A pulse generator. The pulse generator has a pseudo random number generator, a comparator coupled to the pseudo random number generator, and a register coupled comparator. The comparator performs comparisons of values generated by the pseudo random number generator and a value in the register, wherein the comparator outputs a pulse that is modulated according to the comparison. A low-pass filter may coupled to the comparator output and the register may receive samples of a digital signal. Low-pass filtering the comparator output implements a digital-to-analog converter that is less expensive than conventional delta-sigma modulator DACs and has better performance than conventional PWM DACs.

The present invention relates to the field of pulse generators. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for generating a stochastically modulated pulse train and method of same.
Various methods have been proposed to implement a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). One such method is to create a pulse train whose average value is equal to the magnitude of the digital input and then average the pulse train by passing it through a low-pass filter. Conventionally, pulse wave modulators (PWM) are used to create the pulse train from a digital input signal. However, the quality of the analog signal that results from the filtered pulse train may contain considerable noise unless an expensive low-pass filter is constructed.
FIG. 1A illustrates a single pulse 110 that may be part of a pulse train of a conventional PWM. The exemplary conventional PWM is a 256 state PWM with the pulse width set to 128. In particular, the pulse is high one-half the time and low one-half the time, for an average value of one-half. As another example, a pulse width of 64 will be low for 192 clock cycles and high for 64, for an average value of 0.25. The circuitry for the PWM itself is relatively simple. Constructing the pulse train comprises flipping the output between low to high after a number of counts occur, as the horizontal axis shows.
However, due to the nature of the pulse train, the pulse 110 of the PWM has considerable energy at low harmonics, which are difficult to filter out. FIG. 1B illustrates harmonic content of the PWM pulse of FIG. 1A for lower harmonics. The desired signal (zeroeth harmonic 140) has a magnitude of 128 (arbitrary units). However, there is significant energy at the first, third, and fifth harmonics 141, 143, 145. In particular, the first harmonic 141 has a magnitude of nearly 100 and the third and fifth harmonics 143, 145 have a magnitude of considerably higher than ten. If the pulse 110 could be filtered in an ideal fashion to remove all harmonic content, then the analog output would accurately track the digital input. However, building such a low-pass filter to remove all harmonic content is not practical and building a low-pass filter to remove most of the harmonic content is expensive.
Referring now to FIG. 2, if a conventional PWM generated pulse train 210 is processed with a low-pass filter 220 with a moderate roll-off, the analog output 230 will contain considerable noise due to the harmonics that are not completely filtered. Alternatively, a more expensive low-pass filter 220 (e.g., one with additional poles) may be constructed. However, this adds to the expense of the circuit and will still leave some harmonic energy. The extra poles will also slow the signal response. As the analog output 230 tends to track the average value of the PWM pulse train 210, the analog output 230 will have a delay when responding to changes in the average value of the PWM pulse train 210. This, of course, means that the analog output 230 will respond slowly to changes in value of the digital input signal. This will clearly be very detrimental it the analog output 230 is controlling a device, for example.
Thus, when implementing a DAC with a conventional PWM and low-pass filter 220, unless an expensive low-pass filler 220 is used, the analog output 230 will contain considerable harmonic energy (e.g., noise). Even a relatively expensive low-pass filter 220 will not totally remove the harmonic content. Furthermore, additional poles that are required to remove harmonic content may slow the signal response undesirably.
A second method of implementing a DAC is a delta-sigma modulator. A delta sigma modulator translates a binary value into a pulse train with a duty cycle that is proportional to the binary input. The pulse train is fed into a low-pass filter 220 to obtain the analog signal. Due to the nature of the delta-sigma modulator, its pulse train has better characteristics to filter then a PWM""s pulse train 210. For example, its harmonic content is not as difficult to filter. Thus, the quality of its analog signal is better than the quality of the analog signal produced by most PWMs. However, a delta sigma modulator is expensive as it requires substantially. more hardware than a PWM. For example, a first order delta-sigma modulator may require an adder at the input, an integrator, and a quantizer that produces the pulse train of zeroes and ones. To provide better results, delta-sigma modulators are commonly second order, requiring an additional stage having another adder and an accumulator or integrator.
Furthermore, there are applications such as dithering in which it is desirable to add a first signal into a second signal to improve the second signal or to increase its effective resolution. However, some conventional dithering techniques, such as adding a sine wave to the input of an analog-to-digital converter to increase its resolution, add frequency content at the frequency of the dithering signal.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a DAC that is relatively inexpensive. It would also be advantageous to provide a DAC that has a high quality analog signal. It would also be advantageous to provide a DAC that produces a higher quality analog signal than a typical PWM DAC without the expense of a delta sigma modulator DAC. It would also be advantageous to provide a DAC whose response is not slowed by a low-pass filter with many poles, while providing a relatively simple circuit. It would be further advantageous to provide a device that may be used for applications such as dithering without inputting undesirable harmonic content.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a stochastically modulated pulse generator. In one embodiment, the pulse generator is used to implement a DAC. Embodiments of the present invention provide a DAC that produces a higher quality analog signal than a typical PWM DAC without the expense of a delta sigma modulator DAC. Embodiments of the present invention provide a device that may be used for dithering without injecting substantial undesired harmonic content. Embodiments of the present invention provide these advantages and others not specifically mentioned above but described in the sections to follow.
A pulse generator is disclosed. In one embodiment, the pulse generator may comprise a pseudo random number generator, a comparator coupled to the pseudo random number generator, and a register coupled to the comparator. The comparator may perform comparisons of values generated by the pseudo random number generator and a value in the register, wherein the comparator may output a pulse that is modulated according to the comparison.
In one embodiment, a low-pass filter may be coupled to the comparator output. Also, the register may receive samples of a digital signal. Implementing a DAC by filtering the comparator output may be less expensive than conventional delta-sigma modulator DACs and may have better performance than conventional PWM DACs.
Another embodiment provides for a method of generating a stochastically modulated pulse. The method may comprise loading a value into a register, and generating a series of pseudo random numbers. The register value may be compared to the pseudo random numbers. The results of the comparisons may be output. In this fashion, the register value may be modulated by the pseudo random numbers to produce a stochastically modulated pulse train.
In one embodiment, in addition to the steps of the previous paragraph, samples of a digital signal may be fed into the register and the output of the comparator may be low-pass filtered. In this fashion, the pulse generator may implement a stochastically modulated DAC.

Stochastic pulse generator device and method of same


A flexible insulating base, a plurality of conductor wirings aligned on the flexible insulating base, and bump electrodes provided respectively in end portions of the plurality of conductor wirings in a region where a semiconductor chip is to be placed are provided. The semiconductor chip is mounted on the conductor wirings by bonding electrode pads formed on the semiconductor chip to the bump electrodes. An auxiliary conductor wiring formed similarly to the conductor wirings is provided on the insulating base, and an auxiliary bump electrode formed similarly to the bump electrodes is provided on the auxiliary conductor wiring, so that the electrode pads formed on the semiconductor chip can be registered with respect to the bump electrodes on the conductor wirings by positioning the semiconductor chip with reference to the auxiliary bump electrode. It is possible to configure a wiring board having register marks capable of positioning electrode pads of a semiconductor chip with respect to bump electrodes with high accuracy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wiring board having a configuration in which conductor wirings are provided on a flexible insulating base such as a tape carrier substrate, for example, and bump electrodes for connection are formed on these conductor wirings.
2. Description of Related Art
As one type of package modules using a tape carrier substrate, a COF (Chip On Film) package module has been known. The COF package module has a structure in which a semiconductor chip is mounted on a tape carrier substrate and the mounting portion is protected by sealing with a resin. The tape carrier substrate used in the COF includes an insulating film base and a large number of conductor wirings formed on a surface of the film base. In general, polyimide is used for the film base, and copper is used for the conductor wirings. A metal plating film and a layer of solder resist, which is an insulating resin, are formed on the conductor wirings as needed. The conductor wirings on the tape carrier substrate and electrode pads on the semiconductor chip are connected via bump electrodes. JP 2004-327936 A discloses a tape carrier substrate in which these bump electrodes are formed on the conductor wirings in advance.
In order to mount a semiconductor chip on the above-described tape carrier substrate, the electrode pads on the semiconductor chip and the bump electrodes have to be positioned with respect to each other when placing the semiconductor chip on the tape carrier substrate.
FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the tape carrier substrate having register marks for such positioning. In FIG. 6, numeral 1 denotes an insulating film base, on which a large number of conductor wirings 2 are aligned. Each end portion of the conductor wirings 2 is provided with a bump electrode 3. A semiconductor chip 4 to be mounted is indicated by an alternate long and short dashed line. A large number of electrode pads (not shown) formed on the semiconductor chip 4 are opposed and bonded to the bump electrodes 3, respectively.
On an upper surface of the film base 1, a solder resist layer 5 formed of, for example, an epoxy resin is provided and serves as a coating film for protecting the conductor wirings 2. The solder resist layer 5 is provided with a chip mounting portion opening 5a whose perimeter edge is located on the periphery of a region in which the semiconductor chip 4 is to be mounted. The end portions of the conductor wirings 2 provided with the bump electrodes 3 are disposed so as to be exposed inside the chip mounting portion opening 5a for connection with the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip 4.
Both edge portions of the film base 1 are provided with sprocket holes 6, which are used for moving the film base 1 in a process step of mounting the semiconductor chip 4. When mounting the semiconductor chip 4, the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip 4 and the bump electrodes 3 of the conductor wirings 2 have to be in register with each other. Thus, register marks 7 are provided on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate of the semiconductor chip 4. The film base 1 also is provided with register marks 8 at positions corresponding to the register marks 7. The register marks 8 are provided by forming a wiring layer similar to the conductor wiring 2 into a shape of the mark, and exposed from the solder resist layer 5.
When mounting the semiconductor chip 4 on the film base 1, with reference to the register marks 7 of the semiconductor chip 4 and the register marks 8 of the film base 1, the semiconductor chip 4 is positioned so that both the register marks 7 and the register marks 8 are in a predetermined positional relationship. In this way, the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip 4 and the bump electrodes 3 of the conductor wirings 2 are opposed to each other in a bondable state.
However, in the conventional registration method described above, with a decrease in the pitch between the conductor wirings 2 and in the size of the bump electrodes 3, it has become difficult to register the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip 4 and the bump electrodes 3 of the conductor wirings 2 with the necessary accuracy. The reason follows.
Since the register marks 8 of the film base 1 are formed similarly to the conductor wirings 2, they are formed in a different step from the bump electrodes 3. Accordingly, a certain error is caused inevitably in the positional relationship between the register marks 8 and the bump electrodes 3. As a result, when positioning the semiconductor chip 4 with reference to the register marks 7 of the semiconductor chip 4 and the register marks 8 of the film base 1, there is a slight error in the positional relationship of the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip 4 with respect to the bump electrodes 3, making it difficult to secure a sufficient connection reliability.


An adsorbent suitable for heavy metal absorption is described, comprising a thiol-functionalised support containing a stabilising amount of an alkaline metal reacted with said thiol functionality. The adsorbent may be used to remove heavy metals e.g. mercury and/or arsenic, from wastewater streams such as produced water or flue gas scrubber waters.

Mercury and arsenic and other heavy metals such as cadmium and lead are poisonous substances and are often present as soluble compounds in produced water from gas and oil recovery processes, and may be found in waste-water streams from refineries, flue gas washing and coal gasification. There is a need to find an environmentally sound and cost effective heavy metal removal technology.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,226 discloses a process for removing heavy metal ions from aqueous streams by contacting the streams with an inorganic ceramic support such as a silica gel on which has been supported a thiol or amine-functionality by means of a suitably functionalised organic silane or titanizing agent. No examples with mercury or arsenic are given.
Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2003, 42, 1955-1964 discloses mercury (II) ion adsorption from wastewaters using a thiol-functionalised adsorbent ("SOL-AD-IV"). The adsorbent is formed by co-hydrolysis of (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxy silane and tetraethoxysilane to form an adsorbent with specific physical characteristics.
J. Environ. Monit., 2003, 3, 366-370 discloses that mercury may also be absorbed from aqueous solutions using a thiol-functionalised silica material using a thiol-functionalised silane wherein the thiol-functionalised silane was formed on a silica gel surface by the reaction 3-mercaptopropyl silane and ethylene sulphide.
Thiol-functionalised adsorbents are however unstable, and the SOL-AD-IV adsorbent had to be stored under argon to prevent oxidation of the active thiols to inactive disulphides. Such storage would be prohibitively expensive and difficult on an industrial scale, even if an alternative inert gas was used. Furthermore the physical characteristics of the known products are not ideal for industrial scale use. We have further found that different physical characteristics in the supports can lead to adsorbents with improved heavy metal capture performance.


An IC die and a flexible circuit structure are integrated into a lower stack element that can be stacked with either further integrated lower stack element iterations or with pre-packaged ICs in any of a variety of package types. The present invention may be employed to stack similar or dissimilar integrated circuits and may be used to create modularized systems. In a preferred embodiment, a die is positioned above the surface of portions of a pair of flex circuits. Connection is made between the die and the flex circuitry. A protective layer such as a molded plastic, for example, is formed to protect the flex-connected die and its connection to the flex. Connective elements are placed along the flex circuitry to create an array of module contacts along the second side of the flex circuitry. The flex circuitry is positioned above the body-protected die to create an integrated lower stack element. The integrated lower stack element may be stacked either with iterations of the integrated lower stack element or with a pre-packaged IC to create a multi-element stacked circuit module.

A variety of techniques are used to stack integrated circuits. Some methods require special packages, while other techniques stack conventional packages and still others stack multiple die within a single package. In some stacks, the leads of the packaged integrated circuits are used to create a stack, while in other systems, added structures such as rails provide all or part of the interconnection between packages. In still other techniques, flexible conductors with certain characteristics are used to selectively interconnect packaged integrated circuits. In yet other methods, one IC is connected to another within a single plastic body from which leads or contacts emerge.
The predominant package configuration employed during the past decade has encapsulated an integrated circuit (IC) in a plastic surround typically having a rectangular configuration. The enveloped integrated circuit is connected to the application environment through leads emergent from the edge periphery of the plastic encapsulation. Such "leaded packages" have been the constituent elements most commonly employed by techniques for stacking packaged integrated circuits.
Leaded packages play an important role in electronics, but efforts to miniaturize electronic components and assemblies have driven development of technologies that preserve circuit board surface area. Because leaded packages have leads emergent from peripheral sides of the package, leaded packages occupy more than a minimal amount of circuit board surface area. Consequently, alternatives to leaded packages have recently gained market share.
One family of alternative packages is identified generally by the term "chip scale packaging" or CSP. CSP refers generally to packages that provide connection to an integrated circuit through a set of contacts (often embodied as "bumps" or "balls") arrayed across a major surface of the package. Instead of leads emergent from a peripheral side of the package, contacts are placed on a major surface and typically emerge from the planar bottom surface of the package.
The goal of CSP is to occupy as little area as possible and, preferably, approximately the area of the encapsulated IC. Therefore, CSP leads or contacts do not typically extend beyond the outline perimeter of the package. The absence of "leads" on package sides renders most stacking techniques devised for leaded packages inapplicable for CSP stacking.
CSP has enabled reductions in size and weight parameters for many applications. For example, micro ball grid array for flash and SRAM and wirebond on tape or rigid laminate CSPs for SRAM or EEPROM have been employed in a variety of applications. CSP is a broad category including a variety of packages from near chip scale to die-sized packages such as the die sized ball grid array (DSBGA) recently described in proposed JEDEC standard 95-1 for DSBGA. To meet the continuing demands for cost and form factor reduction with increasing memory capacities, CSP technologies that aggregate integrated circuits in CSP technology have recently been developed. For example, Sharp, Hitachi, Mitsubishi and Intel support what are called the S-CSP specifications for flash and SRAM applications. Those S-CSP specifications describe, however, stacking multiple die within a single chip scale package and do not describe stacking integrated circuits that are individually modularized in plastic, either as BGA's or other common CSP packages. Stacking integrated circuits within a single package requires specialized technology that includes reformulation of package internals and significant expense with possible supply chain vulnerabilities.
There are several known techniques for stacking packages articulated in chip scale technology. For example, the assignee of the present invention has developed previous systems for aggregating micro-BGA packages in space saving topologies. The assignee of the present invention has systems for stacking BGA packages on a DIMM in a RAMBUS environment.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,654 B1 owned by the assignee of the present invention, a system for stacking ball grid array packages that employs lead carriers to extend connectable points out from the packages is described. Other known techniques add structures to a stack of BGA-packaged ICs. Still others aggregate CSPs on a DIMM with angular placement of the packages. Such techniques provide alternatives, but require topologies of added cost and complexity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,895 B1 to Forthun (the "Forthun patent") purports to disclose a technique for stacking chip scale packaged ICs. The Forthun patent discloses a "package" that exhibits a flex circuit wrapped partially about a CSP. The flex circuit is said to have pad arrays on upper and lower surfaces of the flex.
The flex circuit of the Forthun "package" has a pad array on its upper surface and a pad array centrally located upon its lower surface. On the lower surface of the flex there are third and fourth arrays on opposite sides from the central lower surface pad array. To create the package of Forthun, a CSP contacts the pad array located on the upper surface of the flex circuit. As described in the Forthun patent, the contacts on the lower surface of the CSP are pushed through "slits" in the upper surface pads and advanced through the flex to protrude from the pads of the lower surface array and, therefore, the bottom surface of the package. Thus, the contacts of the CSP serve as the contacts for the package. The sides of the flex are partially wrapped about the CSP to adjacently place the third and fourth pad arrays above the upper major surface of the CSP to create from the combination of the third and fourth pad arrays, a fifth pad array for connection to another such package. Thus, as described in the Forthun disclosure, a stacked module of CSPs created with the described packages will exhibit a flex circuit wrapped about each CSP in the module.
The previous known methods for stacking CSPs apparently have various deficiencies including complex structural arrangements and thermal or high frequency performance issues. To increase dissipation of heat generated by constituent CSPs, the thermal gradient between the lower CSP and upper CSP in a CSP stack or module should be minimized. Prior art solutions to CSP stacking do not, however, address thermal gradient minimization in disclosed constructions.
In other applications, module height concerns impact the utility of known solutions in integrated circuit aggregation. In some stacking solutions, the bad die problem is significant. Indigenous as well as processing-acquired defects can lead to unacceptably high failure rates for stacks created by aggregating IC elements before testing the constituent members of the assembly. For example, where stacking techniques employ one or more unpackaged die, there is typically not an opportunity for adequate preassembly test before the constituent ICs of the assembly are aggregated. Then, testing typically reveals bad stacks, it does not prevent their assembly and consequent waste of resources.
What is needed, therefore, is a technique and system for stacking integrated circuits using a technology that provides a thermally efficient, reliable structure that performs well at higher frequencies, but does not add excessive height to the stack yet allows pre-stacking test of constituent stack elements with production at reasonable cost with readily understood and managed materials and methods.

Modularized die stacking system and method


The invention relates to TN and STN liquid-crystal displays and to the novel nematic liquid-crystal mixtures used therein, characterized in that they comprise one or more compounds of the formula I

The invention relates to twisted nematic (TN) and supertwisted nematic (STN) liquid-crystal displays having very short response times and good steepnesses and angle dependencies, and to the novel nematic liquid-crystal mixtures used therein.
TN displays are known, for example from M. Schadt and W. Helfrich, Appl. Phys. Lett., 18,127 (1971). STN displays are known, for example from EP 0 131 216 B1; DE 34 23 993 A1; EP 0 098 070 A2; M. Schadt and F. Leenhouts, 17th Freiburg Congress on Liquid Crystals (8.-10.04.87); K. Kawasaki et al., SID 87 Digest 391 (20.6); M. Schadt and F. Leenhouts, SID 87 Digest 372 (20.1); K. Katoh et al., Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 26, No.11, L 1784-L 1786 (1987); F. Leenhouts et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 50 (21), 1468 (1987); H. A. van Sprang and H. G. Koopman, J. Appl. Phys. 62 (5), 1734 (1987); T. J. Scheffer and J. Nehring, Appl. Phys. Lett. 45 (10), 1021 (1984), M. Schadt and F. Leenhouts, Appl. Phys. Lett. 50 (5), 236 (1987) and E. P. Raynes, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. Letters Vol. 4 (1), pp.1-8 (1986). The term STN here covers any relatively highly twisted display element having a twist angle with a value of between 160xc2x0 and 360xc2x0, such as, for example, the display elements according to Waters et al. (C. M. Waters et al., Proc. Soc. Inf. Disp. (New York) (1985) (3rd Intern. Display Conference, Kobe, Japan), STN-LCDs (DE-A 35 03 259), SBE-LCDs (T. J. Scheffer and J. Nehring, Appl. Phys. Left. 45 (1984) 1021), OMI-LCDs (M. Schadt and F. Leenhouts, Appl. Phys. Lett. 50 (1987), 236, DST-LCDs (EP-A 0 246 842) or BW-STN-LCDs (K. Kawasaki et al., SID 87 Digest 391 (20.6)).
STN displays are distinguished compared with standard TN displays by significantly better steepnesses of the electro-optical characteristic line and, at moderate and relatively high multiplex rates, for example from 32 to 64 or higher, by better contrast values. On the other hand, the contrast in TN displays is generally higher owing to the better dark value and the angle dependence of the contrast is less than in STN displays with low multiplex rates of, for example, less than 16.
Of particular interest are TN and STN displays having very short response times, in particular also at relatively low temperatures. In order to achieve short response times, the rotational viscosities of the liquid-crystal mixtures have hitherto been optimised using mostly monotropic additives having relatively high vapor pressure. However, the response times achieved were not adequate for every application.
In order to achieve a steep electro-optical characteristic line in the displays according to the invention, the liquid-crystal mixtures should have relatively large values for the ratio between the elastic constants K33/K11 and relatively small values for xcex94xcex5/xcex5195, where xcex94xcex5 is the dielectric anisotropy and xcex5xe2x8axa5 is the dielectric constant perpendicular to the longitudinal molecular axis.
In addition to optimisation of the contrast and response times, further important requirements are made of mixtures of this type:
1. broad d/p window
2. high long-term chemical stability
3. high electrical resistance
4. low frequency and temperature dependence of the threshold voltage.
The parameter combinations achieved are still far from adequate, in particular for high-multiplex STN displays (with a multiplex rate of greater than or equal to about {fraction (1/128)}), but also for medium- and low-multiplex STN displays (with multiplex rates in the region of about {fraction (1/64)} and {fraction (1/16)} respectively), and TN displays. This is partly attributable to the fact that the various requirements are affected in opposite manners by material parameters.
Thus, there continues to be a great demand for TN and STN displays, in particular for medium- and low-multiplex STN displays, having very short response times at the same time as a large working-temperature range, high characteristic-line steepness, good angle dependence of the contrast and low threshold voltage which meet the above-mentioned requirements.
The invention has the object of providing TN and STN displays which do not have the above-mentioned disadvantages or only do so to a lesser extent and at the same time have short response times, in particular at low temperatures, and/or good steepnesses and improved temperature dependence of the operating voltage and/or good angle dependences of the contrast.
It has now been found that this object can be achieved if use is made of nematic liquid-crystal mixtures which comprise one or more compounds of the formula I
in which
R1 is H or an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH2 groups may be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94OCOxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94COOxe2x80x94 in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and
L1 is H or F,
and at least one compound of the formula II
in which
R2 and R3, independently of one another, are H, halogen, xe2x80x94CN, xe2x80x94NCS, xe2x80x94SF5 or an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH2 groups may be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94OCOxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94COOxe2x80x94 in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and/or in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by halogen and/or xe2x80x94CN,
and at least one compound of the formula III
in which
L2 is H or F,
X is xe2x80x94F, xe2x80x94Cl, xe2x80x94OCF3, xe2x80x94OCHF2, xe2x80x94OCHFCF3 or xe2x80x94OCF2CHFCF3, and
R4 independently has one of the meanings indicated for R1.
The use of the compounds of the formulae I, II and III in the mixtures for TN and STN displays according to the invention results in
low frequency dependence of the dielectric constants,
low temperature dependence of the operating voltage and threshold voltage,
fast response times, in particular at low temperatures, and
good angle dependence of the contrast.
The said compounds in the mixtures according to the invention significantly shorten, in particular, the response times of TN and STN mixtures, in particular at low temperatures, while simultaneously increasing the steepness and reducing the temperature dependence of the threshold voltage, especially at temperatures between xe2x88x9220 and +20xc2x0 C.
The mixtures according to the invention are furthermore distinguished by the following advantages:
they have low viscosity,
they have a low threshold voltage and operating voltage, and
they effect long shelf lives in the LC display at low temperatures.
The invention thus relates to a liquid-crystal display having
two outer plates, which, together with a frame, form a cell,
a nematic liquid-crystal mixture of positive dielectric anisotropy located in the cell,
electrode layers with alignment layers on the insides of the outer plates,
a tilt angle between the longitudinal axis of the molecules at the surface of the outer plates and the outer plates of from 0 degree to 30 degrees, and
a twist angle of the liquid-crystal mixture in the cell from alignment layer to alignment layer with a value of between 22.5xc2x0 and 600xc2x0,
a nematic liquid-crystal mixture comprising
a) 15-80% by weight of a liquid-crystalline component A consisting of one or more compounds having a dielectric anisotropy of greater than +1.5;
b) 20-85% by weight of a liquid-crystalline component B consisting of one or more compounds having a dielectric anisotropy of between xe2x88x921.5 and +1.5;
c) 0-20% by weight of a liquid-crystalline component D consisting of one or more compounds having a dielectric anisotropy of below xe2x88x921.5, and
d) if desired, an optically active component C in such an amount that the ratio between the layer thickness (separation of the outer plates) and the natural pitch of the chiral nematic liquid-crystal mixture is from about 0.2 to 1.3,
characterized in that component A is a mixture of at least one compound of the formula I
in which
R1 is H or an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH2 groups may be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94OCOxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94COOxe2x80x94 in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and
L1 is H or F,
and at least one compound of the formula II
in which
R2 and R3, independently of one another, are H, halogen, xe2x80x94CN, xe2x80x94NCS, xe2x80x94SF5 or an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH2 groups may be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94OCOxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94COOxe2x80x94 in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and/or in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by halogen and/or xe2x80x94CN,
and at least one compound of the formula III
in which
L2 is H or F,
X is xe2x80x94F, xe2x80x94Cl, xe2x80x94OCF3, xe2x80x94OCHF2, xe2x80x94OCHFCF3 or xe2x80x94OCF2CHFCF3, and
R4 has one of the meanings indicated for R1.
The invention also relates to corresponding liquid-crystal mixtures for use in TN and STN displays, in particular in medium- and low-multiplexed STN displays.
Preference is given to liquid-crystal mixtures which comprise one or more compounds of each of the formulae I, II and/or III in which R1, R2, R3 and/or R4, independently of one another, are an alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl and/or alkenyloxy group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
Particular preference is given to liquid-crystal mixtures which comprise one or more compounds of each of the formulae I, II and/or III in which R1, R2, R3 and/or R4 are straight-chain alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and/or L1, L2 and/or X are F.
The use of compounds of the formulae I, II and III in the liquid-crystal mixtures according to the invention results in low values of the rotational viscosity and in TN and STN displays having high steepness and fast response times, in particular at low temperatures.
Pyrimidine derivatives of the formula I are known in principle from EP 0 390 329 A1. Tolan derivatives of the formula 11 are described in EP 0 598 354 A1. Furthermore, liquid-crystal mixtures comprising tolan derivatives of this type are disclosed in WO 01/12751 A1, DE 199 14 373 A1 and DE 198 44 321 A1. The use of compounds of the formula III in liquid-crystal mixtures has also been disclosed, for example in DE 197 20 295 A1 and DE 100 00 870 A1.
Besides the compounds of the formulae I, II and III, the mixtures according to the invention preferably comprise one or more alkenyl compounds of the formula IV
in which
R6 is an alkenyl group having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by halogen and/or xe2x80x94CN,
R7 is H, halogen, xe2x80x94CN, xe2x80x94NCS, xe2x80x94SF5 or an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH2 groups may be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94OCOxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94COOxe2x80x94 in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and/or in which, in addition, one or more H atoms may be replaced by halogen and/or xe2x80x94CN, and
a is 0 or 1.
Particularly preferred compounds of the formula IV are selected from the formulae IVa to IVg
in which R6aand R7aare each, independently of one another, H, CH3, C2H5 or n-C3H7, and alkyl is an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
Particular preference is given to compounds of the formulae IVe and IVf, in particular those in which R6a is H or CH3.
The use of compounds of the formula IV in the liquid-crystal mixtures according to the invention results in particularly low values of the rotational viscosity and in TN and STN displays having high steepness and fast response times, in particular at low temperatures.
Besides the dielectrically neutral alkenyl compounds of the formula IV, the mixtures according to the invention preferably comprise one or more dielectrically positive alkenyl compounds of the formula IV*
in which
R6 is an alkenyl group having from 2 to 7 carbon atoms,
Q is CF2, OCF2, CFH, OCFH or a single bond,
Y is F or Cl, and
L1 and L2 are each, independently of one another, H or F.
Particularly preferred compounds of the formula IV* are those in which L1 and/or L2 are F, and Q-Y is F or OCF3.
Preference is furthermore given to compounds of the formula IV* in which R6 is 1E-alkenyl or 3E-alkenyl having from 2 to 7, in particular 2, 3 or 4, carbon atoms.
The polar compounds of the formula IV* having a dielectric anisotropy of greater than +1.5 should be assigned to the above-defined component A.
Component A preferably comprises one or more cyano compounds of the following formulae:
in which
R is an alkyl, alkoxy or alkenyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH2 groups may be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94OCOxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94COOxe2x80x94 in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and
L1 to L3 are each, independently of one another, H or F.
R in these compounds is particularly preferably alkyl or alkoxy having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms or alkenyl having from 2 to 7 carbon atoms.
Particular preference is given to mixtures comprising one or more compounds of the formula Vb and/or Vc, furthermore Vf, in particular those in which L1 and/or L2 are F.
Particular preference is given to compounds of the following formulae:
in which alkyl is an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and L2 is H or F, preferably H.
In a specific embodiment, component A preferably comprises one or more 3,4,5-trifluorophenyl compounds of the following formulae:
and optionally one or more compounds containing polar end groups of the following formulae:
in which R is as defined above, and L3 and L4 are each, independently of one another, H or F. R in these compounds is particularly preferably alkyl or alkoxy having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms or alkenyl having from 2 to 7 carbon atoms.
Particular preference is given to compounds of the formulae VIIa, VIIb, VIIc, VIIm and VIIj, in particular compounds of the formulae VIIa, VIIm and VIIj.
Very particular preference is given to compounds of the formula VIId in which L3 is F and R is alkenyl having from 2 to 7 carbon atoms, in particular ethenyl or 1E-propenyl.
Preferred liquid-crystal mixtures comprise one or more compounds of component A, preferably in a proportion of from 15% to 80%, particularly preferably from 20% to 70%. These compounds have a dielectric anisotropy xcex94xcex5xe2x89xa7+3, in particular xcex94xcex5xe2x89xa7+8, particularly preferably xcex94xcex5xe2x89xa7+12.
Preferred liquid-crystal mixtures comprise one or more compounds of component B, preferably in a proportion of from 20 to 85%, particularly preferably in a proportion of from 30 to 75%. The compounds from group B, in particular those containing alkenyl groups, are distinguished, in particular, by their low values for the rotational viscosity xcex31.
Besides one or more compounds of the formula II, component B preferably comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the bicyclic compounds of the following formulae:
and/or one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the tricyclic compounds of the following formulae:
and/or one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of the tetracyclic compounds of the following formulae:
in which
R1 and R2 are each, independently of one another, an alkyl, alkoxy or alkenyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, in which, in addition, one or two non-adjacent CH2 groups may be replaced by xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94OCOxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94COOxe2x80x94 in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and
L is H or F.
The 1,4-phenylene groups in VIII10 to VIII19 and VIII23 to VIII32 may each, independently of one another, also be monosubstituted or poly-substituted by fluorine.
Particular preference is given to compounds of the formulae VIII27 to VIII33 in which R1 is alkyl and R2 is alkyl or alkoxy, in particular alkoxy, in each case having 1 to 7 carbon atoms. Preference is furthermore given to compounds of the formulae IV25 and IV31 in which L is F.
Very particular preference is given to compounds of the formulae VIII2, VIII27 and VIII32.
The liquid-crystalline mixtures optionally comprise an optically active component C in such an amount that the ratio between the layer thickness (separation of the outer plates) and the natural pitch of the chiral nematic liquid-crystal mixture is greater than 0.2. For the component, a multiplicity of chiral dopants, some of which are commercially available, for example such as cholesteryl nonanoate, S-811 from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, and CB15 (BDH, Poole, UK), is available to the person skilled in the art,. The choice of dopants is not crucial per se.
The proportion of the compounds of component C is preferably from 0 to 10%, in particular from 0 to 5%, particularly preferably from 0 to 3%.
Besides the compounds of the formulae I, II and III, the mixtures according to the invention preferably comprise one or more liquid-crystalline tolan compounds. Owing to the high birefringence xcex94n of the tolan compounds, lower layer thicknesses can be used, which significantly shortens the response times. The tolan compounds are preferably selected from the group consisting of the formulae Ta to Th:
in which R1 and R2 are as defined above,
Z4 is xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CH2CH2xe2x80x94 or a single bond, and
L1 to L6 are each, independently of one another, H or F.
Particular preference is given to compounds of the formulae Ta and Tb, in particular those in which R2 is an alkoxy group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
Particularly preferred compounds of the formula Te are those in which one, two or three of the radicals L1 to L6 are F and the others are H, where L1 and L2 or L3 and L4 or L5 and L6 are not simultaneously F.
The proportion of the compounds from the group comprising Ta and Tb is preferably from 5 to 50%, in particular from 10 to 40%.
The proportion of the compounds of the formulae Ta to Th is preferably from 2 to 55%, in particular from 5 to 35%.
The mixtures according to the invention may also optionally comprise up to 20% of one or more compounds having a dielectric anisotropy of below xe2x88x922 (component D).
If the mixtures comprise compounds of component D, these are preferably one or more compounds containing the structural unit 2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene, for example compounds in accordance with DE-A 38 07 801, 38 07 861, 38 07 863, 38 07 864 or 38 07 908. Particular preference is given to tolans containing this structural unit in accordance with Inter-national Patent Application PCT/DE 88/00133.
Further known compounds of component D are, for example, derivatives of the 2,3-dicyanohydroquinones or cyclohexane derivatives containing the structural unit
in accordance with DE-A 32 31 707 or DE-A 34 07 013.
The liquid-crystal displays according to the invention preferably contain no compounds of component D.
In the case of the meaning alkyl in the groups or substituents indicated above or below, in particular in R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and/or R7, the alkyl radical may be linear or branched. It preferably has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 carbon atoms. It is preferably linear and is therefore in particular methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl or octyl.
In the case of the meaning alkoxy in the groups or substituents indicated above or below, in particular in R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and/or R7, the alkoxy radical may be linear or branched. It is preferably linear and has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 carbon atoms and is therefore in particular methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentoxy, hexoxy, heptoxy or octoxy.
In the case of the meaning alkenyl in the groups or substituents indicated above or below, in particular in R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and/or R7, the alkenyl radical may be linear or branched. It is preferably linear and has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred alkenyl groups are C2-C8-1E-alkenyl, C4-C8-3E-alkenyl, C5-C8-4-alkenyl, C6-C8-5-alkenyl and C7-C8-6-alkenyl, in particular C2-C8-1E-alkenyl, C4-C8-3E-alkenyl and C5-C8-4-alkenyl. Examples of preferred alkenyl groups are vinyl, 1E-propenyl, 1E-butenyl, 1E-pentenyl, 1E-hexenyl, 1E-heptenyl, 3-butenyl, 3E-pentenyl, 3E-hexenyl, 3E-heptenyl, 4-pentenyl, 4Z-hexenyl, 4E-hexenyl, 4Z-heptenyl, 5-hexenyl, 6-heptenyl and the like. Groups having up to 5 carbon atoms are generally preferred.
In the case of the meaning alkenyloxy in the groups or substituents indicated above or below, in particular in R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and/or R7, the alkenyloxy radical may be linear or branched. It is preferably linear and has 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 carbon atoms. Accordingly, it is in particular vinyloxy, prop-1- or -2-enyloxy, but-1-, -2- or -3-enyloxy, pent-1-, -2-, -3- or -4-enyloxy, hex-1-, -2-, -3-, -4- or -5-enyloxy, hept-1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5- or -6-enyloxy or oct-1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6- or -7-enyloxy.
The individual compounds of the formulae I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and T and their sub-formulae and also other compounds which can be used in the TN and STN displays according to the invention are either known or can be prepared analogously to the known compounds.
In particularly preferred embodiments, the mixtures comprise
one, two or three compounds of the formula I, in particular those in which R1 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, and L1 is F,
from 2 to 50%, in particular from 5 to 30%, particularly preferably from 5 to 20%, of one or more compounds of the formula I,
one, two or three compounds of the formula II, in particular those in which R2 and R3 are an alkyl group having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms,
from 2 to 50%, in particular from 3 to 30%, of one or more compounds of the formula II,
one, two or three compounds of the formula III, in particular those in which R4 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, and X and/or L2 are F,
from 2 to 50%, in particular from 3 to 20%, of one or more compounds of the formula III,
from 5 to 60%, in particular from 12 to 50%, of one or more alkenyl compounds of the formula IV and/or IV*,
at least one compound of the formula IVe and/or IVf,
from 5 to 50%, in particular from 8 to 40%, of one or more compounds of the formula V,
one or more, in particular one or two, compounds of the formula Vb, in particular those of the formula Vb-1,
one or more, in particular one or two, compounds of the formula Vc, in particular those of the formula Vc-1,
from 5 to 40%, in particular from 10 to 30%, of one or more compounds of the formula VII,
one or more, in particular one, two or three, compounds of the formula VIId,
from 2 to 40%, in particular from 3 to 30%, of one or more compounds of the formula VIII,
one or more, in particular one, two or three, compounds of the formula VIII2,
one or more, in particular one, two or three, compounds of the formula VIII27,
one or more, in particular one, two or three, compounds of the formula VIII32,
from 0.5 to 30%, in particular from 1 to 20%, of one or more compounds of the formula T,
one or more, in particular one, two or three, compounds of each of the formulae Ta and/or Tb, preferably those in which R2 is alkoxy having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms,
more than 20% of compounds of positive dielectric anisotropy, in particular with xcex94xcex5xe2x89xa7+12.
The mixtures according to the invention are distinguished, in particular on use in TN and STN displays of high layer thicknesses, by very low total response times (ttot=ton+toff).
The liquid-crystal mixtures used in the TN and STN cells according to the invention are dielectrically positive, with xcex94xcex5xe2x89xa71. Particular preference is given to liquid-crystal mixtures with xcex94xcex5xe2x89xa73, in particular with xcex94xcex5xe2x89xa75.
The liquid-crystal mixtures according to the invention have favorable values for the threshold voltage V10/0/20 and for the rotational viscosity xcex31. If the value for the optical path difference dxc2x7xcex94n is pre-specified, the value for the layer thickness d is determined by the optical anisotropy xcex94n. In particular at relatively high values for dxc2x7xcex94n, the use of liquid-crystal mixtures according to the invention having a relatively high value for the optical anisotropy is generally preferred, since the value for d can then be selected to be relatively small, which results in more favorable values for the response times. However, liquid-crystal displays according to the invention which contain liquid-crystal mixtures according to the invention with smaller values for xcex94n are also characterized by advantageous values for the response times.
The liquid-crystal mixtures according to the invention are furthermore characterized by advantageous values for the steepness of the electro-optical characteristic line, and can be operated with high multiplex rates, in particular at temperatures above 20xc2x0 C. In addition, the liquid-crystal mixtures according to the invention have high stability and favorable values for the electrical resistance and the frequency dependence of the threshold voltage. The liquid-crystal displays according to the invention have a large working-temperature range and good angle dependence of the contrast.
The construction of the liquid-crystal display elements according to the invention from polarizers, electrode base plates and electrodes having a surface treatment such that the preferential alignment (director) of the liquid-crystal molecules in each case adjacent thereto is usually twisted by a value of from 22.5xc2x0 to 720xc2x0 from one electrode to the other corresponds to the usual structure for display elements of this type. The term xe2x80x9cusual structurexe2x80x9d here is broadly drawn and also covers all derivatives and modifications of the TN and STN cell, in particular also matrix display elements and display elements containing additional magnets.
The surface tilt angle at the two outer plates may be identical or different. Identical tilt angles are preferred. Preferred TN displays have pre-tilt angles between the longitudinal axis of the molecules at the surface of the outer plates and the outer plates of from 0xc2x0 to 7xc2x0, preferably from 0.010xc2x0 to 5xc2x0, in particular from 0.1 to 2xc2x0. In the STN displays, the pre-tilt angle is from 1xc2x0 to 30xc2x0, preferably from 1xc2x0 to 12xc2x0 and in particular from 3xc2x0 to 10xc2x0.
The twist angle of the TN mixture in the cell has a value of between 22.5xc2x0 and 170xc2x0, preferably between 45xc2x0 and 130xc2x0 and in particular between 80xc2x0 and 115xc2x0. The twist angle of the STN mixture in the cell from alignment layer to alignment layer has a value of between 100xc2x0 and 600xc2x0, preferably between 170xc2x0 and 300xc2x0 and in particular between 180xc2x0 and 270xc2x0.
The liquid-crystal mixtures which can be used in accordance with the invention are prepared in a manner which is conventional per se. In general, the desired amount of the components used in lesser amount are dissolved in the components making up the principal constituent, advantageously at elevated temperature. It is also possible to mix solutions of the components in an organic solvent, for example in acetone, chloroform or methanol, and to remove the solvent again, for example by distillation, after thorough mixing.
The dielectrics may also comprise further additives which are known to the person skilled in the art and are described in the literature. For example, 0-15% of pleochroic dyes may be added.
In the present application and in the examples below, the structures of the liquid-crystal compounds are indicated by means of acronyms, the transformation into chemical formulae taking place in accordance with Tables A and B. All radicals CnH2n+1 and CmH2m+1 are straight-chain alkyl radicals having n and m carbon atoms respectively. The alkenyl radicals have the trans-configuration. The coding in Table B is self-evident. In Table A, only the acronym for the parent structure is indicated. In individual cases, the acronym for the parent structure is followed, separated by a dash, by the code indicated in the table below for the substituents R1, R2, L1, L2 and L3.
The TN and STN displays preferably contain liquid-crystalline mixtures composed of one or more compounds from Tables A and B.
In the following examples, the following abbreviations are used:
cl.p. clearing point (nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature),
xcex94n optical anisotropy (589 nm, 20xc2x0 C.)
no ordinary refractive index (589 nm, 20xc2x0 C.)
xcex94xcex5 dielectric anisotropy (1 kHz, 20xc2x0 C.)
S characteristic line steepness=V90/V10
Vop operating voltage
V10 threshold voltage=characteristic voltage at a relative contrast of 10%,
V90 characteristic voltage at a relative contrast of 90%,
tave            t      on        +          t      off        2
xe2x80x83(mean response time)
ton time from switching on until 90% of the maximum contrast is reached,
toff time from switching off until 10% of the maximum contrast is reached,
mux multiplex rate
All values relate to 20xc2x0 C., unless stated otherwise. The displays are addressed, unless stated otherwise, at a multiplex rate of {fraction (1/64)} and a bias of {fraction (1/9)}. The twist is 240xc2x0, unless stated otherwise.
Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The following preferred specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.
In the foregoing and in the following examples, all temperatures are set forth uncorrected in degrees Celsius and, all parts and percentages are by weight, unless otherwise indicated.
The entire disclosure[s] of all applications, patents and publications, cited above or below, and of corresponding German Application No. 10131238.5, filed Jun. 28, 2001, is hereby incorporated by reference.

Abstract: in which R1, R2, R3, R4, L1, L2 and X are as defined in claim 1.


Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a catheter which can include a removal mechanism which can excavate a tubular-organ occluding object. For example, the exemplary catheter can include: a sheath portion which can have a elongated lumen insertable into a tubular-organ. The catheter can further include an insertion member which can have a second elongated lumen which can be arranged free, slidably, and rotatably with respect to the lumen of the sheath portion. The catheter can also include a removal mechanism configured to remove a occluding object of the tubular-organ. The removal mechanism can include a support portion arranged at a distal portion of the insertion member and a plurality of rotating arrangements having at least one blade edge configured to excavate the occluding object. The support portion can have an axis of rotation that intersects an axis of extension of the insertion member.

In a case in which a tubular-organ inside a living body, for example, a blood vessel of four limbs can be occluded by a foreign object and the blood flow can be disturbed, it can become a cause for inducing necrosis or intermittent claudication of finger tissues of a hand and a foot, which can be caused by ischemia. Therefore, there have been many proposed catheters provided with removal mechanisms for foreign objects (tubular-organ occluding objects).
For example, Japanese unexamined patent publication H11-347040 describes a catheter provided with a rotation cutter including a cylinder sleeve shaped body and a thread extending along a portion of the side surface of the aforesaid body. Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2000-245741 describes a catheter provided with a cylindrical cutter including a thread extending along a portion of the side surface thereof and a saw blade which is arranged at an end portion and which is formed so as to extend from the center axis to the external side in the radial direction. Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2004-514463 describes a catheter provided with a compound cutter assembly including a cutter whose distant diameter is fixed and a cutter assembly whose proximal diameter is adjustable. Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2006-514577 describes a catheter provided with a blade edge assembly including a plurality of blade edge blades which present an appearance shape of approximately a round shape when seen from the axis line direction and of an elliptical or a circular truncated cone shape when seen from the lateral direction, and which are arranged radiation-symmetrically with respect to the center longitudinal axis and also, have differential blade edge surfaces.
However, the rotation surface of the cutters described in Japanese unexamined patent publication H11-347040, Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2000-245741, Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2004-514463, and Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2006-514577 is approximately perpendicular with respect to the drive shaft and the blade edge of the cutter faces the tubular-organ wall, so that it can be easy for the lumen wall to be damaged. Also, since only a single cutter is provided, it may not be possible for the ground occluding object to be ground finely so as to be discharged easily to the outside of the body.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can, e.g., solve the problem involved in the existing technology mentioned above and can provide a catheter having a removal mechanism which excavates a tubular-organ occluding object inside a living body safely and also more efficiently, and which can also discharge the removed excavated object easily to the outside of the body.

Catheter having an arrangement for removing an occluding object


A communication unit of the disclosure includes a human-body electrode and a space electrode that perform communication through a human body by means of an electric field method, and a first auxiliary conductor section that includes a first end and a second end, the first end causing electrostatic induction corresponding to a transmission signal with respect to the human body, the second end being disposed at a position closer to the human-body electrode than to the space electrode.

As a communication system including a transmission unit, a communication medium, and a reception unit, in particular, a communication technique using a human body as a communication medium is called quasi-electrostatic field communication. In the quasi-electrostatic field communication, a user wears a transmission unit including a human-body-side transmission electrode and a space-side transmission electrode. The reception unit includes a human-body-side reception electrode and a space-side reception electrode. The human-body-side reception electrode receives a signal from the human-body-side transmission electrode through a communication path using a human body as a communication medium. The space-side reception electrode receives a signal through a communication path using a space as a communication medium. In the quasi-electrostatic field communication, only a user's touch on the reception electrode allows for communication. Utilization of the quasi-electrostatic field communication is expected, for example, in the field of security where door unlocking, etc. is performed.

Communication unit and communication system


In DFT-s-OFDM, disclosed are a wireless transmission apparatus and wireless transmission method whereby freedom of allocation of frequencies is secured, while increases of CM are avoided. An SD number determination unit (152) determines an SD number based on the channel quality information of a mobile station and a threshold value that is set by a threshold value setting unit (151). A transmission bandwidth determination unit (153) determines the transmission bandwidth necessary for transmission of the transmission data. An allocation commencement position determination unit (154) determines the position for commencement of allocation of transmission data. If the SD number is equal to or more than the threshold value, a divided bandwidth determination unit (155) sets all the divided bandwidths to equal values and a frequency interval determination unit (156) sets all the frequency intervals to equal values.

In LTE-Advanced, which is an enhanced version of 3GPP LTE (3rd Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution), a transmission method of switching between single carrier transmission and multicarrier transmission in an uplink, has been studied (e.g. see Non-Patent Literature 1).
An advantage of multicarrier transmission is that the degree of freedom of frequency allocation improves compared to single carrier transmission (transmission with consecutive frequency bands), so that frequency scheduling gain is obtained. In contrast, a disadvantage of multicarrier transmission is that PAPR (Peak-to-Average Power Ratio) indicating a ratio of peak to average power of a transmission signal, and CM (Cubic Metric), increase compared to single carrier transmission. Consequently, upon performing multicarrier transmission, it is necessary to provide larger power amplifier back-off for transmitting a transmission signal without distortion. Thus, in multicarrier transmission, the actually transmissible maximum power becomes smaller, and therefore coverage performance tends to degrade. Especially, if OFDMA with large CM (or PAPR) is used as multicarrier transmission, coverage performance degrades significantly.
Therefore, studies are underway to provide advantages of single carrier transmission and multicarrier transmission by adaptively switching between single carrier transmission and multicarrier transmission according to the communication environment of mobile stations. As such a transmission method, there is DFT-s-OFDM-with-SDC (Spectrum Division Control) disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 1.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline configuration of a transmission apparatus of the DFT-s-OFDM-with-SDC scheme. As shown in FIG. 1, this transmission apparatus performs DFT processing of a data signal and maps this data signal after DFT, in the frequency domain. The mapped data signal is subjected to IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) processing, attached a CP (Cyclic Prefix) and then transmitted. The subcarrier mapping section shown in FIG. 1 controls a method of mapping a data signal in the frequency domain, so that it is possible to switch between single carrier transmission and multicarrier transmission. To be more specific, single carrier transmission is used when the number of data divisions (hereinafter "SD (Spectrum Division) count") in the frequency domain is 1, or multicarrier transmission is used when the number of SD's is equal to or greater than 2. A base station controls the number of SD's according to the communication environment of mobile stations, so that it is possible to adaptively switch between single carrier transmission and multicarrier transmission.
Also, an advantage of DFT-s-OFDM-with-SDC is that it is possible to reduce CM (or PAPR) upon multicarrier transmission compared to OFDMA. By this means, it is possible to widen an application range of multicarrier transmission and improve coverage performance.

Wireless transmission apparatus and wireless transmission method


A projector includes a dimming device that moves a light-shielding member for shielding light to adjust the amount of light emitted from a light source, a housing that accommodates the dimming device, a temperature detection section that detects an internal temperature of the housing, and a control section that controls an adjustment state of the amount of light through the dimming device. The control section starts a control of the dimming device when the temperature detected by the temperature detection section is set to equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a projector that projects an image and a method of controlling the same.
2. Related Art
In order to improve contrast perception by extending the dynamic range of an image to be projected in projectors that modulate and project light emitted from a light source in accordance with image information, projectors capable of adjusting the amount of light emitted from a light source have been known (see, for example, JP-A-2010-175682). A projector disclosed in JP-A-2010-175682 includes a dimming device that shields source light using a rotatable light-shielding member, and adjusts the amount of the source light by rotating the light-shielding member in accordance with image information. Generally, grease (lubricant) is applied to such a dimming device in order to smoothly rotate the light-shielding member.
However, since grease hardens due to an increase in the viscosity of grease at the time of using the projector having such a configuration under the low-temperature environment, the light-shielding member is not rotated properly, and thus dimming may not function correctly.

Projector and method of controlling the same


Provided herein are methods and compositions to classify DLBCL subtypes using quantitative RT-PCR.

Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) comprises 30-35% of all Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. DLBCL is biologically aggressive, but can be cured in >50% of the cases. However, up to one third of the patients develop resistance and are refractory to the treatments. The standard treatment is chemotherapy CHOP or chemotherapy+Rituxamab (R-CHOP). DLBCL can be classified into three different molecular cell-of-origin (COO) subtypes: germinal center B-cell (GCB), activated B-cell (ABC), and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL). Retrospective analysis by the Lymphoma/Leukemia molecular profiling project demonstrated that DLBCL patients with GCB subtype have better prognosis than those with ABC subtype when treated with R-CHOP, and drug candidates to improve ABC subtype prognosis are in development.
Current methods for distinguishing GCB and ABC subtypes include immunohistochemistry (IHC) and gene expression profiling. IHC and gene expression profiling technologies are time consuming, and have additional drawbacks for subtype classification. For example, gene expression technology uses frozen samples and not the formaldehyde fixed paraffin embedded tissue (FFPET) specimens that are typically collected its clinical laboratories. Nanostring Technologies (Seattle, Wash.) has developed a gene expression profiling signature that classifies DLBCL subtypes using FFPET samples, but the Nanostring platform is not widely adopted in the marketplace and it is expensive. IHC also uses FFPET samples but shows high assay variability across laboratories.

Methods and compositions for classifying DLBCL


A contact management system includes a first communication terminal and a managing device. The first communication terminal stores first contacts and has a first application program installed therein. The managing device includes a storage device and a first processor. The storage device stores application information related to respective application programs installed in any of communication terminals included in a first terminal group. The first processor receives, from the first communication terminal, a first inquiry about first contact information to be provided to the first application program. The first processor acquires first application information related to the first application and second application information related to second application programs installed in respective second communication terminals included in the first terminal group. The second communication terminals correspond to the respective first contacts. The first processor extracts second contacts from the first contacts and transmits the second contacts to the first communication terminal.

Contact information stored in communication terminals such as mobile phones includes personal information of owners owning the communication terminals and personal information of information providers. The information providers are persons who provide information such as phone numbers to the terminal owners.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the personal information of the information providers included in the contact information. Names indicate the names (identifiers: IDs) of the information providers, and phone numbers and mail addresses are contacts indicating the communication terminals owned by the information providers and are associated with the names of the information providers. For example, a phone number of a user A is "71XXXX", and a mail address of the user A is "X@fffff". The personal information of the information providers may include addresses, birthdays, and the like. The personal information of the terminal owners includes information similar to the personal information of the information providers.
In communication terminals that are smartphones, tablets, and the like and have appeared on the market in recent years, application programs allow to use application programming interfaces (APIs) for acquisition of contact information or the like to acquire contact information instead of directly referencing the contact information within the communication terminals. Hereinafter, application programs are merely referred to as applications in some cases. In addition, functions that are achieved by causing a computer or the like to execute application programs are referred to as applications in some cases.
Related techniques are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2014-98968, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-245145, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-232554.
Traditional applications that have the right of access to contact information may use personal information of all information providers that is included in the contact information, and a technique that allows the information providers to control whether or not the personal information thereof is to be used is not known.
The aforementioned problem is not limited to mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones, smartphones, or tablets and occurs to other communication terminals such as personal computers.

Contact management system and contact management method


A common rail fuel injector comprises a three-way control valve that controls the flow of high-pressure fuel to a fuel cavity for fuel injection. Specifically, when the control valve is transitioning to a first, on position, from a second, off position, high-pressure fuel is provided to both the fuel cavity and to a check control cavity, thereby preventing fuel injection until the control valve seats in the first, on position. Once seated in the first, on position, the control valve only provides high-pressure fuel to the fuel cavity allowing fuel injection to occur. To stop injection, the control valve is moved from the first, on position to the second, closed position. Once again, while the control valve is in the transition location between the two positions, high-pressure fuel is provided to both the fuel cavity and to the check control cavity thereby terminating injection. Once the control valve is seated back in the second, closed position, the fuel cavity and the check control cavity are fluidly connected.

As emission requirements continue to become more stringent, engine manufacturers and component suppliers continue to improve engine operation. One area that has received particular focus has been fuel injection. By more accurately controlling fuel injection, improved combustion can be achieved, providing better engine efficiency and reduced emissions.
One type of fuel injector that has received much attention has been the common rail injector. The common rail fuel injector controls the injection of high-pressure fuel that the injector receives from a high-pressure fuel rail. The injector does not pressurize the fuel but simply controls injection by controlling the check valve. Typically, high-pressure fuel is constantly present in the tip of the fuel injector and injection occurs by actuating a control valve to vent a check control cavity, allowing the high-pressure fuel in the tip to push the check valve up.
Although the common rail injector provides good control of fuel injection, improvement is still necessary. Specifically, the common rail injector has limited rate-shaping capability, generally a square rate shape, due to the fact that high-pressure fuel is always present in the tip. Further, the common rail fuel injector's delivery curve is not linear and can have unusable ranges because fuel injection starts as soon as the control valve is actuated, as opposed to waiting until the control valve is seated.
Furthermore, leakage of high-pressure fuel within the injector contributes to losses and less than optimal system efficiency, as such leakage requires the pump to pressurize such fuel, yet the system does not benefit from the fuel which leaks.
The constant presence of high-pressure fuel in the tip of such common rail injectors is also seen as a potential source of engine damage, should the nozzle needle remain in an open or partially-open position. One way to address this concern is changing the internal plumbing arrangement of the injector's valves and lines to form an admission valve. Such admission valves only allow high pressure fuel to be present in the tip only when injection is desired, rather these valves block the high pressure from reaching the tip during the non-injection period and vent any pressure remaining in the tip at the end of injection back to tank. Typical common rail injectors in production today utilize a 3-port, 2-position valve, and do not block the fuel from reaching the tip during the non-injection period.
Some admission valves are described as a control slide, or spool valves, whose control edges meter the fuel quantity to be delivered, and even attempt to limit leakage losses by closing the outlet side opening before opening the inlet side opening. However such spool valves must have diametral clearance to move, and such clearance forms a leakage path that contributes to losses.
An exemplary admission valve is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,187. This admission valve improves the control valve by forming a poppet valve rather than a spool valve. Such valves are known to seal better than spool valves, and therefore have lower leakage losses. The other end forms a flat valve seat, which are known to be difficult to achieve a tight seal, versus that possible with a poppet valve.
The present application addresses one or more of the problems identified above.


The present invention relates to a method for transmitting a packet in a communication system, the method comprising: generating drop information indicating at least one source packet to be dropped among source packets to be transmitted and whether or not to drop each of the other source packets except the at least one source packet; performing forward error correction (FEC) encoding on the drop information and the other source packets except the at least one source packet; generating a repair packet comprising repair data for restoring the drop information and a repair symbol for restoring the other source packets except the at least one source packet; and transmitting the other source packets except the at least one source packet and the repair packet.

In a communication system, data congestion has become more serious due to variety of contents and an increase in high capacity contents such as High Definition (HD) contents and Ultra High Definition (UHD) contents. Further, due to the data congestion, contents which a sender, for example, host A transmits is not normally transferred to a receiver, for example, host B, and some of the contents are lost on route.
In general, since data is transmitted in the unit of packets, the loss of contents is generated in the unit of packets. The packet includes a block of data to be transmitted, address information, and management information. The data block may be, for example, a payload, the address information may be a source address or a destination address, and the management information may be, for example, a header.
Accordingly, when the packet loss is generated in the network, the receiver cannot receive the lost packet, and thus cannot know a data block and management information within the lost packet. Therefore, it causes deterioration of audio quality, degradation of video image quality or an image breaking, an omission of a subtitle, a loss of a file and the like making an inconvenience for a user.
In order to prevent the packet loss, a method of artificially dropping and transmitting data that does not have a large influence on reproduction of contents from the packet to be transmitted is used as a method of reducing loads of the network. The data that does not have a large influence on the reproduction of the contents may be, for example, a B-frame. However, such a method also cannot remove the packet loss in the network, so that Application Layer-Forward Error Correction (AL-FEC) is required as a method of restoring the packet loss generated in the network even in transmission through the packet drop. Further, a method of configuring an FEC packet and transmitting/receiving the FEC packet is required.

Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving packet in communication system


A fuel cell module comprises a hydrogen pump including a pump side facing surface having a pump side opening, a gas-liquid separator including a separator side facing surface having a separator side opening, three or more fastening points at which the hydrogen pump and the gas-liquid separator are fastened to each other, a heating flow path, a gasket that seals a connection portion, at which the pump side opening and the separator side opening are connected to each other, and an inclination preventing portion formed by an elastic member. At least a part of the gasket is disposed outside an area defined by lines connecting the three or more fastening points to each other, and between the pump side facing surface and the separator side facing surface, and the inclination preventing portion is disposed within the area, and between the pump side facing surface and the separator side facing surface.

Field
The present disclosure relates to a fuel cell module.
Related Art
Fuel cell vehicles with a fuel cell stack installed in a front room on a front side of the vehicle have been known (see, for example, JP2015-231319A).
The fuel cell vehicle having the fuel cell stack installed in the front room may have a hydrogen pump and a gas-liquid separator further installed in the front room. The hydrogen pump resupplies hydrogen off gas, discharged from the fuel cell stack, to the fuel cell stack. The gas-liquid separator separates water from the hydrogen off gas. A heating flow path may be arranged near the gas-liquid separator. A fluid for heating the hydrogen pump and the gas-liquid separator flows in the heating flow path to prevent liquid water in the gas-liquid separator from freezing in a low temperature environment.
In this configuration, the hydrogen pump and the gas-liquid separator are preferably directly fastened and connected to each other with a hydrogen flow path formed therebetween, instead of additionally providing a separate member for forming the hydrogen flow path between the hydrogen pump and the gas-liquid separator, so that the fuel cell module including the hydrogen pump and the gas-liquid separator can be downsized. A gasket may be provided to seal a connection portion between the hydrogen pump and the gas-liquid separator directly connected to each other with the flow path formed therebetween. Unfortunately, a plurality of fastening points might not be arrangeable to surround the connection portion between the hydrogen pump and the gas-liquid separator and to surround the gasket, depending on a position of the heating flow path. As a result, reaction produced at the fastening points due to repulsive force of the gasket might be uneven. When the reaction produced at the fastening points is uneven, a facing surface of the gas-liquid separator might be inclined relative to a facing surface of the hydrogen pump. Thus, a technique ensuring a lower risk of reaction produced at the fastening points, due to repulsive force of the gasket, being uneven has been called for.


A method for under-color removal in a color image forming apparatus comprises color conversion means for converting separated color signals into first color output signals, first black generation means for calculating first black output signal based on the maximum and minimum values of the first color output signals obtained by the color conversion means, means for performing under-color removal to calculate second color output signals by correcting the first color output signals converted by the color conversion means based on the first black output signal generated by the first black generation means and then removing under-color values from the first color output signals, black amount correction means for calculating second black output signal by correcting the first black output signal obtained by the first black production means, and chroma correction means for correcting the second color output signals obtained by the means for performing under-color removal based on the second black output signal obtained by the black amount correction means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for under-color removal in a color image forming apparatus converting separated color signals B, G and R into corresponding output signals for pigments Y, M and C through color conversion means, and outputting them.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In a digital copying machine, analog signals generated by reading originals are converted into digital gray-scale values to carry out an image quality adjusting process for adjusting granularity, degradation, fineness, etc. and are recorded and reproduced in dot patterns. In particular, because the gray-scale values are stored digitally, various amendments and editing of the data are easily carried out in memory as well as image data processing for generating an image with high definition and reproducibility.
In a full color digital copying machine, an original is scanned optically and input signals B (blue), G (green) and R (red) are produced to be converted correctively into output signals Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan) for pigments (including all coloring materials such as toner, ink or ink donor film), and then reproduced as a full color image basically by outputting a combination of dot patterns of each pigment. Because equal amounts of all three pigments produce a gray shade, in actuality, an equal amount of the three components of output signals is removed (under-color removal) to avoid excessive use of the toner. However, if under-color removal is carried out, the decrease in the amount of toner causes a loss of color depth in an entire color image, and besides, the color reproducibility of simple under-color removal is not enough because the reproduction of black or gray and the reproduction of colors of a high degrees of saturation are in conflict with each other. To make up for this loss of color depth, and for producing gray tones, black pigment (K) is added in proportion to the amount of the pigments removed.
An outline of a conventional method for under-color removal in a digital color image forming apparatus proposed by the same inventor of the present invention (for example, Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication Hei. 2-118680) is now given.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an example of a digital color image forming apparatus.
In FIG. 5, an image input device 100 uses a CCD line sensor to read an original, performs color separation and produces the input signals B, G and R and then converts them into digital image data. An image output device 115 performs exposure and development by laser beams to reproduce the color image. From an equivalent neutral density conversion module 101 to an image output device interface 110 constitute an image processing system for the image data, where the B, G, R input signals are converted into the output signals for the pigments Y, M, C and K, and then an output signal corresponding to a developing color is selected and output at every developing cycle. In converting the input signals B, G and R into the output signals Y, M, C and K, a number of problems occur, such as how to control the balance of the colors, how to compensate for the colors corresponding to input characteristics of the image input device and output characteristics of the image output device, how to control the density and the contrast, how to control edge enhancement or unsharpness, and how to prevent moire effects, and so on.
The image input device 100 includes a CCD line sensor which scans for each of the primary colors blue, green and red at a size of 16 pixels/mm and outputs data with 24 bits (3 colors .times.8 bits; 256 levels) per pixel. The CCD sensor has 16 pixels/mm and a length of 300 mm, and filters for input signals B, G and R are installed on its upper surface. The CCD sensor scans 16 lines/mm at a scan speed of 190.5 mm/sec, and then outputs input signals on each color at a rate of about 15 million pixels/sec. The image input device 100 converts information of reflectance into information of density and further converts them into digital signals by logarithmic conversion of analog signals for B, G and R picture elements.
The image processing system inputs B, G, R input signals to the image input device 100, performs various data processing to improve the gray-scale reproducibility, and so on, and selects an output signal for a development process color from the output signals Y, M, C and K to convert it into on/off signals, and then outputs to the image output device 115. The image processing system includes, as shown in FIG. 5, an equivalent neutral density conversion module 101 converting the color signals to obtain gray tones, a color masking module 102 converting input signals B, G and R into output signals in proportion to the amounts of toner for the signals Y, M, C calculated by a matrix operation. The image processing system also includes an original size detection module 103 detecting the document size in pre-scanning and erasing platen color (frame erasing) at the time of original reading, a color conversion module 104 converting designated colors in certain areas according to area signals being input to an area image control module, an under-color removal and black generation module 105 producing an appropriate amount of black without causing muddiness and reducing the same amount of Y, M and C in proportion to the amount of produced black, and inputting signal K and signals Y, M and C according to signals indicating monochrome mode and full color mode after under-color removal is performed, and a space filter 106 having functions for controlling edge unsharpness and eliminating moire effects. Further the image processing system includes a tone reproduction control module 107 performing density control, contrast control, negative and positive inversion, color balance control to improve reproducibility, a zoom processing module 108 performing magnification and compression in the main scanning direction, a screen generator 109 converting gray-scale toner signals for process colors into on/off binary toner signals and outputting them, an image output device interface module 110, an area image control module 111 having an area generation circuit and a switch matrix, and an edit control module having an area command memory 112, a color palette video switch circuit 113 and a font buffer 114.
The tone control system comprises the parts responsible for color adjustment including an equivalent neutral density conversion module 101, a color masking module 102, an under-color removal and black generation module 105 and a tone reproduction control module 107. The equivalent neutral density module 101 corrects for spectral characteristics of the light source for the image input device and characteristics of the dichroic mirror, color characteristics of the photoelectric element, color filters and lenses, and then converts into separated color signals ENDB, ENDG and ENDR with gray balance. The color masking module 102 carries out an operation using matrices which are for example, 3.times.3, 3.times.6 or 3.times.9, based on the proportion of the gray balanced separated color signals ENDB, ENDG and ENDR output from equivalent neutral density conversion module 101, and generates data for picture elements of gray balanced toner signals for three colors ENDY, ENDM and ENDC for a full color original, and generates an intensity signal for a monochrome original. The under-color removal and black generation module 105 generates a black signal K based on the proportion of the toner signals ENDY, ENDM and ENDC, and then reduces the values of toner signals ENDY, ENDM and ENDC (that is, performs under-color removal) according to the value of black signal K generated. In generating the black signal K, the maximum and minimum values of toner signals ENDY, ENDM and ENDC are determined by a maximum and minimum value detecting circuit, and the difference between the maximum and minimum values is calculated by a subtracter, and then a value derived from the difference by a chroma function is subtracted from the minimum value by the subtracter. In under-color removal, the under-color removal function converts the generated ENDK into ENDK' and the value of ENDK' is subtracted from each value of the toner signals ENDY, ENDM and ENDC by the subtracter. For a three-color or a monochrome copy, under-color removal and black production module 105 is by-passed because generation of black and under-color removal of ENDY, ENDM and ENDC are not carried out. A tone reproduction control module 107 determines a value of picture element data to be output according to picture element data having been input based on a tone reproduction control curve, and performs the control of density, contrast and color balance, negative and positive inversion and so on by altering the tone reproduction control curve.
In brief, the tone control system firstly performs the equivalent neutral density conversion on the separated color signals input to the image input device to make them gray balanced, and then carries out color masking to generate toner signals. The gray balance method is also applied in color masking, and moreover, black generation and under-color removal of the same amount from the toner signals ENDY', ENDM' and ENDC' are performed by the under-color removal function to make each toner signal always be the same amount with respect to gray. If values of the toner signals ENDY', ENDM' and ENDC' are same, toner signals Y, M and C are controlled by the tone reproduction control so that the image output device outputs gray, thereby control of gray balance in the image data processing system is carried out and reproducibility of gray in the image output system is improved.
In a conventional digital color image forming apparatus, under-color removal processing is performed on separated color signals B, G and R, and the pigment signals Y, M, C and K for the subtractive primaries are generated. However, if under-color removal is performed at low image densities, black cannot be added so much because it causes a lack of saturation and deterioration of lightness. Therefore, above-mentioned proposal by the inventor of the present invention applies a chroma function and the under-color removal function to make it practicable to perform under-color removal at low densities.
However, it is still difficult to make up for the lack of saturation and deterioration of lightness in a pictorial image when for example black characters in a color image are to be reproduced only by black toner, or under-color removal is to be carried out even at extremely low densities. And what is worse, black is a factor in muddiness in colored portions of the pictorial image, therefore, it causes problems of deterioration in tone reproduction.

Method for under-color removal in color image forming apparatus


A cosmetic applicator comprises a body defining a handle, the body being arranged to receive the cosmetic product, a rotatable applicator element attached to a distal end of the body, the applicator element extending transversely relative to the body and being located proximate the cosmetic product, and a driving arrangement to rotate the applicator element, thereby loading the cosmetic product for subsequent application. In an embodiment, the body is elongate so as to define a longitudinal axis, with the applicator element extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. In an embodiment, the cosmetic applicator comprises an actuating arrangement to allow a user to selectively control the position of the cosmetic product with respect to the applicator element, thereby allowing a controlled quantity of cosmetic product to be loaded onto the applicator element.

Mascara is a cosmetic used to darken, colour, thicken, lengthen, or define eyelashes. Mascara comes in three forms: liquid, cake, and cream. It also comes in many formulas, tints, and colours. The present invention is primarily aimed at the original, solid cake mascara product, as well as liquid mascara.
Traditionally, cake mascara is applied after rubbing a brush against the cake mascara solid to load it with product. This process has a number of disadvantages, one of which is an inability to control the quantity and uniformity of mascara loaded onto the brush. This is sometimes addressed by providing a wiper against which the brush can be wiped, with a wiper also being used in liquid mascara applicators. However, the use of a wiper to clean the brush or applicator will always leave more mascara product in two regions. In addition, there is always a "tail" left at the tip of the brush or applicator, which is a quantity of mascara that is not wiped, which makes the uniform application of mascara tricky and difficult.