A method and apparatus for manufacturing an optical disc, a transparent disc substrate having two relatively wide-area surfaces thereof on at least one of which an information is recorded and a first reflective film is formed onto a dummy disc having similar relatively wide-area surfaces thereof on at least one which another information is recorded and a second reflective film having a light semi-transmissive characteristic is formed are bonded via an adhesive layer and, thereafter, an external force is applied between the dummy disc and the disc substrate through an integrated center hole penetrated through the dummy disc and the disc substrate at center positions thereof to peel off the dummy disc at a first interface between the dummy disc and the second reflective film thereof. In a preferred embodiment, a partial peeling off of the dummy disc from the second reflective film is carried out through a mechanical force and a complete peeling off of the dummy disc from the second reflective film is carried out through a supply of a compressed air to the first interface between the partially peeled dummy disc and the second reflective film.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method and apparatus for an optical disc having a plurality of recording layer surfaces.
b) Description of the Related Art
Recently, such a high density recording medium as an optical disc called a digital versatile disc (hereinafter, abbreviated as DVD) has been developed as a product of a technique which increases a recording capacity on recording surfaces.
Furthermore, there is an increasing tendency on the recording capacity of the optical disc to highly densify the recording capacity. For example, in a four-layer recording structure, the optical disc called DVD-18 on which a recording has been made for each of two layers thereof from both surfaces has the recording capacity of 17 GB (Gigabytes).
Japanese Patent Application First (unexamined) Publication No. Heisei 10-283682 published on Oct. 23, 1998 and Japanese Patent Application Second (examined) Publication No. Heisei 8-23941 published on Mar. 6, 1996 exemplify previously proposed manufacturing methods of the multi-layer optical discs such as the DVD-18 as described above.
In each of the previously proposed manufacturing methods described in the above-described Japanese Patent Application Publications, manufacturing steps of either of its recording surfaces include: a step of peeling off an interface between a stamper and an adhesive layer, the stamper being used for each layer, a step of transcribing the information recorded by means of pit rows on the adhesive layer formed on the interface; and a step of forming a reflective film on the adhesive layer.
Since, in the previously proposed manufacturing method, the steps using the stamper by plural number of times are continued serially, a time length of the whole manufacturing steps (in a whole manufacturing line) is accordingly extended.
In addition, it is necessary to carry out strict control over the steps using the stamper in a clean room. It is not always efficient to provide the steps using the stamper alternately with steps of bonding mutually the layers which are different in qualities.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved manufacturing method and apparatus for the optical disc in which no stamper is used and a step of forming a reflective film on an adhesive layer after the step of transcribing the information is deleted and which are appropriate for a mass production of the optical disc.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided with a method for manufacturing an optical disc, comprising: bonding a transparent disc substrate having two relatively wide-area surfaces thereof on at least one of which a first information is recorded and a first reflective film is formed onto a dummy disc having the similar relatively wide-area surfaces thereof on at least one which a second information is recorded and a second reflective film is formed via an adhesive layer; and applying an external force between the dummy disc and the disc substrate through an integrated center hole penetrated through the dummy disc and the disc substrate at center positions thereof to peel off the dummy disc at a first interface between the dummy disc and the second reflective film thereof.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided with an apparatus for manufacturing an optical disc comprising: a bonding device to bond a transparent disc substrate having two relatively wide-area surfaces thereof on at least one of which a first information is recorded and a first reflective film is formed onto a dummy disc having the similar relatively wide-area surfaces thereof on at least one of which a second information is recorded and a second reflective film is formed via an adhesive layer; and an external force applying device to apply an external force between the dummy disc and the disc substrate through an integrated center hole penetrated through the dummy disc and the disc substrate at center positions thereof to peel off the dummy disc at a first interface between the dummy disc and the second reflective film thereof.
This summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all necessary features so that the invention may also be a sub-combination of these described features.

Manufacturing method and apparatus for optical disc


This invention concerns patentable devices configured to capture cancer stem cells and cell clusters. After capturing such cells and/or clusters, the cancerous cells are subjected to whole genome sequencing. The resulting genomic sequence information is then compared to that for “normal” or non-diseased tissue (obtained, for example, from either the same patient, or a population sample, etc.) in order to identify the specific genetic mutation(s) present in the CSCs. Further analysis then correlates the genetic mutations with cell growth signaling pathways typically found with tumor metastases. Armed with this information, an oncologist can then develop a specifically targeted therapy that utilizes approved drugs or drug candidates undergoing clinical testing to address the identified driver mutations and thus effect a “targeted” therapy tailored to the particular patient's disease.

Cancer remains a significant burden on society despite decades of research and prevention programs. In the United States alone there will likely be over 1,658,370 new cases of cancer diagnosed in 2015, with an estimated 589,430 dying from the disease. The National Cancer Institute estimates that today over 13 million people in the U.S. are living with cancer. Metastasis typically describes the disease progression where cancer cells originating from the primary tumor spread via several pathways to other organs in the body, initiating new tumors. Greater than 90% of the deaths related to cancer are due to the metastatic processes within cancer.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), a not-for-profit alliance of 23 of the world's leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education, is dedicated to improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of cancer care. NCCN® updates and publishes clinical practice guidelines, describing recommended treatment protocols appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. Even today, current NCCN® guidelines frequently classify cancers based on the anatomical site where the primary tumor has been identified, as has been the case historically. Any changes to the NCCN® guidelines typically require extensive clinical evidence demonstrating significant improvement in patient outcomes. Unfortunately, generating that level of evidence typically requires years and for many cancer patients, time runs out.
Genetic sequencing of the tumor cells has the potential to revolutionize how cancer is treated. Cancer therapy within the past several years has seen advances in the use of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to characterize tumors in order to identify specific genetic mutations that help to may identify responders to new or existing targeted therapies. However, cancer research has recently begun to illustrate that not all tumor cells within a primary tumor site are identical. Indeed, it is known that up to 69% of somatic mutations cannot be detected across all regions within a tumor. The implications from such findings immediately pose an important therapy treatment question regarding the use of NGS on patient tumor specimen, namely: which cancer cell(s) should be genetically analyzed to reveal the significant driver mutations resulting in cancer metastasis? Perhaps the best answer would be to identify the set of cancer cells most likely to be involved with tumor metastasis, which ultimately causes the vast majority of patient deaths due to cancer.
An increasing body of evidence has recently appeared in the scientific literature suggesting the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). This research indicates that a rare subset of cancer cells may be responsible for the initiation of tumors outside and away from the primary tumor. More recent scientific evidence is beginning to suggest that traditional, non-targeted chemotherapy may actually be increasing the number of CSCs, which may explain a resurgence of the disease in numerous patients following initial chemotherapy success. Clearly, additional approaches are needed to better treat cancer.

Rare cell isolation device and method of use thereof


An optical 2R/3R regenerator is described. One or more LSOAs are used as part of the optical 2R/3R register.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to optical 2R/3R regeneration. More particularly, it relates to optical 2R/3R regeneration utilizing a vertically lasing semiconductor optical amplifier (VLSOA).
2. Description of Related Technologies
As a result of continuous advances in technology, particularly in the area of networking such as the Internet, there is an increasing demand for communications bandwidth. For example, the transmission of data over a telephone company""s trunk lines, the transmission of images or video over the Internet, the transfer of large amounts of data as might be required in transaction processing, or videoconferencing implemented over a public telephone network typically require the high speed transmission of large amounts of data. As applications such as these become more prevalent, the demand for communications bandwidth capacity will only increase.
Optical fiber is a transmission medium that is well suited to meet this increasing demand. Optical fiber has an inherent bandwidth that is much greater than metal-based conductors, such as twisted pair or coaxial cable; and protocols such as the SONET optical carrier (OC) protocols have been developed for the transmission of data over optical fibers.
Fiber optic communications systems transmit information optically at very high speeds over optical fibers. A typical communications system includes a transmitter, an optical be fiber, and a receiver. The transmitter incorporates information to be communicated into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal via the optical fiber to the receiver. The receiver recovers the original information from the received optical signal. In these systems, phenomena such as fiber losses, losses due to insertion of components in the transmission path, and splitting of the optical signal may attenuate the optical signal and degrade the corresponding signal-to-noise ratio as the optical signal propagates through the communications system. Optical amplifiers are used to compensate for attenuations. However, even with amplification, the optical signal degrades. Noise and other factors can result in a distortion of the optical signal.
2R/3R regeneration is used to restore signals that have been degraded. 2R regeneration stands for reshaping and retransmission of the signal, and 3R adds retiming of the signal. In the past, 2R/3R regeneration has been accomplished through optical-electrical-optical (xe2x80x9cOEOxe2x80x9d) systems and optical systems that use Mach Zhender modulators.
In an OEO system, the signal is converted from optical to electrical, 2R/3R regenerated electrically, and finally converted back to an optical signal. Therefore, OEO systems have the drawbacks of being relatively large, complex and expensive. In addition, optical systems are generally capable of greater speeds than electrical systems. Therefore, an OEO system limits the overall system to the speed of the electronics, rather than allowing the inherent speed of the optical system to be fully utilized.
Mach Zhender systems also have drawbacks. Each Mach Zhender uses multiple optical amplifiers and requires an independent second input. Therefore, these systems have the drawbacks of being relatively large, complex and expensive.
The present invention can reshape, retime, and retransmit an input optical signal.
One embodiment reshapes an input optical signal. The input optical signal is received at an input of an optical one-input flip-flop. A bias signal is also received at the input of the optical one-input flip-flop. When the bias signal combined with the input optical signal is below a depletion threshold of the optical one-input flip-flop, the output of the optical one-input flip-flop is low. When the bias signal combined with the input optical signal-is above a depletion of the optical one-input flip-flop, the output of the optical one-input flip-flop is high. The optical one-input flip-flop outputs the reshaped input optical signal.
Another embodiment recovers a clock signal from an input optical signal. The input optical signal is received at a first input of an optical AND gate. A clock signal from a variable oscillator is received at a second input of the optical AND gate. The optical AND gate outputs a feedback signal. A feedback controller receives the feedback signal and in response outputs a control signal. The variable oscillator receives the control signal and in response outputs the clock signal. In addition to being sent to the second input of the optical AND gate, the clock signal is the recovered clock signal.
Another embodiment retimes an input optical signal. The input optical signal is received at a first input of an optical AND gate. A clock signal, recovered from the input optical signal, is received at a second input of an optical AND gate. The optical AND gate outputs the retimed input optical signal.
In addition, some embodiments retransmit an input optical signal.
Other embodiments perform more than one of the above functions. For example, one embodiment reshapes an input optical signal, recovers a clock signal from the input optical signal, retimes the input optical signal, and retransmits the reshaped, retimed input optical signal.


The invention relates to a user device comprising: an output component for outputting media content to a user; computer storage holding a user model of a user, the user model comprising personal information of the user; an input component configured to receive a content identification document identifying pieces of content to be output to the user by the output component: a content modifier configured to modify the document received by the input component based on the user model of the user, the content modifier operable to filter out at least one piece of content identified by the content document to generate a modified identification document, wherein the output component is configured to interpret each piece of content identified in the modified identification document for outputting to the user, wherein the filtered out piece(s) of content is not provided to the user.

When using their devices nowadays, users are subject to potentially a very large amount of what is referred to as herein "auxiliary content". This is used to reference content which is not actually requested by a user but which is nevertheless directed to a user and played out at a user device (whether or not the user wants it). User devices include media players, such as digital video players, which are designed to play out at a screen or other output element of a user device auxiliary content which is received at that device in addition to content selected by a user.
Although users have not requested auxiliary content, they are generally tolerant of receiving and playing out a certain amount of auxiliary content, particularly where the receipt and play-out of that auxiliary content means that the user does not have to pay for the content that they did desire to receive. Auxiliary content can be provided in many different forms, including video content, static image, text based content, audio content. Although the present document is focussed mainly on the play-out of full media (video and audio) content, it will be appreciated that other forms of content are also available.
One particular type of auxiliary content is advertising content. The usual approach to targeted advertising consists in identifying users in a unique way, collecting user behaviour information either in an Ad server or in a dedicated remote system (a behavioural tracking system) and then using the collected information to classify the end-user to predefine behavioural classes. When the Ad server is being requested to provide advertising to a given user, the behavioural class the end user belongs to is then used to determine the most appropriate advert for him (for example, a user identified as a "Sportsman" is a likely candidate to receive advertising related to sports, goods and events). A disadvantage of this approach is that the user behaviour is collected by a third party behavioural tracking system and increasingly end-users are not tolerant to such a violation of their privacy. Already, many internet systems provide a "Do Not Track" feature that lets the end-users express a preference not to be tracked by websites. When the feature is enabled, advertising networks and other websites and applications are informed that the end-user has opted out of tracking for purposes like behavioural advertising and hence their behavioural information should not be collected. This means that users receive auxiliary content which is potentially of no relevance to them, but which consumes their time and device resources when played out.


A stringed musical instrument with a guitar-banjo combination sound is an apparatus that is designed to be played in the same manner as a typical guitar but is also designed to be more portable than a typical guitar. The apparatus includes a sound box coupled to a guitar neck, which allows a plurality of strings to tensioned and connected along the apparatus. The sound box is configured to produce the guitar-banjo combination sound. The sound box includes a stretched membrane, a pot chamber, a channel, and a sound chamber. The stretched membrane is perimetrically connected around the pot chamber and is used to create the banjo portion of the apparatus's sound. stretched membrane resonates the air within the pot chamber, whose sound waves travel through the channel in order to be modified by the sound chamber. A bridge is used to connect the plurality of strings to the stretched membrane.

The present invention is for guitar players who want to produce a banjo sound without having to use a cumbersome, heavy banjo or banjitar. Relevant prior arts include U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,452. Although others have invented combined guitar and banjo instruments, the present invention is superior because of the following advantages: it is not cumbersome; it is not expensive to build; it is not complicated to use; it does not need a banjo shell, head, or securing ring; the resonator is preferably aluminum; it is light weight; and it is comfortable to play for long periods of time. Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide on a combined guitar and banjo instrument that allows a user with the aforementioned features.
A user will play this small guitar with banjo sound in the same way as he/she would a standard guitar using the same tunings, chords, and scales as a standard guitar. While playing the present invention, he/she would produce a sound that is similar to a banjo. The user could also use different types of strums, such as raking the strings, using arpeggios, and playing with a pick or picks in order to make the present invention sound even more like a banjo. Again, the user would also find the present invention to be easier to play, to be more light weight, and to be more comfortable than a heavy, bulky, banjo or banjitar.

Stringed musical instrument with a guitar-banjo combination sound


An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving data; a printing unit for printing the data; a data storage unit for storing the data; a print setting storage unit for storing a print enable setting indicating whether the data received with the receiving unit is printed; and a print control unit for controlling the printing unit to print the data stored in the data storage unit when the print enable setting is not set to print the data and it is determined that a remaining storage capacity of the data storage unit is not sufficient.

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a method of processing information. More specifically, the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of receiving, storing, and printing data.
A conventional multifunction device is capable of functioning as a facsimile. For example, Patent Reference has disclosed such a conventional multifunction device capable of transmitting image data such as an original retrieved in advance to a designated destination at a specific transmission time.    Patent Reference: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-219146
In the conventional multifunction device with the facsimile function, if the storage capacity of the memory becomes full, it is not possible to store newly received image data, thereby making it impossible to print or store the newly received image data.
In view of the problems described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of solving the problems of the conventional information processing apparatus. In the present invention, even when the information processing apparatus is set to store received data in a memory, it is possible to prevent a storage capacity of the memory from running out. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent newly received data from not being stored or printed.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

Information processing apparatus and method of processing information


Mechanisms are provided for performing a role engineering project for applying security roles to access operations targeting resources. A plurality of data objects representing one or more user identities, permissions, and resources of an organization computing system are received. One or more filter criteria for filtering the plurality of data objects to generate a subset of data objects for consideration during the role engineering project are received. The one or more filter criteria specify a scope of the role engineering project. The one or more filter criteria are applied to generate the subset of data objects. Role engineering project operations are performed on the subset of data objects to generate one or more security roles. The one or more security roles are deployed to the organization computing system to control access operations targeting resources of the organization computing system.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to mechanisms for role engineering scoping and management.
In the area of security role management, role modeling is used to create an efficient and manageable set of security roles that meet the business goals of protecting resources while granting access to the correct people associated with the business organization. With large scale organizations, the number of people in the organization, e.g., thousands or 100s of thousands, the number of permissions guarding the resources, e.g., thousands or even millions, and the number of mappings between users and permissions, e.g., thousands or even 10s of millions, needed to run the organization is beyond a management scope of the system administrators designing the security roles.
Many security role engineering projects fail because of the many months or years it takes to deal with the large data sets representing the number of people, resources, and permissions of an organization. This becomes even more time consuming when having to collaborate across multiple organizations. By the time the security roles are developed, much of the data regarding the people, resources, and permissions may have changed such that the security roles developed are stale and no longer completely relevant to the business goals of the organization.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention provides a composition for water-removable ink with an effect of coupling retardation by using an aliphatic alcohol as a solvent, which is selected from a group comprising n-butyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and pentanol, so that the curiosity of infants or juveniles can be stimulated to enhance the learning effect and also various desires of students or adults can be satisfied in terms of ornamental purposes.

Conventional water-removable ink was the one using supersaturated ink filtered in the manufacture of ink. Therefore, the supply of ink on a writing material such as paper or white board from a writing tool such as pen was not always controlled constant. At an early stage of using a writing pen, an excessive supply of ink produced unintended contamination around written notes, and after the lapse of some time, a nozzle of the pen might be blocked, which deteriorated the freshness of the ink color. Also, after the written notes have been erased, yellow trace was left.
In this regard, Japanese Patent Publication No. 1997-59547 by Kawashima Kiyoharu disclosed "colored ink and writing system using the same", which comprises a developer including more than one electron accepting compound selected from adipic acid, ascorbic acid, zinc chloride, calcium chloride, etc.; a coupler including more than one electron donating compound selected from 3-diethylamino-7-chlorofluoran, rhodamine B lactam, etc.; a coupling maintaining agent such as polyvinyl alcohol, arginic acid, and cellulose; and a surfactant. This patent publication provided a new ink composition, which could be erased by water only and be compared to a conventional technology wherein written notes had been erased using solvents. The ink composition in this patent publication used leuco dyes and the developer, and it was convenient and simple material to erase.
However, although the written notes using the above ink composition could be erased by water, since the hydrophilic property of ink itself was low, it was difficult to erase the written notes clearly by using small amount of water. Also, in erasing the written notes, the ink was drifted, and after erasing, residuum of the ink left, which caused yellowing phenomenon on the writing material such as white board or paper. Further, as the fluidity of the ink was deteriorated, it was difficult to expect uniform distribution of color. Furthermore, compared to conventional oily and aqueous pens, chromaticness of the color of the ink deteriorated.
Meanwhile, conventional writing pens using colored ink mostly had advantages in that an inherent color of the ink was released immediately upon writing.
However, if such revelation of color of the ink is delayed for the time being, it will not only be able to stimulate the curiosity of infants or juveniles, thus enhancing learning effect, but also to satisfy various desires of students or adults in terms of ornamental purposes. Up to now, however, writing tools using such ink with an effect of coupling retardation have not yet been developed.
In this regard, the applicant of the present invention disclosed "water-removable hydrated writing material" in Korean Patent Publication No. 2002-6818, which comprises an electron-donating coloring agent including 3,3-bis (4-dimethylaminophenyl)-6-dimethylaminophthalide, etc.; an electron-accepting developer including citric acid, gallic acid, succinic acid, etc., with the coloring agent and the developer being dissolved in an organic solvent; a binder; a surfactant; and an anti-oxidizing agent. According to the patent publication, the writing material showed a rapid fading-away effect of color by water, which changes little after a lapse of some time. Also, it was not harmful to the human body, but was environment-friendly.
However, in practice, the rapid fading-away effect of the above writing material fell short of our expectation. Further, it has never been expected and intended that the above writing material would show an effect of coupling retardation.


A method for testing using a preserve status parameter in a computing system includes setting, by a calling process in the computing system, the preserve status parameter; issuing a call to a function under test by the calling process in the computing system; executing the function under test in the computing system, wherein data in a memory area accessed by the function under test during execution is preserved by the set preserve status parameter, such that the computing system does not reuse the memory area while the data in the memory area is being preserved; determining if an error occurred during execution of the function under test; in the event an error is determined to have occurred during execution of the function under test, making the data in the memory area available for inspection; and releasing the memory area for reuse by the computing system.

This disclosure relates generally to the field of testing in a computing system, and more particularly to a preserve status parameter for use in testing in a computing system.
At various stages during the life cycle of a computing system, such as development or deployment in the field, various software or hardware components of the computing system may exhibit problems such as bugs or other unusual behaviors. In the process of fixing problems in the computing system, testing may be performed that includes attempts to recreate the problem in order to learn more about the problem. As the problem is recreated, error information regarding the state of the computer during the recreation of the problem, such as trace data, storage dumps, or state saves, may be stored for inspection. However, the stored error information may give an incomplete picture of the state of the computing system surrounding the problem. For example, storage dumps and state saves merely provide a snapshot of the state of the computing system at the time the dump or state save was taken, and may not provide a complete picture of data that is relevant to the problem depending on when the problem occurred relative to the storage dump or state save. Further, storage of error information in a computing system may require a large amount of memory. For example, trace data may be generated by the computing system at a high volume such that the trace data wraps, overwriting earlier trace data and rendering it unavailable for inspection. Therefore, by the time an error is detected, trace data pertinent to diagnosis of the error may be overwritten, causing loss of the trace data.

Preserve status parameter for testing in computing system


An internal combustion engine (1) has a fuel tank (18) and a fuel vapor reservoir (25). According to the method during the tank vent period—before opening the tank vent valve (28) a reference value is updated if a condition is met, and otherwise the existing reference value is maintained, —before opening the tank vent valve (28) an opening period is determined as a function of at least one variable, —the tank vent valve (28) is controlled such that the flow achieves the target flow value by the end of the opening period that was determined, —the load level of the fuel vapor reservoir (25) is computed based on the reference value, —a fuel amount is computed based on the load level, —and the fuel amount to be metered by the injection valve (22) is corrected based on the computer fuel amount.

Modern motor vehicles often have a tank venting system. By this, the fuel vapors which arise in a fuel tank are adsorbed in an activated carbon container. To regenerate the activated carbon container, a tank venting valve, which is located in a connecting line between the activated carbon container and an induction pipe on the internal combustion engine, is opened during operation of the internal combustion engine so that the fuel vapors stored in the activated carbon container are introduced, by a flushing effect, into the intake ducting of the internal combustion engine and take part in the combustion. This results in a change in the composition of the combustion mixture.
For the purpose of avoiding a raised discharge of pollutants due to this change in the combustion mixture, the known approach is to correct correspondingly the quantity of fuel which is dosed into the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine by means of injection valves. This corrective operation is also known as an injection quantity correction. However, it is only possible to carry out the injection quantity correction if the amount of fuel fed in by the fuel vapors is known. In accordance with one known method, the level of charging of the activated carbon container with fuel vapor is determined for this purpose. This is effected by slowly opening the tank venting valve over an opening ramp with a prescribed timing. The charge in the activated carbon container and the amount of fuel fed in by the fuel vapors are determined on the basis of the deviation between an output value from a lambda regulator in the motor vehicle after the tank venting valve is opened and a reference value which corresponds to the exhaust gas composition before the tank venting valve is opened.
Determining the charge level of the activated carbon container whilst at the same time avoiding a larger discharge of pollutants calls for a very slow opening of the venting valve, and is therefore time-consuming. In order to permit a larger number of regeneration phases for the activated carbon container, there are known methods by which the tank venting valve is opened at different speeds depending on the length of time which has elapsed since the last regeneration phase. If the time which has elapsed since the last regeneration phase is very short, the assumption is made that the level of charge of the activated carbon container calculated at the last regeneration phase, and the reference value on which the calculation of the charge level is based, are still valid. This permits a very rapid opening of the tank venting valve whilst carrying out an injection quantity correction based on the charge level and reference value which are already known. In the case of a regeneration phase which lies further back, a new determination of the charge level of the activated carbon container is necessary, and both the reference value and the charge level must be predetermined. This in turn calls for a very slow opening of the tank venting valve. The frequency of regeneration phases for the activated carbon container can be raised by the method cited above. However, the rigid differentiation between two speed levels for the opening of the tank venting valve, and the determination of the reference value as a function of the length of time which has passed since the last regeneration phase can prove to be inflexible and, in respect of reducing the discharge of pollutants, inadequate.

Method for controlling an internal combustion engine and internal combustion engine


A cover accommodates a power converter receiving high voltage. A connector assembling portion to which a connector of an external power line is assembled is arranged external to the cover and secured by a securing member to a vehicle's main body. A support member is arranged at a lower surface of the cover and connector assembling portion, rather than that portion of casing connecting the connector assembling portion and the power converter's main body, between the cover and the connector assembling portion and thus binds them together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to power conversion devices and vehicles equipped therewith, and particularly to structures of power conversion devices considering passive safety against collision.
2. Description of the Background Art
Hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles and other similar vehicles employing an electric motor as a motive power source are equipped with inverters, converters and other similar power conversion devices. These power conversion devices receive high voltage corresponding to the high-power motor. Accordingly, passive safety against collision must sufficiently be considered.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-097052 discloses a structure employed to attach a vehicular accessory component that provides improved safety against collision. This structure allows an accessory component disposed in a vehicle's engine room to be arranged to incline relative to the vehicle's fore-aft direction and assembled to a reinforcement member of the vehicle via a support member also assembled to the reinforcement member simply by engagement to allow the accessory component to be movable when the engine room is compressed and thus deformed.
This structure can prevent the accessory component from transferring an impact rearward in a collision and also prevent a harness of the like's disconnection to provide a high level of safety against collision.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-097052, however, does not particularly consider the accessory component's deformation and damage caused by collision. For example, for the sake of cost reduction and handability, a power conversion device can have a connector assembling portion external to a casing of the main body of a power converter to assemble a connector of an external power line, and secured to the vehicle's main body to secure the power conversion device to the vehicle's main body.
For such arrangement, if the vehicle collides and the casing accordingly receives external force, the external force is concentrated at the connector assembling portion connected to the vehicle's main body and the connector assembling portion, which receives high voltage, may be deformed and damaged. Furthermore, the deformed and damaged connector assembling portion may contact and as a result deform or damage the casing and hence the main body of the power converter accommodated in the casing. As a power conversion device is often arranged at a position higher than a vehicle's bumper, it may severely be deformed, damaged or the like when the vehicle collides with an object higher in level than the bumper.
Accordingly it is necessary not only to prevent the accessory component from transferring an impact rearward when the vehicle collides, as described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-097052, but also protect the power conversion device against deformation and damage to provide improved passive safety against collision. Furthermore, there is a strong demand for reduction in cost and size for hybrid, electric and other similar vehicles, and reduced cost and smaller space as well as effectively improved passive safety are required.
The arrangement disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-097052 requires a space for ensuring the accessory component's displacement, which also prevents the vehicle from having a reduced size.

Power conversion device and vehicle equipped therewith


The present invention provides a thin film transistor gate voltage supply circuit, and the thin film transistor gate voltage supply circuit is employed to supply a gate voltage for a thin film transistor, and the thin film transistor gate voltage supply circuit comprises a voltage generation circuit and a temperature compensation circuit, and the voltage generation circuit is employed to generate an original voltage, and the temperature compensation circuit is electrically coupled to the voltage generation circuit, and the temperature compensation circuit is employed to detect an ambient temperature, and as the ambient temperature is smaller than a preset temperature, the temperature compensation circuit compensates the original voltage according to a difference value of the ambient temperature and the preset temperature to obtain a first voltage, and supplies the first voltage to a gate of the thin film transistor to drive the thin film transistor normally work.

With the development of the display technology, the liquid crystal display (LCD) possesses properties of small volume and low power consumption. Therefore, it has been favored by the users. The Gate Driver on Array (GOA) technology is directly to manufacture the gate driver circuit or the gate driver IC on the Thin Film Transistor Array (TFT Array) to replace the externally connected driver IC which is manufactured with the CMOS. In the GOA technology, the driver IC can be directly manufactured at the periphery of the display panel. The manufacture procedures are less, and the production cost is lower. Moreover, the integration of the TFT-LCD display panel is higher so that the display panel can be thinner. The thin film transistor gate voltage supply circuit according to prior art generally supplies the voltage VGH with a fixed value to the gate of the thin film transistor for driving the thin film transistor to work. However, the drift of the threshold voltage VTH between the gate and the source of the thin film transistor along with the temperature is relatively larger. As the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature (such as −10° C.), the variation of the VTH of the thin film transistor is larger. In low temperature condition, as the thin film transistor gate voltage supply circuit according to prior art generally supplies the fixed voltage VGH to the gate of the thin film transistor, which can lead to that the VGH is smaller than VTH. Consequently, the thin film transistor cannot normally work, and ultimately the display panel cannot normally display.

Thin film transistor gate voltage supply circuit

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd


An object of the present invention is to provide an enlarged dye sensitized solar cell which has a short-circuit preventing structure while a distance between a transparent conductive oxide and a counter electrode, that is, a cell gap is shortened.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a module structure of a dye sensitized solar cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
A photovoltaic power system is actively being developed in order to promote effective utilization of natural energy. Currently a solar cell which generates photovoltaic power has been mainly made from single-crystal or poly-crystalline silicon. However, the photovoltaic power generation has not yet led to become widespread because of unstable supply of raw silicon or insufficient cost reduction in process.
The dye sensitized solar cell which is created by professor Graetzel of Switzerland receives attention as a low-cost solar cell because silicon is not used as the raw material. A sectional view of a conventional dye sensitized solar cell is schematically shown in FIG. 4. The dye sensitized solar cell includes a transparent conductive oxide 23, a dye-adsorbed semiconductor thin film 33 which is adjacent to the transparent conductive oxide 23, a counter electrode 43, and an electrolytic solution 51.
The transparent conductive oxide 23 is used as a light acceptance-side electrode. Generally, the transparent conductive oxide 23 is produced by depositing a conductive metal oxide 22 on a transparent substrate 21 made of soda lime glass. FTO (Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide) or ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) is used as the conductive metal oxide 22.
The dye-adsorbed semiconductor thin film 33 includes a metal oxide 31 such as a titanium oxide having a semiconductive property which is formed into porous shape and is adjacent to the conductive metal oxide 22, and a sensitizing dye 32 is supported on a surface of the metal oxide 31.
The counter electrode 43 includes a conductive substrate 41 and a catalytic layer 42 which promotes a chemical reaction of an electrolyte and is supported on the conductive substrate 41. The catalytic layer 42 includes platinum or carbon.
The counter electrode 43 and the dye-adsorbed semiconductor thin film 33 retained by the transparent conductive oxide 23 are disposed so as to face each other, and a sealing agent 61 is applied to a peripheral portion of the substrate with a predetermined gap. The two electrodes 22 and 43 are bonded to each other with the sealing agent 61 interposed therebetween, thereby producing a cell. An electrolyte containing a redox mediator which is made of iodine and an iodide ion is charged into the gap between the electrodes 22 and 43 through an electrolytic filling hole 71 to form a charge transporting electrolytic solution 51.
A nitrile organic solvent having a relatively large dielectric constant is mostly used as the electrolytic solution 51. There is an attempt to use an ambient temperature molten salt (ionic solution) to prevent volatilization of the electrolyte. In a mobile liquid, there is a risk of leakage during production or cell breakage. Therefore, an attempt to quasi-solidify the mobile liquid, that is, to turn into a gel is provided to prevent the leakage of the mobile liquid.
For enlargement of the dye sensitized solar cell, because the metal oxide 22 deposited on the transparent conductive oxide has a sheet resistance as large as several Ω/□, a series resistance of the cell is increased as the dye sensitized solar cell is enlarged. Therefore, generally a collector electrode is placed in the transparent conductive oxide 23. A sectional view of a conventional dye sensitized solar cell in which a collector electrode is provided is schematically shown in FIG. 5. There are various collector electrode structures. Generally, a metal grid 81 is provided adjacent to the metal oxide 22, and a protective layer 82 is provided such that the metal grid 81 does not contact the electrolytic solution 51 (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-203682).
Generally, the redox mediator containing the iodine and iodide ion is used as the electrolyte of the dye sensitized solar cell. Because many kinds of metals are corrosive for the redox mediator containing the iodine and iodide ion, it is necessary to protect the metal grid 81. A dielectric material such as a resin and glass frit is used as the protective layer 82.
In order to enhance efficiency of the enlarged dye sensitized solar cell, it is necessary to decrease the increased electric resistance caused by the enlargement. The increased electric resistance caused by the enlargement can mainly be divided into the sheet resistance of the metal oxide of the transparent conductive oxide and a dielectric resistance of the electrolyte which is increased in proportion to a distance between the transparent conductive oxide and the counter electrode. Although the sheet resistance can be decreased by placing the collector electrode, it is necessary to devise a sectional structure of the solar cell in the distance between the transparent conductive oxide and the counter electrode.
However, the collector electrode, the protective layer, and the like are provided in the transparent conductive oxide to complicate the structure. Therefore, a corner portion of the protective layer is broken when the distance with the counter electrode is shortened, which possibly causes a short circuit of the solar cell. In order to prevent the short circuit, it is necessary to obtain the dye sensitized solar cell in which the distance between the transparent conductive oxide and the counter electrode is shortened as much as possible without generating the breakage of the protective layer which causes the short circuit.

Abstract: The dye sensitized solar cell includes a transparent conductive oxide which includes a transparent substrate and a conductive metal oxide having a light transmission property; a metal grid which is formed on the transparent conductive oxide; a protective film with which the metal grid is coated; a dye-adsorbed semiconductor thin film which is formed on the transparent conductive oxide in which the metal grid is not formed; and a counter electrode substrate, wherein a short-circuit preventing layer is provided in the counter electrode substrate facing the metal grid, and a width formed by a short side of the short-circuit preventing layer is larger than a width formed by the metal grid and protective layer.


An interchangeable glasses system. The interchangeable glasses system includes a frame and one or more lenses attached to the frame. The interchangeable glasses system also includes a temple configured to hold the frame in place relative the user's ears. The interchangeable glasses system further includes an attachment configured to releasably secure the temple relative to the frame.

Glasses serve an important function. They help to correct a user's vision or protect from radiation, such as sunlight, that might damage the user's eyes. However, many users select glasses based on looks rather than on functionality. That is, the user selects from a multitude of frames (often in the hundreds) and then functional lenses are crafted to match the user's needs (e.g., prescription) and fit into the frame for the user.
Nevertheless, the glasses cannot be customized by the user once they have been created. This reasons for this are twofold: 1) glasses are expensive, therefore most users have only a single pair of glasses or a few pairs; and 2) everything is a single piece so the user either selects the whole pair or rejects the whole pair. Therefore, most users either wear the only pair available or choose the pair that is most compatible with their other fashion choices.
Further, glasses include a number of different temple styles and function. Users are likewise forced to choose the option that most closely resembles their desired function from the limited number of glasses that the user owns.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for glasses which allow a user to customize the temple of glasses as desired. Further, there is a need for the temples to be changeable, even after selection of the glasses.


An image processing apparatus has an input unit for inputting a plurality set of drawing data representing one frame image a generating unit for generating first intermediate language data representing a watermark to be added to the one frame image and generating second intermediate language data by analyzing the drawing data input from the input unit and a producing unit for producing final print image data in accordance with the first and second intermediate language data, wherein the first intermediate language data representing the watermark is regenerated in accordance with contents of the second intermediate language data. A watermark added to an image can be reliably prevented from being lost by an image editing process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method capable of adding predetermined information to an input image, and to a storage medium storing program codes realizing such a method.
2. Related Background Art
Techniques are known which add additional image (called a xe2x80x9cwatermarkxe2x80x9d or an xe2x80x9celectronic watermarkxe2x80x9d) such as specific characters or marks to an input image (original image) to be printed.
Data representative of a watermark is stored in a specific storage unit. Each time an application supplies an image to be printed, a watermark is added to this image upon printing.
The data representative of an original image is constituted of respective drawing data corresponding to a plurality of editing processes (such as a paste process of object images). In printing the original image, the final set of print image is formed by sequentially using each drawing data to sequentially superpose one object image upon another.
The following two methods may be used when a watermark is added to an original image to print them out.
With one method, a watermark is superposed upon the original image (of a plurality of object images generated from drawing data) (this method is called front addition). With this method, while it is advantageous that the water mark is printed to be always visible, it is disadvantageous that the original image under the watermark is not easy to be visualized.
With the other method, a watermark is placed under the original image (of a plurality of object images generated from drawing data) (this method is called back addition). With this method, while it is advantageous that the original image is printed to be always visible, it is disadvantageous that the watermark under the original image may partially become not easy to be visualized.
When a watermark is added to an original image in printing, the data of the watermark is also stored in the storage unit, similar to each drawing data of the original image. Data of both the original image and water mark is sequentially read from the storage unit and developed into a bit map of a final print image on one paint memory. This bit map image is output to a print unit to print it out.
Since there are two methods of adding a watermark, an image editing application which performs only a back addition method is associated with the following problem. Consider for example the case wherein an image editing application performs an edit process of painting out the whole page and thereafter produce an image of characters or graphics superposed upon the painted-out page. In such a case, if one print image is produced by sequentially using the drawing data of each edit process, the watermark placed earliest is made to disappear from the image by the later image edit process and the final print image is formed in this state without the watermark.
Even though a watermark is already added to an original image and this image is later edited by a large degree, there is a possibility that the image without the watermark is printed.
It is an object of the present invention to solve all or each of the above-described problems.
It is another object of the present invention to prevent information added to an image from being destroyed by an image edit process.
It is still another object of the invention to reliably add a watermark to an image developed upon a drawing command.
The invention has been made under the above circumstances and it is an object of the invention to reliably prevent a watermark from being made to disappear by editing an original image already added with a watermark.
In order to solve the above problems, an embodiment of the invention provides an image processing apparatus which comprises: an input unit (corresponding to a data analyzing portion 301 of an embodiment) for inputting a plurality set of drawing data representing one frame image; a generating unit (corresponding to a record production portion 302 of the embodiment) for generating first intermediate language data (corresponding to a record in the embodiment) representing a watermark to be added to the one frame image and generating second intermediate language data (corresponding to a record in the embodiment) by analyzing the drawing data input from the input unit; and a producing unit (corresponding to a record processing portion) for producing final print image data on the basis of the first and second intermediate language data, wherein the generating unit regenerates again (corresponding to Steps 104 and 105 in FIG. 1) the first intermediate language data representing the watermark on the basis of the contents of the second intermediate language data produced by the producing unit.
It is another object of the invention to provide an image processing apparatus and method with a novel function.

Image processing apparatus and method, and storage medium storing program codes realizing such method


A lithographic apparatus includes a radiation source and an object with a first surface which is configured to retain metal contaminants. This surface has the function of a getter. The first surface is arranged substantially outside the region traversed by the radiation beam generated by the radiation source during lithographic processing. The first surface may further be used to retain volatile contaminants generated in a cleaning method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lithographic apparatus with a getter for retaining metal contaminants. The present invention also relates to a method for cleaning optical elements from metal deposition.
2. Description of the Related Art
A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In that instance, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g. comprising part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned. Known lithographic apparatus comprise steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at one time, and scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (the "scanning" direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
In a lithographic apparatus, the size of features that can be imaged onto the substrate is limited by the wavelength of the projection radiation. To produce integrated circuits with a higher density of devices, and hence higher operating speeds, it is desirable to be able to image smaller features. While most current lithographic projection apparatus employ ultraviolet light generated by mercury lamps or excimer lasers, it has been proposed to use shorter wavelength radiation, e.g. of around 13 nm. Such radiation is termed extreme ultraviolet (EUV) or soft x-ray, and possible sources comprise, for example, laser-produced plasma sources, discharge plasma sources, or synchrotron radiation from electron storage rings.
The source of EUV radiation is typically a plasma source, for example a laser-produced plasma or a discharge source. A common feature of any plasma source is the production of fast ions and atoms, which are expelled from the plasma in all directions. These particles can be damaging to the collector and condenser mirrors which are generally multilayer mirrors or grazing incidence mirrors, with fragile surfaces. This surface is gradually degraded due to the impact, or sputtering, of the particles expelled from the plasma and the lifetime of the mirrors is thus decreased. The sputtering effect is particularly problematic for the radiation collector (in view of its relative close proximity to the EUV source). The purpose of this mirror is to collect radiation which is emitted in all directions by the plasma source and direct it towards other mirrors in the illumination system. The radiation collector is positioned very close to, and in line-of-sight with, the plasma source and therefore receives a large flux of fast particles from the plasma. Other mirrors in the system are generally damaged to a lesser degree by sputtering of particles expelled from the plasma since they may be shielded to some extent.
In the near future, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) sources will probably use tin (Sn) or another metal vapor to produce EUV radiation. This tin may leak into the lithographic apparatus, and will be deposited on mirrors in the lithographic apparatus, e.g. the mirrors of the radiation collector (also called collector). The mirrors of such a radiation collector may have a EUV reflecting top layer of, for example, ruthenium (Ru). Deposition of more than approximately 10 mm tin on the reflecting Ru layer will reflect EUV radiation in the same way as bulk Sn. It is envisaged that a layer of a few nm Sn is deposited very quickly near a Sn-based EUV source. The overall transmission of the collector may decrease significantly, since the reflection coefficient of tin is much lower than the reflection coefficient of ruthenium. In order to prevent debris from the source or secondary particles generated by this debris from depositing on the radiation collector, contaminant barriers may be used. Though such contaminant barriers may remove part of the debris, still some debris will deposit on the radiation collector or other optical elements, such as grazing incidence mirrors, normal incidence mirrors, etc. Further, also carbon (C) may deposit on optical elements like mirrors, which may also lead to a decrease in optical properties like reflection, etc.

Getter and cleaning arrangement for a lithographic apparatus and method for cleaning a surface


A method for a wireless router to perform connection management, includes: when a device tries to establish a wireless connection with the wireless router, counting a number of times of authentication failure of the device in a preset time period; and when the number of times of authentication failure is larger than or equal to a preset number threshold, performing a preset operation of risk treatment.

With the development of network technologies, more and more electronic devices have functions of wireless connection. By joining a wireless network, such as a WiFi network, provided by a wireless router, a device may access the Internet, and may also access and control another device through the wireless network.
If unauthorized users can arbitrarily use a WiFi network provided by a wireless router, wireless resources may be occupied, such that wireless resources available for each authorized device may be decreased, which may influence usage experience of authorized users. Furthermore, since all devices access one wireless router, unauthorized users may illegally access other devices in the same WiFi network, which may lead to privacy leakage of authorized users and risk of account safety, etc.
Conventionally, to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the WiFi network, authentication of devices is required for the devices to join the WiFi network, by requiring users to input passwords.

Method and device for connection management


A device for heating with reduced pressure steam directly or indirectly a material or product to be heat-treated, which includes a heat exchanger chamber which is supplied with steam through a pressure reducing valve and evacuated by an ejector device which can control the heating temperature of the heat exchanger chamber by controlling the operation fluid of the ejector device. The device can be used safely and advantageously in chemical and food industries.

This invention relates to a heat-treating device for safely and efficiently heat-treating product to be treated at relatively low temperature such as lower than 100.degree. C. with reduced pressure steam and/or water as heat medium.
In the field of chemical and food industries, materials are frequently treated at relatively low temperature lower than 100.degree. C., for example, in order to maintaining safe operation and product quality. For such heat-treatment, such a device as disclosed, for example, in the Japanese patent opening gazette No. 60-64108, which uses reduced pressure steam as heat medium, has been used. In this device, steam is supplied from a steam source through a pressure reducing valve to a heat exchanger chamber having an outlet connected to a conventional vacuum pump through a steam trap which is bypassed for enabling flow-rate control of the fluid path. However, the conventional vacuum pump is operated always to attain its ultimate vacuum pressure, so that the steam is excessively sucked by the pump to give an undesirably high degree of vacuum to the heat exchager chamber. In order to prevent such a trouble, the flow-rate of the above-mentioned bypass may be increased for maintaining the pressure within the heat exchanger chamber. As a result, however, a lot of steam is exhausted through the bypass to result not only in an excessive loss of steam but also in an unstable pressure within the heat exchanger chamber.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved reduced pressure steam heat treating device which exhibits a steady steam pressure in the heat exchanger chamber and a high thermal efficiency.
Another object of this invention is to provide a convenient heat-treating device which can effect alternating heating and cooling operations as occasion demands.

Reduced pressure steam heat treating device


The substrate storage pod includes a pod case for housing a substrate, and an opening, a lid member which closes and seals the opening, a buffer space which is defined in the lid member, an air-supply port for supplying a replacement gas into the buffer space; and multiple holes which are arranged so as to establish communication between the buffer space and an inner plate of the lid member in a state of being fit-inserted to the opening of the pod case, for sending out the replacement gas into the hollow inner space, the replacement gas having been supplied into the buffer space, the inner plate facing the hollow inner space of the pod case. With this, pressure variation of the replacement gas in supply pipes is blocked, and hence replacement-gas flow in a stable laminar state free from disturbance can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate storage pod in which substrates such as semiconductor wafers are stored in a hollow inner space to be conveyed, and more particularly, to a front opening unified pod (FOUP) which performs opening and closing of a lid on a front side, and has a replacement function with respect to a clean gas in the hollow inner space. The present invention also relates to a processing apparatus for substrates such as semiconductor wafers, the processing apparatus meeting a front-opening interface mechanical standard (FIMS) for the FOUP.
2. Description of the Related Art
Processing operation on substrates such as semiconductor wafers (hereinafter, referred to as "substrates") includes multiple processing steps. Those processing steps are performed in a clean room which has a certain size and secured cleanliness. In the clean room, there are arranged processing apparatuses for performing respective processing steps. An interior space of each of the processing apparatuses has cleanliness maintained to be higher than that in the clean room in which the processing apparatuses themselves are arranged. The substrates undergo processing in the interior space of each of the processing apparatuses. When being moved from apparatus to apparatus, the substrates are conveyed while being housed in a FOUP housing pod (hereinafter, referred to as "pod"). High cleanliness and an oxidization-resistant environment are maintained in the pod, and hence it is unnecessary to control the environment of the entire of the wide clean room. As a result, control and management can be efficiently performed; specifically, only ambient atmosphere around the substrates (minute volume relative to a volume of the clean room) has to be maintained in the high-cleanliness and oxidization-resistant states.
FIG. 4 illustrates a conventional pod 1 in a state of being placed on a processing apparatus 20. Generally, the pod 1 includes a lid member 2 and a pod case 3. The pod case 3 has an opening 3a formed at one end thereof. The lid member 2 is capable of sealing the pod case 3 by closing the opening 3a. The pod case 3 includes a shelf 5 arranged therein. The shelf 5 includes multiple stages arranged in pairs in parallel with each other in a vertical direction. Each pair of the multiple stages is generally arranged horizontally, and is capable of holding corresponding one of substrates.
An interior space 20a of the processing apparatus 20 is used in processing steps performed on the substrates. The interior space 20a of the processing apparatus 20 has cleanliness maintained to be higher than ambient atmosphere in a clean room. In the interior space 20a of the processing apparatus 20, there are arranged a transfer robot, a processing device, and the like. The processing apparatus 20 has a wall portion provided with an access opening 20b for access from an outside of the processing apparatus 20 into the interior space 20a of the processing apparatus 20. When the access from the outside of the processing apparatus 20 into the interior space 20a is not performed, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the access opening 20b is closed by a FIMS door 21 (hereinafter, referred to as "door"). The processing apparatus 20 includes a load port portion 22 for placing the pod 1 thereon. The load port portion 22 functions to place the pod 1 so that the pod 1 faces the access opening 20b. That is, first, when processing steps are performed on the substrates, the pod 1 is placed on the load port portion 22 of the processing apparatus 20. On the load port portion 22 of the processing apparatus 20, the pod 1 is properly placed so that the opening 3a of the pod case 3 of the pod 1 faces the access opening 20b of the processing apparatus 20. After that, the load port portion 22 performs predetermined positioning operation on the pod 1. Simultaneously with opening and closing of the access opening 20b of the processing apparatus 20, the opening 3a of the pod case 3 of the pod 1 is opened. For example, generally, the door 21 holds the lid member 2 of the pod 1 so as to simultaneously open the access opening 20b of the processing apparatus 20 and the opening 3a of the pod case 3 of the pod 1. In this state, the substrates respectively placed on the pairs of the stages are moved in a horizontal direction so as to be taken out from the inside of the pod 1 through the opening 3a. Then, the substrates are transferred into the interior space 20a of the processing apparatus 20, and undergo the processing steps. Further, after completion of the processing steps, the substrates are transferred from the interior space 20a of the processing apparatus 20 into the pod 1 through the opening 3a. In this manner, the substrates are returned to predetermined pairs of stages of the shelf 5 in the pod case 3 in the pod 1.
When all the processing steps on the substrates in the pod 1 are completed, the door 21 of the processing apparatus 20 re-closes the access opening 20b of the processing apparatus 20. With this, the opening 3a of the pod case 3 is sealed by being closed by the lid member 2 of the pod 1, the lid member 2 being held by the door 21. In this stage, atmosphere in the pod case 3 is ambient atmosphere in the interior space 20a, the ambient atmosphere containing dust and oxygen. In order to maintain the substrates to be clean until the subsequent steps, it is necessary to remove the dust in the atmosphere so that gas components liable to react with surfaces of the substrates are removed. Therefore, generally, after the lid member 2 closes and seals the pod case 3, the atmosphere in the pod 1 is replaced with an inert gas (hereinafter, referred to as "replacement gas").
Conventional examples of means for replacing the atmosphere in the pod 1 with an inert gas include various ones. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-17553 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-60007 each discloses a pod of such a type that the air is supplied and exhausted through a bottom surface. In the pods of this type, as illustrated in FIG. 4, an air-supply port 12 and an exhaust port 13 are arranged in a lower portion of the pod case 3 of the pod 1. When predetermined pipes arranged on a processing-apparatus-20-side are connected to the air-supply port 12 and the exhaust port 13, as indicated by arrows of FIG. 4, the replacement gas is supplied into the pod 1 through the air-supply port 12 and exhausted from the pod 1 through the exhaust port 13.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-273697 discloses an example in which an air-supply port and an exhaust port are arranged in a lid member of a pod. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-273697 discloses replacement-gas flow; specifically, the replacement gas having been sent from the air-supply port of the lid member into the pod is brought into circulation in the pod and is exhausted from the exhaust port of the lid member to the outside of the pod. Specifically, in the pod disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-273697, a gas-introducing pipe including squirt holes and extending in a vertical direction is attached to the lid member so that the replacement gas is introduced from the gas-introducing pipe into the pod.
In an arbitrary processing apparatus, when the lid member 2 closes the pod case 3 after completion of processing steps on substrates, the atmosphere in the pod case 3 is ambient atmosphere in a clean room, the ambient atmosphere containing dust. Thus, in the pod 1, it is necessary to replace the atmosphere in the pod 1 with the replacement gas so that the dust is not blown up and is prevented from adhering to the substrates. Thus, when the atmosphere in the pod 1 is replaced with the replacement gas, the replacement-gas flow in the pod 1 is required to enter a stable laminar state free from flow disturbance. Further, in order to completely replace the gas in the pod 1, it is necessary to achieve the replacement gas flow reaching throughout the pod 1 without stagnating therein. However, the pods disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-17553, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-60007, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-273697 are incapable of meeting the requirement for the following reasons.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-17553 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-60007, when the air-supply port and the exhaust port are arranged in the lower portion of the pod 1, owing to limitation on sizes of the air-supply port and the exhaust port, an air-supply pipeline and an exhaust pipeline arranged therein are limited to narrow ones. Thus, it is difficult to arrange an air-supply port and an exhaust port which are suitable for requirement of the gas flow to be achieved. Specifically, after the pod 1 is placed on the load port portion 22, in many cases, a mechanism for moving the pod 1 to an appropriate position, a mechanism for locking the lid member 2 to the pod case 3, and the like are arranged in the lower portion of the pod 1 and the load port portion 22 which the lower portion of the pod 1 faces. Thus, limitation is imposed on arrangement of sizes of an air-supply port and an exhaust port of other mechanisms, and hence there is a problem in that the air-supply pipeline and the exhaust pipeline arranged therein are limited to narrow ones.
Further, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-17553 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-273697, even when the air-supply port and the exhaust port are arranged in a lid of the pod, owing to limitation on sizes of the air-supply port and the exhaust port, the problem still arises in that the air-supply pipeline and the exhaust pipeline arranged therein are limited to narrow ones. Specifically, it is difficult to arrange a valve member to a position optimal for functions of the valve member. This is because the lid member 2 is provided with a locking mechanism for opening and closing the lid in many cases, and hence, similarly to a case where the valve member is arranged in the lower portion of the pod, limitation is imposed on arrangement of the locking mechanism for opening and closing the lid. Thus, limitation is imposed also on sizes of the air-supply port and the exhaust port which can be arranged therein. As a result, even when the air-supply port and the exhaust port are arranged in the lid of the pod, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-273697, the air-supply pipeline and the exhaust pipeline arranged therein are limited to narrow ones. As illustrated in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-273697, when the elongated gas-introducing pipe including squirt holes and extending in a vertical direction is attached to the lid member so that the replacement gas is introduced from the gas-introducing pipe into the pod, flow-path resistance in a flow direction of the replacement gas in the gas-introducing pipe causes pressure gradient. As a result, uniform flow of the replacement gas cannot be achieved, and there is a risk that pressure variation in the gas-introducing pipe is directly transmitted into the pod.
That is, regarding air-supply and exhaust of the replacement gas with respect to the pod 1, when the air-supply port and the exhaust port provided with the air-supply pipeline and the exhaust pipeline are arranged, the pressure variation (pulse) of the replacement gas in the supply pipes has a direct influence on flow-rate variation of the replacement gas through the air-supply port and the exhaust port, the air-supply pipeline and the exhaust pipeline connected to the air-supply port and the exhaust port being limited to narrow ones. In order to obtain the replacement-gas flow in the stable laminar state free from disturbance, it is necessary to block the pressure variation (pulse) of the replacement gas in the supply pipes. Further, in order not to cause the pressure gradient at the supply ports of the replacement gas, it is necessary to arrange the squirt holes of the replacement gas.

Substrate storage pod and lid member thereof, and processing apparatus for a substrate


Images stored in an information repository are prepared for browsing. For each image in the repository, text in the repository is mined to extract snippets of text about the image which are semantically relevant to the image, and for each of these snippets of text, keyterms are detected in the snippet of text which represent either concepts that are related to the image or entities that are related to the image, and the snippet of text and keyterms are associated with the image. Each keyterm that is associated with each image in the repository is hyperlinked to each other image in the repository that has this keyterm associated therewith. A graphical user interface allows a user to browse the images in the repository by using their associated snippets of text and hyperlinked keyterms.

The Internet is a global data communications system that serves billions of users worldwide. The Internet provides users access to a vast array of online information resources and services, including those provided by the World Wide Web, intranet-based enterprises, and the like. The World Wide Web is organized as a collection of websites each of which is organized as a collection of webpages. A given webpage may include a wide variety of different types of online information such as text, images, graphics, audio and video. The World Wide Web currently hosts billions of webpages which collectively currently host approximately one trillion images and these numbers continue to grow at a rapid pace. Many different search engines exist today which provide users with the ability to search for desired online information either on a specific computing device or on a network such as the Internet or a private network. Thanks to the ubiquity of the various types of personal computing devices that exist today (such as personal computers, laptop/notebook computers, smart phones and tablet computers) and the ubiquity of the Internet, users routinely use one or more search engines to locate particular images they are interested in.

Browsing images via mined hyperlinked text snippets


The effects of polarization dependent hole burning and/or polarization dependent loss are reduced by modulating the state of polarization (SOP) of an arbitrarily polarized optical signal being launched into the transmission path periodically through a predetermined sequence of polarization states. The sequence of polarization states is selected such that on average the launched modulated signal excites substantially all possible polarization states with substantially equal probability, independent of the input SOP to the polarization modulator. In one exemplary embodiment, the SOP is modulated by a combination cascade of a rotating half-wave plate followed by a quarter-wave plate, which rotates at a different angular speed. In another exemplary embodiment, the SOP is modulated by a combination cascade of two variable phase retarders oriented at fixed angles of 0.degree. and 45.degree., where the modulation frequencies of the two retarders are substantially different from each other.

Very long optical fiber transmission paths, such as those employed in undersea or trans-continental terrestrial lightwave transmission systems including optical-amplifier repeaters, are subject to decreased performance caused by a host of possible impairments. The impairments typically increase as a function of the length of the optical transmission. In long optical transmission paths that include optical amplifiers, the impairments tend to vary with time and cause a random fluctuation in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the optical transmission path. The random fluctuation in SNR contributes to a phenomenon known as signal fading. The SNR fluctuations also result in an increased average bit error ratio (BER) in digital signals being transmitted over the optical transmission path. When the SNR of a digital signal being transported on such an optical transmission path becomes unacceptably small relative to the average SNR (resulting in an undesirably high BER), a signal-to-noise fade is said to have occurred. Experimental evidence has shown that the signal fading and SNR fluctuations are caused by a number of polarization dependent effects induced by the optical fiber itself and/or other optical components within the transmission path. In particular, one of these effects has now been identified as polarization dependent hole burning (PDHB), which is related to the population inversion dynamics of the optical amplifiers. A discussion of hole-burning can be found in an article by D. W. Douglas, R. A. Haas, W. F. Krupke and M. J. Weber, entitled "Spectral and Polarization Hole Burning in Neodymium Glass Lasers"; IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, Vol. QE-19, No. 11, November 1983.
PDHB reduces gain of the optical amplifiers within the long optical transmission path for any signal having a state of polarization ("SOP") parallel to that of a polarized primary optical signal carried by the transmission path. However, the gain provided by these amplifiers for optical signals which have an SOP orthogonal to that of the primary signal remains relatively unaffected. The polarized primary signal reduces the level of population inversion anisotropically within the amplifier. This in turn, produces an isotropic saturation of the amplifier, which results in a lower gain for optical signals in that SOP. This effectively causes the amplifier to preferentially enhance noise having an SOP orthogonal to that of the primary signal. This enhanced noise lowers the SNR of the transmitted information and causes an increased BER.
A prior method for reducing signal fading employs a two-wavelength light source to transmit information in two orthogonal states of polarization over an optical fiber transmission path. Since this quasi-non-polarized light source shares its optical power equally on any two orthogonal SOPs within the fiber, deleterious polarization-dependent effects may be reduced as long as the two wavelengths remain orthogonally polarized along the optical transmission path. Other methods employ polarization modulators between the optical signal source and the optical transmission path to periodically modulate the polarization state of the primary optical information signal through a predetermined sequence of polarization states such that, when averaged over the saturation time of the amplifier, all possible polarization states are excited with equal probability. These methods generally employ single-stage polarization transformers that modulate the output SOP such that it traces periodically an arbitrary but fixed great circle on the Poincare sphere. These modulators, however, require that the optical signal launched into the polarization modulator be in a stable and well-defined polarization state.

Apparatus and method employing polarization modulation to reduce effects of polarization hole burning and/or polarization dependent loss


An apparatus and method for detecting a failed reset in a pixel are described. First, a reset proxy signal that is received. Second, a reset reference signal is received. The reset proxy signal and the reset reference signal are compared. Based on the comparison, a reset status signal is generated. The reset status signal indicates that a failed reset has been detected or that a failed reset has not been detected.

The design of pixels in imaging electronics is generally well-known by those of ordinary skill in the art. One commonly employed CMOS active pixel sensor (APS) pixel architecture is referred to as a "three-transistor (3T) design" that, as the name implies, includes a first transistor M1, a second transistor M2, and a third transistor M3.
Transistor M1 is a reset transistor that provides a path to charge the photodiode node. When transistor M1 is on, the photodiode node is connected to a power supply signal (e.g., V+). Transistor M2 is a buffer transistor that acts as a voltage buffer between the photodiode node and a common bit line. The photodiode node is read to a common bit line. Since the gate of the transistor M2 is high impedance, the voltage at the photodiode node may be read onto the bit line without affecting the voltage on the photodiode node. Transistor M3 is a row selected device that multiplexes multiple pixels to the common bit line. Transistor M3 of each pixel selectively connects each pixel to the common bit line in a sequential fashion.
A bright signal typically bleeds charge from the photodiode node more quickly than a dark signal. After an integration period, the difference between the integration level and the reset level represents the amount of light that is received by the pixel. When the difference is small, the resulting pixel in the image is relatively dark. Similarly, when the difference is large, the resulting pixel in the image is relatively bright.
An analogy to pixel operation is a bucket of water, where the water represents the charge on the photodiode node. The bucket has a hole, whose size represents the intensity of light received by the pixel. When the size of the hole in the bucket is large (representing a large light intensity), the water (representing charge on the photodiode node) escapes more quickly from the bucket in a given time period (referred to as "integration period"). When the size of-the hole in the bucket is small (representing a small light intensity), the water (representing the charge on the photodiode node) escapes more slowly from the bucket in a given time period (e.g., an integration period). The amount of water that has escaped the bucket in a given time period represents the amount of light received by the pixel during the integration period. As can be appreciated, a proper reset (e.g., filling the bucket to a predetermined level in the above analogy) is important to obtain the proper signal or meaningful value.
For example, when the bucket has no bottom, the bucket cannot be filled to a predetermined level (resetting the photodiode node). In this case, since there is no water in the bucket, there is no meaningful measurement of the amount of water that escapes the bucket since the difference is always zero. This is commonly referred to as a "black sun" problem since the sun, which is a Very bright object, in the scene often causes black spots in the resulting image, which is an undesirable artifact.
One approach to solving the "black sun" problem is to increase the size of the reset pixel. In this manner, as the width of the reset transistor is increased to larger values (e.g., 10 microns), the photodiode node of the pixel can be more readily reset even under bright light conditions. However, since the trend is for digital cameras to offer multiple megapixel imagers, increasing the size of the reset transistor is not a feasible solution.
Based on the foregoing, there remains a need for a method and apparatus for detecting failure to establish a reset signal in pixels of an imager that overcomes the disadvantages set forth previously.

Method and apparatus for detecting failed reset in pixels of an imager


A game is presented for play by a plurality of players in a range of two to eight persons. A predetermined number of cards is provided and upon determination of an initial dealer, the cards are dealt sequentially by each player counter-clockwise as the deal is turned over to an adjacent player to one's right of the current dealer. A predetermined number of such cycles are determined prior to commencement of play. The cards are shuffled and cards provided with a variety of differing symbols are passed to an adjacent player to the dealer's right. A preselected card or goal card is determined by the dealer and the adjacent player must then attempt to select that particular card. Scoring is awarded based on decreasing value dependent upon the number of attempts a player requires to select the goal card. Scoring and representative money is utilized throughout the game, and upon completion of the predetermined number or cycles, a winner is determined.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to card playing games, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved card game wherein the same presents a random determination of game cycles and card selection to determine an ultimate winner in the game.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Card playing games of various types have been provided by the prior art. Card games have even been developed for electronic play utilizing contemporary printed circuitry and memory chip components within a compact unit to permit selective play and representative gaming utilizing representative cards. The instant invention attempts to provide a unique and readily and conveniently presented card game with associated challenges and suspense to promote interest and amusement for individuals participating. The instant invention is also subject to play by computer representative games as developed by the prior art. Prior art examples of electronic card-type games are typified for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,336 to Bernstein, et al., providing a portable electronic card game simulator playing various card games and utilizing circuitry to maintain scoring within the game.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,134 to Macheel sets forth an electronic card game simulator utilizing a compact hand-held housing and programming to simulate Black Jack against a phantom dealer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,792 to Chang, et al., sets forth a computer simulator to simulate various games, such as automobile racing, football, and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,334 to Minkoff sets forth a further electronic card game simulator simulating Gin Rummy in operation and associated circuitry therefor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,735 to Bromley sets forth an electronic football game simulator utilizing comparative circuitry to permit play of such game.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved card game as set forth by the instant invention wherein the same addresses both the problems of ease of understanding, as well as convenience in play as well as ease of adaptability to electronic card game simulation and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


The invention provides a system and method for collecting information on, and for monitoring a party in a communication network. A monitoring device is adapted to detect the occurrence of identification data generated when a party is starting or receiving a communication, and collects this information in a database. For deciding on monitoring a communication, the database is addressed for comparing the actual identification information with the data stored in the database, and the monitoring of the party is started when the data corresponds to stored identifier data such as the destination identifier of a party to be monitored, the party's identification data or the party's equipment identification data.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,309 discloses a method and apparatus for monitoring cellular phone calls by a law enforcement agency. There, when a call is made to a monitored party, the law enforcement agency checks either a billing identification number, or a calling line identification information for recognizing the calling party.
Generally, when monitoring communications made or received by a monitored party in, for instance, a GSM system (Global System for Mobile Communications), or a packed switched network such as GPRS (general packet radio service) or UMTS (universal mobile telecommunication system), problems can occur in correctly tracing the party to be monitored. The monitoring (intercept) criteria known by the authorities is normally the mobile destination identifier (such as the phone number) of the monitored subscriber (MSISDN, subscriber's mobile destination identifier). The interception activation is therefore usually MSISDN-based. However, when criminals become aware of interception activities, they may for example use prepaid SIM (subscriber identity module) cards so that MSISDN-based interception becomes rather difficult. One might consider the use of IMEI (international mobile station equipment identity) as the interception activation criteria as it is more difficult and expensive for the monitored party to change their equipment instead of usually free SIM cards. In GSM, there exists an additional information IMSI (international mobile subscriber identity) that internally identifies the subscriber in a unique manner. However, the authority (normally a law enforcement agency but eventually also a licensed private agency or the like) activating the interception does not know IMSI so that MSISDN is more convenient in practical use.
Usually, MSISDN and IMSI have a one-to-one correspondence, with the mapping information being stored in a HLR (home location register). Although, theoretically, MSISDN can therefore be mapped to IMSI using the HLR information, this mapping necessitates time consuming processes and should thus be avoided if possible. Furthermore, the HLR is regularly updated so that it is laborious to maintain correct mapping information in the interception devices. Moreover, IMEI is no part of the HLR information because the subscriber's mapping to an IMEI is normally valid only for a short time, possibly only for one mobile connection.
There is therefore a need for a method and system which provide information useful for the monitoring, or which effect such a monitoring, in a reliable and uncomplicated manner.

Method and system for obtaining identification information on a monitored party in a communication network