges that it should be suspended.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a job execution system in which a job execution apparatus such as an image forming apparatus, and a server apparatus are employed; the job execution apparatus preferably employed in this job execution system; a counter data administration method of the job execution apparatus; and a computer readable recording medium having a counter data administration program recorded therein to make a computer execute processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following description sets forth the inventor's knowledge of related art and problems therein and should not be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art.
According to Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-024817, there is a system disclosed as a job execution apparatus in which a job execution apparatus such as an image forming apparatus, and a server apparatus are interconnected via a network, and wherein the server apparatus stores in itself counter data that defines the range of use of the job execution apparatus, allowed for each user, and when a user logs in the job execution apparatus, the job execution apparatus obtains counter data of this user from the server apparatus.
The counter data includes data related to the allowed number of sheets, function limitation information related to allowed functions, and etc. for example. The user who logs in the job execution apparatus is allowed to use the job execution apparatus within the use range indicated by the allowed number of sheets and the function limitation information. Each job execution is reflected to the counter data, and the allowed number of sheets and etc., included in the counter data, are reduced by each job execution.
With this conventional system, the counter data reduced by job execution is required to be returned to the server apparatus, when the user logs out of the job execution apparatus after use, or if the user is forcibly logged out thereof due to timeout or etc.
Thus, in a conventional manner, counter data is returned to the server apparatus from the job execution apparatus at each logout of a user, and the counter data is obtained again from the server apparatus if the same user logs in again soon after his/her last login.
As described above, with the conventional system, counter data is required to be returned to the server apparatus from the job execution apparatus at each user logout and obtained again from the server apparatus at each user login, back and forth. Therefore, if a user logs in the job execution apparatus again soon after his/her last login, he/she is required to be kept waiting to instruct job execution until his/her counter data is obtained again, which is still unresolved and inconvenient.
The description herein of advantages and disadvantages of various features, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed in other publications is in no way intended to limit the present invention. Indeed, certain features of the invention may be capable of overcoming certain disadvantages, while still retaining some or all of the features, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed therein.

Job execution system, job execution apparatus, counter data administration method thereof and recording medium

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


An improved developing system for an electrophotographic color imaging apparatus is disclosed which selectively moves multiple individual developing units from a plurality of first storage positions to the same working or operating position in a processing path to color develop the latent image. The developing system stores the individual developing units remotely from the processing path. The individual toner developing units move in both horizontal and vertical directions as they move from the first storage positions to the second working or operating position. The working position is the same distance and time from the charging and depressant coronas in the process path that is followed to produce a colored image.

This invention relates generally to liquid electrophotographic colored imaging apparatus. More specifically, it relates to an improved developing system for applying color toner from a plurality of individual developing units to a charged latent image.
Original artworks, such as photographs, hand or machine drawn advertising, computer generated images or hand drawn pictures are usually converted from continuous tone to half-tone or dot matrix format to be able to easily reproduce the artwork on a printing press. Color original artworks are generally separated into four half-tone color separations simply known as separations. Each half-tone separation has one of the four colors of the artwork applied to the image thereon. It is possible to convert original color artwork into more than four color separations, which may be achieved in a number of ways known in the art. These may include the use of a camera utilizing different color filters with the illuminated art object, or with a graphics art scanner.
Traditionally, the separations have been formed on silver films and a color proof image, commonly known as a proof, is produced from the separation films and is visually compared to the original artwork. The separations are then judged or compared with the original artwork to determine acceptability of reproduction. A successful color proof then has the image of each separation reproduced by known techniques on a separate printing plate that is typically formed of an aluminum sheet with an organic film coating. The printing plates are then employed to successively print the images onto a receiving substrate such as paper, metal, plastic, or fabric.
Various commercial proof generating equipment is available, such as that offered by the 3M Company under the tradename "Color-Key". This system utilizes pre-pressed proofing materials with pre-sensitized ink pigment coatings in either transparent or opaque colors on transparent polyester base sheets. Each primary color and black base sheet is overlayed by its associated separation negative and after exposure and development the four Color-Key, sheets are overlayed and registered to provide a proof or simulation of what the four-color work will look like when printed.
Another commercially employed pre-press color proofing system is also marketed by the 3M Company under the trade name "Transfer-Key" and is intended to provide a complete four-color proof on a single sheet. In this system, precoated carrier sheets of color pigment bearing the primary cyan, yellow, magenta and black pigments are successively laminated onto the base material by use of a specially developed laminator. This system employs a lamination/exposure/development cycle that is repeated for each color to produce the four-color proof. Each carrier sheet is first laminated to the base material, then exposed to the particular color separation negative, and then developed in a specially developed processor.
A third system commercialized by the 3M Company for color proofing is sold under the "Matchprint II" which is alleged to employ the advantages of "Transfer-Key" proofs, but utilizes a single level of optical gain in order to attempt to accurately simulate the press gain encountered in high-speed printing publication.
Another commercially available pre-press color proofing system is that sold by the E.I. Dupont de Nemours Company under the tradename "Cromalin." This system employs a master film that is sticky on its exposed surface and which, when selectively exposed to light, becomes hardened and nonsticky in the exposed areas. pigment toners are then rubbed onto the surface and adhere in the sticky areas to form a layer of developed image.
Numerous other color proofing systems have been commercially used, such as the Coulter color proofing system that uses a low voltage, high charge density electrophotographic material with submicron resolution and high edge acutance in both analog and digital imaging models. This system employs a cadmium sulfide electrically anisotropic crystalline photoconductor on a metal base. Essentially this same system is currently used by Stork. Another system that has recently been introduced is the Kodak "Signature" system which uses an electrophotographic color proofing apparatus to generate half-tone color separations derived from a piece of artwork and comprises the steps of charging, exposing and developing.
All of these previous electrophotographic systems use a development technique, however, which suffers from the disadvantages of not being able to maintain the same physical distance between locations for the charging of the latent image and its development at each toner development station and not being able to prevent cross contamination of the toners from adjacent toners. Previous electrophotographic systems with multiple toner developing station locations also experience varied levels of drying of the liquid toners on the surface of the photopolymer master or photoconductor between the developing and transfer stations because of the different distances between each of the multiple individual developing stations and the single transfer station along the processing path. Uniform developing times were achievable in prior art systems, but only with variable developing speeds. Additionally, most of the prior commercial color proofing apparatus has been of substantial size and also lacked the versatility and the ability to easily increase the number of colors employed without increasing the floor space.
These problems are solved in the design of the color imaging apparatus of the present invention utilizing an improved development system that has individual development units that are moveable between, a plurality of locations in a first storage position and a single common second operating developing position.

Developing system for an electrophotographic multicolor imaging apparatus


A system and method for adaptive motion filtering to improve subpel motion prediction efficiency of interframe motion compensated video coding is described. The technique uses a codebook approach that is efficient in search complexity to look-up best motion filter set from a pre-calculated codebook of motion filter coefficient set. In some embodiments, the search complexity is further reduced by partitioning the complete codebook into a small base codebook and a larger virtual codebook, such that the main calculations for search only need to be performed on the base codebook.

The advent of digital multimedia such as digital images, speech/audio, graphics, and video have significantly improved various applications as well as opened up brand new applications due to relative ease by which it has enabled reliable storage, communication, transmission, and, search and access of content. Overall, the applications of digital multimedia have been many, encompassing a wide spectrum including entertainment, information, medicine, and security, and have benefited the society in numerous ways. Multimedia as captured by sensors such as cameras and microphones is often analog and the process of digitization in the form of Pulse Coded Modulation (PCM) renders it digital. However, just after digitization, the amount of resulting data can be quite significant as is necessary for recreation of the analog representation needed by speakers and/or TV display. Thus, efficient communication, storage or transmission of the large volume of digital multimedia content requires its compression from raw PCM form to a compressed representation, and thus many techniques for compression of multimedia have been invented. Over the years, video compression techniques have grown very sophisticated to the point that they allow achieving high compression factors between 10 and 100 while retaining high psychovisual quality, often similar to uncompressed digital video.
While tremendous progress has been made to date in the art and science of video compression (as exhibited by the plethora of standards bodies driven video coding standards such as MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.263, MPEG-4 part2, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MPEG-4 SVC and MVC, as well as industry driven proprietary standards such as Windows Media Video, RealVideo, On2 VP, and the like), the ever increasing appetite of consumers for even higher quality, higher definition, and now 3D (stereo) video, available for access whenever, wherever, has necessitated delivery via various means such as DVD/BD, over the air broadcast, cable/satellite, wired and mobile networks, to a range of client devices such as PCs/laptops, TVs, set top boxes, gaming consoles, portable media players/devices, and smartphones, fueling the desire for even higher levels of video compression. In the standards-body-driven standards, this is evidenced by the recently started effort by ISO MPEG in High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), which is expected to combine new technology contributions and technology from last couple of years of exploratory work on H.265 video compression by ITU-T standards committee.
All aforementioned standards employ a general interframe predictive coding framework that involves reducing temporal redundancy by compensating for motion between frames (or fields) of video by first dividing a frame into blocks and assigning motion vector/s to each block of a frame to be coded, with respect to past decoded frame; these motion vectors are then transmitted to the decoder and used to generate a motion compensated prediction frame that is differenced with a past decoded frame and coded block by block, often by transform coding. For higher coding efficiency, it has been recognized that motion vector/s should have a higher precision than integer pixel, so MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 allow ½ pixel accuracy while more recent standards such as MPEG-4 part 2 (version 2) video, and H.264 use ¼ pixel accuracy motion compensation. However since actual pixels of a frame are only available at integer pixel precision, special filters are needed to interpolate a block of previous frame to a subpel location as needed for generating motion compensated prediction. The H.264 standard specifies a fixed filter set of separable filters that can be used for generating all 16 phases needed for ¼ pel interpolation. This fixed filter set is theoretically optimum, as it is derived from Weiner theory for maximum gain; however, some filters in the fixed filter set are limited to 6 taps, while for others as many as 9 taps are allowed. Furthermore, there is some loss in accuracy in the integerization process due to precision limitation. While this type of prediction generally works on the average, this or any other single fixed filter, for specific pictures or scenes, can have a mismatch with characteristics of content, so there is room for improvement.
Over last few years there has been substantial research in the area of filtering for ¼ pel motion compensation leading to development of adaptive motion filtering. In adaptive filtering, coefficients are not fixed and thus are not known a priori; i.e., the coefficients are computed from the content itself and vary with time. The mathematical procedure used to compute filter coefficients is based on wiener hopf equation.
While the weiner hopf mathematical procedure can calculate an optimum filter coefficient set, there are significant issues in practical integration of this approach in a video coding system. Thus in the context of H.265 and/or HEVC development, a number of proposals have been made to address the various shortcomings as well as to increase adaptivity for improved coding gain. These proposals can be briefly listed as follows.
Choice between nonseparable vs. separable filters—The computation of nonseparable filters can be more compute intensive, but theoretically nonseparable filters can result in higher quality. However, nonseparable filters also require roughly twice the number of coefficients of separable filters so the coding overhead of nonseparable filters can be high. Overall, for motion filtering, separable filters can provide reasonable coding gain and thus offer an overall better tradeoff.
The tradeoff of number of iterations vs. gain for each iteration—The iterative solution to weiner hopf equation takes a number of iterations to converge to give good results. The number of iterations needed depends on how far the default filter set (used initially for first iteration) is from the optimum results. If they are close, often up to 4 iterations may be enough, but if they are very different, 16 to 20 iterations may be needed. If the difference between default filter and the optimal filter is a lot, stopping at 4 iterations will not result in most of the gains.
Accuracy of various coefficients for best tradeoff of bit cost vs. quality—By keeping certain coefficients in a filter set to lower accuracy, some bit savings can result. In fact the maximum precision of a filter coefficient often can be limited to 8 bits, and in some exceptional cases, the precision used may be limited to 10 bits.
Coefficient bit cost reduction for transmission to decoder (actual values, differential, limits on updates)—The number of coefficients to be sent to decoder must be limited, as for instance, typically nonseparable filter set may require sending as many as 120 coefficients (with bit cost of 650-950 bits per frame) while even a separable filter set may require sending 45-60 coefficients (with bit cost of 400-550 bits per frame). With differential coding (encode filter set of current frame differentially with previous frame's filter set, or even with respect default filter set) or by placing limits on updates, this bit count can be reduced somewhat, albeit with some loss in quality.
Multiple filter sets within a picture to improve overall gains—While even one wiener filter set computed every frame, can give gains over, say, the H.264 standard filter set, by having a choice of multiple filter sets within a frame (such as on block or slice basis) can result in higher gains. One problem however that the bit cost of even 2 filter sets per frame may be excessive as compared to the additional gains. Thus managing bit cost of filter coefficient is necessary when using multiple filter sets.
Rate Distortion Optimization ("RDO") complexity as it may otherwise involve multiple iterations on filter switching map to derive the best results—When using multiple filters, to get high gain, often it is necessary to use rate distortion optimization in an iterative manner to get the right block size for filter selection that yields a good tradeoff between frequency of filter switching versus the gains.
Block map overhead bit cost when using multiple filters—When using multiple filters (including the case of switching between a standard filter and a computed filter), the switching map cost can be substantial. For instance, if one were to switch between two filters on a macroblock basis using 1 bit for macroblock, then for a Common Intermediate Format ("CIF") sequence, 396 bits of extra overhead would be added, in addition to bits cost to possibly send two filter-sets.
Additional gains by using integer position filters, and filters with offsets—Some attempts have been made to squeeze gains by computing a filter for integer position in case when the best ¼ pel position is the integer position. Further, some experiments have been conducted using filters with offsets for higher gains. Both these cases require additional bits of overhead.
As noted earlier, while many techniques and variations have been suggested, the coefficient bit count overhead of current approaches, even after differential coding, is too high. Additionally, the existing techniques are computationally complex due to the need for calculating on the fly multiple iterations of coefficient sets. Moreover, the only way for current system to be very adaptive is by extensive use of RDO for multiple switched filters which means extra overhead and complexity.
Additional information related to adaptive motion-compensation filtering may be found in the following references, each of which is incorporated fully by reference, for all purposes:    T. Wedi, "Adaptive Interpolation Filter For Motion Compensated Prediction," Proc. Int. Conf on Image Processing (ICIP) 2002, pp. 509-511, 2002.    V. Vatis et al, "Coding of Coefficients of two-dimensional non-separable Adapive Wiener Interpolation Filter," Proc. SPIE Visual Communications and Image Processing (VCIP) 2005, July 2005    V. Vatis and Joern Ostermann, "Locally Adaptive Non-Separable Interpolaion Filter for H.264/AVC," Proc. Int. Conf on Image Processing (ICIP) 2006, October 2006.    S. Wittmann and T. Wedi, "Separable Adaptive Interpolation Filter for Video Coding", Proc. Int. Conf on Image Processing (ICIP) 2008, pp. 2500-2503, 2008.

Content adaptive motion compensation filtering for high efficiency video coding


A first waveguide member is formed, as viewed from above, in an image pickup region and a peripheral region of a semiconductor substrate. A part of the first waveguide member, which part is disposed in the peripheral region, is removed. A flattening step is then performed to flatten a surface of the first waveguide member on the side opposite to the semiconductor substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device manufacturing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Regarding solid-state image pickup devices as one type of semiconductor device, a solid-state image pickup device including an optical waveguide has recently been proposed to increase a quantity of light incident on a photoelectric conversion portion.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-103458 discloses a solid-state image pickup device including a waveguide that is made up of a clad layer having a low refractive index, and a core layer having a high refractive index and buried in a groove surrounded by the clad layer. As an exemplary method of manufacturing such a solid-state image pickup device, there is disclosed a method of forming the core layer over an entire surface of the clad layer in which an opening is formed corresponding to the photoelectric conversion portion.
However, the method of manufacturing the solid-state image pickup device, disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-103458, has a difficulty in making the solid-state image pickup device flatter. This results in degradation of image quality. Further, in a semiconductor device other than the solid-state image pickup device, the device height is increased with a higher degree of integration, and a difficulty in reducing the device height in a manufacturing process may become a problem to be overcome.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions