A fixing device is provided, which has a fixing roller and a sheet. A recording paper where a toner image has been transcribed thereon is passed through a nip portion between the fixing roller and the sheet. By pressing and heating, the toner image is fixed on the recording paper. A heating line is wound on a surface opposite to a sheet""s surface that is in contact with the fixing roller. By applying a power source to the heating line, the sheet is heated. When the recording paper enters the nip, the cause of the temperature suddenly lowering can be prevented.

This application claims the priority benefit of Japanese application serial no. 2001-235852, filed on Aug. 3, 2001.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a fixing device and an image forming device, which can be used in a facsimile device, a printer, a copier, or a multi-function machine with the above functions.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 7 is a side view showing an internal structure of a conventional fixing device. The item 100 is a fixing roller. A pressing roller 101 is pressed to be in contact with the fixing roller 100. A fixing heater 102 is arranged inside the fixing roller 100 for heating the fixing roller 100. A temperature detecting device 103 is used for detecting the temperature of the fixing roller 100. A separation claw 104 is used for separating the recording paper wound on the fixing roller 100 from the fixing roller 100. A cleaning pad 105 is in contact with the fixing roller 100 for cleaning the fixing roller 100. A cleaning pad holder 106 is used for supporting the cleaning pad 105. A cleaning pad invasion-regulating unit 107 is installed at a downstream side of the rotational direction of the fixing roller 100 with respect to the cleaning pad 105. An entrance guiding plate 108 is installed at a recording paper entrance of the fixing device 100. A paper-ejecting roller is installed at a recording paper exit of the fixing device 100.
The recording paper which the toner image has been transcribed thereon enters a nip portion between the fixing roller 100 and the pressing roller 101 through the entrance guiding plate 108. By pressing and heating at the nip portion, the toner image is fixed on the recording paper, and then the recording paper is ejected through a paper-ejecting roller 109. When the recording paper passes the nip portion, the toner attached on the fixing roller 100 is removed by the cleaning pad 105.
The surface temperature of the fixing roller 100 is detected by the temperature detecting device 103. According to a detected result of the temperature detecting device 103, a heating control of the fixing heater 102 is performed by a controlling device (not shown).
Conventionally, an infrared heater or a halogen heater is used as the fixing heater 102 in the fixing device, and a structure constituted of the fixing roller 100 and the pressing roller 101 pair is most common. The pressing roller 101 is a structure that is made by forming silicon rubber on a core bar and then a mold-releasing layer (such as Teflon, registered Trademark) is formed on the silicon rubber, so that the heat capacity of the pressing roller 101 becomes larger. At the beginning of heating, the pressing roller 101 does not get warm easily, causing incomplete fixing problems. Furthermore, there is also a demerit that parts have high cost. In addition, in order to assure a suitable nip width of the nip portion between the fixing roller 100 and the pressing roller 101, a large pressing force (pressure) is required. Because of the pressure, stress will act on the recording paper, causing fixing wrinkle problems.
Instead of the pressing roller 101, a nip portion is formed by pressing a sheet to be in contact with the fixing roller 100. For example, a fixing device, where a non-fixed image is fixed on the recording paper by making the recording paper pass the nip portion, is well studied and researched. By the above structure, the sheet can be easily warmed up, and the nip width can be also assured.
However, regarding the fixing device using the sheet material, the heat capacity of the nip portion is small. Therefore, when the recording paper enters the nip portion, the heat will dissipate suddenly. At this time, the temperature detected by a thermistor might cause the temperature at the nip portion to be lowered and incomplete fixing might occur at the rear end of the recording paper because the position of the thermistor is located outside the nip portion and the response time of the detection is slow.
According to the foregoing description, an object of this invention is to provide a fixing device and an image forming device. The fixing device is composed of a heat conducting unit and a sheet. When a recording paper enters a nip portion, the heat from the sheet being suddenly dissipated can be prevented.
According to the objects mentioned above, the invention provides a fixing device, comprising a heat conducting unit, having a heating source, and being heated by the heating source; and a sheet that is in contact with and presses the heat conducting unit. One end of the sheet is mounted on a fixing frame that is located at an upstream side of a transporting direction of a recording paper, and the other end of the sheet is in contact with the heat conducting unit under a pressing status. When the recording paper onto which a toner image has been transcribed is passed through a nip portion between the sheet and the heat conducting unit, by pressing and heating, the toner image is fixed on the recording paper. Furthermore, a heating unit of line shape is laid on a back surface of the sheet at a region in the vicinity of the nip portion. According to the above structure, because the sheet is heated by the heating unit, the fixing device can be in a fixable status quickly. Additionally, when the recording paper passes the nip portion between the heat conducting unit and the sheet, the temperature of the nip portion can be prevented from being suddenly reduced.
In the above fixing device, the heating unit can be laid parallel to a transporting direction of the recording paper. According to this structure, the strength of the sheet becomes robust and the pressure against the heat conducting unit can become more stable. Furthermore, because the central portion of the sheet can be bent in the up-and-down direction, the sheet can be changed to a suitable shape to meet the shape of the heat conducting unit.
Alternatively, the heating unit can be laid in a grid shape. According to this structure, the strength of the entire sheet becomes more robust and the pressure against the heat conducting unit can become more stable.
The invention further provides an image forming device, comprising a fixing device that has the aforementioned structure and features. According to the above structure, the fixing property can be improved

Fixing and image forming devices comprising thin heated sheets


The present invention provides a sender location identifier for use with a short message service (SMS). In one embodiment, the sender location identifier includes a memory configured to provide a unique designator associated with a location of a mobile phone. Additionally, the sender location identifier also includes a sender identification unit coupled to the memory and configured to attach the unique designator to a short message transmission from the location of the mobile phone employing the SMS.

Initially, mobile phones were used to communicate voice messages and rarely contained support for other features. Currently, mobile phones have become portable information exchange systems and entertainment centers having features that were only imagined a short time ago. For example, currently available mobile phones allow viewing of news, weather, sports and entertainment video updates and play cutting edge three-dimensional games. Features such as video on demand and audio on demand allow playing of video and audio clips. Movie and music fans can download content on their mobile phones, with just a few clicks, having sharpness and clarity. Video messaging and still pictures may be recorded and sent to any e-mail address. Many of these features require substantial airtime or additional charges that are not insignificant.
Short message service (SMS) is a mechanism of delivery of short messages over the mobile networks. It is a store and forward way of sending messages to and from mobile phones. Each short message can include up to 160 characters that can be alphanumeric (text) or binary non-text short messages. SMS has gained rapid popularity because it provides a permanent message, like e-mail, at a fraction of the cost of voice or video messaging and can be sent and received essentially without the interruption that is usually associated with voice communication. However, its absence of other enhancing features limits its usefulness beyond the present.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a way to provide an enhancing feature for SMS and particularly one that increases the utility and value associated with employing short messages.

Sender location identifier, method of identifying a sender location and communication system employing the same


A rotary drilling head assembly for a well bore, including an erosion resistant bowl apparatus. The bowl comprises a bowl member, the bowl member having a central receiving cavity configured to receive a rotary sealed bearing assembly, the bowl member having a discharge nozzle extending therefrom, the discharge nozzle fluidly communicating with the receiving cavity, and at least one diverter member extending from an inner surface of the receiving cavity of the bowl, the diverter member formed and configured to disrupt patterns of fluid flow within the bowl during drilling operations. The apparatus preferably includes at least one nozzle diverter member extending from an inner surface of the discharge nozzle. A plurality of diverter members preferably extend from an inner surface of the receiving cavity of the bowl and from the discharge nozzle.

Not Applicable
The present invention relates to drilling head assemblies used in drilling oil wells and the like. More particularly, this invention relates to reduction of erosion in bowls of drilling head assemblies.
The present invention relates to and improves upon prior art drilling head assemblies, such as the drilling head assembly of U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,938 (Williams), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Prior art drilling head assemblies disclose the use of a stationary housing or bowl member. The bowl member has open upper and lower ends, and a central receiving cavity configured to receive and support a rotary sealed bearing assembly. The configuration of the bowl includes a means for attaching the device to a casing or other oil and gas well component at the surface of the well bore, such as by a conventional flange and bolt arrangement. The bowl member has a discharge nozzle extending therefrom. The discharge nozzle fluidly communicates with the receiving cavity, such that during drilling operations, fluid and airborne particles discharged from the drill string pass through the bowl.
A rotary sealed bearing assembly is supported by the stationary housing. The sealed bearing assembly includes a rotatable sleeve member housed within a stationary sleeve member. The rotatable sleeve member includes a means for driving a drill string via a drilling Kelly, as detailed in e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,938. A bearing assembly is interposed between the rotatable and stationary sleeves. A chamber is provided between the sleeves for receiving a lubricating fluid. Upper and lower sealing members are provided for preventing leakage of fluid from the fluid chamber and bearing assembly. An auxiliary seal means can be provided for additional protection of the bearing assembly. A quick release clamp is provided for facilitating installation and assembly of the drilling head assembly at a well site. The clamp is configured to encircle an upper end of the stationary housing and an outer circumference of the stationary sleeve.
One problem encountered with prior art drilling head assemblies is erosion of the bowl component of the apparatus. During drilling operations, fluids and airborne solids are discharged from the well bore through the bowl and the discharge nozzle of the bowl, typically at high velocities and pressures. The discharged fluids and airborne solids erode the inner surface of the bore and the bore nozzle. During drilling operations, the discharged fluids and airborne solids tend to form vortexes or other regular patterns of flow within the bowl. These vortexes and flow patterns accelerate erosion in particular regions of the bore and bore nozzle.
Similar erosion problems are encountered in centrifuge pumps. To reduce or eliminate erosion, centrifuge pumps are provided with interior diverters or baffles that serve to break up the flow of fluids, minimizing the formation of vortexes and other patterns of flow. As far as the inventor is aware, diverters have not been applied to the drilling head assembly art. Accordingly, there is a need for a bowl member and a drilling head assembly having the following characteristics and properties.
It is an object of the invention to provide an erosion resistant bowl apparatus for use in a drilling head assembly.
It is an object of the invention to provide a drilling head assembly that includes diverters for breaking up the flow of current within the drilling head assembly and thereby preventing erosion of the bowl and discharge nozzle components of the drilling head assembly.
It is another object of the invention to provide a rotary sealed bearing assembly for a drilling head assembly that does not require preloading of the bearing assemblies.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved means of sealing bearing assemblies to prevent loss of lubricant.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention shall become apparent from the following general and preferred description of the invention.
Accordingly, an erosion resistant bowl apparatus for use in a drilling head assembly for drilling operations is provided comprising, generally, a bowl member, the bowl member having a central receiving cavity configured to receive a rotary sealed bearing assembly, the bowl member having a discharge nozzle extending therefrom, the discharge nozzle fluidly communicating with the receiving cavity, and at least one diverter member extending from an inner surface of the receiving cavity of the bowl, the diverter member formed and configured to disrupt patterns of fluid flow within the bowl during drilling operations.
The apparatus preferably includes at least one nozzle diverter member extending from an inner surface of the discharge nozzle. First and a second nozzle diverters may extend from an inner surface of the discharge nozzle, and the first and second nozzle diverters are preferably positioned on opposing upper and lower inner surfaces of the discharge nozzle.
A plurality of diverter members preferably extend from an inner surface of the receiving cavity of the bowl, the diverter members formed and configured to disrupt patterns of fluid flow within the bowl during drilling operations. A central diverter preferably extends from an inner surface of the receiving cavity, the central diverter positioned at about 180 degrees from a central axis of the discharge nozzle. A pair of first and second lower diverters preferably extend from a lower portion of the inner surface of the receiving cavity on opposing sides of the discharge nozzle. A pair of first and second upper diverters preferably extend from an upper portion of the inner surface of the receiving cavity on opposing sides of the discharge nozzle. The upper diverters are preferably closer to the central diverter than the lower diverters. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second lower diverters are positioned at about 45 and 315 degrees, respectively, relative to the central axis of the discharge nozzle, while the first and second upper diverters are positioned about 60 and 300 degrees, respectively, relative to the central axis of the discharge nozzle.
The erosion resistant bowl is used in a rotary drilling head assembly for a well bore. A rotary sealed bearing assembly is supported by the bowl. The rotary sealed bearing assembly comprises a rotatable sleeve member, a stationary sleeve member surrounding the rotatable sleeve, a chamber provided between the stationary sleeve and the rotatable sleeve for receiving a lubricating fluid, a bearing means interposed between the stationary sleeve and the rotatable sleeve and disposed within the chamber, an upper and lower sealing means carried by the stationary sleeve and providing a seal for the chamber to substantially preclude leakage of fluid into or out of the chamber.

Erosion resistent drilling head assembly


A registered memory module includes several memory devices coupled to a register through a plurality of transmission lines forming a symmetrical tree topology. The tree includes several branches each of which includes two transmission lines coupled only at its ends to either another transmission line or one of the memory devices. The branches are arranged in several layers of hierarchy, with the transmission lines in branches having the same hierarchy having the same length. Each transmission line preferably has a characteristic impedance that is half the characteristic impedance of any pair of downstream transmission lines to which it is coupled to provide impedance matching. A dedicated transmission line is used to couple an additional memory device, which may or may not be an error checking memory device, to the register.

Memory devices are in widespread use in a variety of processor-based systems, such as computer systems. In some cases, memory devices can be mounted on the same circuit board as a processor and a memory controller, which is generally used to couple the memory devices to the processor. However, in most cases, the memory devices are part of a memory module in which several memory devices are mounted on a common substrate, such as a printed circuit board. The memory modules are generally plugged into sockets mounted on a motherboard to establish communication with a memory controller and processor. Such memory modules are commonly used in computer systems as system memory in which the memory modules are dynamic random access memory ("DRAMs") devices.
Although the memory devices in a memory module may be coupled directly to a memory controller, in one type of memory module, known as a "registered" memory module, the memory devices are coupled to a register that is, in turn, coupled to the memory controller. More specifically, in a registered DRAM module, the command and address lines from the memory controller are coupled to a register. The register stores memory commands and addresses coupled through the command and address lines, respectively, and then couples the commands and addresses to the memory devices. Data signals are typically coupled directly to and from the memory devices without being registered. By registering the command and address signals, they can be coupled to the memory module for a relatively short period of time since it is not necessary to wait for the memory devices to latch the command and address signals. Also, registering the command and address signals avoids excessive loading of the command and address lines because the command and address lines are coupled to only a single device, i.e., the register, rather than to multiple devices, i.e., all of the memory devices.
The manner in which each of the command and address lines are routed from the register to the memory devices can significantly affect the performance of the memory module. One coupling topology, known as a "daisy chain" topology, is shown in FIG. 1A. In a daisy chain topology, a first transmission line 10, which may be a command signal line or an address signal line, extends from a register 16 to one end of a second transmission line 20 (which is a single conductor, but functions as separate segments or transmission lines 20a-g). Respective transmission lines 30a-h are coupled to spaced apart locations of the transmission lines 20(a-g). The transmission lines 30a-h each extend to an input terminal of respective memory devices 36a-h, which, in this case are DRAM devices.
A "hybrid tree" topology shown in FIG. 1B differs from the daisy chain topology of FIG. 1A in that the first transmission line 10 is coupled to the center of the second transmission line 20a rather than to one of its ends. In alternative embodiments of a hybrid tree topology, the first transmission line 10 may be coupled to locations of the second transmission lines 20(a-d) other than either one end or the center of the second transmission line 20. Like the daisy chain topology shown in FIG. 1A, respective transmission lines 30a-h are coupled to spaced apart locations of the transmission lines 20a-d and extend to input terminals of the respective memory devices 36a-h.
Still another hybrid tree topology shown in FIG. 1C uses two separate transmission lines 20a,b coupled to the transmission lines 30a-d, 30e-h. Transmission lines 20a and 20b are made up of transmission lines 20aa, 20ab, 20ac, 20ad, 20 ba, 20 bb, 20 bc and 20 bd respectively. The transmission lines 20a,b are, in turn, coupled to the first transmission line 10 through a third transmission line 40, which joins the first transmission line 10 at the center of the transmission line 40. Transmission line 40 is made up of transmission lines 44a and 44b. Transmission lines 44a and 44b are coupled to the transmission lines 20a,b at the ends of the transmission line 40 by respective transmission lines 44a,b.
The daisy chain and hybrid tree topologies shown in FIGS. 1A-1C can provide adequate performance at relatively slow speeds, but they provide less than optimum performance at higher operating speeds. In particular, signals coupled through the transmission line 20 (or transmission lines 20a,b in the case of the topology shown in FIG. 1C) reflect from the junctions with the transmission lines 30a-h as well as from the junction between each of the transmission lines 30a-h and its respective memory devices 36a-h, respectively. These reflections produce destructive and constructive interference at each of the junctions between the transmission line 20 and the transmission lines 30a-h that can seriously degrade signals coupled to the memory devices 36. The hybrid tree topologies shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C place the transmission lines 30a-h closer to the ends of the transmission line 20 compared to the daisy chain topology shown in FIG. 1A. Therefore, the hybrid tree topologies tend to provide better performance than the daisy chain topology. However, the hybrid tree topologies still provide less than optimum performance. Further, the hybrid tree topology shown in FIG. 1C also produces reflections from the junctions between the transmission lines 20a,b and the transmission lines 44a,b.
Although the signal reflection problems have been described in the context of registered memory modules, the same problem can exist in other types of memory modules. For example, in a memory hub module, signals are coupled from a memory hub in the module to each of several memory devices in the module. Also, in a buffered memory module, signals are coupled from respective buffers in the module to each of several memory devices in the module. Reflections produced in these types of memory modules can degrade performance in essentially the same manner as described above.
There is therefore a need for a connection topology for routing signals to memory devices in memory modules that can avoid signal degradation caused by reflections generated at the junctions between transmission lines and memory device terminals and between different transmission lines.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Memory module and method having improved signal routing topology


In reeling up of a paper web, a continuous paper web is reeled around a reeling core/reeling cores into successive machine reels or customer rolls. The actual control system controlling the reeling up process is supplemented with a substantially separate, model-based learning fault diagnostics. The fault diagnostics in a diagnostic state detects the malfunctions in components critical in view of the operation of the reel-up by monitoring measuring, control and actuating variables of the reel-up and by comparing them with a model formed during a learning state. In a fault tolerance state the fault diagnostics actively affects the measuring, control and actuating variables to maintain the function of the reel-up, and improve operating reliability.

Not applicable.
The invention relates to a method for improving the operating reliability in reeling up of a paper web.
A continuous paper web coming from a paper machine or from a finishing apparatus connected thereto in a continuous, i.e. on-line type manner, is reeled in the reel-up into successive machine reels. The machine reels can be seen as a kind of an intermediate storage for the paper web, in which the paper web is stored in the end of a continuous manufacturing process that precedes reeling up. Reeling up is also used in connection with off-line type finishing processes (e.g. calendering, coating) to reel a full-width paper web into machine reels again after the unwinding conducted in the beginning of said process and the treatment/treatments following thereafter. If the web is slit into part webs in connection with these finishing processes, the results of the reeling up are narrower so-called customer rolls that correspond to the width of the part webs.
Because the reeling up is an essential part of the treatment of the paper web/webs at one or several stages of the production and finishing processes of paper, the operation and operating reliability of the reel-up is thus a significant factor in view of the overall function of said processes. The entire reeling up process should be implemented in such a manner that it does not cause disturbances (e.g. stoppages) in the function of the other parts of the process. In addition, the properties and quality (hereinbelow referred to as reeling quality) of the paper web to be reeled up should not be weakened during the reeling up itself or as a result of the same at later stages of the process.
The aim to better control the reeling up process and to attain a better operating reliability and a uniform reeling quality has led up to the development of the mechanical functions of the reeling apparatuses themselves as well as the control methods controlling these functions.
The structure and function of the reel-ups currently in use are described for example in the book by Mikko Jokio: Papermaking Part 3 Finishing, published by Fapet Oy, ISBN 952-5216-10-1, 1999, pp. 143-235.
In the most advanced, so-called second generation reel-ups (see e.g. Papermaking Part 3 Finishing, pp. 160-165), the most important parameters to be adjusted during the actual reeling up sequence, i.e. reel formation, are the web tension of the paper web passed to the reeling, the pressing force, i.e. so-called nip force between a so-called reeling cylinder that guides the web on the roll and the paper reel that is being formed, as well as the torque of the centre-drive of the reeling core of the paper roll. To attain the desired reeling quality for the paper web and desired treatment properties for the reel that is being produced, these parameters are not necessarily kept constant during the reeling up process, but they are adjusted in connection with the same paper grade as a function of the amount of paper accumulated on the reeling core, and for paper grades that differ from each other it is possible to use different parameter values that change in different ways as a function of the amount of paper accumulated on the reeling core.
During the reeling up sequence the increase in the number of adjustable parameters as well as the aim to better optimize said parameters during reeling also increases the requirements for the control methods used for controlling the reeling up. For example, the international publication WO 99/50719 discloses a control method that utilizes neural network computation to produce optimal control variables for a reeling apparatus of paper during the reeling up sequence according to the desired reeling quality at a given time.
In addition to the adjustments made during the actual reeling up sequence, the reeling up apparatus conducts a change sequence after the reel/reels have been finished, in which the finished roll/rolls is/are transferred away from the reel-up and at the same time a new reeling core/new reeling cores are brought therein and the web/webs are threaded on said reeling core/cores and after the cutting of the web/webs the reeling up is continued thereon. This change sequence also involves several mechanical functions and adjustment and control measures of the same, as is described for example in Papermaking Part 3, Finishing, pp. 162-163.
The above-described increase in the mechanical functions of the reel-up and the use of more complex adjustment and control methods also have effects that reduce the overall operating reliability of the reel-up. The simple reason for this is that as the functions of the apparatus and the system are increased, the number of potential points of failure in the system increases as well. This applies especially to measuring sensors and measuring methods necessary in the above-described more complex adjustment and control methods, which are required in larger numbers and for which higher and higher accuracy demands have to be placed at the same time.
The operating reliability of the reel-up can, of course be improved, if all components that are critical in view of the operation, or at least the components that are most liable to faults, such as for example said measuring sensors, are doubled. It is not, however, technically possible to secure all the components by doubling them, and the drawback of the doubled system is the further increasing complexity as well as significantly higher costs.
The purpose of the present invention is to present a method for improving the operating reliability of the reel-up of a paper web by using a model-based, learning fault diagnostics which is substantially separate from the actual control system of the reel-up.
The method according to the invention is characterized by the following features that improve the operating reliability and controllability of the reeling up process, which features can be attained without securing the components of the reel-up physically i.e. by doubling the components, and thus the increasing complexity of the system as well as the thereby increasing costs can be avoided.
The fault diagnostics according to the invention learns in a learning state in the normal operating modes of the reel-up, including the change sequences of the full roll/rolls and the empty reeling core/cores, the normal dependencies between the control, measuring and actuating variables of the reel-up by monitoring the same.
In a diagnostic state the fault diagnostics detects the malfunctions of the components which are critical in view of the function of the reel-up by monitoring aforementioned measuring, control and actuating variables and comparing them to the model formed in the learning state. The malfunctions are detected when they cause, or advantageously already before they cause a substantial weakening or interruption in the function of the reel-up. When the fault diagnostics detect a fault or changes preceding a likely fault, the fault diagnostics warns the user and/or gives an alarm and shifts to a fault tolerance state, if necessary.
In the fault tolerance state the fault diagnostics actively affects the measuring and/or control variables to maintain the function of the reel-up, compensating on the basis of the learned model the malfunction caused by the fault/faults in the actual control system as well as in the function of the reel-up.
The central advantage of the method according to the invention is that the information required by the fault diagnostics can be collected primarily by means of sensors and measurements of the reel-up itself, which are already in use because of the needs of the actual control system. Fault diagnostics, when implemented separately from the actual control system, can also be easily coupled to different types of control systems to be used in connection with the same.
The analysis of the collected information by means of developed, learning and self-controlled algorithms enables the detection of a likely fault already before it causes a substantial weakening or interruption in the function of the reel-up.
The measuring and control values calculated on the basis of the model formed on the process by the learning algorithm can be utilized to supplement and replace the function of said damaged components.
In addition to the learning and diagnostics during the normal reeling up sequence, information on the function of the components is also collected in connection with the change sequence of the full roll/rolls and/or the empty reeling core/cores, which takes place at fixed intervals. The masses of the full roll/rolls and/or the empty reeling core/cores as well as the masses of the members moved during the change sequence are substantially known, wherein the force and frictions required in the transfer of the same can be predicted when the components of the apparatus function normally, and thus, during the transfer movement this information can be used for controlling the condition of the components that conduct and/or control and/or monitor the transfer movement. By comparing the changes in the measuring, control and/or actuating variables during successive transfer movements within a longer period of time it is possible to obtain information on the changes occurring in the components participating in the transfer movement.

Method for improving the operating reliability of a reel-up


A cross-fed FET power-chip amplifier employing a plurality of stages each having two FET devices. Wide band four port directional couplers couple the stages, each having an input, and output and two driver input terminals. An input signal is connected to the input terminal and the coupler is designed to produce a majority of the output at the output terminal and a lesser output at each of the driver input which have a 90.degree. phase relationship. Each driver input is connected to one gate of the two FET device, the sources of which are connected to common and the drains of which are connected together by a broadband 90.degree. coupler to accommodate the 90.degree. offset at the gates. The output of the broadband coupler is connected to the input terminal of the directional coupler of each subsequent stage and one or more combiners are coupled to the output terminals of the directional coupler of each stage and the broadband coupler of the final stage to drive an output signal. In a preferred embodiment, two preamplification stages are employed and ten subsequent stages of gallium arsenide FETs. Two five way combiners combine the outputs, one combining the outputs of the odd numbered directional couplers and the other the outputs of the even numbered directional couplers and the final stage broadband coupler. A two way combiner then combines the outputs of the five way combiners, the output of the two way combiner going to a isolator to provide stability for the amplifier under open load condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cross-fed FET power-chip for use for example as a basic power amplifier in a distributed transmitter of an antenna array. More specifically, a power-chip is implemented in gallium arsenide reducing the number of components by employing broadband couplers and four port directional couplers between stages eliminating as many as fifty components per chip and employing combiners to combine the outputs of the stages, with a large percentage of the output of each stage going to the combiner and a smaller percentage going to the input of the next stage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A prior art FET power amplifier such as shown in FIG. 1 achieves high RF power by combining ten cells, S.sub.1 -S.sub.10, gate size 2.4 mm each. Each cell has internal input and output matching. The final part of the divider and combiner circuits is external to the chip in order to keep the physical size of the chip reasonable.
The disadvantages of the prior art device are inherently high cost, moderate band width and a low gain for the following reasons. Each input impedance matching network for the FET F.sub.1 requires five elements, L.sub.0, L.sub.2, L.sub.4, C.sub.1 and C.sub.3 or a total of fifty elements for ten cells. This configuration drives up the chip's size and cost for large volume production. The amplifier bandwidth is limited by the high transforming ratio, 1.5 ohms to 50 ohms. A low impedance ten way divider is needed at the input for drive distribution. Also the need for high input power level dictates a medium power driver for module application which makes parallel combining of chips exceedingly difficult.
Another prior art device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,511, Schindler, Distributed Power Amplifier. In this device, each amplifier needs its own network which is then combined.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,699, Kariatsumari, et al., discloses a microwave power amplifier combiner composed of .rho./2 hybrid couplers which employ reflector type amplifiers different from the amplifiers of the subject invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,283 Seidel, employs a series of emitter follower amplifiers in which each stage drives the next, whereas the present invention derives power from each stage.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,919,685, Haill, Seismic Data Acquisition System, discloses an amplifier employing standard parallel combining by means of switching.


The method of the present invention includes the steps of rotating a molecule having a predetermined structure by applying a first alternating current electromagnetic field to the molecule, wherein the first alternating current electromagnetic field is produced by an electromagnetic field generation means that is set to a predetermined phase, controlling a rotational phase of the molecule by applying a second electromagnetic field to the rotated molecule by an information recording means, detecting a signal using a signal detection means in accordance with a rotation of the molecule having the rotational phase which has been controlled, and outputting a shift between the phase of the first alternating current electromagnetic field and a phase of the detection signal from the signal detection means as information by an information reading means.

This application claims an invention which was disclosed in Japanese application number 2002-146545, filed May 21, 2002, entitled xe2x80x9cMETHOD OF RECORDING AND READING INFORMATION USING MOLECULAR ROTATIONxe2x80x9d. The benefit under 35 USCxc2xa7119(a) of the Japanese application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of recording and reading information using the rotational phase of a molecule. More specifically, it relates to a method of implementing a memory that stores and reads information in a single molecule by using the tip of a scanning probe microscope to control the phase information for rotation within a molecule, and further using this tip to read the phase information.
2. Description of the Related Art
The scanning probe microscope (SPM) allows a single atomic molecule to be used for memory. However, in the methods that have been invented and proposed to date, position information is recorded by moving or removing atoms or molecules using the tip of a scanning probe microscope. In these methods, it is theoretically impossible to record numbers other than zeros and ones, that is to say, the digital information regarding the presence or absence of an atom or molecule. Furthermore, as the atoms or molecules were moved or removed each time that data was recorded or read, practical application thereof required a great deal of effort, and it was difficult to surpass the capacities of existing recording media.
Single molecule motors, such as the ATPase flagella motors existing in nature, are known. The rotation of these motors can be observed with an optical microscope. ATPase has also been used to make an artificial molecular motor. Furthermore, researchers have observed the rotation of molecules adsorbed on a metal surface by scanning probe microscope. However, the prior art has not used the rotational information of a molecular motor in a memory system.
Research using a femtosecond laser to control the phase information of molecules has been looked to as a form of quantum computing, and some attempts have been applied. However, the femtosecond lasers used in the prior art represent large-scale equipment. Quantum computing, as understood in the prior art, shows that, in accordance with decoherence theory, coherence will inevitably break down as system size increases, rendering impossible computations which require coherence to be maintained for long periods of time. This makes practical implementation extremely difficult.
The method of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. A particular object is to record phase information at the single molecule level. A further object is to record data in such a way as to exceed the density limits of digital recording, which are determined by the size of atomic molecules, and to exceed the recording densities assumed in the prior art.
More specifically, in the present invention, phase information is recorded at the single molecule level by controlling the phase information of the rotation within a single molecule with an electromagnetic field produced by the tip of a scanning probe microscope, and by using this tip as a probe so as to retrieve the rotational phase information of a single molecule. Consequently, it is possible to record data in such a way as to exceed the density limits of digital recording, which are determined by the size of atomic molecules, and to exceed the recording densities assumed in the prior art. In other words, as molecular rotation has a degree of freedom of 360xc2x0, large amounts of information can be stored in a single molecule, which is markedly different from digital recording elements comprising zeros or ones as known in the prior art.
In general, the phase information possessed by molecules takes the form of molecular vibration and molecular rotation. The vibration (expansion and contraction, etc.) of a molecule comprising only a few atoms has a period of the order of 10xe2x88x9213 to 10xe2x88x9214 seconds (oscillation frequency 10 to 100 THz). The rotational period is of the order of 10xe2x88x9211 to 10xe2x88x9212 seconds (rotation frequency 100 GHz to 1 THz). These periods are extremely short, and it is difficult to control these phases with existing techniques. The present invention solves this problem.
The present invention is a method of controlling rotational period and phase by means of resonance between the molecule and an external electromagnetic field. Using an alternating current scanning tunneling microscope, AC electromagnetic fields of 0 to 20 GHz can be applied to a molecule absorbed on a solid surface. Using this equipment, it is possible to lower the rotation frequency to a level at which it becomes technically possible to control. In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned rotational resonance is ensured by attaching different functional groups, which have interactive potentials that each work attractively or repulsively with the external electromagnetic field, to terminals of the rotating element in the molecule. This method lowers the speed of rotation to a level at which it can be controlled and measured by existing techniques.
In order to read the phase information, a reference point is chosen for the rotational period of the molecule, and phase differences are read with respect to this reference point. The reference point is preferably the phase of the alternating current electromagnetic field that was first applied to the molecule so as to rotate it. Subsequently, an electromagnetic field is applied to the molecule, continuously or as a pulse, in order to shift the phase of the molecule. Thus, the phase difference is measured by observing the difference between the phase of the electromagnetic field which was first applied to the molecule and the phase of rotation of the molecule after the phase has been changed.
Herein, the term xe2x80x9cphase differencexe2x80x9d refers to the xe2x80x9crotational shiftxe2x80x9d of the molecule. If a molecule is not rotating, it does not have what is referred to herein as phase information (rotational phase information).
The parameter that is stored is the rotational phase difference of the molecule with respect to the phase of the electromagnetic field. Thus, in order to maintain this storage, it is necessary to maintain the rotation of the molecule. In order to achieve this, the storage device is scaled at the molecular scale to lower the friction and resistance of the molecule in rotation.
The method of the present invention includes the steps of rotating a molecule having a predetermined structure by applying a first alternating current electromagnetic field to the molecule, wherein the first alternating current electromagnetic field is produced by an electromagnetic field generation means that is set to a predetermined phase, controlling a rotational phase of the molecule by applying a second electromagnetic field to the rotated molecule by an information recording means, detecting a signal using a signal detection means in accordance with a rotation of the molecule having the rotational phase which has been controlled, and outputting a shift between the phase of the first alternating current electromagnetic field and a phase of the detection signal from the signal detection means as information by an information reading means.
In a preferred embodiment, the electromagnetic field generation means, the information recording means, and the signal detection means comprise a tip of a scanning tunneling microscope.
In another preferred embodiment, a plurality of functional groups are provided at a plurality of terminals of a rotating element of the molecule. The functional groups are attracted or repulsed by the external electromagnetic field.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the step of detecting a tunnel current in accordance with the rotation of the molecule, wherein the current signal detection means detects the tunnel current.

Method of recording and reading information using molecular rotation


The flow sensor has a first and a second housing section and a semiconductor chip with an integrated sensor element between the housing sections. The semiconductor chip is arranged at a measuring conduit formed by a groove in a first one of the housing sections. A sealing ring is arranged between the housing sections. A flexible support foil carrying strip conductors is connected to the semiconductor chip and extends between the sealing ring and the second housing section out of the housing. This simple arrangement is able to withstand high pressure.

The invention relates to a flow sensor having a housing and a semiconductor chip with integrated sensor.
A known flow sensor of this type comprises a two part housing forming a measuring conduit. A semiconductor chip with a sensor is arranged at a wall of the measuring conduit. For sealing the conduit, the semiconductor chip is clamped between the housing sections.
This known solution has, however, the disadvantage that it is not suited for applications where there is a high static or dynamic pressure in the measuring conduit.
Hence, it is a general object of the invention to provide a flow sensor with a housing which is able to withstand high pressure.
Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the flow sensor is manifested by the features that it comprises a housing with at least two housing sections and forming a measuring conduit between at least some of said housing sections, a semiconductor chip comprising a sensor arranged at a wall of the measuring conduit, a sealing ring arranged between two housing sections and surrounding said semiconductor chip, said sealing ring pressing against a support formed by at least one of said housing sections, and at least one strip conductor connected to the semiconductor chip and extending between said support and said sealing ring and out of said housing.
In such an arrangement, the semiconductor chip has no sealing function but is completely arranged in the area enclosed by the sealing ring. For connecting the semiconductor chip, one or more strip conductors are lead out of the housing, passing between the support and the sealing ring. Such a device can be assembled easily.
Preferably, the at least one strip conductor is arranged on a flexible support foil. It is, however, also possible to arrange the strip conductor on one of the housing sections.
Preferably, the measuring conduit is formed by a groove in the surface of a first housing section. For connecting the groove, connecting ducts can be provided, e.g. in the form of bores or holes, which extend through one or several housing section(s). The sealing ring can be arranged around the groove. This arrangement allows to seal the conduit from all sides.
Preferably, the semiconductor chip is arranged in a recess of the second housing section and its top surface (i.e. the side with the sensor) is flush with the wall of the measuring conduit in order to favour laminar flow within the conduit. For exactly positioning the top surface of the semiconductor chip, it is in contact with the first housing section. Preferably, a spacer is arranged at the bottom of the recess, which spacer is deformed by the force exerted by the first housing section on the semiconductor chip. In this way, an accurate alignment of the sensor element with the measuring conduit is guaranteed when the device is assembled. The spacer can e.g. be formed by small bumps at the bottom of the recess.
The flow sensor according to the present invention is suited for measuring the flow of fluids at normal and elevated pressure.


A semiconductor memory apparatus includes: a first bit line of to a first memory bank; a first middle input/output line configured to be electrically connected to the first bit line; a second bit line of a second memory bank; a second middle input/output line configured to be electrically connected to the second bit line; and a shared local input/output line configured to be electrically connected to the first and second middle input/output lines. A bank selection signal controls both the electrical connection between the shared local input/output line and the first middle input/output line and the electrical connection between the shared local input/output line and the second middle input/output line.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a semiconductor technology, and more particularly, to a semiconductor memory apparatus and a data input/output method thereof.
2. Related Art
To obtain high-speed operation of semiconductor memory, a plurality of stacked memory banks constituting a stacked bank structure is being employed in the semiconductor memory apparatus to improve data access time. In a semiconductor memory apparatus having the stacked bank structure, memory cell regions are partitioned into a plurality of memory blocks, and each of the partitioned memory blocks comprises a plurality of stackedmemory banks.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a semiconductor memory apparatus including stacked memory banks. As shown in FIG. 1, the semiconductor memory apparatus includes first and second memory banks Bank1 and Bank2, first and second column decoders 11 and 12, and first and second input/output (I/O) drivers 21 and 22. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the first and second memory banks Bank1 and Bank2 constitute the stacked bank structure.
The first column decoder 11 and the first input/output driver perform a data read or write (hereinafter, referred to as 'read/write') operation on the first memory bank Bank1, and the second column decoder 12 and the second input/output driver 22 perform a data read/write operation on the second memory bank Bank2. More specifically, in the data read/write operation on the first memory bank Bank1, the first column decoder 11 generates, in response to column address signal 'Ya<2:7, 9> and a strobe signal 'strobe<0>, a column selection signal 'Yi_up' to enable a column selection line 'CSL_up' of the first memory bank Bank1. In the data read/write operation on the second memory bank Bank2, the second column decoder 12 generates, in response to the column address signals 'Ya<2:7, 9> and a strobe signal 'strobe<1>, a column selection signal 'Yi_dn' to enable a column selection line 'CSL_dn' of the second memory bank Bank2. As shown in FIG. 1, the global input/output line GIO and an input/output pad DQ are shared by the memory banks Bank 1 and Bank 2. In response to their respective strobe signals 'strobe<0:1>', the first and second input/output drivers 21 and 22 amplify data stored in the first memory bank Bank1 and data stored in the second memory bank Bank2 respectively, and output the amplified data to outside of the semiconductor memory apparatus via the global input/output line GIO and an input/output pad DQ. During a data write operation, the first and second input/output drivers 21 and 22 amplify data received from outside via the pad DQ and the global input/output line GIO and transfer the amplified data to the first memory bank Bank1 and to the second memory bank Bank2, respectively.
Thus, as is shown in FIG. 1 and described above, the same global input/output line GIO and the same pad DQ are assigned to each of the stacked memory banks Bank1 and Bank2 constituting the stacked bank structure. However, separate column decoders 11 and 12 and separate input/output drivers 21 and 22 are required for the stacked memory banks Bank1 and Bank2. This is because the column selection line CSL_up of the first memory bank Bank1 and the column selection line CSL_dn of the second memory bank Bank2 are different from each other and the local input/output line LIO_up of the first memory bank Bank1 and the local input/output line LIO_dn of the second memory bank Bank2 are different from each other.
The requirement of separate column decoders and input/output drivers makes it difficult to secure a lay-out margin of the semiconductor memory apparatus. A technique in which stacked memory banks share a column selection line has been proposed, but the technique causes an overload on the column decoder facing the column selection line. In addition, no proper technique that allows the stacked memory banks to share the input/output driver has been proposed until now.

Semiconductor memory apparatus and data input/output method thereof


A method of determining displacement of a radial piston machine (1) having adjustable eccentricity (e). The radial piston machine (1) includes cylinders (2) arranged in a pivoting manner and a drive shaft that drives an eccentric (5). The rotation angle of the drive shaft is labeled as α and the pivoting angle of the cylinders (2) is labeled β. The pivoting angle β is measured and from the measured values for the pivoting angle β, the eccentricity (e) and hence the displacement (v) are calculated.

It is known that the flow rate of a radial piston machine, i.e., of a radial piston motor or a radial piston pump, depends directly on the displacement, which can be changed by adjusting the eccentricity. The present displacement would be suitable as a reference input for controlling the flow rate, but neither the displacement nor the presently set eccentricity can be measured.
A method for controlling a hydrostatic drive is known from DE 10 2007 003 800 B3, wherein the present displacement of a hydraulic motor is derived from the present electrical adjusting current by means of an adjusting current characteristic curve.
A device for determining the displacement of an adjustable radial piston motor having cylinders supported in a pivoting manner is known from DE 10 2004 048 174 A1 of the applicant. A rotary encoder that measures the pivoting angle of the cylinders, which is proportional to the present displacement, is provided in order to determine the displacement.
A non-contact rotary sensor for an adjustable radial piston motor is known from DE 10 2006 043 291 A1 of the applicant. The rotary sensor is intended to detect the present rotation angle or pivoting angle of a cylinder of the radial piston motor, wherein the rotation angle is proportional to the presently set displacement of the radial piston motor.

Method for determining the displacement of a radial piston machine


A fuel injector system has a pair of half-cylindrical elements of a ceramic material of positive temperature coefficient resistivity held in nested relation with a nozzle tip of a fuel injector, preferably by an annular spring fitted over the elements, to serve as self-regulating electrical resistance heaters to heat the fuel injector to heat fuel passed through the nozzle tip to an internal combustion engine. A cup-shaped electrically insulating housing has an open end fitted over the spring and heater elements on the nozzle tip and has an aperture in the bottom of the housing cup through which fuel is sprayed to the engine.

The field of the invention is that of fuel injector systems and the invention relates more particularly to fuel injectors having economical and easily applied heaters disposed on the fuel injectors for heating fuel furnished to an engine by the fuel injectors.
Conventional fuel injector systems mechanically apply energy to fuel furnished to an internal combustion engine to form a fuel spray to enhance fuel vaporization as the fuel is furnished to an engine. Adequate fuel vaporization is difficult to achieve on a cold day when cold manifolds and other engine parts withdraw heat from the fuel. Further, forming of a fuel spray in that manner can withdraw heat from the fuel and on a cold, humid day frequently results in the creation of frost resulting in blocking of the fuel injectors. This is particularly true where the fuel injectors are furnishing fuel with a significant methanol content which tends to be relatively more difficult to vaporize at the temperature levels likely to be encountered in automotive fuel injector application. Accordingly, it is desirable to employ self-regulating fuel heaters of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity for heating fuel furnished to an engine by fuel injectors to enhance fuel vaporization and avoid blocking fuel injectors by frost during fuel injection on cold, humid days. However, fuel injectors are relatively complex devices which are highly engineered to be made by volume manufacturing techniques in order to be produced at reasonable cost, and it would be desirable to provide fuel injector heaters which are economical and easily applied in fuel injector systems of various types to achieve efficient fuel heating without interfering with performance of the fuel injectors.


A clip apparatus for ligature of living tissue is provided. The clip apparatus includes a clip that can be opened and closed multiple times prior to locking in a closed position on the tissue.

Medical doctors are able to perform various procedures within a patient's gastrointestinal (GI) tract using a flexible endoscopic device. Bleeding from blood vessels or perforations of the GI tract can occur. Sometimes, such occurrences constitute a medical emergency, in which bleeding must be stopped rapidly. Endoscopic clips usable with a flexible endoscopic device are known for clamping blood vessels or a section of tissue to stop bleeding or close perforations.

Clip apparatus for ligature of living tissue


A memory controller performs an efficient error correction operation. The memory controller controls a memory device. The memory controller includes: an error corrector configured to perform one or more error correction operations to correct an error included in data read from the memory device during a read operation, the one or more error correction operations including a first error correction operation performed using a first read voltage determined based on a threshold voltage distribution obtained by assuming that a number of memory cells in an erase state is equal to a number of memory cells in a program state and a data controller in communication with the error corrector to receive first error correction data obtained from the first error correction operation and configured to store the first error correction data in the memory controller.

Storage devices refer to electronic components that are configured to store data under on a permanent or temporary basis. Each storage device may include one or more storage medium to store data and operate based on a request from a host device. Examples of the host device include a computer, a smart phone, a smart pad, or other various electronic devices. The storage device can be classified based on the type of storage medium. For example, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) uses a magnetic disk as the storage medium, and a Solid State Drive (SSD) and a memory card use, as the storage medium, semiconductor devices such as a volatile memory device and a nonvolatile memory device.
The storage device may include a memory device configured to store data and a memory controller configured to control the memory device. The memory device is generally classified into a volatile memory device and a nonvolatile memory device. Examples of the nonvolatile memory device includes a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Electrically Programmable ROM
(EPROM), an Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM (EEPROM), a flash memory, a Phase-change RAM (PRAM), a Magnetic RAM (MRAM), a Resistive RAM (RRAM), a Ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), or others.

Memory controller and operating method thereof


The present invention relates to a novel DNA sequence, which encodes a previously unidentified lignin biosynthetic pathway enzyme, sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD) that regulates the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin in plants. Also provided are methods for incorporating this novel SAD gene sequence or substantially similar sequences into a plant genome for genetic engineering of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants.

The invention relates to a novel DNA sequence, which encodes a previously unidentified lignin biosynthetic pathway enzyme, sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD), that regulates the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin in plants. Methods for incorporating this novel SAD gene sequence or sequences similar to this SAD gene into plant genome for genetic engineering of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants are also provided.
Lignin, a complex phenolic polymer, is a major part of the supportive structure of most woody plants including angiosperm and gymnosperm trees which, in turn, are the principal sources of fiber for making paper and cellulosic products. Lignin generally constitutes about 25% of the dry weight of the wood, making it the second most abundant organic compound on earth after cellulose. Lignin provides rigidity to wood for which it is well suited due, in part, to its resistance to biochemical degradation.
Despite its importance to plant growth and structure, lignin is nonetheless problematic to post-harvest, cellulose-based wood/crop processing for fiber, chemical, and energy production because it must be removed or degraded from cellulose at great expense. Certain structural constituents of lignin, such as the guaiacyl moiety, promote monomer cross-linkages that increase lignin resistance to degradation (Sarkanen, 1971; Chang and Sarkanen, 1973; Chiang and Funaoka, 1990). In angiosperms, lignin is composed of a mixture of guaiacyl and syringyl monolignols, and can be degraded at considerably less energy and chemical cost than gymnosperm lignin, which consists almost entirely of guaiacyl moieties (Freudenberg, 1965). It has been estimated that, if syringyl lignin through genetic engineering, could be incorporated into gymnosperm guaiacyl lignin or into angiosperms to increase the syringyl lignin content, the annual saving in processing of such genetically engineered plants as opposed to their wild types would be in the range of $6 to $10 billion in the U.S. alone. Consequently, there has been long-standing incentive to understand the biosynthesis of syringyl monolignol to genetically engineer plants to contain more syringyl lignin, thus, facilitating wood/crop processing (Trotter, 1990; Bugos et al., 1991; Boudet et al., 1995; Hu et al., 1999).
Although it has been known that syringyl lignin is derived from guaiacyl lignin, only a partial syringyl monolignol pathway and its genes encoding the enzymes that catalyze the steps of the pathway have been uncovered. This partial syringyl monolignol pathway, which diverges from guaiacyl pathway at coniferaldehyde, is mediated by genes encoding the enzymes coniferyl aldehyde 5-hydroxylase (CAld5H) (Osakabe et al., 1999) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde O-methyltransferase (AldOMT) (Li et al., 2000), respectively, for the formation of sinapaldehyde (see, FIG. 1). However, sinapaldehyde must be enzymatically converted into sinapyl alcohol, the syringyl monolignol, for the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin in plants (see, FIG. 1). The gene encoding such an enzyme, i.e., a sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD), has never been identified nor cloned and represents a missing gene that is indispensable for genetic engineering of syringyl lignin in plants. Thus, there is a need for the identification and isolation of this key gene (SAD) for genetic augmentation of syringyl monolignol biosynthesis in plants and for the methods for such genetic manipulation comprising the use of this key gene.

Genetic engineering of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants

Board of Control of Michigan Technological University


A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for using an invalidity matrix, iterative reconstruction and reprojection to generate a two-dimensional image. The method includes acquiring projections through an a dental anatomy, calibrating the acquired projected images, estimating a geometry of the tomosynthesis system, determining an invalidity matrix for each acquired projection image, removing contributions of marker particles to the acquired projection images, constructing a starting volume for reconstruction, performing an iteration process for iteratively updating the starting volume, and reprojecting a final reconstructed volume to obtain a final two-dimensional image.

X-ray radiography can be performed by positioning an x-ray source on one side of an object (e.g., a patient or a portion thereof) and causing the x-ray source to emit x-rays through the object and toward an x-ray detector located on the other side of the object. As the x-rays pass through the object from the x-ray source, their energies are absorbed to varying degrees depending on the composition of the object, and x-rays arriving at the x-ray detector form a two-dimensional x-ray image (also known as a radiograph) based on the cumulative absorption through the object.
Intraoral radiography is a technique in which an imaging sensor is placed inside the mouth of a patient and an x-ray source outside the mouth is used to irradiate the sensor with x-rays. The x-ray attenuation of hard tissues in the mouth results in a clinical image being formed on the sensor. Intraoral x-ray images provide a high level of detail of the tooth, bone, and supporting tissues. They also allow dentists to find cavities, examine tooth roots, evaluate the condition of the bony area around the tooth, determine if periodontal disease is present or a concern, and monitor the status of developing teeth, among other things.
First, increasing the applied x-ray dose typically improves the number of x-ray photons contributing to the image. Given that x-ray images are typically dominated by Poisson noise, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improves as additional x-ray dose is applied. A minimum x-ray dose is therefore typically required to successfully visualize a given feature of clinical interest. Beyond that dosage, increasing dosage does not necessarily result in significant additional clinical utility.
Conventional x-ray imaging, discussed above, produces a two-dimensional image. Tomosynthesis however provides three-dimensional information about a patient in the form of tomographic image slices reconstructed from x-ray images of the patient taken from multiple perspectives within a scan angle smaller than that of computed tomography (CT) or cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) (e.g., ±20°, compared with at least 180° in CBCT). However, tomosynthesis is a relatively undeveloped field in dentistry.
In both traditional x-ray imaging and tomosynthesis, an intraoral sensor/detector may be placed in a patient's mouth. For diagnostic images that include multiple teeth or for diagnostic tasks requiring entirely capturing a single tooth in an image, the size of a typical intraoral sensor can be prohibitive. A human's intraoral cavity has limited space, and thus the physical size of the intraoral sensor is also limited. In addition, patients may have certain conditions (e.g., dental tori) that restrict the use of intraoral sensors due to patient discomfort. There have been several approaches to increasing the field-of-view of the intraoral sensor. Some approaches focus on physical changes to the intraoral sensor. For example, one approach has been to use intraoral sensors with cut-off corners thereby making them easier to fit into the mouth. While this may allow for a larger intraoral sensor, this approach only marginally increases the field of view. Another approach has been to develop flexible intraoral sensors. This approach, however, requires significant changes in manufacturing parameters and does not appreciably increase the field of view. Another approach has been to capture and combine a series of images taken with parallel illumination. However, the typical system geometries for intraoral imaging result in significant stitching artifacts with this approach, causing misalignment between subvolumes to be combined. Other approaches rely on reconstruction methods to increase the reconstructed volume. These approaches are for external (i.e., non-intraoral) tomographic imaging systems where sample to be imaged is rotated, something which is impossible to achieve intraorally.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a device, method and computer program products that could increase the effective size of a sensor to allow for viewing more teeth than can be seen with a standard sensor or, conversely, obtaining a standard size intraoral image on a patient who is unable to tolerate a sensor of standard size.
Further, intraoral x-ray imaging is a known and commonly used technology that is used to screen for caries and other dental pathologies. Instead of acquiring a single image using a stationary x-ray source, a series of images are taken while varying the source position in a known way. That series of images may be used to construct an estimate of the x-ray attenuation coefficient in the sampled volume. Intraoral radiography is a known and familiar technology which clinicians have considerable experience in evaluating. Therefore, providing both an intraoral radiograph and a dental tomosynthesis scan to a clinician will improve diagnostic capability. This has been solved in the past by presenting a center projection of a tomosynthesis scan as a radiograph. However, the center projection is not equivalent to a high dose radiograph because each projection of a tomosynthesis scan is typically taken at low dose. Another solution has been attempted in the past by moving the scanned x-ray source to the center of the scan position and then acquiring a high dose intraoral radiograph. However, this solution also increases the delivered dose to the patient by necessitating an additional high dose image which is not desirable.
In the case of breast tomosynthesis, a solution to generating a single two-dimensional image with significantly higher signal-to-noise ratio has involved reconstructing the tomosynthesis scan and then reprojecting the resulting volume to obtain a low noise mammogram by summing slices of the volume. Herein, non-iterative reconstruction methods are used wherein projections are acquired and filtered using a generalized Fourier filter. The filtered projection images are then backprojected to create a reconstructed volume. The reconstructed volume may then be reprojected to obtain a 2D image by summing slices that make up reconstructed volume. Filtered backprojection is a common non-iterative reconstruction technique. Each image is filtered and backprojected through a volume. The filter is typically chosen so that backprojections through the volume match the original projections. Artifacts may be minimized by smoothly extrapolating the input images so that the extrapolated images cover the full extent of the reconstructed volume. Unfortunately, this solution generates image artifacts when high contrast features move off of the field of view because the projection extensions are attempting to extrapolate large, high-frequency features, which is difficult to achieve.
Another problem with this solution is that the images taken during the scan contain information from different, overlapping volumes. The contrast variations are however relatively small. This method has therefore not been previously applied to hard tissues, such as dental anatomy which has high contrast variations or while using an intraoral scan. Dental tissues, unlike most breast tissues, particularly in patients with significant dental work containing metal, contain regions of extreme contrast variation. This contrast variation results in large truncation artifacts in reconstructed data which manifest in a reprojected radiograph. Truncation artifacts appear as multiple fine parallel lines immediately adjacent to high-contrast interfaces or as dark shading adjacent to high attenuation regions. They occur as a result of variations in the number of projections contributing to different regions in the reconstructed data. In addition, unlike breast tomosynthesis, the system geometry in dental tomosynthesis is not accurately known and the patient does not remain effectively static during scanning. In order to enable clinical usage at a range of positions in the mouth, an x-ray source may be mounted on a flexible arm. This arm is placed and aligned manually, with the expectation of significant variation in source placement depending on the user. In addition, the arm flexes and vibrates during the scan owing to the translation of the x-ray source. Second, breast tomosynthesis is also typically conducted with significantly larger pixel sizes and with the breast tissue fixed in place using an adjustable paddle. As a result, patient motion creates much more significant artifacts for intraoral tomosynthesis than for breast tomosynthesis. As such, it is necessary to measure the system geometry and patient position accurately. The simplest method involves the use of marker particles visible in the projections that can be used to determine the system geometry. Unfortunately, the use of marker particles generates artifacts in the reprojected radiograph.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a device which allows for the provision of a low noise intraoral radiograph with features comparable to a standard radiograph given a low-dose tomosynthesis scan.

Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for extending the field of view of a sensor and obtaining a synthetic radiagraph


Milling insert and tool for center cutting milling of material. At least one first cutting edge is terminated in or adjacent to a center axis defined by the milling insert and includes a first cutting edge portion having a first radius that is essentially equally great for each point of the first cutting edge portion. The first cutting edge includes at least one second cutting edge portion that is plane or has at least one second radius for each point of the respective second cutting edge portion, the at least one second radius being greater than the first radius and that is situated between the first cutting edge portion and the center axis. One second cutting edge portion adjoins the first cutting edge portion, and one second cutting edge portion is terminated in or adjacent to the center axis.

In milling, such as contour milling, of material or a workpiece of, for instance, titanium, steel, aluminum, casting or another material, it is since previously known to use so-called center cutting milling tools where one or a plurality of cutting edges reach up to and are terminated in the rotation axis of the milling tool. The milling tool is connectable to a rotatable spindle or holder. Such center cutting milling tools are advantageous in precision contour milling and finishing, in particular at high speeds, such as high feeding and high tooth feed. A known example of center cutting milling tools of the type contour milling tools, such as radius end mill, is the so-called ball nose end mill. The ball nose end mill may have replaceable milling inserts, which may be invertible/indexable, or the ball nose end mill may be of a solid design where the cutting edges are integrated with the milling cutter body. In contour milling, the milling tool rotates in a direction of rotation around its rotation axis at the same time as the workpiece is fed in relation to the milling tool in a feeding direction. In finishing, commonly the milling tool is fed in relation to the workpiece along and against a surface of the workpiece. A ball nose end mill is often used with a feeding direction that forms an essentially perpendicular angle to the rotation axis of the end mill, but other feeding directions are also possible.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0245946 discloses a solid radius end mill of cubic boron nitride. International Publication No. A1-00/29153 discloses a solid ball nose end mill. European Patent Application No. B1-0 985 478 discloses a radius end mill having an indexable milling insert. European Patent Application No. A1-1 252 955 discloses an indexable milling insert intended for a radius end mill. U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,576 and Japanese Application No. 2005-319558 disclose a radius end mill having replaceable milling inserts. U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,249 discloses a replaceable milling insert for a radius end mill. U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,540 discloses a radius end mill.

Milling insert, a tool and a device for milling


A system and method for performing a diagnostic assessment of an ultrasonic sensor that measures a fluid level. A PWM signal is generated based on a reflection of an ultrasonic signal output by the ultrasonic sensor. The PWM has a period, and a plurality of pulses. Each pulse encodes a predetermined parameter and has a width. The PWM signal encodes the fluid level, fluid temperature, fluid speed of sound, and a status of the ultrasonic transducer. The PWM signal is received at a processor. The processor performs the diagnostic assessment of the ultrasonic sensor based on the period of the PWM signal and the widths of the plurality of pulses of the PWM signal. The processor is able to detect time reference shifts by assessing the PWM signal.

The present invention relates to ultrasonic sensors and, more particularly to the diagnostic assessment of such sensors.
Ultrasonic transducers can be used to measure a distance to the surface of a liquid. In some situations, a transducer is positioned at the top of a tank for a liquid, such as the fuel tank of an automobile, truck, or other vehicle. An ultrasonic signal is generated by the transducer and the time it takes for the signal to travel from the top of the tank to the surface of the fuel, reflect off the surface of the fuel, and return to the transducer is measured. If certain information about the tank is known, such as its volume or dimensions, the time measurement can be used in a calculation to determine how much fuel is in the tank. Ultrasonic technology for use in determining the type of fuel in a fuel tank has also been developed, including the technology disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 12/027,512.

Ultrasonic level, on-board diagnostic assessment


An operation control device for a single shaft gas turbine selects an operation mode based on a load state of a power generator, and controls the turbine based on the operation mode. In a first operation mode, a rotational speed of the turbine is maintained within a first rotational speed range, and in a second operation mode, the rotational speed is maintained within a second rotational speed range set on a lower rotational speed side than the first rotational speed range. The second rotational speed range is set on the lower rotational speed side than the first rotational speed range with a first non-selection rotational speed range set therebetween.

There has been known a gas turbine configured to supply compressed air from a compressor and fuel into a combustor and drive a power generator by rotating a turbine with combustion gas generated by the combustor. As such a gas turbine, there has been known a single shaft gas turbine connected to a rotational shaft common to the compressor and the power generator. In a conventional single shaft gas turbine, a rotational speed thereof is controlled constant so that an output frequency of the power generator is synchronized with a system frequency. The constant rotational speed of such a single shaft gas turbine is set to a value to be capable of ensuring a flow rate of the compressor to some extent so that exhaust gas characteristics of the turbine (e.g., NOx concentration included in exhaust gas) satisfies standards while ensuring stable operation of the compressor regardless of load magnitude. Accordingly, at a partial load smaller than a rated load or no load, thermal efficiency tends to decrease and fuel consumption tends to increase.
In Patent Document 1, it is disclosed to control a rotational speed of a single shaft gas turbine variably in accordance with load magnitude by utilizing a variable speed power generator or an inverter control power generator as a power generator. In this document, it is suggested to improve thermal efficiency by reducing a rotational speed and to reduce fuel consumption at a partial load having a lowered load or no load.

Operation control device and operation control method for single shaft gas turbine and program therefor


Provided is a display device using an adhesion control layer, which has excellent scratch-resistance, easily discharges air bubbles, allows proper attachment and detachment, and is stably attached regardless of whether a surface is flat or curved. The device comprises: an adhesive member; an adherend member to which the adhesive member is attached; a detachable layer disposed on one of the adhesive member and the adherend member; and an adhesion control layer to which the detachable layer is detachably attached and which is disposed on one of the adhesive member and the adherend member. The adhesion control layer is disposed on one surface of one of the adhesive member and the adherend member and includes a flat layer covering the whole of the surface and a pattern layer disposed on the flat layer, and the flat layer and the pattern layer have different adhesive forces with respect to the detachable layer.

In a display device, a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a micro LED, an electrophoresis display (EPD) or the like forms a screen. The display is diversely used in a mobile device such as a cellular phone, a smartphone, a tablet or the like, or in an information processing device such as an ATM, a kiosk or the like. The display device is employed in a portable device having various functions. In such a portable device, an adhesive member such as a protective sheet (protective film or protective glass), a window, a circuit board, a touch screen, a rear cover or the like is detachably attached to an adherend member. For example, a protective sheet, which is an adhesive member, may be detachably attached to the window of an adherend member, a window, which is an adhesive member, may be detachably attached to the touch screen of an adherend member, a touch screen, which is an adhesive member, may be detachably attached to the display of an adherend member, and a rear cover, which is an adhesive member, may be detachably attached to the display of an adherend member.
However, although protective sheets are widely used in conventional display devices, especially in mobile devices such as a cellular phone, a smartphone, a tablet, and the like, breakage of window glass reaches 20 to 30% of the shipments and emerges as a serious problem. When a window glass is broken, a lot of cost and efforts are required to replace it, and the broken window is removed and reproduced together with the expensive touch screen and display in most cases. Since the reproduction process is not automated worldwide, it is performed manually. In addition, the reproduction process has serious problems such as generating a lot of electronic wastes and performing the reproduction process in a process harmful to human bodies.
The patent of Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1574923 solves the above problem by detachably attaching a window. On the other hand, when an adhesive member, e.g., a protective sheet, is detachably attached to a curved display device with a low adhesive force, lifting and air bubbles are generated on the curved surface. When a strong adhesive force is used, it is not easy to remove the air bubbles, and it is difficult to reattach the adhesive member. In addition, when a relatively thick protective sheet is applied, a spring back phenomenon occurs.
Since foldable and rollable display devices (hereinafter, flexible display devices), which have become an issue recently, can be folded or rolled up, they are structurally fragile and easily damaged, and scratches are made easily. When the window is reproduced in a flexible display device due to the damage and scratches of the window, it is more complicated and requires more cost than reproduction of a flat, 2.5D, or curved display device, and a lot of electronic wastes is generated, and a process harmful to human bodies should be performed. Accordingly, the role and function of the protective sheet in the flexible display device are important. However, when a conventional protective sheet is used, the folding portion of a foldable display device, and the beginning, edged, and ending portions of a rollable display device are lifted, or air bubbles are generated at the portions.
When a protective sheet applied with a strong adhesive is attached to solve this problem, lifting of the protective sheet or generation of air bubbles can be reduced. However, the protective sheet with a strong adhesive is difficult to attach without air bubbles. In addition, when a scratch or damage occurs on the attached protective sheet, an additional process and cost are required to remove the protective sheet, and a lot of electronic wastes are generated and a process harmful to human bodies should be performed. When the protective sheet is forcibly removed, the flexible display device itself may be damaged. When a protective sheet of a soft material, such as the TPU disclosed in Korean Laid-opened Patent No. 2009-0021013, or an adhesive with a low adhesive force is used, it is difficult to attach and detach the protective sheet due to generation of air bubbles, and the protecting function is significantly lowered.

Display device using adhesion control layer


A system and a method for acquiring an image of a particle flowing in a vessel, the system comprising a light source for generating an illuminating light, an imaging probe for laterally statically illuminating at least a portion of said vessel with the illuminating light, a detection unit for detecting emitted light from an illuminated portion of said particle, and a processor unit for reproducing an image of the illuminated portion of said particle from the emitted light.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to imaging devices and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to imaging systems and methods for medical and scientific applications.
Endoscopic confocal microscopy devices are extensively used in minimally invasive medical diagnosis to look below tissue surfaces and for intervention purposes. Confocal microscopy is a technique generally used to acquire an image of a specimen and is based on focusing illuminating light from a point source to a point on the specimen, and focusing emitted light (responsive to the illuminating light) from the illuminated point on the specimen unto a small pinhole in an opaque screen. As only the emitted light from the illuminated point is focused unto the hole, the emitted light passes through the pinhole while all other light not emitted by the point is substantially blocked out. A detector on the other side of the screen detects the amount of emitted light passing through the pinhole and quantifies the amount for image reproduction purposes. As only one point in the specimen is illuminated at a time, two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) imaging generally is done by scanning over a regular raster (a rectangular pattern of parallel scanning lines) in the specimen.
A technique generally used to integrate confocal microscopy inside probes used in medical and scientific applications such as, for example, endoscopic probes and catheters, is spectrally encoded confocal microscopy (SECM). In SECM, the specimen is generally scanned line by line, with illuminating light at a different wavelength hitting each point along a line (each point on a line is "encoded" by a different wavelength). Emitted light from each point (each point emitting light at a different wavelength) is detected by a detector and, spatial information of the specimen along the line may be decoded by measuring the detected wavelengths. A 2D image may be reproduced by relatively slowly scanning the encoded lines mechanically within the probe.
An alternative technique to SECM is spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE). SEE described in "Volumetric sub-surface imaging using spectrally encoded endoscopy", by D. Yelin et al, Optics Express 1750/Vol. 16, No. 3/4 Feb. 2008; as follows: "Spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE) [7] is a recently developed technique that utilizes wavelength to encode transverse image information. The SEE probe, comprising a single optical fiber, a diffraction grating, and a low NA lens, focuses spectrally dispersed light onto the sample. In turn, each point along this line is illuminated by a distinct spectral band. Each line of the image is acquired by measuring the spectrum of light reflected from the sample and returned back through the SEE probe using a high-speed spectrometer that resides outside the body. The second dimension of the image is obtained by moving the fiber at slow rates (e.g. 30 Hz). Without the need for rapid transverse scanning at the distal end of the endoscope, SEE allows video rate imaging to be performed through a miniature (i.e. 350 μm diameter) endoscopic device [13]. When the SEE probe is placed in the sample arm of an interferometer, it additionally can achieve three-dimensional topological, surface imaging in real-time, by use of time [14] and spectral [13, 15] domain low coherence interferometry."

Technion Research & Development Foundation Limited


The sputtering apparatus includes a vacuum vessel, a sputter electrode placed within the vacuum vessel to hold a target material to be sputtered, a radio frequency power source for applying radio frequency waves to the electrode, a substrate holder which is spaced from the electrode and on which a substrate is held, a thin film being to be deposited on the substrate from components of the target material, and an impedance adjusting circuit for adjusting a first impedance of the substrate holder. The impedance adjusting circuit has a first end directly set at a ground potential and has an impedance circuit which is adjustable for adjusting the first impedance, a second impedance of the impedance circuit is adjusted to thereby adjust the first impedance and, hence, a potential of the substrate.

This invention relates to a sputtering apparatus and method, more particularly to a sputtering apparatus that deposits films by plasma-enhanced vapor-phase growth techniques, a sputtering method that uses the apparatus to deposit thin films such as insulating films (insulators) or dielectric films (dielectrics), insulating films or dielectric films such as piezoelectric films that are deposited by such sputtering apparatus and method, as well as piezoelectric devices that use the piezoelectric films, and an ink-jet apparatus that is equipped with the piezoelectric devices.
Conventionally, thin films such as piezoelectric films, insulating films and dielectric films are deposited by the sputtering method that deposits films by plasma-enhanced vapor-phase growth techniques or a sputtering apparatus that uses this method. In such sputtering method and apparatus, high-energy Ar ions or other plasma ions that are produced by plasma discharge in high vacuum are allowed to collide with a target, whereupon the constituent elements of the target are released and vapor-deposited on a surface of a substrate to form a thin film on it.
In the sputtering method and apparatus, in order to ensure the formation of thin films of good quality, sputtering is performed with a predetermined potential being applied to a surface of a substrate that is held on a substrate electrode positioned in a face-to-face relationship with a sputter electrode placed within a vacuum vessel (see, for example, JP 06-145972 A and JP 2002-129320 A).
The bias sputtering method and apparatus that are described in JP 06-145972 A are designed to form films of high quality by controlling the incident energy of positive ions that strike the substrate and in one example, the sputter electrode connected to a plasma generating RF power source is spaced from the substrate electrode connected to a DC power source or a RF power source for applying a positive bias, with a third electrode being inserted to surround the plasma discharge space between the sputter and substrate electrodes, and a target material is placed on a surface of the third electrode with a negative DC voltage being applied to the same.
In another example that is described in JP 06-145972 A, the substrate electrode is connected to a DC power source for applying a biasing DC voltage whereas the sputter electrode is connected to a RF power source and a DC power source, and a DC voltage smaller than a threshold for sputtering the target material and a DC voltage greater than that threshold are applied alternately by an alternately applying means and the circuit constant of a matching circuit (matching box) for the RF power source is varied in synchronism with a change in the DC voltage by a matching circuit control means.
In yet another example, the sputter electrode is connected to a REF power source whereas the substrate electrode is connected to a DC power source that applies a DC voltage and, in addition, the floating potential of the plasma discharge space is detected by a floating potential detection means or the value of an electric current flowing through the substrate is detected by a RF current detection means provided between the substrate electrode and the DC power source, with the DC voltage on the substrate electrode being controlled by a substrate potential control means on the basis of the detected floating potential or current value.
In the sputtering method and apparatus described in JP 2002-129320 A, a technique is proposed to prevent electrostatic breakdown of a thin film during sputtering; a target connected to a sputter power source for applying a plasma-generating negative voltage is spaced from a substrate on a wafer stage connected to a bias power source which is an AC power source for applying a biasing desired voltage, for example, a negative voltage or an AC voltage, and a control electrode is provided laterally with respect to the sputter space between the target and the substrate, which is then set at a floating potential and the control electrode is supplied with a control voltage that adjusts the potential of the substrate to approximately zero volts as sputtering is performed.