Chemical mechanical polishing compositions and slurries comprising a film-forming agent and at least one silane compound wherein the compositions are useful for polishing substrate features such as copper, tantalum, and tantalum nitride features.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns aqueous chemical mechanical polishing compositions and slurries that are useful for polishing substrates including metal features such as copper and tantalum features. The aqueous polishing compositions comprise a film-forming agent and at least one silane composition. In one method, the polishing compositions of this invention are used by applying the composition to an abrasive pad or by combining the composition with one or more abrasives to form a polishing slurry and then using the pad or slurry to polish a substrate including one or more metal features.
2. Description of the Art
Integrated circuits are made up of millions of active devices formed in or on a silicon substrate. The active devices, which are initially isolated from one another, are interconnected to form functional circuits and components. The devices are interconnected through the use of multilevel interconnections. Interconnection structures normally have a first layer of metallization, an interconnection layer, a second level of metallization, and sometimes a third and subsequent level of metallization. Interlevel dielectrics such as doped and undoped silicon dioxide (SiO2), or low-xcexa dielectrics tantalum nitride are used to electrically isolate the different levels of metallization in a silicon substrate or well. The electrical connections between different interconnection levels are made through the use of metallized vias. U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,626, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method for preparing dielectric tantalum nitride layers.
In a similar manner, metal contacts are used to form electrical connections between interconnection levels and devices formed in a well. The metal vias and contacts may be filled with various metals and alloys including titanium (Ti), titanium nitride (TiN), tantalum (Ta), aluminum copper (Alxe2x80x94Cu), aluminum silicon (Alxe2x80x94Si), copper (Cu), tungsten (W), and combinations thereof. The metal vias and contacts generally employ an adhesion layer such as titanium nitride (TiN), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), tantalum nitride (TaN) or combinations thereof to adhere the metal layer to the SiO2 substrate. At the contact level, the adhesion layer acts as a diffusion barrier to prevent the filled metal and SiO2 from reacting.
In many semiconductor manufacturing processes, metallized vias or contacts are formed by a blanket metal deposition followed by a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) step. In a typical process, via holes are etched through an interlevel dielectric (ILD) to interconnection lines or to a semiconductor substrate. Next, a thin adhesion layer such as tantalum nitride and/or tantalum is generally formed over the ILD and is directed into the etched via hole. Then, a metal film is blanket deposited over the adhesion layer and into the via hole. Deposition is continued until the via hole is filled with the blanket deposited metal. Finally, the excess metal is removed by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to form metal vias. Processes for manufacturing and/or CMP of vias are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,671,851, 4,910,155 and 4,944,836.
In a typical chemical mechanical polishing process the substrate is placed in direct contact with a rotating polishing pad. A carrier applies pressure against the backside of the substrate. During the polishing process, the pad and table are rotated while a downward force is maintained against the substrate back. An abrasive and chemically reactive solution, commonly referred to as a xe2x80x9cslurryxe2x80x9d is applied to the pad during polishing. The slurry initiates the polishing process by chemically reacting with the film being polished. The polishing process is facilitated by the rotational movement of the pad relative to the substrate as slurry is provided to the wafer/pad interface. Polishing is continued in this manner until the desired film on the insulator is removed. Polishing composition formulation is an important factor in the CMP step. The polishing composition should be tailored to provide effective polishing to metal layers at desired polishing rates while minimizing surface imperfections, defects and corrosion and erosion. Furthermore, the polishing composition may be used to provide controlled polishing selectivities to other thin-film materials used in current integrated circuit technology such as titanium, titanium nitride, tantalum, tantalum nitride, and the like.
There are various mechanisms disclosed in the prior art by which metal surfaces can be polished with slurries. The metal surface may be polished using a slurry in which a surface film is not formed in which case the process proceeds by mechanical removal of metal particles and their dissolution in the slurry. In such a mechanism, the chemical dissolution rate should be slow in order to avoid wet etching. A more preferred mechanism is, however, one where a thin abradable layer is continuously formed by reaction between the metal surface and one or more components in the slurry such as a complexing agent and/or a film-forming layer. The thin abradable layer is then removed in a controlled manner by mechanical action. Once the mechanical polishing process has stopped, a thin passive film remains on the surface and controls the wet etching process. Controlling the chemical mechanical polishing process is much easier when a CMP slurry polishes using this mechanism.
Current copper containing substrates that are polished using chemical mechanical polishing also use Ta and TaN adhesion layers. Ta and TaN are chemically very passive and mechanically very hard and, consequently, difficult to remove by polishing. Thus, there remains a need for polishing compositions that are useful for polishing substrates including tantalum while having little detrimental effect on previously polished copper features.
In one embodiment, this invention includes aqueous chemical mechanical polishing compositions comprising a film-forming agent and at least one silane compound.
In another embodiment, this invention includes an aqueous chemical mechanical polishing composition comprising from about 0.01 to about 0.5 wt % benzotriazole and from about 0.05 to about 1.0 wt % uriedopropyltrimethoxysilane and, further, optionally including from about 1.0 to about 30 wt % silica abrasive.
In yet another embodiment, this invention is a method for polishing a substrate feature. The method includes moving a substrate including at least one feature into contact with a polishing pad. Next, the substrate is moved in relationship to the polishing pad to remove a portion of the substrate feature. A liquid polishing composition is applied to the polishing pad to promote polishing wherein the liquid polishing composition comprises at least one film-forming agent and at least 0.001 wt % of at least one silane compound.
The polishing compositions of the present invention have been found to be effective in polishing the metal features of an integrated circuit with few defects.


An object of the present invention is to provide and develop novel agricultural and horticultural insecticides in view of the still immense damage caused by insect pests etc. and the emergence of insect pests resistant to existing insecticides in crop production in the fields of agriculture, horticulture and the like.

Various compounds have been examined for their potential as an agricultural and horticultural insecticide, and among them, certain kinds of condensed heterocyclic compounds have been reported to be useful as an insecticide (for example, see Patent Literature 1 to 6). None of these references disclose any condensed heterocyclic compound containing a pyridazine ring.

Condensed heterocyclic compound or salt thereof, agricultural and horticultural insecticide comprising the compound, and method for using the insecticide

Abstract: Provided are a condensed heterocyclic compound represented by the general formula (I):

Abstract: {wherein A1, A2 and A3 may be the same or different, and each represent a nitrogen atom or a CH group, R1 represents an alkyl group or the like, R2 represents a haloalkyl group or the like, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or the like, R4 represents a haloalkyl group or the like, R5 represents an alkyl group or the like, and m represents 0 or 2} or a salt thereof; an agricultural and horticultural insecticide comprising the compound or a salt thereof as an active ingredient; and a method for using the insecticide.


A process for producing a natural rubber nanocomposite containing exfoliated organically modified montmorillonite and maleic anhydride grafted elastomer in a dispersion of natural rubber and reinforcing filler/inert filler wherein the cured nanocomposite has improved mechanical properties compared to conventional rubber compound containing a mixture of the reinforcing filler, carbon black and the inert filler, CaCO3.

Polymeric nanocomposites are produced to enhance material performance or to achieve functional properties such as electrical, thermal, barrier and antimicrobial compared to conventional polymeric composites. Polymeric nanocomposites are a new class of materials that contain an organic polymer and inorganic particles dispersed at nanoscale (1-100 nm) within the polymeric matrix. Specifically, polymeric nanocomposites based on layered phyllosilicates have been used extensively in industry since they show significant property enhancement compared to those of pure polymer or conventional filled polymeric composites.
Particularly, elastomeric nanocomposites containing phyllosilicate clay provide improvements in properties such as mechanical, electrical and thermal. In addition, new functionality such as improved barrier and flame retardant properties may also be introduced to the elastomeric compound. Generally, phyllosilicate clay is converted into organophilic clay by intercalating organic molecules, preferably tertiary alkyl ammonium ions, since hydrophilic clays are not in general compatible with elastomers.
Elastomeric nanocomposites are prepared by polymerizing, in situ, the elastomeric monomer in the presence of organophilic phyllosilicate clays or by intercalating the elastomer into clay in solution or by direct melt mixing the elastomer in the presence of clay. As most elastomers including natural rubber (NR) are available in the solid or latex form, intercalation of layered silicates either by direct melt mixing with dry rubber or in solution are industrially feasible techniques and are used to prepare rubber nanocomposites that contain phyllosilicate clays that are exfoliated or separated. Exfoliation of layered silicates into individual layers or platelets with 1 nm thickness and dispersion of them homogeneously in the rubber matrix, gives rise to the rubber-layered silicate nanocomposites. The degree of exfoliation significantly affects the material properties.
Depending on the dispersion of layered phyllosilicates in the rubber matrix, rubber-layered silicate nanocomposites can be categorized into two ideal structures: intercalated or exfoliated. When rubber intercalates into the interlayer spacing of the clay resulting in an alternating elastomer and clay structure, it gives rise intercalated nanocomposites. In an exfoliated nanocomposite structure, elastomer intercalates or diffuses into the layered silicates. The clay particles are then separated into their primary platelets, where individual clay layers are of 1 nm thickness, and dispersed uniformly in a continuous elastomer matrix. Since exfoliation of the clay is the key factor in the enhancement of properties, various exfoliation techniques have been developed to prepare rubber nanocomposites containing layered phyllosilicates.
WO/2008/068543 discloses production of elastomeric nanocomposites containing organophilic nanoclay and carbon black, in which organically modified nanoclay is melt mixed with elastomers. WO/2008/045029 discloses exfoliated clay nanocomposites of star branched elastomer. US 2005/0277723 discloses clay elastomer nanocomposites, and functionalized carboxylic acid or ester groups having pendant elastomer units for improved air barrier properties of tire liners. US 2003/0191224 disclose nanocomposites for tire liner compositions containing organically modified clay having an ammonium group and an amino group. US 1998/5807629 discloses an elastomer/layered material nanocomposite with low air permeability to be used as a tire liner, wherein the nanocomposite was obtained by dispersing a layered material in an elastomer containing functionalized copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene.
US 2004/6759464 discloses a nanocomposite functionalized elastomeric polymer which is pre-intercalated or partially exfoliated with clay in an aqueous medium. Aqueous dispersions of the elastomer and the clay were used to form nanocomposites containing reinforcing agents. US1999/5973053 discloses nanocomposites that are formed by making clay composite intercalated with an onium ion and an organic molecule having a polar group clay composite material is mixed with a rubber material rubber nanocomposite is formed by solvent or melt-mixing methods.
Given the above, it would be advantageous to have a melt mixing method to produce exfoliated nanocomposites for property enhancement while reducing the cost by including inert fillers.
Particularly the increase in tensile strength and modulus by using melt mixing without the use of solvents are desirable in terms of manufacturing ease.

Process for making reinforcing elastomer-clay nanocomposites

SRI LANKA INSTITUTE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY (PUT) LTD.


Dual frequency control of first and second pairs of switches of a buck-boost regulator with pass through band is disclosed. In buck and boost modes respectively a first pair of the switches is operated at high frequency and a second pair of the switches is operated at low frequency. In pass through mode, both pairs of switches are operated at low frequency. Dual frequency control and operation of the pairs of switches enables current sharing between positive and negative power leads in buck, boost and pass-through modes.

Electronic equipment includes groupings of electronic circuits and components that are designed to provide one or more complex functions. The electronic equipment receives power from an energy source that is used to power its electronic circuits and components. The power that is received is input to a power system of the electronic equipment that provides voltage outputs that are delivered to a plurality of loads. The power system often includes one or more voltage regulators that operate in parallel.
Voltage regulators are used to regulate the power that is delivered to one or more circuit cards such that voltage and current stresses on components that reside on a circuit card are reduced. They are used to convert an input voltage that is received from a given energy source to an output voltage that falls within a voltage range that is suitable for the components that reside on the circuit cards. By using a voltage regulator in the power system of electronics equipment, the power density of associated backplanes and line cards can be increased. Voltage regulators that provide a buck-boost function can be a combination of buck and boost converters, or can be a buck-boost converter. Voltage regulator types can include isolated voltage regulators and non-isolated voltage regulators. Because isolated voltage regulators are more complex and less efficient than are non-isolated voltage regulators that have the same power and voltage ratings, it is advantageous to use non-isolated voltage regulators in power systems.
When multiple voltage regulators are connected in parallel, satisfactory current sharing between respective parallel connected voltage regulators should be maintained for proper operation. Usually, the purpose of assuring satisfactory current sharing is to cause each voltage regulator of multiple voltage regulators to output about the same power, i.e. have about the same output current. However, unlike in an isolated voltage regulator, in a non-isolated voltage regulator, when multiple voltage regulators are coupled in parallel, the current flowing in its positive input lead and the current flowing in its negative input lead are not necessarily the same. This is because the input power leads to respective voltage regulators of a complex power system might not have the same voltage or resistance. This also applies to the current flowing in the output leads of a non-isolated voltage regulator.
Conventional power sharing methodologies alone cannot guarantee that during operation the positive and negative input and output power leads of non-isolated voltage regulators will have the same amount of current. However, a power lead of a voltage regulator can be damaged if it carries significantly more current than its counterpart. Because input power leads are usually longer than output power leads in actual power systems, unsatisfactory current sharing is more problematic for input power leads. For safe operation it is desirable to maintain a satisfactory current balance between the positive input lead and the negative input lead of each voltage regulator.
In power systems that include a plurality of voltage regulators that have current sharing control, current balance between the positive and negative input power leads is required. Conventionally, such current balance is maintained by adjusting the gate drive voltage of a switch that is located in the positive or the negative power path of a voltage regulator such that the total resistance in that path is basically equal among parallel connected voltage regulators. However, this approach can result in an unsatisfactorily high power loss in the switch.

Dual frequency control of buck-boost regulator with a pass through band


An N type layer made of an N type epitaxial layer in which an N+ type drain layer etc are formed is surrounded by a P type drain isolation layer extending from the front surface of the N type epitaxial layer to an N+ type buried layer. A P type collector layer is formed in an N type layer made of the N type epitaxial layer surrounded by the P type drain isolation layer and a P type element isolation layer, extending from the front surface to the inside of the N type layer. A parasitic bipolar transistor that uses the first conductive type drain isolation layer as the emitter, the second conductive type N type layer as the base, and the collector layer as the collector is thus formed so as to flow a surge current into a ground line.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor device, in particular, an LDMOS transistor in which a regenerative current or an on-state current of a parasitic bipolar transistor flowing toward the semiconductor substrate is decreased.
2. Description of the Related Art
An LDMOS transistor has higher and more stable switching performance and thus it is easier to use than a bipolar type power transistor, as well as IGBT. Therefore, it is widely used in an inverter circuit of a switching power supply or a lighting device such as a DC-DC converter, an inverter circuit of a motor, and so on. An LDMOS is an abbreviation of Lateral Double Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor and means a lateral double-diffused gate MOS.
Among various structures of LDMOS transistors, there is a general LDMOS transistor in which a P type body layer including an N+ type source layer and an N type drift layer including an N+ type drain layer are formed in one of regions in an N type epitaxial layer deposited on a P type semiconductor substrate through an N+ type buried layer, the regions divided by P+ type isolation layers (hereafter, referred to as an ordinary type LDMOS transistor).
A negative voltage, that is generally called a counter-electromotive force, occurring in an inductance load (hereafter, referred to as an L load) such as a motor or the like at the time of a power supply turn-off operation may sometimes be applied to the N+ type drain layer of this LDMOS transistor. At this time, a PN junction formed between the N+ type buried layer and the P type semiconductor substrate becomes forward-biased. Therefore, a so-called regenerative current flows from the N+ drain layer to the P type semiconductor substrate, causing a noise or a faulty operation of the control circuit. A method of preventing such a faulty operation is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-247400 and No. 2005-507164.
When a large negative voltage is applied to the N+ type drain layer, there may also occur a turn-on operation of a parasitic NPN bipolar transistor that uses the N type epitaxial layer as the emitter, the P type semiconductor substrate as the base, and the next N type epitaxial layer etc divided by the P+ type isolation layer as the collector, as well as a regenerative current flow described above.
Furthermore, when the bases and collectors of this parasitic NPN bipolar transistor and an internal parasitic PNP bipolar transistor are connected respectively, both the transistors form a parasitic thyristor. In this case, a leakage current of this parasitic thyristor continues increasing, causing the thermal destruction of the LDMOS transistor at last.
In order to avoid a parasitic thyristor operation problem, an LDMOS transistor as shown in FIG. 3 in which an N+ type drain layer 13, an N type drift layer 8 and an N type epitaxial layer 5 (Hereafter, the three layers will be referred to as a drain region together.) are surrounded by a P type drain isolation layer 6 and this drain region is completely isolated from a P type semiconductor substrate 1 is developed and mass-produced. Hereafter, the description will be continued referring to this LDMOS transistor as a drain isolated type LDMOS transistor.
There exists a parasitic thyristor S in the drain isolated type LDMOS transistor as shown in FIG. 3. However, the on-state operation of this parasitic thyristor S is prevented since an N type layer 5b made of the N type epitaxial layer 5 between the P type drain isolation layer 6 surrounding the drain region and a P type element isolation layer 3 is connected to a ground line through an N+ type guard ring layer 15.
The P type semiconductor substrate 1 as the emitter of the parasitic PNP bipolar transistor that forms the parasitic thyristor S is connected to the ground line, the N+ type buried layer 2 as the base is connected to the ground line through the N type layer 5b and the N+ type guard ring layer 15. Therefore, the parasitic PNP bipolar transistor does not turn on.
However, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-247400 is directed to only a case where a large negative voltage is applied from a motor load, and does not take account of a case where a large positive voltage is applied to the N+ type drain layer 13. When a large positive voltage is applied to the N+ type drain layer 13 shown in FIG. 3 by some occasion, for example, from an L load at the time of a power supply on/off operation or due to static electricity, capacitive coupling between the N type layer 5a made of the N type epitaxial layer 5 in the drain region and the P type drain isolation layer 6 may cause the P type drain isolation layer 6 to become positive potential.
The P type drain isolation layer 6 may also become positive potential due to hot electrons accelerated by a strong electric field occurring by a large positive voltage inputted to the N+ type drain layer 13. In this case, there occurs the on-state operation of the parasitic PNP bipolar transistor T1 shown in FIG. 3 that uses the P type drain isolation layer 6 as the emitter, the N type layer 5b connected to the ground line as the base, and the P+ type element isolation layer 3 as the collector. As a result, a large current flows from the N+ type drain layer 13 into the P type semiconductor substrate 1, causing problems such as a noise, a faulty operation of the control circuit and so on.
In order to prevent this, as shown in FIG. 2, a high concentration N+ type sinker layer 21 is formed so as to extend from the front surface of the N type epitaxial layer 5 where the N+ type guard ring layer 15 is formed to inside the N+ type buried layer 2. Thus, the base resistance of the parasitic PNP bipolar transistor T2 is decreased, the base-emitter voltage is decreased, and thus the on-state operation of the parasitic PNP bipolar transistor T2 is difficult to occur.
When the N+ type sinker layer 21 is formed, phosphorus (P) or the like is thermally diffused in a high temperature furnace for a long time until it extends into the N+ type buried layer 2. At this time, phosphorus (P) or the like is thermally diffused extending in the lateral direction, too, the N+ type sinker layer 21 occupies most of the width of the surface region of the N type layer 5b, and thus the die size increases.
Therefore, it is necessary to realize a drain isolated type LDMOS transistor that prevents an on-state operation of a parasitic PNP bipolar transistor and prevents an unnecessary surge current flowing from the N+ type drain layer 13 into the P type semiconductor substrate 1 without increase in the die size. Furthermore, it is necessary to realize an ordinary type LDMOS transistor of which the size is the same as that of a drain isolated type LDMOS transistor or smaller and a regenerative current is decreased.

LDMOS semiconductor device with parasitic bipolar transistor for reduced surge current

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC


Organic light emitting devices are provided. One organic light emitting device includes a buffer layer including a fullerene-based material and a hole injection layer and/or a hole transport layer doped with the fullerene-based material.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional OLED. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional OLED 100 generally includes an anode 110, an organic layer 120, and a cathode 130. The anode 110 is disposed on a substrate 10. The substrate 10 may have at least one thin film transistor (not shown) connected to the anode 110. The organic layer 120 is disposed on the anode 110 and includes an organic emission layer 123. The organic layer 120 may have several component layers, but generally includes a hole injection layer 121, a hole transport layer 122, the organic emission layer 123, an electron transport layer 124, and an electron injection layer 125. The cathode 130 is disposed on the organic layer 120.
When a voltage is applied between the anode 110 and the cathode 130, a hole is injected from the anode 110 into the hole injection layer 121. The injected hole is transported into the organic emission layer 123 via the hole transport layer 122.
Also, an electron is injected from the cathode 130 into the electron injection layer 125 and then transported into the organic emission layer 123 via the electron transport layer 124.
The hole and the electron combine in the organic emission layer 123 to generate excitons which then transition from their excited state to the ground state to emit light.
The hole transport layer 122 should facilitate hole injection and have good hole transport properties. Also, the hole transport layer 122 may block the transfer of electrons and has a high glass transition temperature (Tg) to maintain stability even when the temperature varies.
To lengthen the OLED's life span (which is the device's biggest disadvantage), it is necessary to prevent diffusion of oxygen, ions, or small molecules from the hole transport layer 122. Accordingly, a dense thin film having a high glass transition temperature (Tg) may be formed, thereby minimizing the deterioration of the life span due to the hole transport layer. Examples of such methods for lengthening the life span of the OLED by improving the hole transport layer 122 include doping a fluorescent illuminant on the hole transport layer 122, and doping a fluorescent illuminant on the hole transport layer 122 and the organic emission layer 123.


An optical receiver includes: an optical amplifier amplifying an optical signal fed thereinto according to an operating current fed thereinto, the optical signal being a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal, a demultiplexer demultiplexing an optical signal output from the optical amplifier; and an operating-current control circuit selecting a monitoring target from a plurality of wavelength signals output from the demultiplexer and controlling the operating current of the optical amplifier so that optical power of the monitoring target is controlled to be a predetermined value.

WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplex) transmission using a plurality of channels is used in a high speed optical communication system in order to enlarge transmission capacity, as operation speed of each component gets closer to a limit. Application of the WDM transmission to a transmission having a relatively short distance of a few tens km or less is under review, although the WDM transmission is applied only to a transmission having a distance of a few hundreds km or more. In the system, an optical amplifier is not provided on a transmission path, for cost reduction. For example, a transmitter modulates a plurality of signals having a different wavelength, multiplexes the modulated signals and transmits the multiplexed signal without amplifying. A receiver amplifies the multiplexed signal at a semiconductor optical amplifier in block in order to establish the distance extension, branches the amplified signal and receives the branched signals at light-receiving elements.
It is preferable that the light-receiving element of the receiver has a large dynamic range in order to use an optical fiber having variation of distance. For example, it is preferable that the light-receiving element has the dynamic range of 20 dB or more with respect to distance variation of 0 km to a few tens km of an optical fiber. There is a case where optical intensity is different from each other between the channels.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-166719 (hereinafter referred to as Document 1) discloses an art in which input power and output power are monitored with respect to a specific wavelength, and a gain is controlled according to a table storing characteristics of a semiconductor optical amplifier. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-252923 (hereinafter referred to as Document 2) discloses an art in which wavelength dependency of the optical intensity (optical power) is corrected with a gain equalizer or the like.
However, the art of Document 1 fails to secure a large dynamic input range with respect to a plurality of channels because the art of Document 1 monitors a single wavelength. With the art of Document 2, cost for components may be increased.


A biological sample collection unit for a centrifugal analyzer disk is disclosed. This unit consists of a flat cassette and an applicator that holds and controls the cassette during sample collection and during placement of the cassette into the analyzer disk.

Biological samples are primarily taken into evacuated glass or plastic tubes, such as Vacutainer.TM.tubes (Becton Dickinson) from a subject. Normally, a double ended needle is first inserted into a subject's vein, and the other end of the needle is used to puncture a septum in an adjoining evacuated tube. Alternatively, two needles may be connected by a tube. In such an arrangement, a first needle may be inserted into a vein, while a second needle goes through a septum of a sample collection tube. The blood sample so obtained must be transferred to various analyzers from this tube. This represents additional work, may lead to contamination or mixup of the samples, and may present health hazards for laboratory staff. It is preferable to take biological samples from a subject directly into vessels that may be incorporated directly into analyzers.
There is a trend in the art to use analyzers that can perform multiple assays from a very small biological sample. An analyzer disk such as a Bio-Compact Disk.TM. (Burstein Laboratories, Inc.) provides the capacity for hundreds or even thousands of DNA tests, immunoassays and other clinical tests to be conducted simultaneously using a small sample volume. Such devices make it feasible to simultaneously perform multiple analyses of biological samples from a single small sample. Thus, it is important to improve the collection of biological samples and the transfer of the same into suitable containers for rapid and efficient sample analysis.
Some have recognized such a need especially in view of the significant health hazards involved with obtaining biological samples. Automatic skin pricking lancet devices have been developed to replace traditional needles. Usually these lancet devices have an extractable spring loaded blade or dart for pricking the patient's skin upon pressing a button, lever mechanism or switch. The blade then automatically retracts back into the device housing thereby preventing the individual obtaining the biological sample from the subject from being pricked by the blade. A sample of blood is normally then extracted from the subject using a pipette to extract the blood sample by capillary action. Alternatively, the subject may drop a sample into a collection container after being pricked. Examples of such pricking devices may be found in Biro et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,730.
Moisson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,196 discloses an auto-pricking device integral with an assembly for testing blood samples to evaluate the presence and concentrations of particular substances. After the patient's finger is pricked with this device, the patient deposits a drop of blood onto a strip with a reactive agent. The blood is then automatically tested by means of a reflectometer integral with the assembly. This device lacks a means to transfer blood to a more sophisticated analyzer for additional testing.
Mawhirt et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,006 disclose a blood sampling apparatus for collecting and storing a blood sample from a patient for subsequent transfer to an external blood receiving means. Such a blood sampling apparatus for collecting and transferring blood is not specifically adapted for using with a disk suitable for engagement with a centrifugal analyzer such as a CD or DVD player. Moreover, it is not adapted to be used in conjunction with an applicator for easy blood collection.

Cassette and applicator for biological and chemical sample collection


A method and apparatus are provided for viewing on a client device document data representing at least a part of a document to be printed. The method includes transferring the document to be printed from a client device to a print server, converting at the print server the document to be printed into document data, and transferring the document data from the print server to the client device. The document data are at least part of a raster image file obtained by a raster conversion function, the raster conversion function being used to print the document.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method, apparatus and computer program for viewing on a client document data representing at least a part of a document to be printed.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Most networks include a print server to which a print engine may be attached and a number of client computers sharing the resources of the print server so that the printer may be used by many users of the network. Documents to be printed may be sent from a client computer using a job submitter that transmits a print job from the client to the print server.
Documents to be printed usually contain text and graphics. Text describes letters and other symbols on a page, while graphics are for example a line, an illustration or a picture. Graphics may be transmitted to a print server as either an array of dots (bitmap graphics, also called raster graphics), or as a collection of lines (vector graphics). When an outline font is used, a letter is stored as a set of equations defining the lines which make the boundary of this letter.
The print server is provided with a controller having functions for the interpretation and rasterization. The interpretation function of the controller examines the data sent from the client computer and identifies the command embedded in the data, such as commands related to printer control, page format, font management, text layout and graphics. Rasterizing is the final stage in the process of preparing an image for printing, and converts the received commands into an array of dots to be used by the print engine. The print server is provided with a raster image processor (RIP) for performing the translation of a file containing vector format objects into a raster image file (also called bitmap file) to be sent to the print engine. Thus, the RIP produces the bitmap for each character of text, and places it at the specified position in the array and then overlays the array with any bitmap graphics, to form the pattern to be printed. Once the bitmap image file is ready, it is passed to the print engine.
A known method for viewing on a client computer the document data representing a document to be printed uses dedicated application software of the client. However this method requires proprietary client software and it has a number of drawbacks such as complexity and the fact that the view obtained on the client computer differs or deviates from the printed document. In particular, graphics and outline fonts are not rendered properly. Moreover the application software of the client has to be aware of all characteristics of all print engines accessible through the network. This requires very complex software that should be available on all client computers.
A method for viewing on a client computer the document data representing a document to be printed is known from European Patent Application Publication No. EP 1 132 808 A1. This publication describes how a print job is transmitted electronically to a reproduction center where it is converted into a format suitable for showing the final appearance of the printed document. The print job can be retransmitted in this format to the client for viewing purposes. The document obtained in this format, for example a PDF (Portable Document Format), is stored in a temporary document store of the reproduction center and then in a permanent document store of the reproduction center, and is then transmitted to the printer. This method, however, has the problem that the document converted for viewing purposes is print device independent and that only an approximate final appearance of the document to be printed can be obtained. Effects due to the print engine parameters (printer margins, paper size, positioning of image with respect to the paper, etc.) cannot be rendered properly. Moreover, outline fonts are not rendered accurately.

Method and apparatus for viewing on a client computer's display device a preview of a print document to be printed


A heating fuel canister typically used for heating food in a buffet line includes a housing for containing a volume of liquid fuel, the housing having a continuous cylindrical sidewall and a bottom wall. An interseal top surface is affixed to a top edge of the cylindrical sidewall and includes a threaded neck having a center penetration formed there through. The threaded neck is integral with the interseal top surface. A pan-shaped disk is press-fitted into the center penetration of the threaded neck. A fiberglass layer is positioned upon the pan-shaped disk. Finally, a fiberglass wick is extended from within the housing and is passed through the pan-shaped disk and the fiberglass layer for drawing liquid fuel into the fiberglass wick and the fiberglass layer for providing a broad, hot uniform flame when ignited.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to fuel canisters. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for a heating fuel canister for use in heating food in a buffet line and having a fiberglass wick combined with a fiberglass layer, each drawing liquid fuel from within a housing for providing a broad, uniform flame when the liquid fuel is ignited.
2. Background Art
The prior art is directed to methods and apparatus for liquid fuel containers for use in heating food in a buffet line.
Many restaurants, hotels, and convention centers typically offer dining to patrons in the form of a buffet line. The buffet line type of dining experience is popular with patrons since it offers them the opportunity to pick and choose from a variety of prepared foods for a fee. Once the foods are prepared, they typically are displayed in a buffet line where patrons pass by and select which foods they wish to consume.
The buffet line is typically a series of tables in tandem on which the prepared foods are set out in containers known as chafing dishes. The chafing dishes are each typically mounted in a metal frame which is positioned on the series of tables. Ideally, the food is initially set out at the proper temperature for consumption and that proper temperature must be maintained. Those foods intended to be consumed at an elevated temperature must be kept hot during the time frame that the food is being displayed. In order to maintain the elevated temperature of the food, metallic fuel containers comprising a volume of liquid fuel such as, for example, diethylene glycol (or an equivalent) in combination with a suitable means for drawing the fuel from the fuel container (i.e., fuel drawing means) have been utilized. The fuel drawing means causes the fuel to be drawn out of the metallic fuel container via capillary action so that the fuel can be ignited. Once ignited, the fuel burns producing a flame which can be placed underneath the individual chafing dishes mounted within the metal frames. The flame transfers heat to the bottom of the individual chafing dishes for keeping the food contained therein hot.
Liquid fuel containers of the prior art are typically comprised of metal, such as, for example, light gauge steel. The typical prior art fuel container is cylindrical in shape and has a bottom wall and a top surface including an opening for providing access to the liquid fuel. Each of the prior art fuel containers includes a fuel drawing means for drawing the liquid fuel out of the fuel container for being ignited. Typically, the fuel drawing means is comprised of a single piece of non-flammable material which is employed to draw the liquid fuel out of the fuel container via capillary action for combustion. A cap or cover is known for sealing the fuel container during initial shipment and shelf life, and for safe storage after the fuel container has been opened but before all of the liquid fuel has been exhausted.
In order for the fuel container to operate efficiently and maintain the food temperature within an acceptable range, it is desirable that the fuel drawing means be easily ignited and produce a hot flame. Unfortunately, this criteria is not satisfied by the fuel containers of the prior art. Certain types of fuel drawing means are more convenient to ignite and generate a more concentrated flame but do not produce a flame sufficiently hot to maintain the food at the desired temperature. Other types of fuel drawing means generate a broader, i.e., less concentrated, flame but are very difficult to ignite. Thus, the ideal features of a fuel drawing means which include easy ignition and production of a hot flame have evaded designers of liquid fuel containers of the prior art.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a heating fuel canister having a housing including a continuous cylindrical sidewall, a bottom wall, a corrugated interseal top surface including a threaded neck integral therewith, a pan-shaped disk, and a combination of a fiberglass layer in physical communication with a fiberglass wick, the fiberglass layer and the fiberglass wick each drawing liquid fuel from the fuel canister for providing a broad, hot uniform flame when ignited, ignition being easily accomplished.
Briefly, and in general terms, the present invention provides a new and improved heating fuel canister for use in heating food in a buffet line in, for example, a restaurant, convention center or hotel. The heating fuel canister is employed by positioning it underneath a chafing dish mounted in a metal frame so that the chafing dish is suspended above the buffet line table. The heating fuel-canister contains a supply of liquid fuel that once ignited produces a broad, hot uniform flame for heating the food within the chafing dish.
In a preferred embodiment, the heating fuel canister can be comprised of a housing fashioned from a suitable steel material and having a continuous cylindrical sidewall and a bottom wall. The housing is covered by an interseal top surface which is affixed to a top edge of the cylindrical sidewall by a metal seam. The steel material of the interseal top surface is corrugated to increase the strength thereof and further includes a threaded neck having a center penetration formed there through. The threaded neck is integral with the corrugated interseal top surface (i.e., the threaded neck and the interseal top surface are comprised of one drawn piece of steel material) and is utilized to fill the heating fuel canister with a volume of liquid fuel.
Press-fitted within the center penetration of the threaded neck is a pan-shaped disk having an aperture and an air hole formed there through. Positioned upon the pan-shaped disk is a flat fiberglass layer or pad wherein the fiberglass layer is circular in shape and further includes a small circular opening. The small circular opening in the fiberglass layer is positioned to align with the aperture formed in the pan-shaped disk. Additionally, a fiberglass wick comprised of multiple strands of fiberglass extends from within the housing and upward through the aperture in the pan-shaped disk and the small circular opening in the fiberglass layer. Thus, the fiberglass wick is in physical contact with the fiberglass layer.
When assembled, the fiberglass wick of the heating fuel canister is immersed within the volume of liquid fuel contained within the housing. The liquid fuel is drawn up through and saturates the fiberglass wick via capillary action as is known in the art. The liquid fuel is also distributed to and saturates the fiberglass layer since the fiberglass wick is in physical communication with the fiberglass layer. Consequently, when ignited, the liquid fuel resident within both the fiberglass wick and the fiberglass layer burns resulting in a broader, hotter, more uniform flame than that produced in fuel containers of the prior art. This inventive combination results in a heating fuel canister having the desirable features of generating more heat (i.e., flame burns hotter) and being easier to ignite. Additionally, the heating fuel canister includes a threaded cap that cooperates with the threaded neck for removably sealing the center penetration of the corrugated interseal top surface.
The present invention is generally directed to a heating fuel canister having a combination of a fiberglass layer in physical communication with a fiberglass wick, the fiberglass layer and fiberglass wick each drawing liquid fuel from the fuel canister for providing a broad, hot uniform flame when ignited, ignition being easily accomplished. This combination provides the ideal features of a heating fuel canister which include convenient ignition and production of a hot flame. In its most fundamental embodiment, the heating fuel canister includes a housing for containing a volume of liquid fuel, the housing having a continuous cylindrical sidewall and a bottom wall. An interseal top surface is affixed to a top edge of the cylindrical sidewall and includes a threaded neck having a center penetration formed there through. The threaded neck is integral with the interseal top surface. A pan-shaped disk is press-fitted into the center penetration of the threaded neck. A fiberglass layer is positioned upon the pan-shaped disk. Finally, a fiberglass wick is extended from within the housing and is passed through the pan-shaped disk and the fiberglass layer for drawing liquid fuel into the fiberglass wick and the fiberglass layer for providing a broad, hot uniform flame when ignited.


A method for an accelerated rendering of graphics on a webpage. The method comprises providing a layer tree, wherein the layer tree includes a plurality of layers and is in a sandbox environment. The method further comprises identifying a dirty layer within the layer tree, and generating rendering data and the plurality of rendering instructions for processing the dirty layer. The method further comprises storing the rendering data and the plurality of rendering instructions in a storage region outside of the sandbox environment for processing using a graphics processing unit.

Conventionally, web browsers rely on the central processing unit (CPU) to render content of the webpage. However, as graphics processing units (GPUs) are becoming an integral part of every day computing devices such as smartphones, tablet computing devices, notebooks and laptops, the graphics-rich media, such as 3D graphics and video, are playing an increasingly important role in the user's web experience. One way to increase speed and efficiency of rendering graphics-rich media on a computing device is for a GPU to process the content. For example, processing graphics content on a GPU eliminates expensive and slow copies of large amounts of data to and from system memory. Additionally, a GPU achieves a superior performance in processing complex 3D graphics and video as it is adept at handling complex mathematical computations that are common in 3D graphics and video manipulation, in parallel.
Conventional browsers and renderers, however, operate in a sandbox environment. Because of the sandbox environment, they are unable to issue calls that include graphics commands that manipulate data directly to the GPU.

GPU accelerated compositing on a multithreaded browser


A sweep generator 230 applies a range of frequencies to an rf coil 140 to detect the resonant frequency of a field generated by a magnet 125a,b. A frequency to current converter 220 applies an auxiliary magnetic field to tune an MRI apparatus to the resonant frequency of the rf coil. A flexible coil of one turn (300) or two or more turns (500) has a plurality of segments (301-307; 501-513). One of the belt has a contact k0, (k0'), which is electrically connectable to one or more contacts k1, (k1'), k2, (k2'), etc. located between the ends of the segments. For each connection to successive contacts, the length of the coil and its inductance increases by the added impedance DL.sub.ij between contacts k.sub.i and k.sub.j. That increase of inductance is nullified by capacitors DC.sub.sij located between segments.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and in particular to apparatus and methods for automatically tuning an MRI coil.
2. Description of Related Art
In an MRI process, a sample, such as a human being, is placed in a large magnetic field (the B.sub.0 field) that remains constant throughout the MRI process. The magnetic moment of nuclei in the body, in particular nuclei of hydrogen, become aligned with the magnetic field. Next the sample is exposed to an oscillating magnetic field having a selected frequency in the radio frequency (rf) region of the electromagnetic spectrum, causing the nuclei in the sample to resonate. The rf radiation is then switched off, but the nuclei continue to resonate resulting in the emission of rf radiation from the resonating nuclei. The emission is detected as an MRI signal
The resonance frequency of the sample depends upon the strength of the large magnetic field. This frequency is called the Larmor frequency and is expressed by the relationship L=gH, where L is the Larmor frequency, H is the strength of the magnetic field, g is a constant dependent upon the particular nuclei. The oscillating rf field is generated by an rf coil that encloses the sample. The frequency of the applied oscillating rf field is chosen to be substantially the same as the Larmor frequency.
The rf coil may also be used to receive the resonating emissions from the sample. The inductance and capacitance of the rf coil determine the tuned frequency of the coil and the impedance of the coil. The coil impedance is matched to the optimum source impedance of the preamplifier so that the noise figure of the preamplifier is minimized. The rf coil has its maximum sensitivity for the detecting emitted rf radiation when the inductance and capacitance of the rf coil are chosen so that the rf coil has a tuned frequency which is the same as the Larmor frequency of emitted rf radiation.
Prior art systems have, under certain conditions, had problems tuning the frequency of the rf coil to the Larmor frequency of the nuclei. Since the coil includes reactive elements (coil inductance and capacitive elements) the impedance of the coil is frequency dependent. Coil impedance has real and imaginary components that vary with frequency. Most coils have their impedance tuned and matched to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of the detected signal. Often it is sufficient to adjust tuning and matching capacitors upon construction of the rf coil to match the source impedance of the preamplifier which minimizes the preamplifier's noise figure.
For an rf receive coil with a fixed geometry, the signal-to-noise ratio of magnetic resonance signals from a sample increases approximately linearly with the magnetic field. The closer the rf receive coil is to the sample, the larger the signal and the signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, for low fields it is very important that the receive coil be close to the body. The greater the distance between the coil and body, the poorer the MRI image.
The resonance frequency of a coil is determined by the reactive elements of the coil. The subject inside the coil increases it resistance which primarily affects the coil's bandwidth. The closer the coil is to the body, the larger the capacitive coupling to the body and the greater the shift in coil resonance frequency due to variances in the capacitive coupling between the coil and the body. A coil having a variable geometry will have a variable inductance. A change in coil inductance divided by the nominal coil inductance which is of the order of the Q of the loaded coil will severely detune the coil, resulting in reduced image quality. The resonance frequency of the coil may vary greatly from patient to patient due to changes in coil geometry from patient to patient.
Another factor affecting resonance frequency is variability in the value of the main magnetic field. Superconducting magnets produce high, stable magnetic fields (typically greater than 0.3T). Permanent magnets or conventional electromagnets can produce fields which often vary with time due to temperature variations, resulting in changes in the resonance frequency. Drifts in the magnetic field for a permanent magnet can be of the order of a thousand parts-per-million (PPM) per degree Centigrade resulting in a shift in the Larmor frequency. Such drifts result in the coil being severely detuned with respect to the Larmor frequency of the MRI system, leading to poor signal-to-noise ratios and, hence, poor image quality.
There are a number of techniques for tuning coils to the resonance frequency of the MRI system. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,604 which shows an expandable rf coil composed of a two parts including a main section and a removable bridge segment. Different size bridge segments change both the active and the physical circumference of the coil. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,068 a flexible coil having a fixed physical size is tuned by an externally located coupling coil circuit that has variable capacitors C.sub.s and C.sub.p. U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,372 also relies upon variable capacitors C.sub.s and C.sub.p.
Prior art systems have several limitations. For example, manually retuning an MRI coil for each patient is time-consuming and inefficient. The larger the frequency range over which tuning is required, the greater the time required, the more the difficulty in achieving a match, and thus the greater the cost. Imaging must be delayed until tuning is complete. Such delays add an extra financial burden to health care cost since the time of the patient and the MRI operator are taken up with the tuning process.
In the current art a single coil is not well suited for use with different sized patients because the frequency range for coil tuning and the coil filling factor cannot be made optimal for all patients. Prior art attempts to overcome these limitations with a multiplicity of discrete elements suffer from unreliability due to the number of connectors required between segments and are cumbersome to use since the coil must be reconstructed for each patient. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,604. Furthermore, each connection can add a series resistance to the coil due to contact resistance, resulting in a degradation of the coil signal to noise.

Method to automatically tune MRI RF coils


The invention relates to compounds according to Formula I:

The normal electrophysiologic behaviour of the heart is determined by ordered propagation of excitatory stimuli that result in rapid depolarization of the cardiac cell, followed by a slower repolarization. The sum of these events creates the cardiac action potential in individual myocytes. Cardiac rhythm disturbances can be caused by abnormalities of impulse generation, propagation or the duration and configuration of such individual cardiac action potentials. The action potentials are generated by the integrated activity of specific ion currents through various transmembrane spanning ion channels with specific selectivity for individual ions (e.g. potassium, sodium, calcium, see Grant A O. Circ. Arrhythmia Electrophysiol. 2009; 2:185-194). The majority of these ion channels have been cloned and thus, their molecular components are known. This knowledge has enabled a more effective search for selective ion channel blockers, as specific ion channel targets can be recombinantly over-expressed in mammalian cells and be used for high capacity screening.
Electrophysiological studies in the early 1950s showed the importance of the movement of K+ out of the cell to produce repolarization after the rapid depolarizing spike. Over the last 60 years, the introduction of single channel recording techniques and molecular cloning has resulted in a deeper understanding of cardiac repolarization and of the different potassium channels involved. Potassium channels are divided into:
a. Voltage gated channels (KV 1-9)
b. Calcium activated channels (KCa)
c. Inward rectifier channels (Kir 1-6)
d. Tandem pore domain channels (TWIK, TREK, TASK, TRAAK)
The pharmacology of cardiac potassium channels is disclosed in Tamargo et al., Cardiovascular Research (2004), 62, 9-33.
The expression of all these channels differs in various part of the cardiac muscle. Some channels are rather homogenously expressed, whereas some channels have a more chamber specific expression. Thus, the ultra rapid delayed rectifier (KV1.5) and the acetylcholine operated inward rectifier (Kir 3.1/Kir3.4) are shown to be rather atrial selective in their expression (Wang Z et al. Circ. Res. (1993); 73:1061-1076 and Schram G et al. Circ. Res. (2002); 90:939-50).
Compounds that block outwardly directed repolarizing potassium current will prolong the cardiac action potential duration (APD). An increase of APD prolongs the is corresponding effective refractory period (ERP), the time period during which the cell can not be re-exited to generate a new action potential (the so-called Class III antiarrhythmic action, see Singh B N et al. Br. J. Pharmacol. (1970); 39:675-689). As a group, such Class III compounds prevent cardiac tachyarrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation (AF) based on so-called re-entrant mechanisms. In the normal myocardium, pacemaker cells of the sinoatrial node initiate the cardiac impulse. The cardiac impulse is then propagated to neighbouring excitable cells, and in this way depolarization spreads across the atria, through the atrioventricular node, and to the ventricles in a co-ordinated fashion. The impulse is unidirectional because of the refractoriness to depolarization of the preceding myocardial tissue. However, atrial re-entry circuits occur when the propagating impulse does not die out because it continues to encounter excitable atrial tissue, which it can depolarize. This occurs where there is an area of atrial refractory tissue encountered by the impulse that blocks its progress as a wave front. Following its circuit around this central area, the wave front may return to its point of origin after the ERP has finished and re-exited the atrial tissue, thereby forming a re-entrant circuit (Waldo A L. Lancet (1993); 341:1189-1193). Drugs that prolong the atrial ERP thus will minimize the risk for such re-excitation.
However, drugs that cause ERP prolongation by block of potassium current that exists in both atria and ventricle will prolong APD in both kind of myocardial tissue. Excessive APD prolongation in the ventricle or in the specialised conduction tissue, the so-called Purkinje Fibres, may increase the risk for a proarrhythmic event, i.e. the antiarrhythmic action is replaced by a situation in which arrhythmias may be created. A typical proarrhythmia caused by delay of ventricular repolarization is Torsades de pointes (TdP), which is a life threatening proarrhythmia, limiting the use of antiarrhythmic compounds of the Class III type. TdP is caused by so called early after depolarizations (EADs) defined as single or repetitive depolarizations originating from the AP plateau and which can propagate to and excite surrounding cardiac tissue. TdP is a life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia as it sometimes can transfer into ventricular fibrillation. Thus, the use of compounds which as antiarrhythmic mechanism delay cardiac repolarization in the ventricle, always carry a risk for such dangerous proarrhythmias and as a consequence, the development of several such compounds has been halted and some compounds which have is reached the market have been withdrawn (Redfern W S et al. Cardiovasc. Res. (2003); 58:32-45).
AF is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and in 2008 10 million patients world-wide suffered from AF and this is estimated to grow to 13 million by 2020. The presence of AF is associated with a significant increase in the risk of adverse cardiovascular events and is an independent predictor of stroke and congestive heart failure (Estes N A et al. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. (2008); 51:865-884; Fang M C et al. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. (2008); 51:810-815). Moreover, patients quality of life is greatly reduced as a result of symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, and reduced exercise capacity (Thrall G et al. Am. J. Med. (2006); 119:448e1-448e19).
The therapeutic goals in patients with AF are to reduce thromboembolic risk, to restore and maintain normal sinus rhythm and to control ventricular rate during AF. Thromboembolic risk is mostly reduced by anticoagulation therapy. Restoration and maintenance of sinus rhythm is obtained by using electrical or pharmacological cardioversion, or by ablation or surgery, followed by pharmacological control of sinus rhythm to prevent AF relapse. When AF is permanent and cardioversion is undoable, the arrhythmia has to be accepted and the main therapy is to control ventricular rate predominantly by drugs that delay AV nodal conduction, but also in some cases by AV nodal ablation and pacemaker implantation (Markides V et al. Heart 2003; 89:939-943).
Pharmacological therapy for atrial fibrillation is described in Expert Opin. Investig. Drugs (2009) 18 (4), 417-431. However, there is currently no optimal drug treatment for sinus rhythm maintenance available, and a novel compound with better efficacy for sinus rhythm maintenance and without limiting unacceptable ventricular side effects is urgently needed.
The parasympathetic nervous system acts through the vagus nerve to regulate the heart rate and the conduction properties of atrial, atrioventricular and ventricular tissue. In animal models, parasympathetic stimulation has been shown to predispose the atria to AF and attenuation of vagal effects has been shown to prevent AF induction (Chiou C W et al. Circulation (1997); 95:2573-2584). Parasympathetic effects to the heart are largely mediated through interaction with the acetylcholine operated inward rectifier channel (i.e. the KACh channel). The cardiac KACh channel is comprised of two homologous transmembrane spanning proteins—GIRK1 and GIRK 4 (Kir3.1 and Kir3.4) (Krapivinsky G et al. Nature (1995); 374:135-141), and both homomers are needed to build the functional channel. Increased activity of the KACh channel results in shortening of the atrial APD and ERP, thus favouring AF based on the re-entry mechanism. An interesting finding is that one of the pore forming homomers are prominently expressed in atrial muscle but are largely absent in ventricles (Dobyzynski H et al. J. Histochem. Cytochem. (2001); 49:1221-1234). This finding explain the fact that vagal stimulation in anaesthetized animals (dog, rabbit) causes substantial ERP shortening in the atria, whereas no such effects are noted in the ventricles, thus confirming the atrial selectivity of the KACh channel. Advantages of atrial selectivity in antiarrhythmic drug treatment of AF are discussed in Li et al., Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (2009), 7 (1), 64-75.
Another important finding is ionic remodelling induced by atrial pacing and induction of AF also results in increased constitutively active KACh channels by enhancing spontaneous channel openings, even in the absence of acetylcholine (Cha T J et al. Circulation (2006); 113:1730-1737). This finding also is shown in atrial muscle from AF patients (Dobra D et al. Circulation (2005); 112:3697-3706). Thus, block of IKACh will lead to atrial ERP prolongation in all AF patients, not only so in patients with AF of vagal origin. Ehrlich in J. Cardiovasc describes IKACh as a potential target for treatment of AF. Pharmacol. (2008), 52 (2), 129-135.

Compounds and their use as IKACh blockers

Abstract: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein m, n, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, x and y are as defined herein. Compounds according to Formula I are pharmacologically effective as potassium channel inhibitors, in particular inhibitors of the acetylcholine operated inward rectifying potassium channel current (i.e. IKACh blockers), and are believed to be useful in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, in particular supraventricular tacharrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.


Systems and methods for secure transfer of printed documents from a print device to a user are disclosed. The systems may include a print device and a drone. The print device may also include an output tray configured to receive documents processed by the print device. The system may receive a print request from the user and determine whether the print request will result in a printed document that should be kept confidential. If printed document that should be kept confidential, the system may generate and transmit a first authentication information to the user. The system may then cause the print device to execute the print request and output the printed document to the output tray. A drone may then transfer the printed document from the print device to the user, and authenticate the user before allowing the user to access the printed document.

Typically, shared networked printers are used by multiple users in a space such as an office. The shared printers are installed in fixed and specific locations of an environment (e.g., an office) and function to output printed documents requested by multiple users. Such printers output printed documents to an output tray attached to the printer. The user who requested the printing needs to go to the location of the printer in order to check whether the printed documents are properly outputted and/or in order to get the printed documents after sending a print command.
Under most circumstances, when a document is submitted for printing, a user may wait for the system to send a message and/or after some predefined time go to the printer location and collect the printed documents from the output tray of the printer. However, when the printed documents include sensitive information, they are visible and/or can be accessed by individuals who do not have access to such sensitive information while the documents are in the output tray of the printer (i.e., before retrieval by the user who requested printing). Therefore, leaving printed documents around the printer for extended periods of time may be against corporate printing security policies and procedures where confidential documents are concerned. Having a secure printer room does not solve this problem because even the people authorized for printer room access may not be entitled to read every confidential document. Ensuring that confidential documents are picked up immediately after they have finished printing requires manual and timely action by the user. For example, the user might go to the printer location immediately after submitting the job, or as soon as a "print complete" notification is issued, and wait until the printing is done. The wait time can vary depending on the queue size, whether the printer is down, whether toner and paper are adequate, etc. This can be annoying, wasteful, and time consuming especially when the output runs to hundreds of pages or there is a system or mechanical problem with the printer. Moreover, certain print areas may not be accessible to a user (e.g., a disabled user).
This document describes new methods and systems directed to solving the issues described above, and/or other problems.

Systems and methods for secure delivery of processed documents using a drone


This disclosure is directed, at least partly, to automating infrastructure operations performed for a computing service. The infrastructure operations may include many tasks that are infrequently preformed by a service owner. In some embodiments, the infrastructure operations may include procuring hardware, configuring network settings, configuring security, determining and implementing monitors/alarms, deploying the computing service, and/or scaling or otherwise maintaining the computing service. Since the service owners infrequently perform these tasks, deployment of each computing service may require the service owner to reinvent or relearn each of the infrastructure operations, which may result in large inefficiencies, errors, delays, unnecessary costs, and other undesirable outcomes. By automating at least a portion of the infrastructure operations, or otherwise creating a simplified portal with a common user interface, the service owners may more easily deploy their computing service, thereby reducing errors, delays, and unnecessary costs.

Computing services are often designed, setup, and deployed during a development cycle. Each of these operations, from initial concept design, through coding software, to performing infrastructure operations, requires different skill sets and knowledge. Infrastructure operations often include the deployment of hardware to run the service, as well as configuration of the hardware to support user requests of the computing service to maintain a predetermined service level agreement.
In some fast-paced businesses, a service owner, such as an individual or project team may be responsible for most or all of the tasks through the lifecycle of the computing service. For example, the service owner may be responsible for infrastructure operations when a company deploys small teams to create computing services. However, the service owner may not be familiar with some or all of the infrastructure operations such as specifics of how to request and order hardware, how to implement the hardware, how to set alarms or notifications, how to scale the service over time, and other infrastructure operation tasks. The infrastructure operations may be used to obtain and configure traditional in-house server configurations as well as cloud configured services or other distributed computing systems.


A patient interface device (8) includes a cushion assembly (100) that is customizable to compensate for anatomical variances from patient-to-patient and, therefore, provides an effective seal with the patient's face. The cushion assembly includes a cushion member (102) having a first side structured to engage the patient's face, and a second side disposed opposite the first side, a plurality of plate members (108, 110, 112, 114, 116), and an adjustment mechanism (120, 122, 124). The adjustment mechanism is structured to adjust the position of the plate members, thereby changing the shape of the cushion member to generally conform to the patient's face.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to respiratory patient interface systems, and, in particular, to a respiratory patient interface device including a customizable cushion assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are numerous situations where it is necessary or desirable to deliver a flow of breathing gas non-invasively to the airway of a patient, i.e., without intubating the patient or surgically inserting a tracheal tube in their esophagus. For example, it is known to ventilate a patient using a technique known as non-invasive ventilation. It is also known to deliver continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or variable airway pressure, which varies with the patient's respiratory cycle, to treat a medical disorder, such as sleep apnea syndrome, in particular, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or congestive heart failure.
Non-invasive ventilation and pressure support therapies involve the placement of a patient interface device including a mask component on the face of a patient. The mask component may be, without limitation, a nasal mask that covers the patient's nose, a nasal cushion that rests beneath the patient's nose (such as a "pillows" style nasal cushion having nasal prongs that are received within the patient's nares or a "cradle" style nasal cushion that rests beneath and covers the patient's nares), a nasal/oral mask that covers the nose and mouth, or a full face or "total" mask that covers the patient's face. The patient interface device interfaces the ventilator or pressure support device with the airway of the patient through tubing, so that a flow of breathing gas can be delivered from the pressure/flow generating device to the airway of the patient. It is known to maintain such devices on the face of a wearer by a headgear assembly having one or more straps adapted to fit over/around the patient's head.
Nasal/oral masks, for example, typically include a sealing element or cushion member constructed from a single piece of material that can only offer limited adjustment, for example, by changing the pitch of the mask or cushion member. Most of the adjustments are made by manipulating the headgear assembly attachments and/or a forehead arm. However, anatomical features can vary significantly from one individual to the next. Accordingly, there is no way to effectively and efficiently customize the patient interface device, for example, by shaping or reshaping the cushion member or sealing element to provide a customized, enhanced fit for the patient.

Patient interface device with customizable cushion


According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes interconnects extending from a element formation area to the drawing area, and connected with semiconductor elements in the element formation area and connected with contacts in the drawing area. The interconnects are formed based on a pattern of a (n+1)th second sidewall film matching a pattern of a nth (where n is an integer of 1 or more) first sidewall film on a lateral surface of a sacrificial layer. A first dimension matching an interconnect width of the interconnects and an interconnects interval in the element formation area is (k1/2n)×(λ/NA) or less when an exposure wavelength of an exposure device is λ, a numerical aperture of a lens of the exposure device is NA and a process parameter is k1. A second dimension matching an interconnect interval in the drawing area is greater than the first dimension.

Following miniaturization of semiconductor devices, an interconnect pattern smaller than a limit dimension of the resolution of lithography is demanded to be formed. A sidewall transfer technique is known as one of techniques of forming a fine interconnect pattern.
The sidewall transfer technique can form a pattern having a dimension smaller than the limit dimension (line width or pitch) of the resolution of lithography.
A method is also proposed which forms a pattern having a dimension which is the one fourth of the resolution limit of lithography or less by repeating the sidewall transfer process a plurality of times.
For example, a line-and-space pattern such as a pattern of a memory cell array of a flash memory is formed by the sidewall transfer technique. In an area for connecting peripheral circuits and the memory cell array, a contact pattern is formed to be connected with an interconnect pattern (line pattern) drawn from the memory cell array. The dimension of the contact pattern is preferably greater than the dimension of the interconnect, pattern.
Meanwhile, in a process which is common to a manufacturing process to which the sidewall transfer technique for forming the line-and-space pattern is applied, it is difficult to form a contact pattern having a different dimension from the line pattern.

Semiconductor device having contacts in drawing area and the contacts connected to word lines extending from element formation area


An information processing apparatus is connected to one or more apparatuses via a network and includes a first acquisition unit that acquires communication information for communicating with any of the one or more apparatuses and authority information for writing the communication information to a predetermined information medium, a determination unit that determines whether the writing the communication information to the information medium is permitted based on the acquired authority information, and an updating unit that writes the communication information to the information medium when it is determined that the writing the communication information is permitted, to update the information medium with the written communication information.

Conventionally, a method of writing data from a mobile terminal to an NFC (near field communication) chip attached to an external device, is known in the related art. For example, see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-211039.
Also known in the related art is a method of acquiring communication information, such as an IP (internet protocol) address, from an NFC chip when a user carrying a mobile terminal desires to use one of functions of an image forming apparatus, such as a printing function or a scanner function, the communication information being needed for the mobile terminal to communicate with the image forming apparatus.
Hence, by utilizing the method disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-211039, communication information needed for the mobile terminal to communicate with the image forming apparatus may be written to the NFC chip. In the following, the NFC chip will also be called an information medium.

Information processing program product, information processing apparatus, and information processing system


The container unit type cogeneration engine generator comprises a long generator container in which an engine and components on a generator main body side including a generator driven by the engine are accommodated, and a short exhaust heat utilizing container in which a boiler that generates steam and hot water for hot-water supply by utilizing exhaust heat of the engine and an exhaust heat utilizing apparatus including a heat exchanger are accommodated. A combination container unit is configured so that shorter walls on one end side of the both containers in a longer direction are positioned on a same straight line, and making both longer walls of the long generator container and the short exhaust heat utilizing container to face each other. Both containers are coupled with a plurality of pipes along the shorter direction of the containers across the facing walls along which the both containers are arranged.

Conventionally, engine generator devices each including an engine and a generator driven by the engine are well known. Demand for such engine generator devices is increasing in emerging countries, from a point in which such engine generator devices may be easily installed to cope with a lack of normal commercial power supplies and an increase in electric load, and because the engine generator devices, as being decentralized generator devices, do not require a transmission and distribution grid. Further, also in advanced countries, also from a necessity of coping with needs of emergency power at a time of disaster, it is possible to transport individual parts to respective sites where generation power is required, to assemble at each site, and to make a completed product only by plumbing respective parts. Therefore, demands for decentralized power supplies of on-site assembling type, especially, of middle-sized have been increased.
However, as demands for decentralized middle-sized engine generator power supplies have been increased, even when main components of these engines, generators, and such are unitized, since these have to be transported to a site and coupling of the unitized engines and generators, connections of pipes, and such have to be carried out on site, and, when adjustments are made for each coupled unit on site, time and skills are required for the assemblies and adjustments.
Even when main components are unitized as described above, since they are middle-sized generators, it takes a certain number of days for the assemblies and adjustments. Therefore, it does not meet an urgent demand at a time of a disaster such as in a case where electric power was urgently required for the last nuclear accident.
Even when main components are unitized, since connections of pipes and cables are required between units, it is required to save an installation space by reducing routings of pipes and cables and such as much as possible at a time of assembly. Since performance adjustments were made on site after assembly, even when main components were unitized, performance adjustments of a completed engine generator device could not also be stably made due to variations in skills of workers on site.
For eliminating such drawbacks, a technology of eliminating needs for assemblies and performance adjustments on site by using containers used for ocean transportation, land transportation, and air transportation and mounting an engine generator device as it is in the container, in other words, a container handling device in a container of which an engine equipped with a cooling fan on a front side, a generator driven by the engine on a rear side of the engine, and such are arranged in series is disclosed (the prior art of Patent Document 1)
Generally, sizes of containers that are transported by mounting on a ship, a truck, and such are commonalized. According to standards specified by the ISO standard, lengths of the container are only two kinds, which are 20 f (6 m) and 40 f (12 m) (although a container of a length of 45 f is standardized, it may not be transported under the current Road Traffic Law in Japan). A width and a height of a container are unified to be 8 f (2.4 m) and 8.6 f (2.6 m), respectively. Therefore, in a case of containers of standards that may be transported on Japanese public roads, even when a 40 f (12 m) container is used, although it is long in a longer direction, a width and a height are set to be 8 f (2.4 m) and 8.6 f (2.6 m), respectively, which are narrow so that a truck on which such a container is mounted may run on public roads.
Therefore, as is similar to Patent Document 1, it is required to make a disposition space of an engine as large as possible by arranging in series in the longer direction of a container each unit of an engine, generator, and other units (a wind-power generation unit in Cited document 1). However, as is similar to Patent Document 1, since, when the engine, the generator, and other units are arranged in series in this order, a weight of the engine is relatively heavier than the other units, the center of gravity of the container is decentered to a front side of the container with the arrangement configuration, the possibility that the container is inclined when the container is hoisted up by a crane and such or a freak accident occurs is increased.
When a configuration in which a plurality of units including an engine is accommodated in one container is adopted, since an exhaust gas has to be exhausted to the outside of the engine, the container becomes a configuration in which a muffler is mounted on an upper wall of the container above the engine as illustrated in Patent Document 1 and such configuration leads to making a height of an entire container higher than the standard, a truck on which the container is mounted becomes incapable of running on public roads. Therefore, although it is general to adopt a configuration in which a muffler is detachable from the container or a muffler is mounted at a time of assembly on site, such a configuration not only increases assembly man-hour on site but also tends to bring about an environmental problem from vibrations and a thermal effect caused by the muffler being exposed and protruded to the outside.
On the other hand, even when an engine generator device, for instance, uses a highly efficient gas engine, it uses a fossil fuel, namely a natural gas. From a view point of energy saving and CO2 saving, a study is required of design and development of a cogeneration type generator that effectively utilizes an exhaust gas of an engine and exhaust heat of cooling water. Therefore, for the conventional engine generators, a lot of engine generators with cogeneration have been developed each of which positively utilizes exhaust heat of an engine and obtains steam heat by heat exchange between an exhaust gas and a boiler, and obtains hot water for hot-water supply by exchanging heat between clear water and heated cooling water used for cooling the engine (refer to Patent Document 2 and such).

Container unit-type engine generator device having pipe coupling function


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates transmission buffer under-run protection. During operation, the system stores bits of a data frame in a transmission buffer associated with an output port. The system also monitors the state of the transmission buffer and commences transmission of the data frame to the output port prior to complete reception of the data frame in the transmission buffer. The system further determines that the amount of data stored in the transmission buffer is below a predetermined threshold and inserts a number of predetermined unique bit sequences after the partially transmitted data frame, thereby allowing a receiving device to temporarily suspend reception of the data frame and resume reception at a later time without dropping the data frame.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to communication networks. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a method and system for facilitating transmission buffer under-run protection.
2. Related Art
The proliferation of the Internet and e-commerce continues to fuel evolutions in the telecom and network industries. Convergence in the underlying network architectures often takes place at a pace faster than the lifespan of most network equipment. For example, a large enterprise network today may contain Internet Protocol (IP) networks, storage area networks (SANs), Ethernet-based access networks, and leased lines and switches from telephone service providers. How to manage and fully utilize the equipment capacity in a heterogeneous environment remains an ongoing challenge.
To maximize returns on capital expenditures, many network architects prefer re-using existing equipment to switch data packets of different formats and aggregating low-speed switch ports to provision high-speed logical links. Equipment vendors often provide the capability of mix-and-matching the latest edge equipment with existing core equipment to boost switching capacity and accommodate different types of traffic.
In such heterogeneous networks, to maintain low data transfer latency, switching equipment and/or edge devices often employ cut-through switching, where data frames are transmitted to an output port before it is entirely received at the transmission buffer. Such configuration sometimes can result in buffer under-run situations, where the transmission buffer is depleted before the end of the data frame is received. Transmission buffer under-run could lead to dropped frames and impair service quality.

Transmission buffer under-run protection


A flexible circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a substrate; a first wiring pattern layer disposed on a first surface of the substrate; a second wiring pattern layer disposed on a second surface opposite the first surface of the substrate; a first dummy pattern part disposed on the second surface of the substrate on which the second wiring pattern layer is not disposed; a first protection layer disposed on the first wiring pattern layer; and a second protection layer disposed on the second wiring pattern layer and the first dummy pattern part, wherein at least a part of the first dummy pattern part overlaps with the first wiring pattern layer in a vertical direction.

Recently, various electronic products are thin, miniaturized, and lightened. Accordingly, a research for mounting a semiconductor chip at a high density in a narrow region of an electronic device is being conducted in various ways.
Among them, since a chip on film (COF) method uses a flexible substrate, the COF method may be applied to both a flat panel display and a flexible display. That is, since the COF method may be applied to various wearable electronic devices, the COF method is attracting attention. In addition, since the COF method may realize a fine pitch, the COF method may be used to realize a high-resolution display (QHD as the number of pixel increases.
A chip on film (COF) is a method in which a semiconductor chip is mounted on a flexible circuit board in the form of a thin film. For example, the semiconductor chip may be an integrated circuit (IC) chip or a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) chip
Meanwhile, various chip-on-film package technologies using a flexible substrate have been proposed as a high-density semiconductor chip mounting technology in order to respond to the trend of smaller size, thinness, and lighter weight in recent electronic products.

Flexible circuit board and chip package including same


The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system for use in an electrical distribution system including at least one electric circuit. The at least one electric circuit includes a plurality of electric power transmitting wires disposed between an electric power source interface and at least one electrical device location. The system includes an electrical wiring device disposed at the at least one electrical device location. The electrical wiring device includes a predefined coupling area having a plurality of electrical wiring device contacts disposed therein. A connector assembly includes a plurality of electrical connector contacts disposed therein. The connector assembly is configured to be directly connected to the plurality of electrical power transmitting wires such that electrical continuity is established between the plurality of electrical power transmitting wires and the plurality of electrical connector contacts. The connector assembly is also configured to be disposed in a contacting relationship with the predefined coupling area of the electrical wiring device such that electrical continuity is established between the plurality of electrical connector contacts and the plurality of electrical wiring device contacts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electrical circuit installation, and particularly to electrical devices that facilitate installation of electrical circuits in a building or some other structure.
2. Technical Background
Installing electrical circuits in buildings and/or other structures is typically labor intensive, time-consuming, and a process that requires electricians of various skill levels. As a result the installation process is expensive. The first phase of the installation is commonly referred to as the "rough-in" phase. In new construction, wiring is often bundled in cables, armored cables, or conduit and disposed throughout the structure in accordance with the building plans. This wiring is referred to as premise wiring. Junction boxes are installed at appropriate locations. Brackets and device boxes are installed throughout the structure where electrical service is desired. Junction boxes, of course, are employed to house the connection point, or junction, of several conductors. Device boxes are used to accommodate electrical wiring devices. For example, the types of electrical wiring devices may include, but are not limited to, receptacles, switches, dimmers, GFCIs, transient voltage surge suppressors (TVSS), timer devices, sensors of various types, thermostats, lighting fixtures, communication devices, and/or combinations thereof. After the device boxes are placed, the premise wires are inserted through openings in the box. At this point, the electrical wires extend from the boxes and are visible and accessible for the next phase of the installation process.
Before discussing the next phase of the process, it is noted that electrical cables may include two to five conductive wires. For example, in a structure that requires high power, the most common way of distributing that power is by employing the three-phase power system. As those of ordinary skill in the art recognize, five wires are employed. Three phase power includes three "hot" or "live" wires. Each of these wires transmits electrical power that is 120 degrees out of phase with the other two hot wires. The other two wires are the neutral conductor and the ground wire. Three phase power typically comes from the power utility via four wires: the three-phase wires, and the neutral. If the current flowing through each of the phases is equal, no current will flow through the neutral. The neutral wire is typically connected to the building ground at the structure's main distribution panel. The five wire cable is distributed from the central panel. Some of the circuits in the structure are designed to provide power to grounded equipment. These circuits may employ three wires, a line conductor (hot wire), a neutral conductor, and a ground. Some circuits may only employ two wires, the line conductor and the neutral conductor. Other circuits may employ two line conductors and a ground conductor. Other circuits may employ a combination of wires for distributing electrical power and low voltage. Low voltage wiring has commonly been employed for communication, computers, telephony, security, lighting systems, climate control, or electrical power control systems.
Referring back to the installation process, after the "rough-in" phase has been completed, the electrical wiring devices are terminated, i.e., the premise wires are electrically connected to terminals on the electrical wiring device. The electrical wiring device is then installed to the device box. The termination process is the most costly and time consuming part of the installation. A journeyman electrician must perform, or supervise, the connection of each wiring device in the structure. During this process, each electrical wire must be stripped and terminated to the device. What is needed is an efficient, labor-saving, and cost effective means for terminating the electrical wires and coupling them to the individual wiring devices.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electrical wiring system with slide-in connector