A high temperature process chamber that has improved heat endurance and a method for improving heat endurance of a process chamber are described. In the high temperature process chamber, a heat insulating adapter is connected in-between a lift cylinder and a chamber body in which a plasma ashing process is conducted at 250xc2x0 C. The heat insulating adapter prevents substantially heat conduction from the chamber body to the lift cylinder such that the cylinder can be safely operated at a temperature lower than 40xc2x0 C. The present invention method for improving heat endurance of a process chamber can be carried out by connecting a heat insulating adapter between a wafer pedestal and a lift cylinder, conducting a process at a temperature of at least 200xc2x0 C., and preferably at least 250xc2x0 C. in the process chamber while maintaining a temperature of the lift cylinder at below 40xc2x0 C.

The present invention generally relates to a high temperature process chamber and a method for using the chamber and more particularly, relates to a high temperature process chamber that has improved heat endurance and a method for improving the heat endurance a process chamber.
In the fabrication of semiconductor devices, dry chemical etching occurs when a chemical reaction takes place between a gas and a wafer surface, with or without a plasma, while the resulting volatile product is pumped away. The dry etching process is typically selective and non-directional. In a plasma-assisted chemical etching process, the major role of the plasma is to maintain a supply of reactive species in the form of free radicals and excited neutrals.
In plasma-assisted chemical etching, material is selectively removed by a reactive gas created near or within a glow discharge from an initially non-reactive gas mixture. In most plasma etching systems, the injected gas itself rarely reacts with the surface that has been etched while free radicals are believed to be the major reactant species. The gas mixture is selected to produce reactive species by molecular dissociation into radicals and excitation of neutrals in the plasma. Because of the absence of physical enhancement or ion bombardment, plasma-assisted chemical etching is essentially isotropic and very selective. The plasma assisted chemical etching is therefore widely used when isotropic etching is required or when dimensional control is not critical. The most common example of plasma assisted chemical etching is the removal of a photoresist layer in an oxygen plasma, sometimes referred to as a plasma ashing technique.
The plasma ashing technique is an isotropic etch process of an organic photoresist material in an oxygen glow discharge where atomic oxygen is produced together with electrons. The oxygen atoms then react with the organic material to form the volatile products of CO, CO2 and H2O. It has been found that since most of the underlying film materials are not attacked by an oxygen plasma, over etching is frequently used to ensure that all resist materials are removed without residues. For instance, a wafer that is coated with 1 xcexcm photoresist material can be processed between 5 and 10 minutes. The plasma ashing process can also be used for descumming of wafers, i.e. removal of residual layers of photoresist or other organic material following a resist developing and hard baking processes. Typically, the residues can be removed in a 1 minute exposure to an oxygen plasma.
The plasma ashing process reduces costs and potential hazards of a wet chemical etching. It has therefore become an important etching step to remove photoresist materials, particularly those which have become insoluble in wet solvents. For instance, when the photoresist material has been exposed to a flourine or a chlorine dry etch environment during a polysilicon or oxide etching or to high current ion implantation. After a hardened top layer of the photoresist has been removed, a plasma etching or wet chemical etching process can be used to remove the remainder of the photoresist material. A plasma ashing process can also be followed by a cleaning step to remove ions and heavy metals which are not volatilized by the oxygen plasma process.
A typical inductively coupled plasma etch chamber 10 is shown in FIG. 1. In the etch chamber 10, the plasma source is a transformer coupled plasma source which generates a high density, low pressure plasma 12 decoupled from the wafer 14. The plasma source allows an independent control of ion flux and ion energy. Plasma 12 is generated by a flat spiral coil, 16, i.e. an inductive coil separated from the plasma by a dielectric plate 18, or a dielectric window on top of the reactor chamber 20. The wafer 14 is positioned sufficiently away from the coil 16 so that it is not affected by the electromagnetic field generated by the coil 16. There is very little plasma density loss since plasma 12 is generated only a few mean-free-path away from the wafer surface. The plasma etcher 10 enables a high density plasma an high etch rates to be achieved. In the etcher 10, and inductive supply 22 and a bias supply 24 are used to generate the necessary plasma field. Multi-pole magnets 26 are used for surrounding plasma 12 generated. A wafer chuck 28 which moves up-and-down by shaft 32 is used to hold wafer 14 during the etching process. A ground 30 is provided to one end of the inductive coil 16.
In a typical inductively coupled RF plasma etcher 10, a source frequency of 13.5 MHZ and a substrate bias frequency of 13.5 MHZ are utilized. An ion density of approximately 0.5xcx9c2.0xc3x971012/m3, an electron temperature of 3.5xcx9c6.0 eV, and a chamber pressure of 1xcx9c25 mTorr are used.
In the plasma ashing chamber 10 of FIG. 1, the wafer stage 28 operates at a typical high temperature of about 250xc2x0 C. in a photoresist stripping process. A lift cylinder 34 is installed under the support 36, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B. The support 36 is fastened to a bottom chamber wall 38, as shown in FIG. 3B by a plurality of screws 40. The lift cylinder 34 is operated by compressed airfed through an inlet needle valve 42 and an outlet needle valve 44. The shaft 32 is further supported and guided by a support cylinder 46. An upper support cylinder 48, as shown in FIG. 3A, is used to support and guide the shaft 32 located inside the plasma process chamber when the support 36 is fastened to the bottom chamber wall 38 of the plasma process chamber 10.
In the conventional plasma ashing chamber 10, the lift cylinder 34 which is operated by the needle valves 42,44 is mounted directly to the support 36 in close proximity of the plasma process chamber 10, i.e. by mounting directly to the bottom process chamber wall 38. Since the wafer stage 28 in the plasma process chamber 10 is kept at 250xc2x0 C. during a photoresist stripping process, the lift cylinder 34 operates at a temperature of about 70xc2x0 C. from the heat conduction through the support 36 and the support cylinder 46. Commercially available lift cylinders are not designed to operate at such high temperature and furthermore, are not equipped with anti-friction O-ring to function properly on a long term basis. The control elements, such as the needle valves 42,44 are also likely to fail when exposed to such high operating temperature. It has been found that there is a 65% failure rate of the lift cylinder during a four year running period on a plasma process chamber.
Numerous equipment problems have therefore been encountered in the conventional plasma process chamber 10. These include a loss of accurate speed control of the wafer stage 28 by the lift cylinder 34 due to failure in the needle valves 42,44. When the needle valves 42,44 are worn after extended exposure to high operating temperature, the control of compressed air flow through the needle valves 42,44 is no longer accurate and frequently results in too fast a speed in the upward movement of the wafer stage 28. Furthermore, after a failure in the lift cylinder 34 has occurred, the plasma process chamber must be opened in order to change the lift cylinder. During a preventive maintenance procedure, the temperature of the plasma process chamber must also be dropped to room temperature in order to carry out the procedure. When the operation of the chamber is resumed, the O-ring on the left cylinder does not seal properly since the seal has not expanded to its supposed volume at 70xc2x0 C. resulting in leaks through the seal. The conventional lift cylinder can only function properly for about six months which is impossible in maintaining a high throughput in the fabrication process.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a high temperature process chamber that does not have the drawbacks or shortcomings of the conventional high temperature process chambers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a high temperature process chamber that has improved heat endurance by insulating components of the chamber from the high temperature environment in the chamber.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a high temperature process chamber that has improved heat endurance when the process chamber operates at a temperature of at least 200xc2x0 C.
It is another further object of the present invention to provide a high temperature process chamber that has improved heat endurance by connecting a heat insulating adapter between the chamber body and a lift cylinder used for lifting a wafer stage.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a high temperature process chamber that has improved heat endurance by insulating a lift cylinder from the chamber such that the cylinder operates at a temperature below 40xc2x0 C.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a reactive ion etch chamber that is equipped with a wafer pedestal wherein a heat insulating adapter is used between the chamber body and a lift cylinder for preventing overheating of the lift cylinder.
It is still another further object of the present invention to provide a reactive ion etching chamber that is equipped with a wafer pedestal that operates at a temperature of at least 200xc2x0 C. by insulating a lift cylinder from the chamber such that the cylinder operates at a temperature not higher than 40xc2x0 C.
It is yet another further object of the present invention to provide a method for improving heat endurance of a process chamber by connecting a heat insulating adapter between a wafer pedestal that operating at 250xc2x0 C. and a lift cylinder that operates at a temperature below 40xc2x0 C. to avoid damaging the lift cylinder.
In accordance with the present invention, a high temperature process chamber that has improved heat endurance and a method for improving heat endurance of a process chamber are provided.
In a preferred embodiment, a high temperature process chamber that has improved heat endurance is provided which includes a chamber body equipped with a wafer pedestal for holding a wafer thereon and for processing the wafer at a temperature of at least 200xc2x0 C., a lift cylinder position below and outside the chamber body for operating the wafer pedestal in an up-and-down motion, the cylinder further includes components that are operable at temperatures lower than 40xc2x0 C., and an adapter means situated in between the wafer pedestal and the lift cylinder formed at least partially of a heat insulating material such that the high temperature of the wafer pedestal is substantially attenuated from the lift cylinder to allow the lift cylinder to operate at a temperature below 40xc2x0 C.
In the high temperature process chamber that has improved heat endurance, the lift cylinder is operated by pressurized air that is controlled by an input needle valve and an output needle valve. The high temperature process chamber is a reactive ion etch chamber, or a reactive ion etch chamber for stripping a photoresist layer, or a reactive ion etch chamber for stripping a photoresist layer operated at a temperature of about 250xc2x0 C. The adapter means may further include heat dissipating means, or heat dissipating means of a metal disc that has apertures therethrough. The adapter means may further include an insulator plate formed of a heat insulating material mounted to a bottom end of the adapter means for direct contact with the lift cylinder. The adapter means may further include an apertured collar, an apertured shaft and a locking pin for separating the adapter means into an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion is bolted to the chamber body and the lower portion is bolted to the lift cylinder. The adapter means is substantially fabricated of stainless steel. The lift cylinder may be substantially attenuated from the wafer pedestal to allow the cylinder to operate at a temperature below 40xc2x0 C.
The present invention is further directed to a reactive ion etch chamber that is equipped with a wafer pedestal which includes a chamber enclosure for conducting etching on a wafer positioned on a wafer pedestal at a temperature of at least 200xc2x0 C., a lift cylinder for elevating/lowering the wafer pedestal, the lift cylinder may be positioned outside the chamber enclosure, and a heat insulating adapter for connecting to the chamber enclosure at an upper end and to the lift cylinder at a lower end such that the lift cylinder operates at a temperature not higher than 40xc2x0 C.
In the reactive ion etching chamber that is equipped with a wafer pedestal, the lift cylinder consists of an upper portion and a lower portion connected by a quick disconnect means. The adapter may further include at least one apertured heat dissipating disc and at least one insulator plate made of a heat insulating material.
The present invention is further directed to a method for improving heat endurance of a process chamber which can be carried out by the operating steps of providing a process chamber that is equipped with a wafer pedestal therein, providing a lift cylinder situated outside of the process chamber for elevating/lowering the wafer pedestal, connecting a heat insulating adapter between the wafer pedestal and the lift cylinder, and conducting a process at a temperature of at least 200xc2x0 C. in the process chamber while maintaining a temperature of the lift cylinder at below 40xc2x0 C.
The method for improving heat endurance of a process chamber may further include the step of providing the process chamber in a reactive ion etch chamber. The method may further include the step of providing the heat insulating adapter equipped with at least one heat dissipating disc and at least one heat insulating plate. The method may further include the step of connecting the heat insulating adapter to the wafer pedestal in the lift cylinder by bolts. The method may further include the step of conducting a reactive ion etching process on a photoresist layer at a temperature of at least 230xc2x0 C., or the step of maintaining a temperature of the lift cylinder at below 40xc2x0 C.

High temperature process chamber having improved heat endurance

Taiwan SEmiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd


The present disclosure generally relates to a telescoping support bracket, a box bracket, a conduit support bracket, and a floor support bracket. The telescoping support bracket generally comprises telescoping arms that allow the length of the bracket to be adjusted. A method of installing the telescoping support bracket is also provided.

The present disclosure relates to support brackets, and particular to support brackets for supporting electrical boxes and related devices. Typically, an electrical or communication device is installed in a building using a mounting bracket. The electrical or communication device is connected to the mounting bracket, and in turn, the mounting bracket is fastened to framing (e.g., wall stud) of the building. In some circumstances, junction boxes are used to house and protect electrical and communication devices, such as electrical outlets, electrical switches, associated electrical wiring, communication terminals (e.g., terminals for fiber optics), and associate communication cables (e.g., optical fiber cables). The junction box is secured to the mounting bracket, so that, in turn, the electrical or communication device is secured to the mounting bracket.
There is a need in the art for support brackets that allow attachment of devices at various locations, that attach easily to wall studs, control spacing from the floor, and are easy to assemble and low cost. The present invention seeks to address these needs.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.


A cylinder deactivation system comprises a fuel injection module and a cold start control module. The fuel injection module injects a desired amount of fuel into a cylinder of an engine during engine cranking. The cold start control module maintains an intake valve and an exhaust valve associated with the cylinder in respective closed positions while the desired amount of fuel is injected when at least one of an air temperature and a coolant temperature is less than a predetermined cold start temperature.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
An engine combusts an air/fuel mixture to generate drive torque for a vehicle. The air is drawn into the engine through a throttle valve and an intake manifold. The fuel is provided by one or more fuel injectors. The air/fuel mixture is combusted within one or more cylinders of the engine. Combustion of the air/fuel mixture may be initiated by, for example, injection of the fuel and/or spark provided by a spark plug. Combustion of the air/fuel mixture produces exhaust gas. The exhaust gas is expelled from the cylinders to an exhaust system.
An engine control module (ECM) controls the torque output of the engine. For example only, the ECM controls the torque output of the engine based on driver inputs and/or other inputs. The driver inputs may include, for example, an accelerator pedal position, a brake pedal position, inputs to a cruise control system, and/or other driver inputs. The other inputs may include inputs from various vehicle systems, such as a transmission control system.


The invention includes methods of fabricating integrated circuitry. In one implementation, at least two different elevation conductive metal lines are formed relative to a substrate. Then, interconnecting vias are formed in a common masking step between, a) respective of the at least two different elevation conductive metal lines, and b) respective conductive nodes. Interconnecting conductive metal is provided within the interconnecting vias. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Conductive metal lines at different elevations are typically formed in the fabricating of integrated circuitry. Each of these metal lines typically is connected to circuitry elevationally lower in the substrate by fabrication of via/contact openings into and through interlevel dielectric layers to different conductive nodes therebeneath. Accordingly, separate masks are typically utilized to fabricate the contact opening pattern for each elevation or level at which different metal lines are formed.
Semiconductor processing in the fabrication of integrated circuitry strives to reduce the number of processing steps a wafer is subjected to, and especially the number of masking steps. This can reduce the overall cost of manufacturing and as well reduces risk in damaging of the wafer by reducing the opportunity for damage.
While the invention was motivated in addressing the above issues and improving upon the above-described drawbacks, it is in no way so limited. The invention is only limited by the accompanying claims as literally worded (without interpretative or other limiting reference to the above background art description, remaining portions of the specification, or the drawings), and in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

Method of fabricating integrated circuitry


Apparatuses (devices, systems) and methods for shielding (protecting) surroundings around periphery of regions of interest located inside objects (e.g., patients) from radiation emitted by X-ray systems towards the objects. Apparatus includes: at least one radiation shield assembly including a support base connectable to an X-ray system radiation source or detector, and a plurality of radiation shield segments sequentially positioned relative to the support base, thereby forming a contiguous radiopaque screen configured for spanning around the region of interest periphery with a radiopaque screen edge opposing the object. Radiation shield segments are individually, actively controllable to extend or contract to selected lengths with respective free ends in directions away from or towards the support base(s), for locally changing contour of the radiopaque screen edge. Applicable for shielding (protecting) medical personnel, and patients, from exposure to X-ray radiation during medical interventions or/and diagnostics.

A radiation emitting system (for scanning, treatment, or diagnostics) includes a radiation emitting source positioned to oppose one side of an object, and a radiopaque plate or a radiation detector positioned on the opposite side of the object, for example. The radiation emitting source may be any device or mechanism which emits radiation, for example, electromagnetic radiation, such as X-rays or Gamma-rays, and the radiation detector may be any device or mechanism which detects the emitted radiation, including, but not limited, to an image intensifier, an analog circular detector device, and a rectangular digital detector.
In medical imaging applications which include use of an X-ray system, the X-ray system typically generates real-time video or still images of one or more 'regions of interest' within the object (e.g., the body of a subject or patient). Such region(s) of interest is/are considered the areal target for directing the field of view of the X-rays. The X-ray source and the radiation detector are placed on opposite sides of the object (e.g., subject's body), across the region(s) of interest, usually mounted on both ends of a C-shaped arm. Often, the X-ray source is positioned below, and the radiation detector is positioned above, the subject's body. However, for some medical imaging applications, these positions may be reversed, or, alternatively, the X-ray system C-arm may be oriented at essentially any spatially (horizontally or vertically) oblique angle relative to the subject's body.
In such applications, not all radiation emitted by the X-ray source reaches the radiation detector. For example, emitted radiation flux may spread or diffuse around the projection axis, radiation may leak (i.e., leakage radiation) from the X-ray source, or/and radiation may scatter, such as from the X-ray source, the radiation detector or/and from any object in the nearby vicinity of the X-ray source, such as the subject's body or/and the table (bed), or/and any other nearby object(s).
Health care providers, and technical personnel, who operate X-ray systems on a regular basis are usually exposed to a cumulative dosage of radiation, and may be harmed by such cumulative X-ray exposure. In the field and art of medical imaging, there is an on-going need for techniques (equipment and methodologies) applicable for preventing, or at least minimizing, such cumulative radiation exposure, in order to eliminate, or at least reduce, health risks.
Exemplary teachings in the field and art of the invention are provided in the following disclosures by the same applicant/assignee of the present invention: U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,439,564 and 8,113,713, the teachings of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
In spite of these and other teachings in the field and art of the invention, there is on-going need for developing and practicing new or/and improved techniques (apparatuses and methods) of radiation shielding.

Radiation shielding apparatuses and applications thereof


A method and a module for identifying possible tampering of a camera view. The method comprising receiving an image for analysis from an image sequence, converting the received image into an edge image, generating a similarity value indicating a level of similarity between said edge image and a reference edge image, indicating possible tampering of the camera view if the similarity value is within a specified tampering range, and updating the reference edge image by combining a recently analyzed edge image with the reference edge image in case of each one of a predetermined number of consecutively analyzed images does not result in an indication of possible tampering.

Monitoring systems including cameras for monitoring of premises, areas of particular interest and/or processes are widely used in order to provide frequently updated images from an image view of interest, i.e. to provide a video sequence of an environment of interest. A problem with monitoring by means of a camera is that the image view from the camera may be covered or in any other way obstructed or altered. For instance, the lens of the camera may be deliberately or unintentionally covered, e.g. by paint, powder, moisture, a piece of cloth, etc., the cameras may be deliberately or unintentionally redirected to present a camera view of no interest, the camera may be removed, or the camera may be severely defocused. In particular tampering of cameras is unwanted in a surveillance situation and can e.g. be an act of vandalism, preparation for a crime or simply produced by carelessness. Either way a surveillance camera can become of limited use when tampered with.
Hence there are a lot of ways a camera view may be obstructed or tampered with resulting in the camera delivering video sequences of no interest or hiding important events. Therefore it is important to automatically alert or raise an alarm when a camera is obstructed or tampered with.
One method for detecting camera dysfunctions is described in Harasse S, et al. "Automated Camera Dysfunction Detection". Symposium on Image Analysis and Interpretation, 2004. 6th IEEE Southwest, March 2004, pp 36-40. According to this document the dysfunction of a camera is detected by detecting displacement, obstruction or defocusing of the camera. The process of detecting the dysfunction of a camera includes accumulating strong edges from each frame of an image sequence of T frames into a pre-accumulator. Then N pre-accumulators are generated and stored. From the N pre-accumulators a temporal accumulator is generated. The temporal accumulator is updated by generating a new pre-accumulator, subtracting the oldest pre-accumulator from the temporal accumulator, and adding the new pre-accumulator to the temporal accumulator. In order to detect displacement of the camera a reference accumulator, generated in the same way as the temporal accumulator, and a current accumulator are matched using a block matching algorithm, which maximizes the normalized correlation between the two accumulators, and a relative translation between the reference accumulator and the current accumulator is identified. Obstruction is detected by dividing the image space into several blocks and estimating the quantity of information in each block by measuring the entropy. Focus change is detected by computing the gradient energy only where there are stable edges.
The above proposed dysfunction detection requires a lot of memory for storing image frames and different types of accumulators. Moreover, the detection requires a lot of processing capacity and is complex.


A noncircular sheet feed roller includes a core and a rubber belt mounted on the core. The core includes a peripheral member having a peripheral surface which is arcuate about a center axis thereof, and a pair of support ribs which are provided opposite from the arcuate peripheral surface of the peripheral member to be spaced from the peripheral member by a space and extend parallel to the center axis symmetrically with respect to the center axis. The rubber belt is a looped belt which has a predetermined width as measured along the center axis and has an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface. The peripheral member is inserted in the rubber belt, and a portion of the rubber belt is fitted in the space between the peripheral member and the support ribs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet feed roller.
2. Description of Related Art
Sheet feed rollers are used, for example, for transporting paper sheets in image forming apparatuses such as printers and facsimiles. There are two types of sheet feed rollers, i.e., a constant contact type and a non-constant contact type. A sheet feed roller of the constant contact type has a circular sectional shape, and is constantly kept in contact with a paper sheet. A sheet feed roller of the non-constant contact type has a noncircular sectional shape, and is brought into contact with a paper sheet only during the transportation of the paper sheet.
The sheet feed roller of the non-constant contact type is advantageous in that an ingredient (oil or the like) of a rubber of the sheet feed roller does not migrate to a paper sheet held in standby for transportation. In Patent Literature 1 (JP-HEI11(1999)-222323A), for example, an exemplary sheet feed roller of the non-constant contact type is disclosed, which includes a core having a semicircular sectional shape and a looped rubber belt fitted around a peripheral surface of the core.


A numerical control device for a multi-axis lathe which is capable of controlling movements of a plurality of tools simultaneously. With the numerical control device, the movement of a first tool in a Z-axis direction is controlled according to the movement of a workpiece to be machined and the other movement of remaining tools in the Z-axis direction are controlled taking the Z-axis movement of the first tool into consideration, so that the different machining operations using different tools can be attained simultaneously or successively.

This invention relates to a machining control method of a numerical control device (hereinafter referred to merely as "an NC", when applicable) for controlling a machine tool.
FIG. 1 shows the arrangement of an NC in four-axis control. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a CRT (cathode ray tube) and keyboard assembly; 2, a control unit; 3, amplifier units; 4, electric motors; and 5, detectors.
FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of a four-axis lathe to which a machining control according to this invention is applicable. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 6 designates a first tool; 7, a first turret; 8, a second tool; 10, a workpiece moving along a Z-axis; and 11, a bushing for fixing the workpiece 10. The bushing 11 moves together with the workpiece 10 along the Z-axis The origin point of the machining program is designated as 0.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system practiced by the control unit 2 and the amplifier units 3. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 12 designates an interpolating section for the first tool 6; 13, an interpolating section for the second tool 8; 14, an X-axis speed control section for the first tool 6; 15, a Z-axis speed control section for the first tool 6 (in practice, the workpiece being moved); 16, an X-axis speed control section for the second tool 8; 17, a Z-axis speed control section for the second tool 8; 18, an X-axis servo control section for the first tool 6; 19, a Z-axis servo control section (the Z-axis being of the workpiece 10) for the first tool 6, in which the direction of movement is reversed; 20, an X-axis servo control section for the second tool 8; and 21, a Z-axis servo control section for the second tool 8. Further in FIG. 3, reference characters fx1, fz1, fx2 and fz2 designate instruction speeds applied to the respective axes after interpolation; and Fx1, Fz1, Fx2 and Fz2, instruction speeds applied to the respective servo control sections.
First, the operator operates the keyboard 1 to input the machining programs which determine machining paths for the first and second tools 6 and 8, respectively. These machining programs are formed by referring to the machining program original point under the condition that the workpiece 10 is stationary; that is, it is machined with the tools 6 and 8 moving along the X-and Z-axis).
The control unit 2 forms tool moving instructions for the tools according to the machining programs thus inputted.
In response to the tool moving instruction for the first tool 6, the interpolating section 12 provides the instruction speeds fx1 and fz1 respectively for the X1-axis and the Z1-axis. The instruction speeds fx1 and fz1 thus provided are applied to the X-axis speed control 14 and the Z-axis speed control 15, respectively, which, in turn, applies the instruction speeds Fx1 and Fz1 to the servo control sections 18 and 19, respectively.
Similarly, in response to the tool moving instruction for the second tool 8, the interpolating section 13 provides the instruction speeds fx2 and fz2 respectively for the X2-axis and the Z2-axis. The instruction speeds fx2 and fz2 thus provided are applied to the X-axis speed control 16 and the Z-axis speed control 17, respectively, which in turn apply the instruction speed Fx2 and Fz2 to the servo control sections 20 and 21, respectively.
That is, after application of the tool moving instructions to the interpolating sections 12 and 13, the tools are controlled independently of each other.
The conventional NC control system is as described above. Therefore, in the case of the four-axis lathe in which, as shown in FIG. 2, the workpiece 10 is moved along the Z1-axis which is one of the control axes, while the workpiece being machined with the first tool 6 (i.e., the workpiece being moved), the machining program original point is also moving, and therefore the second tool 8 cannot be used until the workpiece 10 is returned to the machining program original point.


A system and method for searching, accessing updating database records on a plurality of geographically dispersed databases is provided. Update databases consisting of a plurality of update records having at least one field capable of being set to at least one particular value are used to update records in target databases. When a database search is conducted on one or more target databases, a search is also conducted on update databases associated with the target databases. The results of the searches are processed. If the at least one field in an update record is set to a predefined value, then all returned records equivalent to the update record are discarded. Otherwise, the update record is added to the search result.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to information retrieval from multiple information sources. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for searching, accessing and updating information in a large network of databases quickly and efficiently. The present invention also applies to non-networked environments.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In the field of information management, it is often desirable to store data in a network of multiple databases, each database containing a subset of the data contained in the network. To make effective use of the information stored in such a network, it is important to be able to access the information quickly and efficiently. However, when a network contains multiple databases, locating a desired piece of data can be difficult since it requires detailed knowledge of the characteristics of each of the databases in the network in order to determine which databases contain the desired data.
One approach to lessening this difficulty has been to provide the user with a summarized description of the contents of each of the distributed databases, thus enabling the user to search those databases which, based on the description, seem most likely to contain responsive information. However, such an approach suffers from the problem that the abstracted descriptions of the databases will, by necessity, be somewhat imprecise, thereby creating the possibility that the user will not be able to locate the desired information. In addition, when there are a large number of distributed databases, even a set of descriptions of the contents of each database can be too much information for a user to process quickly and effectively. Finally, use of database descriptors presumes some level of intelligence on the part of the user, who is asked to select the descriptor or descriptors of the databases that are most likely to contain the desired data. As a result, when the "user" is a computer, such a system necessitates the use of knowledge-based algorithms, which can be complicated, costly, and prone to errors.
One way to reduce these problems would be to simply decrease the number of databases in the network, thereby decreasing the number of database descriptions and enabling each description, in turn, to be more complete. However, this approach can increase the cost of maintaining the database network, since it reduces the database administrator's flexibility to house data at the most logical location from an information-storage perspective, and can result in an inefficient use of system resources. For example, such an approach incurs the costs of transporting data to the designated storage sites, and also results in the simultaneous underutilization and overutilization of system resources as certain remote storage capabilities are not used while other storage facilities are called upon to store excessive quantities of data, necessitating the purchase of additional, or more costly, storage equipment at these sites. As a result, such an approach requires a complicated trade-off to be made between the ease of using, and the cost of administering, the database network.
Ideally, multiple databases at different locations could be utilized without increasing the complexity of using the system to the end-user, or significantly increasing the cost of operating the system to the system administrator. The physical separation of databases within the network would be transparent to the end user, enabling the user to view the entire network of distributed databases as a single database.
One approach to making the internal network architecture transparent to the user is to simply send each request for data to each of the databases in the network, thus ensuring that the user's search request will be performed on each of the databases in which responsive information, if any, is contained. There are two general ways to access each of the databases in the network: serially or in parallel. The advantage of accessing the databases serially is that only one database in the network needs to respond to the query at a time, thereby minimizing the amount of network resources being used at any given moment. However, serial access of each database in the network has serious disadvantages, foremost of which is that it can be a relatively time-consuming process, since each of the numerous databases will have to be accessed, one-at-a-time, to insure that all information responsive to the user's query is located.
Some of the disadvantages associated with serial access of separate databases can be avoided by accessing the databases in parallel. Under this approach, the same query is sent simultaneously to all of the databases in the network, thus avoiding the need to successively poll each different database, and, as a result, decreasing the time required to obtain a response to an information request. But parallel access has disadvantages of its own. For example, each query still requires each of the databases in the network to be accessed, thereby consuming resources at all of the databases, and incurring costs in time and money depending on how distant, or how busy, the databases are. Moreover, truly parallel access of a large number of databases can require a prohibitive amount of network bandwidth and processing power, thereby further increasing the cost and complexity of the system.
Large information systems are frequently characterized by a plurality of large individual databases. The size of these databases makes the tasks of keeping them current a difficult one. This difficulty is exacerbated by the fact that often these individual databases are not centrally located but are instead dispersed across a large geographic region. Updating such large information systems presents unique problems. One approach employed to update such large information systems is to simply rebuild each of the databases with updated information. However, rebuilding a large information system presents a number of difficulties. The process of rebuilding a database frequently requires that the target database be taken off-line. When off-line, the database is inaccessible as a source of information in the information system. Moreover, when there are only a few records in the entire database to be updated, a rebuild of an entire database is a wasteful use of resources.
In addition to these logistical problems associated with rebuilding databases, problems arise because certain databases are either static, incapable of being updated or read-only because of security concerns. Thus, a database rebuild of these databases is simply not an option. Updating databases for which a user is provided read-only access or which are static or incapable of being updated thus provides a unique set of problems.

Method and system for searching, accessing and updating databases


A transaction method manages the storing of persistent data to be stored in at least one memory region of a non-volatile memory device before the execution of update operations that involve portions of the persistent data. Values of the persistent data are stored in a transaction stack that includes a plurality of transaction entries before the beginning of the update operations so that the memory regions involved in such an update are restored in a consistent state if an unexpected event occurs. A push extreme instruction reads from the memory cells a remaining portion of the persistent data that is not involved in the update operation, and stores the remaining portion in a subset of the transaction entries. The push extreme instruction is executed instead of a push instruction when the restoring of the portion of persistent data is not required after the unexpected event. The restoring corresponds to the values that the persistent data had before the beginning of the update operations.

A non-volatile memory, such as a Flash memory or an EEPROM memory, is used in an electronic device to store non-volatile data. Such non-volatile data is also indicated as persistent data because its content may be variable during the programming phases of the electronic memory device, but its value must be preserved during the power off.
More particularly, the non-volatile memory ensures that the value of persistent data is not lost after a regular switch-off of the electronic device, i.e., when the electrical deactivation occurs in an idle state of the device. This is the typical case when the deactivation is driven by an operating system of a terminal that the device is connected to, or directly belongs to the electronic device.
If an accidental electrical deactivation occurs during an application execution, specifically during an updating operation of persistent data, it is possible that the value of persistent data is left in an inconsistent state. This could compromise, completely or partially, the functioning of the electronic device in the successive power-on sessions.
A prior art document, European patent no. 964,360, relates to a method for supplying power to integrated circuit cards comprising a microprocessor, a volatile memory (RAM) and a non-volatile memory (ROM, EEPROM) in case of an unexpected power off. This approach tries to overcome the above problem by always keeping the power supply to the memory device.
A second prior art document, U.S. published patent application no. 2005/0055498, relates to integrated circuit cards comprising failure protection for maintaining power in case of a power supply failure, and a power failure detector for sensing a corresponding power supply failure.
Those prior art documents disclose methods based on giving additional power to the electronic device for concluding sensitive operations before an unexpected switch off of the device. They do not consider a transaction method for storing persistent data in case of other unexpected events not determined by a power off.
A transaction method may restore the value of persistent data in a consistent state by generally grouping together an arbitrary number of writing operations, and establishing that they have to be considered as a single writing operation with respect to unexpected events comprising a power off. The arbitrary number of writing operations may be considered a "Secure Update" because the value of the persistent data they process are to be restored in a consistent state even if unexpected events occur.
More particularly, the transaction method marks all the writing operations involved in a "Secure Update" between first and second pseudo-instructions, respectively BeginTransaction and CommitTransaction, as schematically shown in FIG. 1.
In case of unexpected events during the execution of an operation included between the Begin Transaction and Commit Transaction, the values of the persistent data are restored in the non-volatile memory at the next device start-up to the value they had before the Begin Transaction instruction.
More particularly, the transaction method is based on a transaction stack, that is, a portion of non-volatile memory where the original value of persistent data involved in an update operation is stored before the starting of such an update. If an unexpected event occurs, the initial-consistent value of persistent data is retrieved from the transaction stack and restored in the non-volatile memory.
The non-volatile memory allows a limited number of writing accesses. Over this limit, the "data retention time" of the non-volatile memory decreases to values not acceptable for any application purpose. For example, the number of the allowed writing operations for EEPROM or Flash memories is typically in the range of 100,000 to 1,000,000.
This limitation has an impact on the implementation of the transaction method for driving the transaction stack, as any "Secure Update" involving a number of secure writing operations has the side effect of a further writing in the transaction stack. Moreover, depending on how the transaction method drives the storing of persistent data inside the transaction stack, different write operations may stress some bytes of the transaction stack more than others. In other words, different portions or bytes of the transaction stack could not be used uniformly.
The maximum number of writing operations on such particularly stressed bytes bounds the number of the "Secure updating" operations allowed to the applications on the non-volatile memory. Even if the device is guaranteed for 100,000 writing operations on each single byte of the non-volatile memory, the electronic device cannot perform more than 100,000 "Secure updating" even on different memory bytes. This is because in an opposite case, the bytes already stressed in the transaction stack could be damaged.
Moreover, current non-volatile memory devices, such as Flash memory devices and several EEPROM memory devices are based on a plurality of memory regions. Each memory region comprises a number of bits defining its granularity.
More particularly, it is nearly impossible to erase single bits within a memory region. The erasing of single or several bits within a memory region requires an erase of the whole region they belong to for granularity issues of the memory region. The same problem affects the updating operation because in such memories a writing operation first requires an erase operation to set the memory region in a "ready to be written" state.
When an unexpected event such as an accidental electrical power off occurs, because of the granularity issue, not only the bits involved in the actual write operation but all the bytes that belong to the memory regions involved in the update operation are affected by this problem. More particularly, this problem needs to be faced not only during a "Secure Update" but also during a non-secure update, hereinafter indicated as a "Non atomic update." In other words, it is not required that all the operations involved in such an update are considered as a single atomic operation.
With reference to FIG. 2a, a non-volatile memory 1 is schematically shown as comprising a plurality of memory portions R1, R2, R3, R4. During a "Secure Update" instruction, memory portions R1, R2, R3 and R4 are involved in a writing operation. Such writing operations affect, for example, persistent data stored in memory sub-regions R1b of the portion R1, memory regions R2 and R3, and memory sub-regions R4a of the portion R4.
The location containing persistent data to be updated is pointed by a "Start address" pointer and has a size equal to "Length". The transaction method needs to preserve the entire memory portions R1, R2, R3, R4 by storing all its content in a transaction stack, even if the writing operation does not affect the whole regions R1 and R4 but only the sub-regions R1b, R4a. Memory portions R1 and R4 need to be preserved completely because the writing operation requires an erase operation on them due to granularity issues.
FIG. 2b schematically shows the same non-volatile memory 1 wherein a "Non atomic Update" is performed. Also in this case memory portions R1, R2, R3, and R4 are involved in a non-atomic writing operation that affects persistent data stored in a location represented by memory sub-region R1b, memory regions R2 and R3, and memory sub-region R4a.
Also in this case the transaction method preserves memory portions R1 and R4 because sub-regions R1a and R4b not directly involved in the writing operation need to be preserved. In contrast, regions R2 and R3 are not preserved. In fact, while the value involved in the "Non atomic update" and stored in the non-volatile memory could be deliberately left in a partially modified state due to not belonging to a "Secure Update," it is not acceptable that the same happens for adjacent bits that do not have to be updated but are involved with the memory portions to be erased only because of granularity issues.
So, both "Secure Update" and "Non atomic update" operations would require a transaction method for preserving persistent data against possible unexpected events that occurred during update operations when determining an intensive use of the transaction stack.
The problem is that the lifetime of the non-volatile memory is limited due to writing operations on a transaction stack performed both during a "Secure Update" and also during a "Non atomic update" that stresses the transaction stack. This is especially so because the transaction stack needs to preserve a plurality of memory portions for the potential restoration of persistent data. This is not only during atomic updates but also during non-atomic updates that involve, for granularity issues, the erasing of persistent data that cannot be left in a non-consistent state.

Transaction method for managing the storing of persistent data in a transaction stack


It is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a computer implemented method of performing ad-hoc analysis including the steps of: generating a text index of the textual information items, generating a metadata lookup structure based, at least in part, on the text index, searching the text index using a search query, compiling results of the text index search into aggregate information related to characteristics of the search results from the metadata items associated with the textual information items in the search results from the metadata lookup structure, and reporting the aggregate information.

Today, there are vast amounts of unstructured data on the Internet. There is a great need to be able to search and analyze this data in order uncover useful information about particular areas of interest. This is not only desired by consumers who want to find information about people and products, but also by companies that want to know what their customers are saying about their products and services.
Traditionally, there have been two approaches to this problem. One approach is the "search approach." With the search approach, textual data is collected and stored in a full-text index that allows for rapid searching of the data. Large public Internet portals (such as Google, Yahoo, etc.) as well as numerous commercial indexing solutions support this functionality.
A second approach to this problem is the "analytical approach." The analytical approach allows for analysis by collecting items and running these items through various text mining algorithms to extract additional metadata information. This additional processing may include language detection, extraction of links to other data, or determining the sentiment of the author. This derived metadata information is typically stored in a relational database which allows for aggregate analytics such as what websites are linked by the data. Typically, these analytics are preconfigured to extract information relevant to the goal of the system.
The advantage of the search approach is speed and simplicity. Without any pre-configuration, a full text index allows ad-hoc searching of the data. For instance, if someone wants to find textual data about a particular movie, they can simply search for the title of the movie and find it. However, the search approach does not give deeper insights such as what websites are linked or how people feel about the movie. The analysis approach can provide this type of information, but it typically requires a separate time-consuming text mining step. Therefore, the analysis approach lacks the speed and simplicity needed for "ad-hoc" analysis.
Therefore, there is a need for a solution that combines the speed of the search approach and the deep insights of the analytical approach to provide for true ad-hoc analysis. Aspects of the present invention address this need.

System and method of ad-hoc analysis of data


A cylindrical damping bushing for securing a rod-shaped vibrating body to a base. The bushing includes a cylindrical vibration-damping rubber body having an inner bore through which the vibrating body is inserted. An upper side surface thereof comes into contact with the base while the remaining outer side surface thereof is retained by a bracket which is secured to the base. First and second insert members, each having a rigidity greater than that of rubber, are respectively embedded in the axially central portion of the rubber body, except for both axial end portions thereof, in symmetric relation with each other with respect to the inner bore of the rubber body. The first insert member has a flat upper surface and an arc-shaped lower surface. The flat upper surface of the first insert member is flush with the upper side surface of the rubber body while the arc-shaped lower surface thereof is close to the inner bore within a predetermined interval. The second insert member has a sheet-like configuration of an arc-shaped cross section. The lower surface of the second insert member is flush with the lower side surface of the rubber body while the upper surface thereof is close to the inner bore within a predetermined interval.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cylindrical damping bushing, and more particularly to a cylindrical damping bushing having a vibration-damping rubber body in which insert members are embedded in order to increase the rigidity thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cylindrical damping bushing retains a rod-shaped vibrating body such as a stabilizer bar of vehicle by inserting it through a cylindrical vibration-damping rubber body. In FIG. 1, the cylindrical damping bushing 19 retains a bent portion of a stabilizer bar 21 which extends from a suspension arm 20, and secures it to a vehicle frame in order to prevent the stabilizer bar 2 from coming loose in the transverse direction thereof.
FIG. 2 illustrates one example of conventional damping bushings. In the drawing, a vibration-damping rubber body 30 has a cross section composed of a rectangular upper half and a semicircular lower half. A slit 31 is formed in the rubber body 30 from its inner periphery to its outer periphery. By enlarging the slit 31, the stabilizer bar is inserted into an inner bore of the rubber body 30.
Reference numeral 32 designates a flange portion which is formed at each axial end of the rubber body 30.
With the conventional damping bushing having the above-described construction, the rigidity thereof is insufficient particularly in the vertical direction, to stably retain the stabilizer bar.
In another example of convention damping bushings, the rigidity thereof has been increased by embedding metallic insert members in the vibration-damping rubber body, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the drawings, the metallic insert members 42, 43, each having an arc-shaped cross section, are embedded in a vibration-damping rubber body 40 at vertically symmetric positions with respect to an inner bore 41.
Recently, in order to reduce twisting torque of the stabilizer bar and prevent the generation of noise, a liner 44 made of Teflon fibers having good slidability has been joined to an inner periphery of the vibration-damping rubber body.
When the above-described rubber body provided with the liner is formed by injection molding, both longitudinal ends of each of the insert members 42, 43 must be projected from axial ends of the rubber body 40, as shown in FIG. 4 in order to retain them at predetermined positions within a mold. However, this method complicates the construction of the mold. In addition, the projected ends of the insert members 42, 43 may strike against the stabilizer bar which is inserted into the rubber body 40. Mud, pebbles or the like may be caught between the projected ends of the insert members 42, 43 and the stabilizer bar, or the projected ends of the insert members 42, 43, if made of metal, are likely to rust.


In an approach to generating a story topic, one or more computer processors detect biometric data associated with one or more users, where the users are interacting with at least one social media content. The one or more computer processors collect the at least one social media content. The one or more computer processors analyze the biometric data and the at least one social media content. The one or more computer processors determine whether a popularity of the social media content meets a predetermined threshold. The one or more computer processors extract one or more keywords and one or more concepts from the social media content. Based on the extracted one or more keywords and one or more concepts The one or more computer processors generate one or more story topics. The one or more computer processors generate a report that includes the one or more story topics.

The present invention relates generally to the field of data analytics, and more particularly to utilizing social media data to generate story topics and associated characters.
A vast amount of content is available on social networks and in any discussion forum (i.e., social media content) in which many new stories can be created based on the social media content. Once any user posts any new content on a social network site for other users to review, other users can post comments about the content. The submitted content can also be shared by other friends and on some occasions the content might "go viral" (i.e., become extremely popular).

Associating characters to story topics derived from social media content

International Business Machines Corporation


A routing device determines data associating commands with devices connected to a local area network (LAN). The routing device receives a request for execution of a particular command and identifies a particular device to execute the particular command based on the command data. The routing device generates an instruction message that causes the particular device to execute the particular command, and the routing device forwards the instruction message to the particular device via the LAN. The request may be received via a wide area network (WAN), and the request may include an address for the routing device on the WAN. When generating the instruction message, the routing device may replace, in the request, the address for the routing device with an address associated with the particular device. The instruction message may further include parameters associated with execution of the particular command by the particular device.

In computer networking, a routing table (also known as a routing information base or "RIB") may store data regarding routes or paths between particular network locations, and in some cases, metrics (distances) associated with the routes. For example, a routing table may store route information regarding connection to various other devices. A network node (e.g., a server or a router) may use the routing table to forward data (e.g., a packet) toward a destination identified, for example, in a header of the data. For example, the network node may search an associated routing table to identify a network device representing a "next hop" on a route to the desired final destination. For example, when a router interface is associated with an internet protocol (IP) address and subnet mask identifier, the routing table may store data identifying the IP address, the subnet mask, and an associated interface type.


Novel methods are described to synthesize chromatography media. The methods describe a crosslinking procedure utilizing the catalytic effect of MnO(OH).sub.2 in obtaining a very rigid matrix. The mechanism of crosslinking is likely of free-radical type. This is also suggested by the concurrent functionalization steps which are known to be of free-mechanism and are greatly enhanced by MnO(OH).sub.2. The methods are simple and efficient as crosslinking and functionalization of the matrix takes place in the same step. High protein binding capacities are obtained along with an increased efficiency of the matrix. One particularly preferred process according to the present invention comprises: (1) reacting a polymeric carbohydrate matrix with an activating reagent which contains a halogen atom or epoxide and a double bond under alkaline conditions to generate an activated matrix; (2) reacting the activated matrix having double bonds inserted with a reagent or reagents producing MnO(OH).sub.2 ; and (3) activating the double bond in the presence of MnO(OH).sub.2 to crosslink the matrix and simultaneously derivatize the matrix with a halohydrin, carboxyl or sulfonate group.

This invention is directed to synthetic procedures for simultaneous crosslinking and functionalization of polysaccharide chromatography media.
Crosslinked polysaccharide media have become very important for chromatographic separations during the past decades. The most important areas for the use of crosslinked polysaccharide media are the separation of biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates.
Polysaccharide chromatography media are typically macroporous and the porosity is a function of the concentration of polysaccharide used to produce these gel matrices. Typically, the lower the carbohydrate concentration, the bigger the pores are, i.e., the higher the exclusion limit. The size of the pores is critical for the separation. The porous polysaccharide gels are further derivatized with various functionalities such as ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, or affinity functionalities to effect separation of biomolecules.
The polysaccharide gel matrices are composed of a great number of intertwining polymeric chains that are held together by hydrogen bonding. The polysaccharide chains attain certain fixed distances and form chain-like structures between which the pores are formed. The crosslinking within these structures does not significantly affect the size of the pores, only the rigidity of the particle. The crosslinking of these chains utilizes hydroxyl groups on the polysaccharides and leads to chemically stable particles. Several methods have been published in connection with cellulose (British Patent No. 1,026,706), dextran (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,042,677 and 3,208,994) and agarose crosslinked with epichlorohydrin (U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,851) and other bifunctional reagents (U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,573). Other bifunctional reagents utilized are divinyl sulfone, bisepoxides, and dicarboxylic acid chlorides (British Patent No. 1,352,613).
Lindgren (U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,683) described the mechanism of conventional crosslinking methods referring to the work of L. Holmberg (Doctoral Thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences 1983. pp. 28-29). Holmberg has demonstrated that upon crosslinking of polysaccharides with epichlorohydrin the primary mechanism of crosslinking is polymer crosslinking and substitution and very little monomer crosslinking takes place in which only monomer epichlorohydrin participates. This explains why the rigidity of the gel matrix does not increase significantly by this type of crosslinking. To eliminate polymerization of the crosslinker, Lindgren suggested that bifunctional crosslinkers with functional groups that can be activated under a controlled reaction sequence are optimal for increasing the rigidity of agarose gels. One functional group is used to introduce the crosslinker into the agarose matrix via the available hydroxyl groups. The second functional group remains unreactive under the conditions employed to introduce the crosslinker. Then the second functional group of the crosslinker is activated and brought into reaction with an adjacent hydroxyl group thus forming a crosslink between the polysaccharide chains. The repetition of these steps leads to increasing number of crosslinks and increased rigidity of the particle. This is a controlled procedure during which side-reactions are excluded and optimal crosslinking is obtained. When the required rigidity is attained, the particle is suitable to be functionalized with the required groups (affinity, ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, etc.) to prepare the desired type chromatography gel.
Although the methods of Lindgren are useful, they have the drawback that crosslinking and functionalization occur in successive steps. This increases the time required, reduces the overall yield, and increases the possibility of side reactions and other loss of material. Therefore, there is a need for an improved method that can allow simultaneous crosslinking and functionalization of polysaccharide chromatography media.

Mn(IV)-mediated crosslinking and functionalization of chromatography media


An impregnating waterproofing composition suitable for treating inorganic materials, which is excellent not only in antifungal and mildewproofing, but also in waterproofness and durability, comprises an known organoalkylalkoxysilane or its derivative[component(A)] and another organosilicon compound containing a quaternary ammonium halide groups and having a condensable alkoxy group [component(B)] as the main ingredients.

The present invention relates to an impregnating waterproofing composition and more particularly to an impregnating waterproofing composition excellent in waterproofing properties and durability and having excellent antifungal and mildewproofing properties, and thus is suitable for treating various inorganic materials such as concrete, brick, tile, clay tile and stony material.
There have been known impregnating waterproofing compositions comprising an organoalkylalkoxysilane or a hydrolyzate thereof or a cohydrolyzate of this silane with another organosilicon compound having a hydrolyzable silyl group (cf. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 236581/1988,No. 44673/1989 and No. 212287/1989, West German Patent No. 2,029,446 and No. 2,258,901 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,013 and No. 4,455,172).
These compositions are impregnated into pores of inorganic materials such as concrete, block, slate, brick, tile clay tile stony material and plaster to give a three-dimensional structure in the pores while binding to the substrate, thus forming a durable protective layer. Therefore they are particularly superior in durability to known organic polymer waterproofing materials comprising, for example, epoxy, acrylic or urethane resins and water-repellent materials based on an aqueous solution of methyl siliconate. Therefore these compositions are widely employed for the waterproofing of the above-mentioned inorganic materials.
Although these impregnating waterproofing compositions comprising organoalkylalkoxysilanes or derivatives thereof as the base have excellent characteristics, they have a serious disadvantage in that they are inherently apt to be stained with, for example, molds, fungi, algae and various dusts


A nickel-base gamma-sigma intermetallic matrix composite material suitable for forming gas turbine engine components and structural coatings for such components. The composite material contains, in weight percent, about 20 to 50 chromium, about 0 to 32 molybdenum, and about 0.5 to 7 silicon, with the balance being nickel and incidental impurities. In addition, the composite material may contain aluminum and titanium in amounts of up to about 7 and 3 weight percent, respectively. The resulting intermetallic matrix composite material is characterized by a sigma volume fraction of greater than 30 percent, preferably at least about 50 percent, and may have a dendritic, fibrous or lamellar microstructure. The composite material can be cast to form a component, or deposited by known techniques to form a structural coating on a component.

The present invention relates to nickel-base materials suitable for high temperature applications. More particularly, this invention relates to a nickel-base intermetallic matrix composite material characterized by the presence of the sigma phase in a matrix of the gamma phase, or vice versa, and alloyed to yield a composite material from which high temperature castings and structural coatings can be formed.
High temperature cobalt-base and nickel-base superalloys are used in the manufacture of high-temperature gas turbine engine components, including nozzles, combustors, and turbine shrouds, vanes and blades. Gamma-prime (.gamma.') precipitation-strengthened nickel-base superalloys have found particularly wide use in gas turbine engines because they exhibit a desirable balance of creep, tensile and fatigue crack growth properties at elevated temperatures. These superalloys are generally characterized by gamma-prime intermetallic precipitates, principally Ni.sub.3 (Al,Ti,Nb,Ta), formed in-situ in the gamma (.gamma.) matrix (principally nickel, chromium, tungsten, rhenium, molybdenum and cobalt), and derive desirable properties from the presence of the gamma-prime precipitates and other alloying constituents at their grain boundaries.
While intermetallic compounds such as gamma-prime have the above-noted benefits, other intermetallic compounds can be detrimental to the mechanical properties of a nickel-base superalloy. An example is topologically close-packed (TCP) phases, including the sigma (.sigma.) phase, characterized by plate-like or needle-like precipitates that have a detrimental effect on toughness. Therefore, TCP phases have traditionally been avoided in nickel-base superalloys, particularly for components that will be subjected to high stresses at elevated temperatures. However, limited investigations of sigma-phase nickel-base superalloys have been performed, as reported by E. Grundy in Solidification and Properties of Ni--Cr--Mo and Ni--Cr--W Monovariant Eutectics, Conference on In Situ Composites-III, p. 431 (1979), and as disclosed in British Patent No. 1,496,930 to Grundy.
The Grundy article and patent report the study of planar front, directionally-solidified (DS) gamma-sigma eutectics of various Ni--Cr--Mo ternary alloys. To obtain a planar solidification front resulting in a lamellae alignment of the sigma phase precipitates, solidification was maintained at a rate of about three centimeters per hour or less. Grundy discloses that the evaluated alloys generally exhibited good oxidation resistance, creep rupture resistance and tensile strength at high temperatures, particular those alloys containing about 15 to 30 weight percent molybdenum. A preferred alloy was said to contain, in weight percent, 34 chromium and 20 molybdenum with the balance nickel, and with a sigma volume fraction of about 30 percent. Potential additional constituents were said to be aluminum, titanium, niobium and tantalum, so long as their combined presence did not exceed 6 weight percent, preferably not more than 3 weight percent, of the alloy. Since the publication of the Grundy article and patent, little additional investigations have been pursued to find practical applications for gamma-sigma intermetallic nickel-base alloys.
Because the efficiency of a gas turbine engine is dependent on its operating temperatures, there is a demand for components, and particularly turbine blades, that are capable of withstanding higher temperatures. As the material requirements for gas turbine engine components have increased, various processing methods and alloying constituents have been suggested to enhance the mechanical properties of gamma-prime precipitation-strengthened nickel-base superalloys. In general, advancements in such technologies have been such that the maximum local metal temperatures of components formed from these superalloys are approaching the alloy melting temperatures. Accordingly, in terms of high temperature capability, it is likely that only modest improvements will be possible in the future for gamma-prime precipitation-strengthened nickel-base superalloys.

Nickel-base sigma-gamma in-situ intermetallic matrix composite


An ophthalmologic composition therapeutic in the treatment of dry eye syndrome is disclosed. The composition is comprised of a minimally soluble salt of calcium that has been finely divided into particles having a mean diameter of 10 to 60 microns. The calcium salt particles are suspended within a pharmacologically acceptable carrier such as petrolatum or physiological saline. The composition is delivered to the ocular surface in an amount and for a time sufficient to alleviate the symptoms of dry eye.

Dry eye, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is a common ophthalmological disorder affecting millions of Americans each year. The condition is particularly widespread among post-menopausal women due to hormonal changes following the cessation of fertility.
Dry eye may afflict an individual in varying severity. In mild cases, a patient may experience burning, a feeling of dryness, and persistent irritation such as is often caused by small bodies lodging between the eye lid and the eye surface. In severe cases, vision may be substantially impaired. Good reviews of the dry eye syndrome and standard methods of treatment may be found in Dohlman (1971) and Lemp (1973).
Although it appears that dry eye may result from a number of unrelated pathogenic cause, all presentations of the syndrome share a common effect, that is the breakdown of the pre-ocular tear film, which results in dehydration of the exposed outer surface and many of symptoms outlined above.
Practitioners have taken several approaches to the treatment of dry eye. One common approach has been to supplement and stabilize the preocular tear film using so-called artificial tears. Another approach has been the use of ocular inserts that function variously to provide a tear substitute or to stimulate endogenous tear product.
Examples of the tear substitution approach include the use of buffered, isotonic saline solutions, aqueous solutions containing water soluble polymers that render the solutions more viscous and thus less easily shed by the eye. Tear reconstitution is also attempted by providing one or more components of the tear film such as phospholipids. Examples of these treatment approaches are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,131,651 to Shah et al.; 4,370,325 to Packman; 4,409,205 to Shively; 4,744,980 and 4,883,658, both to Holly; 4,914,088 to Glonek; and 5,057,104 to Gressel et al.
United States Patents directed to the use of ocular inserts in the treatment of dry eye include U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,759 to Urquhart. The use of ocular inserts is also discussed in detail in Lamberts (1980).
Another recent approach involves the provision of lubricating substances in lieu of artificial tears. U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,537 to Guo discloses the use of a lubricating, liposome-based composition. U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,773 discloses the use of microfine particles of one or more retinoids.
Aside from the above efforts, which are directed primarily to the alleviation of symptoms associated with dry eye, also known are methods and compositions directed to treatment of the dry eye condition. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,434 discloses the use of sex steroids, such as conjugated estrogens, to treat dry eye condition in post-menopausal women.
Although these approaches have met with some success, problems in the treatment of dry eye nevertheless remain. The use of tear substitutes, while temporarily effective, generally requires repeated application over the course of a patient's waking hours. It is not uncommon for a patient to have to apply artificial tear solution ten to twenty times over the course of the day. Such an undertaking is not only cumbersome and time consuming, but is also potentially very expensive.
The use of ocular inserts is also problematic. Aside from cost, they are often unwieldy and uncomfortable. Further, as foreign bodies, they run a risk of infection to the eye. In situations where the insert does not itself produce and deliver a tear film, artificial tears must still be delivered on a regular and frequent basis. Indeed, Pavan-Langston (1973) has concluded that, as a rule, ocular inserts are not very effective in the treatment of many dry eye conditions.
In view of the foregoing, there is a clear need for an effective treatment for dry eye that is capable of alleviating symptoms, as well as treating the underlying physical and physiological deficiencies of the syndrome, and that is both convenient and inexpensive to administer.

Opthalmic composition for treating dry eye


A medical image processing apparatus includes an image processor configured to: receive a plurality of first image data captured at different times and generated by illumination of light in a first wavelength band in sequence; receive a plurality of second image data captured at different times and generated by illumination of light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band in sequence; generate first and second images based on the received first and second image data, respectively; and output the generated first image and second image to a display in chronological order of the first and second images and in accordance with a preset display pattern of the first and second images.

The present disclosure relates to a medical image processing apparatus and a medical observation system.
There are known techniques by which, in a medical or industrial camera, a fluorescence image that illustrates a specific portion acquired by capturing an optical image in an excitation light band by a first imaging unit and a visible light image acquired by capturing an optical image of a visible light region by a second imaging unit are added to each pixel at a predetermined ratio to thereby generate a superimposed image in which the fluorescence image is superimposed on the visible light image (see, for example, see Japanese Patent No. 6110887).

Medical image processing apparatus and medical observation system


A multi-axis gimbal actuator includes a first tilt frame tiltably coupled to a second tilt frame. The second frame is tiltably coupled to a reference frame. The first tilt frame is offset from the second tilt frame and approximately parallel to the second tilt frame while in a neutral position. An optical element is mounted on the first tilt frame.

Digital light processing (DLP) technology is a light manipulation technology that is used in a variety of projection systems. A DLP projection system is an image projection system that includes a light source focused on a controllable multiple mirror element, with a lens assembly that focuses the light reflected by the multiple mirror element and projects the reflected light onto an image screen.
A pico projector is a small hardware device designed to project content from a smartphone, camera, tablet, notebook or memory device onto a wall or other flat surface. Pico projectors are also known as pocket, handheld or mobile projectors and they take several image formats that work in various ways.
Many movie theaters now use digital technology to distribute or project motion pictures as opposed to the historical use of reels of motion picture film, such as 35 mm film. A digital movie can be distributed to cinemas in several ways: over the Internet or dedicated satellite links, or by sending hard drives or optical discs such as Blu-ray discs. Digital movies are projected using a digital video projector instead of a film projector. In digital cinema, resolutions are represented by the horizontal pixel count, such as 2K (2048×1080 or 2.2 megapixels) or 4K (4096×2160 or 8.8 megapixels).
Digital projectors are also used for high-definition televisions, meeting and conference image and video presentations, etc. The various digital projector applications may use traditional television or other traditional high-definition video standards, various aspect ratios, various frame rates, etc.
DLP technology made possible by the advent of digital micromirror device (DMD) chips has led to the emergence of significant new projection display technology. In addition to commercial success in high definition television, theater projection systems, business and personal projection systems, DLP technology is being applied in the areas of adaptive lighting, medical imaging, photo-finishing, biotechnology applications, lithography, spectroscopy, scientific instrumentation, and other applications

Multi-axis gimbal extended pixel resolution actuator


A catheter for radial artery access to the contralateral subclavian artery and internal mammary artery is disclosed. The catheter includes a preformed tubular hook element configured for aligning coaxially within the subclavian artery from a radial access. The tubular hook element includes a first arm connected to a second arm via a curved element, and a second arm connected, via a second curved element, to an elongated tubular body. Each curved element has an angle between approximately 90-130 degrees. The catheter can receive a second catheter and guide it to further advance the subclavian artery. The second catheter then extends past distal end of the catheter and advances into the internal mammary arteries for selective angiography and intervention. The two-catheter system allows angiography and intervention of the entire right and left upper extremities to be performed depending on the access from the left or right radial artery, respectively.

Coronary angiography is a procedure that uses dye in the arteries and x ray imaging to detect blockages within the coronary arteries that can be caused by plaque buildup. When coronary angiography is performed, the physician inserts a catheter tube into the patient's blood vessel to inject the contrast dye. When the procedure is complete, the physician removes the catheter and then establishes hemostasis. When a physician discovers a blockage in the vessel, they may use percutaneous coronary intervention to resolve the blockage and create better blow flow within the vessel.
The traditional access point for coronary angiography and intervention was via the femoral arteries; however, femoral artery access is no longer the default strategy for modern and progressive coronary and vascular diagnosticians and interventionists. Within the last ten years, the preferred method for coronary angiography and intervention access within the United States has changed to radial artery access. The switch to radial artery access is beneficial to both the patients and the physicians performing the angiography. The benefit of radial artery access includes it is safer than femoral access, patients prefer radial access because recovery and return to function is quicker, radial access is less uncomfortable to the patient and radial access costs significantly less for the patient. Care of the site post procedure is simpler for both the patient and the physicians treating the site. The practice of radial access was the standard of care in most of the world prior to the United States. As the United States adopted the practice of using radial access, equipment design and availability of this new equipment has rapidly evolved.
Most of the basic problems and challenges have been solved during the rapid evolution. Subclavian and internal mammary artery angiography and intervention is one such problem that was not able to be solved during the initial evolution of the equipment. Issues exist for cardiologists and vascular interventionists when subclavian and internal mammary artery access is necessary for angiography and intervention.
The left subclavian and internal mammary arteries cannot be reliably or effectively accessed with the current equipment and methods during radial access from the right upper extremity. Similarly, accessing the right subclavian and internal mammary arteries cannot be reached reliably from the left forearm access. These issues with access limit preferred safe access options when for any variety of common clinical reasons either the right or left radial artery may be unavailable. Often, if the preferred safe access option is unavailable, cardiologists and vascular interventionists revert to a femoral access to solve the dilemma. This reversion reduces patient satisfaction, patient safety, and is a greater cost.
As a result, there exists a need for improvements over the prior art and more particularly for a more efficient and reliable way of providing access to the subclavian and internal mammary arteries during coronary angiography and intervention.

Catheter and systems for providing radial artery access of at least one of a contralateral subclavian artery and an internal mammary artery of a patient for diagnostic and interventional angiography


An axial bearing includes a first piston and a second piston. Axial contact surfaces between the pistons are arranged in the same pressure space. The same pressure fluid fed to the axial bearing acts on the contact surfaces and on working pressure surfaces of the pistons. A rock drilling machine is also provided with such an axial bearing.

The invention relates to a rock drilling machine comprising at least: a frame; a percussion element for generating stress pulses; a shank arranged at the front of the percussion element in the percussion direction, the shank comprising a percussion surface for receiving said stress pulses; and further an axial bearing comprising at least: a first piston and a second piston; between the pistons, an axial first contact surface and an axial second contact surface, the contact surfaces being located in the same pressure space; at least one pressure duct for leading pressure fluid from a pressure source to the axial bearing; pressure surfaces in the pistons, on which surfaces the pressure fluid is arranged to act for axial movement of the pistons; and in which axial bearing the pistons are arranged to push the shank along a different travel length towards the percussion direction; the force of said pistons, by the action of the pressure fluid towards the percussion direction, being dimensioned such that the percussion surface is adjustable during drilling at the desired axial point for receiving the stress pulses.
The invention further relates to an axial bearing for a percussion rock drilling machine, the axial bearing comprising at least: a frame; at least a first piston and a second piston arranged in a space formed in the frame, both comprising at least one pressure surface; at least one pressure duct for leading pressure fluid to said pressure surfaces for axial movement of the pistons; and, between the pistons, axial contact surfaces located in the same pressure space.
It is known to use an axial bearing in a rock drilling machine for moving the shank to the intended percussion point during drilling and for adjusting the percussion power by adjusting the position of the shank. On the other hand, the axial bearing can be used to dampen stress pulses reflected from the rock back to the drilling machine. The axial bearing disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,246 comprises two nested sleeves arranged in a space around the percussion piston, and of which one is in indirect contact with the rear end of the shank. The travel lengths of the sleeves towards the percussion direction are different and the sleeves are in contact with one another via an axial contact surface. A separate pressure duct for leading pressure medium is connected to a working pressure surface at the rear end of both sleeves. The outer sleeve is sealed to the frame and to the inner sleeve, and, furthermore, the inner sleeve is sealed to the percussion piston and to the outer sleeve. During drilling, both sleeves are able to rotate around their shafts and, furthermore, the sleeves can collide with each other in the axial direction. Accordingly, the contact surfaces between the sleeves are subjected to mechanical stress that wears them. A similar problem may present itself in the solution according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,937.