The automated identification of open types of a multi-function input program. The automated identification of open types is performed without annotations in the input program, but rather by identifying a set of invading types of the program, with each of the invading types being an open type. The identification of invading types may be performed iteratively until the set of invading types no longer grows. The set of open types may be used for any purpose such as perhaps the de-virtualization of an input program during compilation.

Type-based optimizations such as de-virtualization in C++ programs depend on knowledge of the complete type hierarchy in the program being optimized. However features such as static libraries, which are linked with the program at build time, and dynamic libraries which are linked at run-time, introduce unknown types which the optimizer does not know about. Without complete knowledge the optimizer can perform program transformations which are incorrect due to being over optimistic. Invasion analysis addresses the problem of determining which parts of the type hierarchy are to be treated conservatively by the optimizer so that it only performs correct optimizations. It is crucial for making type based optimizations practical in a production compiler.

Invasion analysis to identify open types


Sulphur dioxide is separated from the flue gases of a cellulose pulp mill by absorbing it into a sodium sulphite solution. Sulphur dioxide is regenerated from the sodium bisulphite solution produced by an evaporation-crystallization method utilizing thermo-compressor evaporation technique. A lamella evaporator is utilized as the evaporator-crystallizer, the evaporator being divided into separate compartments for ease of cleaning the lamella surfaces. The recovered concentrated sulphur dioxide can be used wherever desired, for example for the production of chlorine dioxide.

In sulphate cooking of wood in the production of cellulose (paper) pulp, the wood is treated with white liquor containing NaOH and NaS2, whereby lignin is hydrolyzed. This reaction produces several organic sulphur compounds, such as methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulphide and dimethyl disulphide. These compounds, in addition to hydrogen sulphide, cause the unpleasant odor of the pulp mill off gases. These gases are formed in numerous stages of the pulp process, e.g., at the digester plant and liquor evaporation. The unpleasant sulphur compounds are most usually removed by combusting the malodorous gases in either a lime kiln or in a separate combustor. During combustion all sulphurous substances are oxidized into sulphur dioxide and are entrained with the flue gases. Sulphur dioxide is also formed in other stages of the manufacture of pulp, e.g., in recovery boilers.
There are two primary types of methods for removing sulphur dioxide from flue gases of different combustion plants, namely dry and wet methods. In the former, sulphur dioxide is removed with an absorbent and in the latter the flue gases are washed with water or alkaline solution in a venturi scrubber or an absorption column. In pulp mills the sulphur dioxide-containing gases have been washed with water, secondary condensate, or dilute white liquor. The washing liquids are usually introduced subsequent to the causticizing plant. Thus the sulphidity of the liquor can be controlled while recovering sulphur. However, the sulphur thus recovered can only be reutilized in the production of cooking liquor.
It is also known that sulphur dioxide can be separated from sulphur dioxide-containing gases by utilizing sodium sulphite as washing liquid, so that the following reaction takes place during the absorption: EQU SO.sub.2 +Na.sub.2 SO.sub.3 +H.sub.2 O.fwdarw.2 NaHSO.sub.3( 1)
By thermally decomposing the sodium bisulphite in an evaporation-crystallizer the sodium sulphite can be regenerated and then returned to the absorber. EQU 2 NaHSO.sub.3 .fwdarw.Na.sub.2 SO.sub.3 +SO.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O(2)
The evaporation-crystallization process produces a mixture of steam and sulphur dioxide and a precipitate-containing residual solution of sodium sulphite/sulphate and undecomposed NaHSO3. When the water is condensed from the mixture of steam/SO2, the product is a gas with a high SO2 content, from which sulphur can be recovered and used for other purposes as desired. The problem of known evaporation-crystallization methods has been the tendency of the sodium sulphite to crystallize on the heat transfer surfaces, in which case the process will have to be interrupted for washing the heat transfer surfaces, unless a spare apparatus is available (which is normally an economically undesirable solution).
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of recovering concentrated sulphur dioxide from the chemical circulation of a pulp mill, which sulphur dioxide can be used as desired. The invention utilizes absorption, and according to the invention the absorption solution is regenerated simply and cost effectively so as not to disturb the recovery process.
The method according to the invention comprises the following steps of: (a) bringing sulphur-containing flue gas into absorptive contact with a washing solution containing sodium sulphite, so that a sodium bisulphite-containing solution is formed; (b) effecting thermal decomposition of the sodium bisulphite-containing solution to produce water in the form of steam mixed with sulphur dioxide, and sodium sulphite, the sodium sulphite crystallized from the solution; (c) using the sodium sulphite crystals from step (b) as the washing solution in step (a); and (d) recovering sulphur dioxide from the mixture of steam and sulphur dioxide produced in step (b). Step (a) is practised in absorption apparatus and step (b) is an evaporation crystallizer.
Preferably the mixture of steam and sulphur dioxide is withdrawn from the evaporator and the pressure and temperature of the steam elevated. Then the steam is redirected to the evaporator as heating steam, the steam being condensed and the incondensable sulphur dioxide-containing gases being recovered from the evaporator.
The sulphur dioxide-containing gas from, for example, a lime kiln or a separate combustor for malodorous gases is washed with a sodium sulphite-containing washing solution in a venturi scrubber or a column of the packed tower or plate tower type, all known per se. The concentration of the sodium sulphite solution used in the absorption stage is about 10-20%, preferably about 15% calculated as NaOH. The temperature is about 65.degree.-70.degree. C. Sulphur dioxide is absorbed into the washing solution, whereby sodium bisulphite is formed.
The spent absorption solution is directed into the evaporator for regeneration, the evaporator preferably comprising a lamella evaporator operating pursuant to the falling film principle. The evaporator is divided into two compartments, in the first of which dilute solution is treated and in the second of which concentrated solution is treated. The washing solution from the scrubber is introduced into the first compartment and the solution evaporated in the first compartment is returned to the second compartment for additional evaporation. The advantage of this arrangement is that if the crystalline sodium sulphite produced in the evaporator starts to precipitate on the heat transfer surfaces, the feed of the absorption solution from the scrubber can be changed so as to be directed into this compartment. Thus, the dilute solution removes the precipitation, if any, from the heat transfer surfaces.
The solution to be regenerated is introduced to the upper end of the lamellas, from which it flows down on the outer surfaces thereof. The sodium sulphite crystallizes as the bisulphite is thermally decomposed and the solution is concentrated.
The sulphur dioxide formed during the evaporation of the bisulphite solution is exhausted from the evaporator with the steam separated from the solution. The pressure and temperature of the exhausted steam is elevated so that it can be used as heating steam in the evaporator. The steam is introduced into the lamellas, in which it is condensed. The incondensable steam is directed to the post-condensing surface of the evaporator. This surface is formed of a small portion of the lamellas, into which the non-condensed steam from the larger portion of the lamellas is fed. The steam is fed from the top. From there the incondensable sulphur dioxide gas is directed to a separate condenser, located outside the evaporator, in order to recover concentrated sulphur dioxide. The sulphur dioxide gas can be used in the production of chlorine dioxide, it can liquefied or it can be further treated to form, for example, sulphuric acid or elemental sulphur.
The condensates produced in both compartments of the evaporator are combined with the solution containing sodium sulphite crystals, so that the sodium sulphite crystals are dissolved, and the produced sodium sulphite solution is returned to the absorption stage.
The method according to the invention enables an effective separation of sulphur dioxide and its recovery as concentrated sulphur dioxide, which in turn enables the sulphur dioxide to be subsequently used in a number of different forms.
The invention also comprises the following apparatus for recovering sulphur dioxide from the chemical circulation of a cellulose pulp mill, comprising: (a) an absorption apparatus for cleaning sulphur dioxide-containing flue gases; (b) means for introducing the flue gases to the absorption apparatus and for withdrawing gases therefrom; (c) means for withdrawing absorption solution from the absorption apparatus; (d) an evaporation-crystallization apparatus for regenerating absorption solution; (e) means for direction absorption solution into said evaporation-crystallization apparatus; (f) means for withdrawing the absorption solution from the evaporation-crystallization apparatus; (g) a mixing vessel for dissolving crystals contained in absorption solution; (h) means for withdrawing absorption solution from the mixing vessel and redirecting it to the absorption apparatus; (i) means for withdrawing the sulphur dioxide gas from the evaporation-crystallization apparatus; and (j) a condenser and means for withdrawing concentrated sulphur dioxide therefrom. Further, the apparatus according to the invention the evaporation-crystallization apparatus comprises means for withdrawing product steam from the evaporator, means for elevating the pressure and temperature of the steam, means for redirecting the elevated pressure and temperature steam to the evaporator as heating steam, and means for directing the product condensates to the mixing vessel.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the evaporation-crystallization apparatus is a falling film evaporator having heat transfer means comprising lamellas, the evaporator divided into at least two compartments, both capable of receiving solution to be treated.

Method for recovering sulphur dioxide from the chemical circulation of a sulphate pulp mill


A digital pulse shaping module provides a digital waveform such as a pulse shape, gating or a synchronizing digital signal for use with a pulsed laser oscillator. The digital pulse shaping module includes a waveform data generator that generates N-bit words having a number N of bits. A serializer is further provided to receive the N-bit words from the waveform data generator and outputs each bit individually in a series of bits corresponding to the digital waveform. The digital pulse shaping module further includes a delay module that provides a fine delay in the outputting of the bits by the serializer. This fine delay corresponds to a number of bits smaller than N, impacting on the timing of the outputted signal at the bit level. A pulse shaping generator has a plurality of digital pulse shaping modules.

Several industrial laser micromachining or material processing applications, such as metal engraving or memory link repair, require that laser light pulses with specific energy and temporal characteristics be precisely directed to a specific region of interest of a target material. For many applications, the rise-time and fall-time of such light pulses must be relatively short, preferably in the order of a few hundreds of picoseconds. It is also advantageous that the intensity profile of the light pulses be arbitrarily varied over the duration of the pulse, which itself varies depending on the application. By way of example, for memory link repair, the pulse duration is typically of a few tens of nanoseconds, while for metal engraving, it is typically of a few hundreds of nanoseconds. In this context, being able to generate light pulses with some capability for dynamically varying pulse durations with a temporal resolution at the nanosecond scale is certainly desirable. The process of generating short light pulses with controllable duration and controllable temporal intensity profile is commonly known in the art as "pulse shaping".
Laser micromachining processes usually involve specifically tailored recipes consisting of a sequence of operations in which a large number of light pulses are successively impinged on a piece of material. Such recipes generally require that light pulses impinge on the target material for a given time interval during which the pulse repetition rate, the pulse shape, and sometimes the light wavelength can be dynamically switched among a predefined set of distinct combinations of these parameters. For example, the recipe may require that for a given time interval the optical output be simply turned off. The optical intensity may also be set to oscillate in what is commonly known in the art as a quasi-continuous wave (QCW) mode. A laser system operating in QCW mode typically emits a periodic signal oscillating at a frequency around 100 MHz with a duty cycle around 50%. Such functionalities are illustrated in FIG. 1, where the optical output OPTICAL_OUT, under the action of command signals QCW, EXT_TRIG, and SHAPEA/B, is switched between the above-mentioned modes.
Furthermore, in many situations encountered in automated industrial manufacturing, a laser micromachining apparatus such as the one discussed above may need to operate in concert with other manufacturing equipment. For example, it starts or halts the machining of material pieces under remote control, or it may reply when it is remotely interrogated about the current statuses of its constituent lasers.
From the discussion above, it can be seen that there is a need, at least in the context of industrial equipment, for combining some very low-level, agile and time-critical optical pulse shaping capabilities with electrical and optical power amplification, as well as high-level embedded intelligence for performing system housekeeping and managing communications with other equipment. Furthermore, such capabilities should be as low-cost as possible.
The manner in which pulse shaping is performed may originate from electronic signals, either analog or digital, or from optical ones.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,428,253 (MURISON et al.), entitled "Method and system for a pulsed laser source emitting shaped optical waveforms" presents a wavelength-tunable pulsed laser source with optical pulse shaping based on a digital approach. MURISON mentions that the shaped waveform can originate from a digital pattern stored in memory on-board of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). However, no embedded hardware implementation of digital pulse shaping is disclosed, except for the use of an off-the-shelf laboratory instrument such as the AWG2040 (tradename) waveform generator from Tektronix Inc., (Beaverton, Oreg.).
U.S. Pat. No. 8,073,027 (DELADURANTAYE et al.), entitled "Digital laser pulse shaping module and system" discloses a standalone embedded laser micromachining instrument based on digital pulse shaping. As shown in FIG. 2A (PRIOR ART), the instrument includes an input/output (I/O) port for interfacing with external equipment, a communication port for interfacing with a remote computer, a microcontroller for system housekeeping and control of pulse shaping, the digital pulse shaping sub-system and DAC, electrical power amplification and, finally, a laser oscillator for emission of the temporally-shaped output pulses. The electronic QCW/pulse shaping module shown in FIG. 2A is further detailed in FIG. 2B (PRIOR ART). It uses double-data rate (DDR) data output and is implemented preferably in a high-end Virtex-2 Pro FPGA (tradename) from Xilinx Inc., (San Jose, Calif.) in order to generate 10-bit pulse shapes with a typical temporal resolution of 2.5 ns. DELADURANTAYE also describes how the electronic pulse shaping system can be connected to several configurations or architectures of laser oscillators.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,813,389 (PENG et al.), entitled "Generating laser pulses of prescribed pulse shapes programmed through combination of separate electrical and optical modulators" discloses a pulse shaping approach based on superposing delayed analog electrical pulses. It also points out that a fully digital approach equivalent to their analog approach can be implemented using remote computer interfacing, programmed control, digital shaping, a DAC and power amplification. This is illustrated in FIG. 2C (PRIOR ART). PENG also suggests that the digital pulse shaping can be implemented in an FPGA such as the high-end Virtex-5 (tradename) from Xilinx Inc.
The above-mentioned references teach that digital pulse shaping is preferably implemented using high-end, expensive FPGAs, therefore contributing significantly to the high cost of laser micromachining instruments. There is therefore a need for less expensive alternatives for implementing digital pulse shaping.

Pulse shaping module and generator for use with a pulsed laser oscillator


A system and method is disclosed for tracking block mapping overhead in a non-volatile memory. The system may include a non-volatile memory having multiple memory blocks and a processor configured to track a block level mapping overhead for closed blocks of the multiple memory blocks. The processor may be configured to track predetermined logical address ranges within which data written to a block fall, and then store the sum of the number of different logical address ranges for each respective block as a block address entropy metric. The method may include the processor using the block address entropy metric to select source blocks for garbage collection with a lower block address entropy metric or to adjust other operational characteristics such as data routing within the non-volatile memory system based on average block address entropy for a group of blocks.

Storage systems, such as solid state drives (SSDs) including NAND flash memory, are commonly used in electronic systems ranging from consumer products to enterprise-level computer systems. The market for SSDs has increased and its acceptance for use by private enterprises or government agencies to store data is becoming more widespread. SSDs and similar storage devices utilizing block-oriented architectures share a common issue: the need to create space for writing new data by collecting sparsely distributed data into a smaller number of blocks. This process is referred to as "garbage collection". The need for garbage collection in many block-oriented storage devices is generally due to the inability to write in place to memory, and the mismatch between write granularity and erase granularity in those storage device.
The garbage collection process may introduce a significant burden on processing resources which, in turn, may reduce SSD performance. Garbage collection involves reading valid data from a block of non-volatile memory that is to be reused and writing it back to a new block. In many SSDs there is an additional burden to evaluate which data within a source block is valid before writing only the valid back to the new block. This validity check may itself involve reading parts of a mapping table which may be cached in local random access memory (RAM) or held in non-volatile memory, such as flash. Retrieval of a portion of the mapping table from non-volatile memory is significantly more costly in time and therefore can reduce SSD performance (if garbage collection is done in foreground). In certain SSDs, however, the size of the RAM cache available for storing mapping table information may be significantly smaller than the size of the mapping table and thus garbage collection performance may decrease with smaller RAM cache sizes.

System and method for tracking block level mapping overhead in a non-volatile memory


Unused space in a storage medium such as a read only memory is used to store additional fonts, thereby increasing the total number of fonts stored in an apparatus. A portion of the fonts stored in the apparatus are made available to a user using traditional methods. If a key is present or has been added to the apparatus, the additional fonts are made available to the user. Examples of a key include software code, a hardware jumper or a card with a hardware identification or jumper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to output devices such as printers, and more particularly to font availability in output devices. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for additional font availability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In output devices, such as printers, fonts are typically stored in the read only memory (ROM) within the printer. Some printers, particularly low cost printers, contain only the number of fonts that will be available to a user when the printer is in operation. In other words, only the number of fonts that can be used are stored in the printer. This means a printer may contain a subset of the total number of commercially available fonts. This is generally done in order to keep the cost low.
If a user wants to have access to a greater number of fonts, he or she has two options. First, the user can purchase a printer having a larger amount of ROM with more fonts stored in the ROM. In printers, information about the fonts is stored in RAM. Consequently, a larger amount of RAM also needs to be available in order to use more fonts. Increasing both the amount of RAM and ROM in the printer, however, makes the printer more expensive due to the high cost of memory.
The second option is to purchase a printer with a reduced number of fonts, and then purchase additional RAM plus additional fonts. Increasing the amount of RAM allows the printer to use the additional fonts. Next, the user needs to add the additional fonts to the printer. Increasing the number of fonts the printer can use can be done in several ways.
One way is to purchase a font cartridge. A font cartridge has additional fonts stored in a ROM within the cartridge. This font cartridge is inserted into a cartridge port in the printer. Once the font cartridge and additional RAM are installed, the user has access to the additional fonts.
A second way to increase the number of fonts is to purchase software containing fonts that can be downloaded into RAM The additional RAM needs to be installed before the user downloads the fonts, so that the RAM is large enough to hold the additional fonts.
From a user""s perspective, both options are undesirable because they require the user to pay more to own and operate a printer. The first option of purchasing a printer with an increased amount of RAM and ROM is expensive due to the cost of memory. The second option is more costly for the user because he or she must purchase the additional RAM plus the additional fonts.
Therefore, increasing the number of available fonts in an output device such as a printer in an efficient and cost effective manner is desirable.
Unused space in a storage medium such as a read only memory is used to store additional fonts, thereby increasing the total number of fonts stored in an apparatus. A portion of the fonts stored in the apparatus are made available to a user using traditional methods. If a key is present or has been added to the apparatus, the additional fonts are made available to the user. Examples of a key include software code, a hardware, jumper or a card with a hardware identification or jumper.

System and method for additional font availability


A timer unit that permits individual timer registers to be taken offline from the timer complex. A single register is taken offline instead of checkstopping the entire computer system due to a damaged timer, for example, thereby reducing system outages and thus providing increased availability of the system.

The present invention relates to the field of computers and particularly to computers that operate in accordance with the IBM ESA/390 architecture and particularly to timers in computers.
Timers are critical to computer system operation. The IBM ESA/390 architecture defines a number of timers and system implementations of that architecture may provide additional timers. The operation of such timers including the setting, resetting, stopping and starting becomes complex in large systems that have many different modes of operation and that operate with units of operation (UO).
The IBM ESA/390 architecture defines a unit of operation (UO) that is used to control the instants when an interruption can be examined and serviced. Interruptions can occur at any point in time; however, they are only examined and serviced during the interrupt processing time (IPT) between the end of one unit of operation and the start of the next unit of operation.
TABLE A depicts the relationship between units of operation and instruction processing time. ##STR1##
Most instructions consist of only one unit of operation. However, long and more complex or repetitive instructions such as MOVE LONG, COMPARE LOGICAL LONG, TEST BLOCK and UPDATE TREE consist of many units of operation.
The unit of operation is needed in large computer systems because of the need for having a reasonable response time for interruptions while avoiding complex instruction processing unit. If the interruptions have to be taken at any point in time during the instruction processing time, then the CPU design will be considerably more complex than if the interruptions are only taken at the end of instruction processing time.
ESA/390 architecture computers are controlled in part by a Program Status Word (PSW). The program-status word (PSW) includes the instruction address, condition code, and other information used to control instruction sequencing and to determine the state of the computer. The active or controlling PSW is called the current PSW. It governs the program currently being executed.
The CPU has an interruption capability, which permits the CPU to switch rapidly to another program in response to exception conditions and external stimuli. When an interruption occurs, the CPU places the current PSW in an assigned storage location, called the old-PSW location, for the particular class of interruption. The CPU fetches a new PSW from a second assigned storage location. This new PSW determines the next program to be executed. When it has finished processing the interruption, the interrupting program may reload the old PSW, making it again the current PSW, so that the interrupted program can continue.
The status of the CPU can be changed by loading a new PSW or part of a PSW. Control is switched during an interruption of the CPU by storing the current PSW, so as to preserve the status of the CPU, and then loading a new PSW.
A new or modified PSW becomes active (that is, the information introduced into the current PSW assumes control over the CPU) when the interruption or the execution of an instruction that changes the PSW is completed.
A storage key is associated with each 4K-byte block of storage that is available in the configuration. The storage key has the following format. ##STR2## The bit positions in the storage key are allocated as follows:

Method for reconfiguring individual timer registers offline


The semiconductor device has a plurality of bonding pads arranged along opposing longitudinal sides of a semiconductor integrated circuit, and the bonding pads are connected to a power supply interconnection layer and a ground interconnection layer which are provided on the main surface of the semiconductor integrated circuit with a film coat interposed. By this structure, it becomes possible to shorten the extension of power supply lines by wirings, and hence power source can be reinforced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and, more specifically, to an improvement of a semiconductor package structure having reinforced power source.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recently, higher speed of operation has been required of semiconductor devices such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). As the speed of operation of the semiconductor device increases, generation of noise has come to be a serious problem. In order to prevent generation of noise, generally, power supply is reinforced by increasing number of bonding pads for the power supply provided in the semiconductor device.
FIG. 11 shows pin arrangement of a 256 megabit DRAM 100 standardized by JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Council). There are five power sources for supplying power supply potential (VDD) on the left column, and five power sources for supplying ground potential (VSS) on the right column.
At present, TSOP (Thin Small Outline Package) is dominant as the semiconductor package used for DRAMs and the like. The structure of the TSOP will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the structure of the TSOP. For convenience, sealing resin is not shown. FIG. 13 is a cross section taken along the line 13--13' of FIG. 12.
As shown in these figures, the structure of the TSOP includes a silicon substrate 101, and a semiconductor integrated circuit 105 formed on a main surface of silicon substrate 101 and covered by a passivation film 106. Further, there is a plurality of bonding pads 102 formed for connection with the semiconductor integrated circuit 105.
Bonding pads 102 are arranged along longitudinal sides of semiconductor integrated circuit 105. A lead frame 103 for providing connection with external terminals by means of wirings 104 are connected to bonding pads 102. Silicon substrate 101, semiconductor integrated circuit 105, passivation film 106, bonding pads 102, wirings 104 and part of the lead frame 103 are sealed by a resin 107.
A structure of a LOC type TSOP, which is an improvement of the TSOP above will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 is a plan view showing the structure of the LOC type TSOP. For convenience, sealing resin is not shown. FIG. 15 is a cross section taken along the line 15--15' of FIG. 14.
As shown in these figures, the structure of the LOC type TSOP includes a semiconductor integrated circuit 115 formed on a silicon substrate 111, and bonding pads 112 arranged in one line at the center of silicon substrate 111 for connection with the semiconductor integrated circuit 115. Semiconductor integrated circuit 115 is covered by a passivation film 116. A lead frame 113 is arranged to extend above semiconductor integrated circuit 115 with a film coat 117 on passivation film 116 interposed.
Lead frame 113 is connected to bonding pads 112 by means of wirings 114. Silicon substrate 111, semiconductor integrated circuit 115, passivation film 116, film coat 117, bonding pads 112, wirings 114 and part of the lead frame 113 are sealed by resin 118.
When we compare the structure of the conventional type TSOP shown in FIG. 13 and the LOC type TSOP shown in FIG. 15, in the LOC type TSOP, a distance x.sub.2 between a side surface of sealing resin 118 and a side surface of silicon substrate 111 can be made shorter than a distance x.sub.1 in the conventional TSOP, as the lead frame 113 extends above semiconductor integrated circuit 115. Since the outer dimension of the sealing resin has been standardized, a semiconductor circuit having higher degree of integration can be used, and area of the semiconductor integrated circuit can be enlarged within the same shape.
A structure of a path bar type TSOP which is an improvement of LOC type TSOP will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the structure of the path bar type TSOP. For convenience, sealing resin is not shown. FIG. 17 is a cross section taken along the line 17--17 of FIG. 16.
As shown in these figures, the structure of the path bar type TSOP is, basically, similar to the structure of the conventional LOC type TSOP. A semiconductor integrated circuit 128 is formed on a silicon substrate 121, and bonding pads 122 for connection with the semiconductor integrated circuit 128 are arranged in one line at the center of silicon substrate 121.
Semiconductor integrated circuit 128 is covered by a passivation film 127. Lead frame 123 is arranged extending above semiconductor integrated circuit 128 with film coat 126 on passivation film 127 interposed. Further, lead frame 123 is connected to bonding pads 122 by wirings 129. Silicon substrate 121, semiconductor integrated circuit 128, passivation film 127, film coat 126, bonding pads 122, wirings 129 and part of the lead frame 123 are sealed by resin.
In the path bar type TSOP structure, in order to reinforce power sources to prevent generation of noise, number of bonding pads for power sources provided in the semiconductor device has been increased. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 16, an auxiliary lead frame 125 is arranged along bonding pads 122, which is connected to lead frame 123 for the power supply line. By providing auxiliary lead frame 125 connected to the power supply line, it becomes possible to provide power source pads at arbitrary positions, so that power source of the semiconductor device can be reinforced.
Meanwhile, a BGA (Ball Grid Array) has been studied as a new package for a semiconductor device such as a DRAM. The structure of the BGA will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing schematic structure of the BGA, and FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the rear surface of the BGA.
Referring to these figures, on a substrate 141 provided with interconnections printed thereon, a chip 143 having a semiconductor integrated circuit formed therein is mounted, and chip 143 is connected to printed interconnections of substrate 141 by means of wirings 144. Printed interconnections, wirings 144 and chip 143 are sealed by an epoxy resin 142.
On the rear surface, a plurality of bump electrodes 145 formed of spherical solder, for example, are arranged in an array, and these function similar to the lead frame of the conventional TSOP structure described above. Substrate 141 has multilayered interconnection structure, and prescribed bump electrodes 145 are connected to the printed circuit board.
In the path bar structure shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, it is necessary to arrange bonding pads 122 at the central portion of silicon substrate 121. However, when the number of bonding pads 121 is increased to reinforce the power source, there is a limit in the increase of the number of bonding pads 121 arranged in one line, as the size of the semiconductor device is standardized. It may be possible to arrange bonding pads 122 in two lines at the center of silicon substrate 121. However, in that case, there would be long and complicated extensions of power supply lines provided by wirings. As a result, there would be voltage drop over the power supply lines, which makes it difficult to reinforce the power source.


There are provided an inexpensive imaging device that may perform data transmission promptly and easily, and a transmission/reception system using the imaging device. The imaging device includes, an imaging section, a recording section storing data of images shot by the imaging section, a transmission section transmitting the data stored in the recording section to the outside by radio, and a controller controlling the transmission section to start data transmission after the imaging section finishes image-shooting.

The present disclosure relates to an imaging device such as a capsule endoscope, which performs transmission and reception of data and the like via radio communication, and to a transmission/reception system using the imaging device.
Recently, research and development of a capsule endoscope have been actively advanced. For example, the capsule endoscope has a capsule of 11 by 26 to 33 mm packaged with a light-sensing chip, a button battery, LED (Light Emitting Diode), CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a radio transmitter. Typically, such a capsule endoscope may shoot 2 to 35 images per second, and may shoot about 50 to 870 thousands of images in examination time of about 8 hours.
Data of the shot images are transferred as a real-time video signal by radio in a megahertz band from the capsule endoscope to an external portable receiver (data logger) via a radio-receiving antenna attached to a subject. Actually, eight or nine patch antennas are attached to a stomach region of the subject, and the image data are stored in a portable receiver carried by the subject.
A transmission/reception system including such a capsule endoscope includes a capsule endoscope as a transmission device introduced into a body cavity of a subject, a reception device for receiving data transmitted from the capsule endoscope, a recording medium in the reception device, and a display device. In the transmission/reception system, data of the internal images of the subject shot by the capsule endoscope are sequentially transmitted by radio in realtime, the data received via the plurality of antennas attached to the stomach region of the subject are recorded into the recording medium in the reception device, and after the data are acquired, the recording medium is transferred into a display device, or the data are displayed through cable communication or wireless communication (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-189475 or No. 2009-153617). In addition, a system has been developed, where general-purpose PC (Personal Computer) acquires image data from a portable medical device via an insulation-compensating cable communication adaptor device using USB (Universal Serial Bus), a photocoupler, or a transformer (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-178234).
However, these transmission/reception systems are expensive. In addition, since the antennas and the receiver are attached to a subject body, the subject has been significantly restricted in motion, leading to burden on the subject. Furthermore, the quantity of data transmission is limited, and image-shooting data may become imperfect in a portion such as an esophagus, through which the capsule endoscope moves fast. Moreover, since the transmission/reception systems are low in reception sensitivity, further development has been demanded

Imaging device and transmission/reception system


Methods and apparatus are provided for generating low EMI display driver power supply. The methods and apparatus include switching circuits that utilize two groups of parallel circuit traces, each of which is coupled to one end of a switching device. The two groups of traces are configured to be interleaved with each other such that no two traces from either group are next to any other traces from the same group. When the switching device is activated, current flows through the circuit and charges an energy storage element. When the switching device is deactivated, the energy storage element discharges a portion of its energy to a second energy storage element and to the driver circuits. In another embodiment, an additional circuit trace is provided which is only connected on one end and is free floating on the other end to capture the majority of EMI remaining that was generated by the switching circuit.

This relates to switching circuitry that may be used to drive display drivers, and particularly to providing switching circuitry that operates at switching high speeds while producing low EMI output.
There are various well known techniques for generating supply voltages to display driver circuits. In one instance, for example, a charge pump circuit may be used to act as a high voltage power source for a display driver. In that instance, the charge pump could be configured to first charge a capacitor to a given voltage from a battery. Once charged, the capacitor may be placed in a series connection with the battery to effectively double the output voltage. For example, a 3 volt battery may be used to charge a capacitor, which could then be placed in series with the battery to provide a 6 volt output. Charge pumps often operate at relatively high energy efficiencies, but often don't provide as much current as other methods, such as a switching regulator. For example, typical charge pumps provide energy at power conversion efficiency on the order of about 90%.
Another well known technique for providing energy to display driver circuits is to use a switching regulator circuit. In a switching regulator circuit, a switch is used to charge and discharge an active element, such as an inductor, to provide an output voltage. Switching regulators are often used to supply high current, however, such circuits typically generate radiated energy as part of the switching process. The radiated energy is often observed as noise on the circuits surrounding the switching regulator. Switching regulator circuits often produce lower power conversion efficiency, which can be on the order of 80-85% efficiency.
Charge pump circuits may provide energy without the introduction of noise, however, that energy is produced at a lower current driving capability due to the large internal resistance of such circuits. This may not be an issue in instances where the display itself is relatively small, such as the display on an Apple iPod Nano product. However, conventional charge pump circuits may not be able to provide the current necessary to drive a larger display, such as the ones used on Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch products.

Method and apparatus for providing high speed, low EMI switching circuits


A protein photoelectric conversion device including a gold electrode; and a substance selected from the group consisting of a metal-substituted cytochrome b562, a zinc chlorin cytochrome b562, a derivative thereof, and a variant thereof immobilized on the gold electrode.

The present disclosure relates to protein photoelectric conversion devices, photoelectric conversion systems, protein photoelectric conversion device manufacturing methods, photoelectric conversion system manufacturing methods, and protein-immobilized electrodes. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to use of a protein with a cytochrome b562 base in protein photoelectric conversion devices, photoelectric conversion systems, protein photoelectric conversion device manufacturing methods, photoelectric conversion system manufacturing methods, and protein-immobilized electrodes.
Protein is expected to become the next generation functional device that replaces the semiconductor devices. While the semiconductor devices can only be miniaturized to as small as several ten nanometers, protein can exhibit highly sophisticated, complex functions in much smaller sizes of 2 to 10 nm.
There has been proposed a photoelectric conversion device that uses a protein, specifically a photoelectric conversion device that uses a protein-immobilized electrode of a structure in which a zinc-substituted cytochrome c obtained by substituting the central metal iron of the heme in the horse myocardial cytochrome c with zinc is immobilized on a gold electrode. The protein-immobilized electrode is described as being capable of producing a photocurrent (see JP-A-2007-220445). As another example of a photoelectric conversion device that uses a protein, a device is proposed that uses a protein-immobilized electrode of a structure in which a zinc-substituted cytochrome c552 is immobilized on a gold electrode (see JP-A-2010-190646).
There are reports concerning cytochrome b562, including an expression and purification method using Escherichia coli (see Nikkila, H., Gennis, R. B., and Sliger, S. G. Eur. J. Biochem. 202,309 (1991)), conformation (256B. pdb, see Mathews, F. S., Bethge, P. H., and Czerwinski, E. W. J. Biol. Chem. 254,1699 (1979)), a method for extracting a heme (see Itagaki, E., Palmer, G. and Hager, L. P. J. Biol. Chem. 242, 2272 (1967)), a method for incorporating zinc porphyrin (see Hamachi, I., Takashima, H., Tsukiji, S. Shinkai, S., Nagamune, T. and Oishi, S. Chem. Lett. 1999, 551 (1999)), a method for incorporating a quinone into a molecule (see Hay, S., Wallace, B. B., Smith, T. A., Ghiggino, K. P. and Wydrzynski, T. Proc. Natl. Sci USA, 101, 17675 (2004)), and an immobilization method for a silver electrode (see Zuo, P., Albrecht, T. Baker, P. D., Murgida, D. H., and Hildebrandt, P. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 11,7430 (2009)). There are also proposed a photoelectric conversion device for blue light that uses a zinc-substituted cytochrome c552, and a photoelectric conversion device for red light or green light that uses a modified zinc porphyrin cytochrome c552 (see JP-A-2010-190646).

Protein photoelectric conversion device, photoelectric conversion system, protein photoelectric conversion device manufacturing method, photoelectric conversion system manufacturing method and protein-immobilized electrode


A plurality of edges of sensor substrates are connected in a longitudinal direction in a sensor substrate unit. Farthest tips of sensor chips at the edges of the sensor substrates are positioned inside of farthest edges of the edges in the longitudinal direction. The edges of the connected sensor substrates overlap each other in a thickness direction of the sensor substrates in plan view.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image sensor unit, an image reading apparatus, and an image forming apparatus. Particularly, the present invention relates to an image sensor unit, an image reading apparatus, and an image forming apparatus that read large originals and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Readable lengths (hereinafter, "read lengths") of originals are generally about A4, B4, and A3 sizes in an image sensor unit used in an image reading apparatus, such as a facsimile and a scanner. In recent years, an elongated image sensor unit that can read large originals in A2, A1, and A0 sizes exceeding the read length of A3 size is used in an image reading apparatus, such as an electronic white board.
In the image sensor unit of the image reading apparatus that reads large originals and the like exceeding the A3 size, a plurality of sensor substrates shorter than the A3 size, on which a plurality of sensor chips are mounted, are arranged in series in a main-scan direction. In the serial arrangement of the sensor substrates, it is ideal to extremely reduce intervals between the sensor chips mounted on adjacent sensor substrates to reduce image missing sections in reading. However, high reading accuracy is not demanded in the image sensor unit used for an electronic white board or the like, and there is no problem even if the intervals between the sensor chips are large.
On the other hand, the same read quality as that of a general scanner is demanded in an image reading apparatus that needs fine reading of a large map and the like, and generation of an image missing section needs to be prevented. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a photoelectric conversion apparatus elongated by connecting a plurality of wiring boards (sensor substrates) on which LED chips (sensor chips) are arranged.
Patent Document 1
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 07-86541
However, the sensor chips protrude from ends of the sensor substrates in the photoelectric conversion apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1. Therefore, the sensor chips may be damaged when, for example, the sensor substrates are connected or when the sensor substrates provided with the sensor chips are stored.

Image sensor unit, image reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus


A laser having a roughened, catalytic surface to regenerate fluid within the lasing chamber that decomposes during operation of the laser. The roughness of this surface greatly increases its surface area thereby greatly increasing the rate of action of this catalytic surface in regenerating fluid. This structure is particularly useful in producing small, handheld CO.sub.2 lasers.

A significant problem in CO.sub.2 lasers is the decomposition of the CO.sub.2 in response to the impact of electrons that are utilized to excite the CO.sub.2 molecules, such as by the following reactions: EQU CO.sub.2 +e.fwdarw.CO+O.sup.- ( 1) EQU CO.sub.2 +e.fwdarw.CO+O+e (2)
where "e" represents an electron in the electrical discharge through the CO.sub.2 that excites these gas molecules into excited states from which photons can be emitted as part of the lasing process. Unfortunately, these reactions can result in more than 60% of the CO.sub.2 within the laser being decomposed. This results in a loss of power and gain and, for small lasers, can even prevent lasing.
Several approaches have been adopted to address this problem. In one such class of lasers, a fresh supply of the gas mixture (typically consisting of CO.sub.2, N.sub.2, He) continuously flows through the laser chamber. However, because this mixture is approximately 80% helium, such lasers exhibit a significant rate of helium consumption (on the order of 100 liters/hour for a 1000 Watt laser), which is not only costly, but a wasteful use of a limited resource. The helium is included, because its small atomic mass and inert chemical activity make it ideal for conducting heat away from the region within which the CO.sub.2 is induced to lase (i.e., the "lasing region").
In a second class of CO.sub.2 lasers, this gas is pumped past a heated catalyst, such as platinum, located external to the laser chamber to regenerate the CO.sub.2. Unfortunately, in such lasers, about 10% of the gas must still be dumped in each cycle. In a third class of CO.sub.2 lasers, attempts have been made to include such a heated catalyst within the laser chamber. However, such heated catalysts increase the gas temperature to a level that prevents lasing. In a fourth class of CO.sub.2 lasers, the laser gas is passed through an ambient temperature granular catalyst (such as platinum on tin oxide, Hopcalite or cobalt oxide) located outside of the laser chamber.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,000 entitled Discharge Driven Gold Catalyst With Application To A CO.sub.2 Laser, issued on Jul. 5, 1988 to John A. Macken, a gold catalyst is coated onto the inside surface of the laser chamber wall to catalyze reconstitution of the CO.sub.2. In order to prevent this layer of gold from shorting out the discharge process, this gold layer is divided into electrically insulated islands of gold, of length (along the axis of the cylindrical laser chamber) preferably less than half the diameter of the cylindrical laser chamber. Alternatively, the gold is deposited as "microscopically divided gold" (i.e., microscopic granules of gold) on the inside surface of the laser chamber wall or the gold is processed to form such granules after deposition on the laser chamber wall. Analogous lasers employing a silver oxide catalyst are presented in an associated patent application entitled Discharge Driven Silver Oxide Catalyst With Application To A CO.sub.2 Laser.
Lasers typically exhibit a peak efficiency (i.e., the ratio of output power to input power) as a function of input power and therefore are normally operated at such optimal input power. Fabry-Perot type fluid lasers are typically operated in a TEM00 mode, because this cylindrically symmetric mode of laser light can be well focused by conventional optical elements. The main thermal effect in a gas discharge is the transfer of thermal energy from the electrons to translational and rotational energy of the gas that produces the inversion in the laser.
For the following reasons, lasers typically exhibit a power that varies linearly with the length of the cylindrical lasing region and is substantially independent of the diameter of the lasing region. For the electron temperature profiles of two discharges to be similar, it can be shown that the power per unit length (i.e., E.sub.A .cndot.I, where E.sub.A is the axial electrical field strength and I is the axial current) must be the same for both discharges. The power of such a laser is therefore proportional to its length.
A corresponding similarity law for the diameter D of the cylindrical laser cavity to have optimum electron energy distribution requires that the product E.sub.A .cndot.D be the same for both discharges. In combination with the above relation between E.sub.A and I, this requires that the ratio I/D be the same for both discharges. Because of these relations, the power of a TEM.sub.00 mode can be as high as for a higher order mode. A typical CO.sub.2 laser has a 9 mm inside bore (i.e. 9 mm inside diameter) and a length on the order of 1.3 meters and exhibits a power of approximately 40 Watts/m times the length of the lasing region.
In certain applications in medicine, such as removing freckles, it would be advantageous to have a handheld laser that can be comfortably held by a technician and can produce a beam of approximately 5-10 Watts. Unfortunately, a conventional 10 Watt CO.sub.2 laser exhibiting a typical 20% efficiency is approximately 25 cm long. For convenience of use, such a laser should have a length on the order of the length of a person's palm (on the order of 12 cm). Therefore, it would be very useful to produce a CO.sub.2 laser exhibiting at least twice the output power per unit length of conventional CO.sub.2 lasers.

Fluid laser having a roughened, catalytic inner surface


A plastic floor cleaning tool for a vacuum cleaner is characterized by two injection molded plastic pieces that are joined to form an integral structure. By using two plastic pieces to form the floor tool, each may be injection molded to a configuration such that, when they are joined, the floor tool has an aerodynamically shaped interior air flow chamber. The aerodynamically shaped chamber improves the air flow through the floor tool, so that a powerful vortex action is generated at floor level, suction is intensified and debris is aerodynamically airswept through smooth, contoured channels in the floor tool at full force and without encountering acute bends in the air flow path.

The present invention relates to floor cleaning tools for vacuum cleaners, and in particular to an improved plastic floor tool that is formed from two integrally joined injection molded plastic pieces.
There are several types of commercially available floor tools for attachment to the end of a wand of a vacuum cleaner. The most popular are sand cast aluminum tools, which are expensive to make and usually have aerodynamically shaped interior chambers to improve air flow. Because these tools are aluminum, the aerodynamic shapes of the interior chambers are easy to form by using sand cores and then collapsing the sand to remove the cores.
In an effort to reduce the cost of floor tools, steel and one piece plastic tools have been developed with simple box-shaped interior chambers or, at best, chambers with relatively smooth flowing edges. An aerodynamic interior chamber is not formed in such tools since the materials used, steel and injection molded plastic, do not allow such chambers to be easily formed when the tools are initially fabricated as one piece structures. These floor tools therefore are not as efficient in operation as are the above mentioned aluminum tools.


There are provided optical fiber configurations that provide for the delivery of laser energy, and in particular, the transmission and delivery of high power laser energy over great distances. These configurations further are hardened to protect the optical fibers from the stresses and conditions of an intended application. The configurations provide means for determining the additional fiber length (AFL) need to obtain the benefits of such additional fiber, while avoiding bending losses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to configurations of optical fibers that provide the ability to assemble, spool and unspool, deploy or use such configurations, while maintaining the fiber's ability to transmit laser energy over distances, and in particular, over great distance and at high powers. The present invention further relates to configurations that are strengthened to withstand harsh environments, such as the environments found in a borehole, a nuclear plant, or under the sea. In particular, the present invention relates to unique and novel configurations utilizing additional fiber length to minimize bending losses while providing benefits for selected predetermined applications.
As used herein, unless specified otherwise "high power laser energy" means a laser beam having at least about 5 kW (kilowatt) of power. As used herein, unless specified otherwise "great distances" means at least about 500 m (meter). As used herein the term "substantial loss of power," "substantial power loss" and similar such phrases, mean a loss of power of more than about 3.0 dB/km (decibel/kilometer) for a selected wavelength. As used herein the term "substantial power transmission" means at least about 50% transmittance.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Until the development of the inventions set forth in patent application Ser. No. 12/706,576, pending, filed Feb. 16, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, it was believed that the transmission of high power laser energy over great distances without substantial loss of power was unobtainable. As a consequence, prior to the inventions of that patent application it was further believed that there was no reason to construct, or investigate the composition of, an optical fiber, an optical fiber configuration, or an optical fiber cable for the transmission of high power laser energy over great distances.
Power loss over long distances occurs in an optical fiber from many sources including: absorption loss, and in particular absorption loss from hydroxyl ions (OH−); Rayleigh scattering; Brillouin scattering; Raman scattering; defects; inclusions; and bending loss. These problems have been documented in the literature.
An example of the prior belief in the art that a paradigm existed between the transmission of high power laser energy over great distances and substantial power loss, is illustrated in the article by Muto et al., titled "Laser cutting for thick concrete by multi-pass technique," CHINESE OPTICS LETTERS Vol. 5, Supplement May 31, 2007, pages S39-S41 (hereinafter referred to as "Muto"). Although Muto states that 4 kW of power were delivered down a 1 km fiber, when 5 kW of laser power was put into the fiber, Muto fails to eliminate the stimulated Raman scattering ("SRS") phenomena. As shown by Muto's paper this deleterious phenomenon will effectively clamp the output power as length or power is increased. The SRS phenomenon is shown by the spectrum in FIG. 3 of Muto. Thus, prior to the invention of Ser. No. 12/706,576, it was believed that as input laser power, or the length of the fiber increased, the power output of a fiber would not increase because of the stimulated Brillouin scattering ("SBS"), SRS and other nonlinear phenomena. In particular, SBS would transfer the output power back up the fiber toward the input. Further, SBS, SRS, as well as the other deleterious nonlinear effects, in addition to limiting the amount of power that can be transmitted out of the fiber, can result in fiber heating and ultimate failure. Thus, as recognized by Muto, at page S41 "[i]t is found that 10-kW-power delivery is feasible through a 250-m-long fiber with the core diameter of 150 μm. The physical phenomenon which restricts the transmitted power is SRS." Thus, Muto, as did others before him, failed to deliver high power laser energy over great distances.
Further, Muto does not disclose, discuss or address the placing of its optical fiber in any protective tubing or material, the coiling and uncoiling of its fiber or the strengthening of its fiber for use in a particular application. In particular, Muto does not address the bending losses associated with such configurations and, in particular, the bending losses that are associated with strengthened configurations.
The present invention provides solutions to bending loss problems that are associated with configuring optical fibers in protective structures and, in particular, in placing long lengths of high power optical fibers in protective tubing and then coiling and uncoiling such a configuration. Various solutions, examples of which are provided in this specification, are provided for minimizing, and in certain instances eliminating to any practical extent, bending losses that result from such configurations.
The present invention advances the art of laser delivery, and in particular the art of high power laser delivery, by providing an optical fiber configuration that avoids or mitigates the bending losses associated with optical fiber configurations and, in particular, provides an optical fiber configuration for the transmission of high power laser energy over great distances in harsh environments without substantial power loss.

Optical fiber configurations for transmission of laser energy over great distances


Methods are provided for identifying genetic markers and for determining methylation patterns using restriction endonucleases having degenerate recognition or cleavage sequences.

The field of genomics has taken rapid strides in recent years. It started with efforts to determine the entire nucleotide sequence of simpler organisms such as viruses and bacteria. As a result, genomic sequences of Hemophilus influenzae (Fleischman et al., Science 269: 496-512 [1995]) and a number of other bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Helicobacter pylori, Caulobacter jejuni, Mycobacterium leprae) are now available. This was followed by the determination of complete nucleotide sequence of a number of eukaryotic organisms including budding-yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (Goffeau et al., Science 274: 563-567 [1996]), nematode (Cenorhabditis elegans) (C. elegans sequencing consortium, Science 282: 2012-2018 [1998]) and fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) (Adams et al., Science 287: 2185-2195 [2000]). Genome sequencing is rapidly advancing and several genomes are now complete or partially complete, including the human, mouse, and rice genomes.
The availability of complete genomic sequences of various organisms promises to significantly advance our understanding of various fundamental aspects of biology. It also promises to provide unparalleled applied benefits such as understanding genetic basis of certain diseases, providing new targets for therapeutic intervention, developing a new generation of diagnostic tests etc. However, new and improved tools will be needed to harvest and fully realize the potential of genomics research.
The ability to establish differences between DNA samples from two different sources or from the same source but under different developmental or environmental conditions is very important. Subtle differences in the genetic material can often yield valuable information, which can help understand physiological processes as well as can provide powerful techniques with wide applications. The approach has broad applications in areas such as forensic science, determination of predisposition of individuals to certain diseases, tissue typing, molecular taxonomy etc. DNA fingerprinting is already being used for a variety of purposes. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) screening promises to be yet another powerful tool intended for use in some of these applications.
Just as in the case of DNA profiling, as discussed above, RNA profiling can also yield valuable information with potential uses in similar and overlapping applications. Even though the DNA complement or gene complement is identical in various cells in the body of multi-cellular organisms, there are qualitative and quantitative differences in gene expression in various cells. A human genome is estimated to contain roughly about 40,000 genes, however, only about 15,000-20,000 genes are expressed in a given cell (Liang et al., Science 257: 967-971 [1992]). Moreover, there are quantitative differences among the expressed genes in various cell types. Although all cells express certain housekeeping genes, each distinct cell type additionally expresses a unique set of genes. Phenotypic differences between cell types are largely determined by the complement of proteins that are uniquely expressed. It is the expression of this unique set of genes and the encoded proteins, which constitutes functional identity of a cell type, and distinguishes it from other cell types. Moreover, the complement of genes that are expressed and their level of expression vary considerably depending on the developmental stage of a given cell type. Certain genes are specifically activated or repressed during differentiation of a cell. The level of expression also changes during development and differentiation. Qualitative and quantitative changes in gene expression also take place during cell division, e.g. in various phases of cell cycle. Signal transduction by biologically active molecules such as hormones, growth factors and cytokines often involves modulation of gene expression. The process of aging is characterized by changes in gene expression.
In addition to the endogenous or internal factors as mentioned above, certain external factors or stimuli, such as environmental factors, also bring about changes in gene expression profile. Infectious organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites interact with the cells and influence the qualitative and quantitative aspects of gene expression. Thus, the precise complement of genes expressed by a given cell type is influenced by a number of endogenous and exogenous factors. The outcome of these changes is critical for normal cell survival, growth, development and response to environment. Therefore, it is very important to identify, characterize and measure changes in gene expression. Not only will the knowledge gained from such analysis further our understanding of basic biology, but it will also allow us to exploit it for various purposes such as diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious diseases and screening to identify and develop new drugs etc.
Besides the conventional, one by one gene expression analysis methods like Northern analysis, RNase protection assays, and RT-PCR, there are several methods currently available to examine gene expression on a genome wide scale. These approaches are variously referred to as RNA profiling, differential display, etc. These methods can be broadly divided into three categories: (1) hybridization-based methods such as subtractive hybridization, microarray etc., (2) cDNA tags: EST, serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) etc., and (3) fragment size based, often referred to as gel-based methods where differential display is generated upon electrophoretic separation of DNA fragments on a gel such as polyacrylamide.
Although libraries made by subtractive hybridization have been used extensively for the identification and cloning of differentially expressed genes (Wecher et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 14: 10027-10044 [1986]; Hedrick et al., Nature 308: 149-153 [1984]; Koyama et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84: 1609-1613 [1987]; Zipfel et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 9: 1041-1048 [1989]), it is very labor intensive, requires large amounts of RNA, and is not amenable to quantitative measurement of gene expression. Moreover, it is not ideally suited for monitoring the expression of a large number of genes in order to generate a genome-wide profile of gene expression. SAGE (see, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,695,937 and 5,866,330) provides an alternative method that does not suffer from some of the limitations of subtractive library screening. For example, it allows for quantitative monitoring of global gene expression. However, it too has certain limitations such as higher cost and labor intensiveness, and is not suitable for cloning of identified genes. Moreover, the tag sequences obtained from SAGE library are too short to be used as a gene specific primer or probe.
Gel-based methods (described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,871,697, 5,459,037, 5,712,126 and a PCT publication WO 98/51789) address some of the shortcomings of the non-gel-based methods. However, most of them suffer from compromised specificity. Most of the existing gel-based gene expression analysis methods are based on the following principles: cDNAs are first digested by restriction enzyme, ligated with a suitable adapter, then amplified by PCR with selective primers, and fragments resolved on electrophoretic gels. The selection of a cDNA population relies upon the annealing of the selective primers to the cDNA fragments and extension by a polymerase during PCR amplification. The method uses sequence variation of neighboring restriction sites in different cDNA fragments. However, PCR is less than ideal in terms of specificity. Depending on the stringency of annealing conditions, one to a few base mismatches are tolerated and primers are extended by the DNA polymerase inspite of less than perfect complementarity between the primer and the template. The variation among the selective primers does not allow stringent conditions for all PCR. The resultant non-specific priming and amplification distorts the profile of amplified fragments, which often does not correlate well with the mRNA profile of the sample.
The individual methods using a gel-based approach suffer from some additional specific disadvantages. For example, a method developed by Curagen (U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,697) requires the use of many different restriction enzymes, the enzyme selection is not flexible, and the reaction set up is rather complicated. Each cDNA sample in this method is separated into 96 pools, and digested by 96 pairs of different 6-base cutter enzymes. It would be difficult to increase the fractionation in this method. A method developed by Digital Gene Technology (U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,037) is based on capturing the 3′-end fragments of cDNAs such that each gene will have only one representative. However, a major disadvantage of this method is its long and complicated procedure, which is not only labor intensive but, more importantly, also decreases the sensitivity and representation of differential display. The technology involves multiple steps such as cDNA synthesis, library construction and cloning, in vitro RNA transcription, a second round cDNA synthesis, and finally PCR. At each step in this procedure, some bias is introduced that ultimately skews the original representation of transcripts. A PCT publication WO 98/51789 describes a method developed by Display System Technology that utilizes a PCR based profiling approach. The use of only 4 base cutters in this method generates a large number of bands for a specific cDNA species, and introduces redundancy.
Methods for the selection of DNA markers using adaptor molecules and the selective amplification of DNA having a plurality of sites for a specific endonuclease are described in UK Patent Application Nos. GB 2,295,011, and GB 2,295,228.
Because of various shortcomings of the currently available technologies there is a need for improved methods of identification, separation and quantitative measurement of nucleic acid fragments. It is the objective of the present invention to provide such a method.

Method for identification of genetic markers


Disclosed herein are embodiments for implementing periodic management of cryptographic keys. An embodiment includes a processor configured to perform operations comprising receive a first input associating a first set of subscribers with a first data stream published by the first publisher device, and a first cryptographic key. Processor may transmit, to the first publisher device, a first confirmation, indicating that the first cryptographic key is ready for use, for example. In some embodiments, processor may release the first cryptographic key to a first set of subscribers, receive a second input from a publishing user, associating a different, second set of subscribers with the first data stream, and receive a second cryptographic key after a certain time period. Processor may further transmit, to the first device, a second confirmation, indicating that the second cryptographic key is ready for use, and release the second cryptographic key to the second set of subscribers.

In recent years, as computing technology and telemetry sensors have become more efficient, less costly, and more ubiquitous, there has been a proliferation of data generated by such new technology. Similar increases in data volume have been observed with other types of personal data, from social media to medical records. As data collected from individuals and their devices may become more personal and plentiful, such data may also seem to be less private, often being controlled by third parties who harvest personal data from many individuals to sell and trade this data. The third parties who control this data are thereby in a position to profit immensely, often without consideration or compensation for the individuals' privacy or control that the individuals relinquish for the sake of this monitoring. Given the control of third parties over conventional data collection, individuals rarely, if ever, have an opportunity to choose or consent to other specific third parties' access to their data.
In the current field, there are no known technologies capable of automating data processing for granting and withdrawing consent to access personal data. Some existing blockchain providers have looked into deploying other types of technical privacy overlays. For example, Enigma (enigma.co) focuses on the protection of data sets within the blockchain. As another example, Ocean Protocol is a project that aims at developing a protocol and network—a tokenized ecosystem—to incentivize sharing data and services, such as for AI-related applications. However, these existing systems each have considerable drawbacks. For example, both Enigma and Ocean Protocol need data repositories with massive storage requirements for certain use cases—these are not scalable solutions. Additionally, Enigma and Ocean Protocol must propagate data to their persistence providers before carrying out their tokenization and access control, creating a potential security vulnerability. Enigma and Ocean Protocol also both bring their own data access layers into the mix, adding further complexity over existing communication protocols. A different approach thus becomes necessary to have a scalable solution, compliant with privacy regulations, to restore control to individuals.
In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical or similar elements. Additionally, generally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

Multicast encryption scheme for data-ownership platform


A microelectronic package is provided. The microelectronic package includes a substrate having a plurality of solder bumps disposed on a top side of the substrate and a die disposed adjacent to the top side of the substrate. The die includes a plurality of glassy metal bumps disposed on a bottom side of the die wherein the plurality of glassy metal bumps are to melt the plurality of solder bumps to form a liquid solder layer. The liquid solder layer is to attach the die with the substrate.

With recent advancements in semiconductor manufacturing technology microelectronic components are becoming smaller and circuitry within such components is becoming increasingly dense. This has led to an increase in wiring levels and a reduction in the wiring pitch to increase the wiring density. Many leading edge processors have multiple levels of high density interconnects.
In order to prepare microelectronic components such as a chip having a high speed, a conductor having a low resistance and a dielectric material having low dielectric constant is used. Typically, microelectronic components employ SiO2 as the interlayer dielectric material having the requisite mechanical and thermal properties.
One challenge is that the low dielectric constant (k) interlayer dielectric strength continues to decline as a result of reduced dielectric constant. Furthermore, the stress transferred to the low K interlayer dielectric continues to increase with lead free conversion and pitch reduction.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments of the claimed subject matter, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the claimed subject matter be viewed broadly, and be defined only as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Microelectronic package with self-heating interconnect


A capacitive sensing system is provided, which includes: a pixel matrix for sensing a plurality of voltage variations generated by pressing of a fingerprint; and a calibration unit coupled to the pixel matrix and used for calibrating the plurality of voltage variation of the pixel matrix according to a control signal generated based on the plurality of voltage variations. The capacitive sensing system according to the present disclosure has advantages of improving the consistency of the voltage variations detected by the pixel units and reducing the occurrence of distortion.

With the development and progress of science and technology, mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, tablet computers, and notebook computers have become indispensable tools in people's lives. In order to effectively prevent the data inside the personal mobile electronic devices from being stolen, various protection methods have been devised accordingly, such as password verification, voiceprint identification, or fingerprint identification, wherein the fingerprint identification is widely used. In existing capacitive sensing devices, the capacitance variation generated by charging and discharging a capacitor is typically converted into original data value; however, since a distortion of the conversion voltage variation is caused by process offset or parasitic capacitance effect, errors or distortions in image processing are caused accordingly.
Therefore, how to provide a system for sensing capacitances to avoid occurrence of the above situation becomes one of the goals to be achieved in the industry.

Capacitive sensing system and method for voltage calibration of the same


A contact lens for corrective corneal crosslinking has a lens part and reservoir part. The lens part is constituted of a UV transmitting material, and provided, on a side thereof being in contact with the cornea of a patient's eyeball, with a pressing region configured to project in a convexly curved shape at a position for pressing the corneal dome center, and a relief region including an annular concave part whose cross section has a concavely circular arc shape that surrounds the pressing region's outer circumference. The reservoir part is disposed seamlessly and integrally therewith on the lens' outer side in a thickness direction in the pressing region, the reservoir part is provided with a communication hole for communication between the inside of the reservoir part and the pressing region, and a working electrode that has the same polarity as that of the riboflavin solution in the reservoir part.

A contact lens under development is of a type that is mounted, for example, during sleep and changes the corneal shape of a patient, thereby correcting myopia, hyperopia, and/or astigmatism while the contact lens is removed.
When the above-described contact lens is not mounted for a long period of time, the restoring force of the cornea restores the original myopia or hyperopia state. It is thus desirable to fix the cornea in a corrected state.
On the other hand, in a refraction correction surgery, while riboflavin (vitamin B2) is infiltrated, a corneal tissue is irradiated with UV rays for crosslinking collagens constituting the cornea, thereby enhancing the corneal strength and fixing the cornea.
For corneal crosslinking, a retractor is used to keep open the eye of a patient, and a riboflavin solution is dropped from a cylindrical reservoir part mounted above the cornea so as to be infiltrated into the cornea.
Also, in Patent Literature 1, the present inventor proposed a contact lens for corrective corneal crosslinking and a crosslinking method for cornea correction.
In this method, a crosslinking method and a contact lens of cornea correction are combined to fix the corneal shape in a state where the cornea is corrected by the contact lens to a certain extent.
Also in this case, infiltration of a riboflavin solution is performed in a state where the contact lens for cornea correction is removed as in the case of the above-mentioned method.
The foregoing methods have the following problems: to drop and infiltrate a riboflavin solution with the eye of a patient open, the patient is restrained by a retractor under the state of having to keep the eye opened for a long period of time (about 30 minutes); and since the dropped riboflavin solution does not completely infiltrate into the cornea and most of the solution leaks outside, a physician needs to frequently perform the task of blotting up the leaked riboflavin solution. Furthermore, when UV irradiation is performed, a contact lens is mounted after a riboflavin solution infiltrates into the cornea. The problem is that the deformation characteristics of the cornea differ from those before infiltration of the riboflavin solution, making it impossible to sufficiently correct the cornea.
As in the case of the conventional contact lens, the aforementioned contact lens for cornea correction is produced on the basis of the design concept that the thickness should be as small as possible (currently, the lens thickness at the central part is 0.14 mm or greater and 0.25 mm or smaller). Thus, the problem of the aforementioned contact lens for cornea correction is that the contact lens is likely to crack.
This contact lens for cornea correction is formed by grinding and cutting out from a circular-plate material, which is usually called a button, with a diameter of 10 mm and a height of 5 mm. In the production process thereof, one surface is first ground and cut out, and the other surface is ground while the ground and cut out surface to which a curved shape is given is supported, to form the contact lens, for example, disclosed in Patent Literature 1. The problem of this production process is that the lens material is eventually broken when the other surface is ground.

Contact lens for corrective corneal crosslinking and method for producing same


A method is disclosed of making an integral structure comprised of inner and outer coaxial shells mutually supported so as to define an annular passageway between the shells. The integral structure may be an air inlet housing for a gas turbine engine and the inner shell may be a hub member having a generally cylindrical passage extending therethrough for rotatably receiving a drive shaft. The inner shell is formed by braiding on a shaped mandrel a plurality of fibers such as fiberglass, boron, carbon, or the like, to form an inner shell preform having an outer surface of revolution. A plurality of duct preforms are similarly formed on a conical mandrel, then removed, and administered onto an outer peripheral surface of a duct mold so as to define a modified shape. The modified duct preforms are then positioned onto the outer surface of the inner shell preform in side-by-side relationship such that the first and second lateral surfaces on adjacent modified duct preforms are coextensive and engaged, the plurality of modified duct preforms completely circumscribing the inner shell preform. Then, a plurality of fibers are braided across the plurality of outer modified duct surfaces of the duct preforms to form an outer shell preform spaced from and coaxial with the inner shell preform. Thereafter, resin is applied to the structure to encapsulate the braided inner shell preform, the braided modified duct preforms, and the braided outer shell preform. The resin is then cured to thereby complete fabrication of the integral structure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to components fabricated from braided fiber composite materials and, in particular, to a method of making an integral structure so fabricated comprised of inner and outer coaxial shells mutually supported so as to define an annular passageway therebetween. Throughout the instant disclosure, the terms "braided fiber" or "braiding" are intended to include "woven or knitted fabric" or "weaving" or "knitting", although the specific construction of braided fiber and the specific method of braiding are considered to be preferable to the specific constructions of woven or knitted fabrics and the specific methods of weaving and knitting.
2. Description of the prior Art
It is known to utilize elongate material, such as boron fibers, carbon fibers, and glass fibers for the reinforcement of gas turbine engine components such as compressor and turbine blades and vanes. In particular, the potential for usage of high modulus, high strength fibers, such as carbon, silicon carbide, boron, and glass in a resin or metal matrix is widely recognized. A typical application of such materials is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,271 to Bailey et al. In that particular instance, a composite gas turbine engine blade is disclosed as being made by braiding a plurality of fibers to form a preform. After braiding, the preform is placed in a mold provided with a blade shaped cavity and is subjected to matrix infiltration while the mold halves are pressed together by suitable pressing means such as a hydraulic cylinder. The goal of the present invention is to utilize a similar technique for the construction of a component which heretofore has only been constructed of metal, namely, magnesium, aluminum and, more recently, titanium and steel.


Cable shield grounding electrical connectors comprise a cable having a cable shield, an inner insulating sleeve disposed radially inwardly from the cable shield, and an inner conductor radially inward of the inner insulating sleeve. An inner ferrule includes an outer surface, wherein a portion of the cable shield is disposed along at least a portion of the inner ferrule outer surface. An outer ferrule comprises a first section that is disposed concentrically around the inner ferrule, and wherein the portion of the cable shield is interposed between and in direct contact with each of the inner ferrule and the outer ferrule first section, thereby forming an assembly. The connector comprises a housing having an inner cavity and wherein the assembly is disposed within the inner cavity. An electrically interconnecting element is interposed between the assembly and the housing to provide a grounding electrical connection therebetween.

The use of electrical connectors configured to provide a connection between the shield of a shielded cable and a connector housing for grounding purposes is known in the art. The need to provide an effective and robust grounding of shielded cables is especially important in high-power applications such as in the hybrid and electrical Industrial and Commercial Transportation (ICT) industry that call for high levels of EMI protection and resistance to high vibration for functional and safety reasons. Such conventional electrical connectors currently used in these demanding applications often utilize non-conductive materials such as plastic for the connector housing and sheet metal shielding components for EMI protection. During the course of use, such conventional connectors comprising such sheet metal components often fail under conditions of high vibration, and thus do not provide a grounding construction that adequately addresses the need to provide reliable EMI protection as called for in such end-use applications.
It is, therefore, desired that electrical connectors be constructed in a manner that provides an effective and robust degree of shielded cable grounding under conditions of high vibration, to thereby address the need not adequately met by conventional connectors to provide a high degree of EMI protection and resistance to vibration to extend the effective service life of such connectors while improving the degree of reliable power transmission in such end-use applications.