Disclosed is a method for reconstruction of a Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) contrast image. The method includes: generating training samples for a deep neural network; training the deep neural network with the training samples to obtain a trained deep neural network; and reconstructing a CEST contrast image by using the trained deep neural network and PROPELLER undersampled CEST images. The method for reconstruction of a CEST contrast image can effectively shorten the experimental time of a CEST contrast imaging and can obtain a smoother and more accurate CEST contrast image. Further disclosed is a system for reconstruction of a CEST contrast image to implement the method for reconstruction.

CEST imaging can achieve quantitative characterization of chemical exchange between exchangeable protons and water protons in a protein or metabolite, providing a new contrast mechanism for MRI. The technique is an emerging molecular imaging technique, which serves to indirectly detect metabolite information by means of a water signal and thus can be used to detect some diseases, such as human cranial nervous system diseases, cerebral ischemia, tumors, etc., providing basis for disease diagnosis.
A general CEST imaging sequence includes a saturation module (continuous excitation pulse with long duration) and a signal readout module. Fast spin echo (FSE) or echo planar imaging (EPI) is typically used as the readout module. The FSE readout module can provide a high-quality CEST contrast image, but may take long scanning time to acquire data at a plurality of saturation frequency offsets, which severely restricts its application. The EPI readout module can save scanning time, but the obtained CEST contrast image may be distorted, leading to interference with a diagnosis result. At present, a lot of research groups have proposed some fast imaging sequences that are intended to solve the time-consuming problem of a CEST experiment by reducing signal acquisition time or obtaining multiple slices of CEST contrast images in one experiment, such as a multislice gradient echo method, CEST-FISP (CEST-Fast Imaging with Steady-state free Precession) method, and Radial UCI (Radial Ultrafast CEST Imaging) method. Such methods are all unsatisfactory in time-saving effect or sampling effect due to some objective limitations. For example, the multislice gradient echo method permits simultaneous acquisition of k-space data of different slices through one saturation. In essence, ineffective waiting time in the time of repetition (TR) of a pulse sequence is used to excite other slices, thus realizing multi-slice scanning. Therefore, this method does not shorten CEST scanning time, but allows for acquisition of multi-slice CEST signals in the same scanning time. The CEST-FISP method can shorten the scanning time, but the acquired signal has low signal-to-noise ratio. The Radial UCI method can shorten the scanning time, but is not suitable for a sample having a complex structure. In another aspect, there are also many methods proposed in research on calculation of a CEST contrast image via Z-spectrum fitting. Common methods include a higher-order polynomial fitting method, Bloch equation fitting method and Lorentzian equation fitting method. Such methods have respective limitations. For example, the higher-order polynomial fitting method is only suitable for data having a high signal-to-noise ratio. The Bloch equation fitting method is just suitable for a simple model, and for a complex model, the number of parameters in formulas may increase sharply, leading to decreases in algorithm efficiency and accuracy. Besides, the Lorentzian equation fitting method may be affected by magnetization transfer effect and noise, resulting in a large fitting error.
In conclusion, it is desirable to find a more effective method for rapid acquisition of a CEST contrast image. The new method is supposed to need just a little scanning time with short reconstruction time and high quality of a reconstructed CEST contrast image. Based on this, there is provided a CEST imaging technique based on PROPELLER and a deep neutral network.

Method and system for reconstruction of CEST contrast image


A method for preparing oximes where an aldehyde or ketone is reacted with hydroxylamine or its salt in the presence of a catalytic amount of an organotin(IV) compound such as monoalkyltin(IV), dialkyltin(IV) and aryltin(IV). The organotin(IV) compound is represented by the formula I: EQU (R.sup.1).sub.n SnX.sub.m-n (I). where R.sup.1 is independently selected from alkyl of 1 to 18 carbons or aryl, X is halogen, oxygen, hydroxyl, OR.sup.1, R.sup.2 CO.sub.2 --, R.sup.2 O.sub.2 C--(Z).sub.y --CO.sub.2 -- or R.sup.2 CO.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.y S--, R.sup.2 is alkyl of 1 to 18 carbons or aryl, Z is selected from CH.sub.2 or CH.dbd.CH, where y is 0 to 6, n is 1 or 2 and m is 4 except that when X is oxygen, n is 2 and m is 3. Exemplary of the organotin(IV) compounds are butyltin tris(2-ethylhexanoate), dibutyltin diacetate and diphenyltin dichloride.

Oximes are important organic derivatives of hydroxylamine. The compounds are amphoteric and have many uses. For example, the use of 2-hydroxyarylaldoximes (salicylaldoximes) as extractants in the hydrometallurgical recovery of metals from metal ores is well known and has been practiced commercially for a number of years. More specifically, the compound 5-nonylsalicylaldehyde oxime is used in the mining industry for the hydrometallurgical recovery of copper from crude ores.
Oximes are prepared by the direct reaction of hydroxylamine with aldehydes and ketches. However, long cycle times are required to achieve high yields. Exemplary of the present state of the art is the oximation reaction of 5-nonylsalicylaldehyde which is carried out at 45.degree. C. by the addition of sodium carbonate to a two-phase system consisting of a toluene solution of aldehyde and an aqueous solution of hydroxylamine sulfate. Using a feed stock of 90% aldehyde strength, cycle times of approximately 8 hours are required to convert greater than 98% of the aldehyde to the oxime. The long cycle times required to obtain high yields significantly slow the overall manufacturing process. Thus, it is desirable to reduce the cycle time of the oximation process.
Attempts have been made to improve the yields and increase the rate of oximation reactions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,834 discloses the use of soluble iron compounds to accelerate the formation of alpha- and beta-hydroxy oximes from the corresponding carbonyl compounds. Catalytic amounts of ferrous (Fe.sup.2+) and ferric (Fe.sup.3+) contributing compounds are used. However, relatively high levels of catalyst are required and the iron compounds impart an objectionable color to the oxime product.
Another process for producing oximes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,275 in which a variety of inorganic tin-containing compounds were used to improve the yield of oximations. The tin-containing compounds disclosed also include organotin compounds such as trialkyl tin, but no examples are given. Exemplary of the inorganic tin compounds is the use of 0.1 g of sodium .alpha.-stannate (Na.sub.2 SnO.sub.3.3 H.sub.2 O) in the oximation of 91 g of cyclododecanone to cyclododecanoneoxime. The conversion of cyclododecanone increased to 98.1% as opposed to 94.6% in the absence of sodium .alpha.-stannate. Yields of the oxime were increased from 98.3% to 99.2%. However, relatively long cycle times are required to achieve the increased conversion and yield.
While some of the above-referenced catalysts are commercially useful in oxime production, a goal of the industry continues to be to develop better catalysts that can be used in lower amounts and improve cycle time or reaction rate and not interfere with the oxime product end use.

Method for accelerating oxime production


A build material conveyor is disclosed. Such conveyor comprising an auger to transport build material in a substantially vertical direction wherein the conveyor further comprises a set of wall elements selectively positioned to, in a first position occupy part of the volume of the auger.

Many additive manufacture systems, commonly known as three-dimensional (3D) printers, enable objects to be generated on a layer-by-layer basis. Powder-based 3D printing systems, for example, form successive layers of a build material in a printer and selectively solidify portions of the build material to form layers of the object or objects being generated.
Before being sent to the printer for processing, build material can be stored in a container known as build unit and is transferred to the printer through a build material conveyor.
Build material is often either powdered or particulate type material or liquid material, at least, while it is stored in the build unit.

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.


A snow mower blade, the blade for use with a rotary type lawn mower having a wheeled housing for movement over a surface of operation, the blade comprising an elongated horizontal, with an angle at each end of the horizontal, a pair of upwardly projecting spaced apart removable wipers disposed on the horizontal, a substantially vertical paddle plate at each end of each angle, a removable flexible paddle extending downwardly therefrom toward the surface of operation.

A snow blower is an expensive but often necessary piece of equipment. Conversion of a typical rotary lawn mower into a snow blower and ice and snow scraper is therefore a viable concept. A few problems must be overcome though. First, the conversion of the lawn mower should be reversible. A device that removably attaches to a mower is therefore a feasible concept. Further, the device should have the ability to scrape snow and ice from surfaces from which snow is being blown, even irregular surfaces. Replaceable contacts materials are therefore desirable as wear will no doubt occur. Contact materials should also be sufficiently flexible in order that surfaces are not scarred. Also, the replacement device should prevent accumulation of snow and ice within the blade housing of a lawn mower. Further, the device should be able to lift snow from a surface. The present invention accomplishes the desired goals while overcoming the problems inherent in doing so.


The invention relates to coated support means for fracking mining methods, containing an inorganic substrate material and a coating containing polymers of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers from the group containing vinyl esters of unbranched or branched alkyl carboxylic acids with 1 to 15 C atoms, methacrylic acid esters and acrylic acid esters of alcohols with 1 to 15 C atoms, vinyl aromatics, olefins, dienes and vinyl halides, characterised in that the polymers are obtained by means of radical-initiated polymerisation in an aqueous medium, wherein 0.5 to 20 wt. % of ethylenically unsaturated and silane group-containing monomers are copolymerised, in relation to the total weight of the monomers.

The tracking method is used in mineral oil and natural gas production and is a technique of generating, widening, and stabilizing cracks in the rock of a deposit deep underground, with the airs of increasing the permeability of the deposit rocks. As a result, gases or liquids present therein are able to flow more easily and more stably to the well and be recovered.
The cracks generated have to be kept open with proppants. The coated or uncoated proppants currently available are brittle and do not have the necessary compressive strength for production at great depths. The breaking of the proppant under the high pressure releases fine particles that block the cracks and reduce the oil or gas production rate.
The coated proppants available according to the prior art have improved stability compared to the uncoated proppants. However, the effect of the coating, with organic resins, for example, is limited by the fact that the available coatings are themselves very brittle and likewise have a tendency to break or to flake off.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,522 describes polymer-coated proppants which are produced by polymerization of polyethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of silica gel or sand. U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,038 relates to proppants coated with crosslinkable phenolic resins. US 2005/0244641 A1 discloses proppants coated with hydrophobic materials such as silicones or siloxanes. Proppants fir use in fracking are also described in US 2006/0035790 A1, where finely divided carrier particles of sand are coated with elastomer—with polyolefins or polyurethanes, for example. U.S. Pat. No. 7,624,802 describes proppants composed of phenolic-resin-coated carrier materials from the group of inorganic or organic materials or composites of inorganic and organic materials. WO 2008/088449 A2 describes proppants having a coating composed of resin, crosslinker, adhesion promoter, and curing agent. US 2014/0124200 A1 discloses proppants having a coating composed of silicone-modified formaldehyde resins. WO 2016/070044 A1 describes a method for treating proppants with a series of functional coatings. WO 2016/089599 A1 describes proppants having a coating which comprises treatment agents.

Coated proppants for fracking extraction methods


A temperature detector of the present invention includes a temperature sensor, a reference signal generation circuit, a level memory which rewritably stores therein a first signal level and a second signal level, a control circuit which controls the reference signal generation circuit so as to make a level of the reference signal change from the first signal level to the second signal level, a comparator circuit which compares the level of the reference signal and a level of the output signal, and a level rewriter which rewrites at least either one of the first signal level and the second signal level. When the level of the reference signal reaches the level of the output signal, the control circuit generates a detected temperature signal, and controls the level rewriter so as to change a range where a level of the reference signal changes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temperature detector which detects a temperature of a detection object, and also to a recording apparatus including the temperature detector.
2. Description of Related Art
There is an ink-jet printer which prints an image on a recording paper by ejecting ink droplets on the recording paper as a recording medium. As such an ink-jet printer, one including a recording head and a driver IC is known. The recording head has a passage unit in which nozzle for ejecting ink droplets and pressure chambers communicating with the nozzles are formed, and an actuator unit which applies ejection energy to ink contained in the pressure chambers. The driver IC generates a pulse for driving the actuator. The actuator applies ejection energy to a pressure chamber by changing a volume of the pressure chamber. The actuator is driven by a pulsed drive signal being supplied from the driver IC.
In an ink-jet printer of this type, speedup of printing is attempted, by increasing a pulse frequency of a drive signal which is outputted from the driver IC and thereby shortening a cycle of ejection of an ink droplet. However, when a pulse frequency of a drive signal is increased, heat generation of the driver IC is also increased. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-22294 discloses a technique by which when a driver IC reaches a predetermined temperature or more the driver IC stops driving until cooled down, to thereby restrain the driver IC from becoming too high in temperature. In this way, thermal destruction of the driver IC can be prevented. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-075264 discloses a temperature detection circuit which includes a diode and a comparator in order to detect a temperature of a driver IC. An output voltage of the diode changes depending on a temperature. The comparator detects that an output voltage from the diode agrees with a reference voltage or a standard voltage which corresponds to a detection temperature. According to this technique, it can be sensed that a temperature of the driver IC is a detection temperature at a time when the comparator detects that an output voltage from the diode agrees with the reference voltage. Here, there has been known a technique of outputting a reference voltage in the form of a sawtooth wave or a triangular wave and sweeping it. Application of this technique enables detection of a wide range of temperatures of the driver IC.

Temperature detector and recording apparatus including the same


A process of cleaning very sparingly water soluble soaps off workpieces after cold forming them is made considerably more economical by using a cleaning solution that causes the removed soap anions to form a separate floating solid phase that can easily be skimmed from the surface of the cleaning solution. When such a separation is made, much longer intervals between replacement of the cleaning solution are possible while still obtaining satisfactory results. A preferred cleaning solution for such a process comprises hydroxides, neutral salts, polymeric quaternary ammonium cations, and a sequestering agent for the counterions of the soap anions to be cleaned.

This invention relates to management of a cleaning process that removes metal salts of intermediate length carboxylic acids, i.e., fatty acids with from 10 to 22 carbon atoms per molecule, from surfaces where such salts are present over an underlying water insoluble substrate, particularly a metal substrate. (The remainder of this description will concentrate on metal substrates, but it is to be understood that the description applies, mutatis mutandis, to other types of substrates that are not substantially damaged by contact with, or dissolved in, water.) Between the exposed surface of metal intermediate length carboxylate salt(s) and the substrate surface, there may or may not be other layers such as phosphate conversion coatings, anodized coatings, or complex oxide layers such as those that can be formed with a commercially available product named BONDERITE(copyright) 770X from the Henkel Surface Technologies Div. of Henkel Corp., Madison Heights, Mich.
Metal salts, particularly water-insoluble ones, of intermediate length carboxylic acids are widely used as lubricants for cold drawing of steel and other metals, usually over a phosphate or other conversion coating that is believed to act as a xe2x80x9ccarrierxe2x80x9d for the lubricative metal intermediate length carboxylate salt(s). After cold drawing has been completed, in most instances the metal intermediate length carboxylate salt(s) and any underlying conversion coating need to be removed before further processing of the metal article that has been cold drawn.
Such removal/cleaning has been conventionally accomplished with strongly alkaline cleaners, which preferably also contain sequestering agents for the metal cations in any underlying conversion coating, when such a coating is present, and surfactants to aid in wetting of the surface and dispersing and removing soils. However, when substantial amounts of metal intermediate length carboxylate salt(s) have been dissolved, dispersed, or both dissolved and dispersed in such a cleaner, it becomes inadequately effective for further cleaning (and strongly prone to foaming) unless the dissolved, dispersed, or both dissolved and dispersed metal salts of intermediate length carboxylic acids are removed from the used cleaner. Inasmuch as no commercially well established satisfactory method of removing these dissolved, dispersed, or both dissolved and dispersed salts of intermediate length carboxylic acids has appeared in prior art, it is current commercial practice to discard cleaning solutions and replace them with freshly prepared solutions when accumulation of dissolved, dispersed, or both dissolved and dispersed salts of intermediate length carboxylic acids depresses the cleaning ability of the solutions to an unsatisfactory level.
A major object of this invention is to provide a new method for separating dissolved, dispersed, or both dissolved and dispersed salts of intermediate length carboxylic acids from alkaline cleaning solutions containing these salts that will achieve at least one of the following advantages:
allowing satisfactory extended use of the unconsumed ingredients of the cleaning solutions;
avoiding impractical degrees of foaming of used cleaning solutions; and
achieving greater overall economy in the cleaning process than the present commercially established alkaline cleaning processes and their associated cleaning solutions.
Other alternative, concurrent, and/or more detailed objects will be apparent from the description below.
Except in the claims and the operating examples, or where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word xe2x80x9caboutxe2x80x9d in describing the broadest scope of the invention. Practice within the numerical limits stated is generally preferred, however. Also, throughout the description, unless expressly stated to the contrary: percent, xe2x80x9cparts ofxe2x80x9d, and ratio values are by weight or mass; the term xe2x80x9cpolymerxe2x80x9d includes xe2x80x9coligomerxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9ccopolymerxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cterpolymerxe2x80x9d and the like; the description of a group or class of materials as suitable or preferred for a given purpose in connection with the invention implies that mixtures of any two or more of the members of the group or class are equally suitable or preferred; description of constituents in chemical terms refers to the constituents at the time of addition to any combination specified in the description or of generation in situ within the composition by chemical reaction(s) noted in the specification between one or more newly added constituents and one or more constituents already present in the composition when the other constituents are added, and does not necessarily preclude unspecified chemical interactions among the constituents of a mixture once mixed; specification of constituents in ionic form additionally implies the presence of sufficient counterions to produce electrical neutrality for the composition as a whole and-for any substance added to the composition; any counterions thus implicitly specified preferably are selected from among other constituents explicitly specified in ionic form, to the extent possible; otherwise such counterions may be freely selected, except for avoiding counterions that act adversely to an object of the invention; the word xe2x80x9cmolexe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9cgram molexe2x80x9d, and the word itself and all of its grammatical variations may by used for any chemical species defined by all of the types and numbers of atoms present in it, irrespective of whether the species is ionic, neutral, unstable, hypothetical, or in fact a stable neutral substance with well defined molecules; and the terms xe2x80x9csolutionxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9csolublexe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9chomogeneousxe2x80x9d, and the like are to be understood as including not only true equilibrium solutions or homogeneity but also dispersions that show no visually detectable tendency toward phase separation over a period of observation of at least 100, or preferably at least 1000, hours during which the material is mechanically undisturbed and the temperature of the material is maintained within the range of 18-25xc2x0 C.
It has been found possible to cause at least the anions of the salts of intermediate length carboxylic acids that are removed by a cleaning solution from a substrate being cleaned to segregate themselves from the bulk of the cleaning solution into a solid phase that floats on the cleaning solution at its temperature of use. The floating solid phase can readily be removed by skimming or some other known technique for separating solid and liquid phases, while the remaining liquid phase can continue to be used for effective cleaning for as long an interval as has been tested, so long as consumed ingredients are replenished in it. The replenishment thus required consumes cleaning materials at a rate that is substantially lower than the overall consumption of fresh cleaning materials by the established processes of discarding cleaning solutions after a relatively small amount of dissolved, dispersed, or both dissolved and dispersed salts of intermediate length carboxylic acids has accumulated in the cleaning solutions. Embodiments of the invention include processes for cleaning and aqueous liquid cleaning compositions particularly useful for this type of cleaning process.
One composition embodiment of the invention is a homogeneous aqueous liquid cleaning composition that comprises, preferably consists essentially of, or more preferably consists of, water and the following components:
(A) a component of dissolved strongly dissociated cations and anions each with a molecular weight not more than 100 Daltons; and
(B) a component of dissolved, dispersed, or both dissolved and dispersed cations with an average molecular weight of at least 200 Daltons; and, optionally, one or more of the following components:
(C) a component of dissolved sequestering agent molecules that are not part of either of immediately previously recited components (A) and (B);
(D) a component of dissolved surfactant molecules that are not part of any of immediately previously recited components (A) through (C); and
(E) a component of corrosion inhibitor molecules that are not part of any of immediately previously recited components (A) through (D),
said aqueous liquid cleaning composition further having at least 5.0 points of free alkalinity. Points of free alkalinity are determined by titrating a 25 milliliter (hereinafter usually abbreviated as xe2x80x9cmlxe2x80x9d) sample of the composition with 1.0 N strong acid to an end point of pH 8.2, measured with a pH meter or with an indicator such as phenolphthalein; the number of ml of the titrant required equals the points of free alkalinity. The cations and anions of component (A) are xe2x80x9cstrongly dissociatedxe2x80x9d for the purposes of this description if the aqueous liquid cleaning composition has an equivalent conductance that is at least 25% of a value calculated from the combined concentrations and equivalent conductances at infinite dilution of its constituent ions of component (A).
A composition according to the invention may be ready for immediate use in cleaning, in which instance it may be designated hereinafter as a xe2x80x9cworking compositionxe2x80x9d, or it may be a concentrate composition which is suitable for mixture with water and/or, optionally, one or more other concentrate compositions to form a working composition. Of course, some compositions according to the invention are suitable for both of these methods of use.
In order to supply the needed alkalinity of an overall aqueous liquid cleaning composition, component (A) thereof preferably includes hydroxides. Any sufficiently water soluble strongly ionizing hydroxides, including quaternary ammonium hydroxides, may be used, but at least for economy alkali metal, more particularly sodium and/or potassium, hydroxides are preferred. Surprisingly, for maximum storage stability, especially in concentrated form, both sodium and potassium hydroxides are still more preferably included. When the total alkalinity of an aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention is between 9 and 10 points, the molar ratio of potassium hydroxide to sodium hydroxide in the aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention preferably is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.10:1.00, 0.15:1.00, 0.18:1.00, 0.21:1.00, 0.23:1.00, 0.25:1.00, 0.27:1.00, 0.29:1.00, or 0.31:1.00 and independently preferably is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 1.00:1.00, 0.90:1.00, 0.80:1.00, 0.70:1.00, 0.60:1.00, 0.50:1.00, 0.45:1.00, 0.42:1.00, 0.39:1.00, 0.37:1.00, 0.35:1.00, or 0.33:1.00. However, any additional hydroxide needed to bring the free alkalinity of an aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention above 10 points preferably is sodium hydroxide only, so that, in an aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention with 21 free alkalinity points, the preferred molar ratio of potassium hydroxide to sodium hydroxide is only 0.02:1.0.
Independently of the chemical nature of the hydroxides, they preferably are present in a concentrate according to the invention at a concentration that is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, 1.9, 2.1, or 2.3 moles of hydroxide per kilogram of concentrate (this concentration being hereinafter usually abbreviated as xe2x80x9cM/kgxe2x80x9d and applied to any constituent of any composition) and independently, at least in a single package concentrate, preferably is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 10, 8, 6, 5.5, 5.0, 4.5, 4.0, 3.5, 3.0, 2.8, or 2.6 M/kg. In a working composition for use in a process according to the invention, the total concentration of hydroxides preferably is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.38, or 0.40 mole of hydroxide per liter of working composition (the concentration unit of moles of material per liter of a composition containing the material being hereinafter usually abbreviated as xe2x80x9cM/lxe2x80x9d and freely applied to any constituent of any composition). The optimum concentration of hydroxides has been found to depend on the particular characteristics of the material to be removed, in is a manner that has not been elucidated but that is believed to be connected with variations in the speed with which particular conversion coatings, even those applied under the same nominal conditions, can be dissolved. Highly satisfactory results with an easily removed coating may be achieved even with hydroxide concentrations only slightly above, or even below, the highest preferred minimum specified above. In other instances, however, total hydroxide concentrations of as much as 1.5 M/l may be needed in order to achieve a commercially satisfactory cleaning speed. One of ordinary skill in the art can, with minimal experimentation, readily adjust the concentration of hydroxide in an aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention to suit the particular cleaning performance needed.
The points of free alkalinity of a working composition according to the invention when it is freshly prepared preferably are at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 6.0, 7.0, 7.5, 7.8, 8.1, 8.4, 8.7, or 8.9. Considerably higher values for this concentration appear to be needed for cleaning certain types of soil, in the same manner as already described above for hydroxide. Free alkalinity points values of at least as much as 21 have been determined to be near optimum in some instances. Cleaning is usually uneconomically slow if the value of free alkalinity is too low. If the value is too high, cleaning can also be impaired, although the difference in cleaning efficiency from optimum values normally will be less than if the points of free alkalinity are too low. In addition, however, too high a value of free alkalinity results in loss of economy, inasmuch as more active ingredients are required without obtaining a more satisfactory result.
Although hydroxides are a preferred constituent of component (A) as described above of a composition according to the invention, they preferably are not the only constituent but instead are preferably used together with a subcomponent of neutral salt, preferably a salt that contains monovalent anions. At least for economy, alkali metal halides, particularly sodium chloride, are preferably used. Independent of their exact chemical nature, in an aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention that has a free alkalinity value from 9-10 points, neutral salts preferably are present in a molar ratio to total hydroxides present in the same composition that is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.04:1.00, 0.08:1.00, 0.12:1.00, 0.16:1.00, 0.20:1.00, 0.24:1.00, 0.27:1.00, 0.29:1.00, or 0.31:1.00 and independently, for economy, preferably is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 1.00:1.00, 0.90:1.00, 0.80:1.00, 0.70:1.00, 0.60:1.00, 0.55:1.00, 0.50:1.00, 0.45:1.00, 0.40:1.00, 0.37:1.00, or 0.34:1.00. However, if the free alkalinity points of an aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention are 21, then neutral salts are preferably present in a molar ratio to total hydroxide that is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.04:1.00, 0.08:1.00, 0.10:1.00, 0.12:1.00, 0.15:1.00, 0.18:1.00, 0.21:1.00, or 0.24:1.00 and independently, for economy, preferably is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.50:1.00, 0.40:1.00, 0.30:1.00, 0.25:1.00, or 0.20:1.00. At values of free alkalinity intermediate between 10 and 21, there will be intermediate preferences for the molar ratio of neutral salts to total hydroxide. It should be noted that the upper limit preferences stated above are for economy only, because there has been no observation of any technical deficiency of a process according to the invention even when the ratio of moles of neutral salt to moles of hydroxide was as high as 1.3:1.00
Component (B) as described above of a composition according to the invention preferably comprises nitrogen atoms each of which is bonded to four distinct carbon atoms and carries (at least formally) a positive electronic charge, or in other words quaternary ammonium moieties. More preferably, component (B) comprises cations that contain at least two quaternary ammonium moieties each. Still more preferably, the cations of component (B) are the cations of polymers of molecules that contain at least two moieties each selected from the group consisting of tertiary amino moieties and leaving group moieties such as halogen atoms in organic compounds, which are capable of reacting with one another to form quaternary ammonium cation-containing moieties and anions derived from the leaving groups. The monomers from which these polymers are derived may contain at least one each of tertiary amino moieties and leaving group moieties, in which instance the polymers may be homopolymers, but more often the polymers will be copolymers of one type of molecule that contains at least two tertiary amino moieties and another type of molecule that contains at least two leaving groups. Whether the polymers are homo- or co-polymers, their molecular weight, as measured by intrinsic viscosity, preferably is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 1xc3x97103, 3xc3x97103, 5xc3x97103, 7xc3x97103, 9xc3x97103, 1.0xc3x97104, 1.5xc3x97104, 2.0xc3x97104, 2.5xc3x97104, or 2.8xc3x97104 and independently preferably is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 107, 106, 5xc3x97105, 2xc3x97105, 1.0xc3x97105, 8xc3x97104, 6xc3x97104, 5.0xc3x97104, 4.5xc3x97104, 4.0xc3x97104, or 3.5xc3x97104.
The cations of component (B) that contain quaternary ammonium moieties preferably also contain one or more other nitrogen atoms, with amido nitrogen moieties, especially at least monosubstituted amido nitrogen moieties, being particularly preferred, and cations conforming to one of these preferences preferably constitute at least 70% of the minimum preferred totals for component (B) that are specified below. Independently, the cations of component (B) overall preferably have numbers of nitrogen and of carbon atoms such that the ratio of the number of nitrogen atoms to the number of carbon atoms is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.05:1.00, 0.10:1.00, 0.15:1.00, 0.20:1.00, or 0.25:1.00 and independently preferably is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.7:1.00, 0.5:1.00, 0.40:1.00, 0.35:1.00, or 0.30:1.00.
The counterions for the cations of component (B) are not believed to be important in determining the effectiveness of the invention, but at least for economy, chloride is preferred.
Independently of its exact chemical characteristics, component (B) preferably constitutes at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 3, 5, 6.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, 9.5, or 10 parts per thousand by weight (this unit of concentration being hereinafter usually abbreviated as xe2x80x9cpptxe2x80x9d) of a single package make-up concentrate composition according to the invention and independently preferably constitutes not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 100, 75, 50, 40, 30, 20, 15, or 13 ppt of a single package make-up concentrate composition according to the invention, these maximum concentration preferences being primarily for economy. In a working composition according to the invention, the concentration of component (B) preferably is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.20, 0.40, 0.50, 0.60, 0.70, 0.80, 0.90, 1.00, 1.10, 1.20, 1.30, 1.35, 1.40, 1.45, 1.50, 1.55, 1.60, 1.65, 1.70, 1.75, or 1.80 ppt and independently preferably is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8.0, 7.0, 6.0, 5.0, 4.5, 4.0, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5, 2.2, or 2.0 ppt, the maximum preferences again being primarily for economy.
Among the optional components, sequestering agent component (C) usually is preferably included, especially when very low solubility salts of intermediate length carboxylic acids, such as the zinc and calcium salts, and/or phosphate conversion coatings are to be cleaned with a particular aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention. Any sufficiently water soluble sequestering agent constituted of molecules each of which contains at least two nucleophilic moieties selected from the group consisting of non-quaternized nitrogen atoms, and keto, aldehydo, carboxyl, carboxylate, and hydroxyl moieties that are not part of carboxyl moieties is suitable. Preferred sequestering agents are selected from those generally known and used in detergent formulations, more specifically ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and its salts, nitrilotriacetic acid and its salts, citric acid and its salts, malic acid and its salts, tartaric acid and its salts, sugars, and sugar acids and their salts. Sodium glucoheptonate is the single most preferred sequestering agent.
Independently of its exact chemical structure, the concentration of component (C) in a one package concentrate composition according to the invention preferably is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10, or 0.12 M/kg. In a working composition according to the invention, the concentration of component (C) preferably is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.003, 0.006, 0.009, 0.012, 0.014, 0.016, or 0.018 M/l and independently preferably is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.16, 0.14, 0.12, 0.10, 0.080, 0.060, 0.050, 0.040, 0.035, 0.030, 0.025, or 0.020 M/l. In both instances, the maximum value preferences are primarily for economy, while the minimum value preferences are to assure useful effects from the presence of the sequestering agents. Also, if polymeric sequestering agents are used, each distinct moiety of the polymer molecules that contains at least six carbon atoms and at least two nucleophilic moieties as defined in the preceding paragraph should be considered a separate molecule for the purpose of calculating these concentration preferences.
Component (D) is usually not needed and is therefore usually preferably omitted. However, in some instances, an antifoam agent may be desirable to improve the practicality of the cleaning operation, a hydrotroping agent may be needed to avoid unwanted phase separation, and/or a particularly difficult substrate to wet may need a wetting agent included in the aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention. In any such instance, a suitable surfactant as generally known in the art for the specific purpose needed may advantageously be added.
Component (E) is often advantageously present in an aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention, particularly when cleaning ferrous substrates that are prone to rusting. Numerous corrosion inhibitors are known for this purpose in the art and may be used for component (E), but a material not generally known as a corrosion inhibitor, sodium meta-nitrobenzene sulfonate, has been found to be particularly effective in an aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to this invention and is preferably included if an aqueous liquid cleaning composition without this ingredient produces flash rust on the cleaned substrates. When used, this inhibitor preferably has a concentration in an aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention that is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, or 4.9 grams of inhibitor per liter of the total aqueous liquid cleaning composition (this unit of concentration being hereinafter applicable to any constituent of the composition and usually abbreviated as xe2x80x9cg/lxe2x80x9d) and independently, at least for economy, preferably is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 20, 15, 10, 9.0, 8.0, 7.0, 6.0, or 5.1 g/l.
It has been found that, as intermediate length carboxylic acids and/or their salts are added to an initially highly preferred aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention, both cleaning and flotation effectiveness of the thus used composition substantially deteriorate unless components (A) and (B) and the free alkalinity of the initial composition are replenished. However, although the replenishment materials preferably are the same as for the initially prepared compositions according to the invention, the concentration ratios among the materials preferably are different from those in a make-up concentrate or working composition. Specifically, in a replenisher composition for use in a process according to the invention, the following ratios are independently preferred:
a molar ratio of potassium hydroxide to sodium hydroxide that is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.05:1.00, 0.10:1.00, 0.15:1.00, 0.20:1.00, 0.25:1.00, 0.27:1.00, 0.29:1.00, or 0.31:1.00 and independently is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.8:1.00, 0.60:1.00, 0.50:1.00, 0.45:1.00, 0.40:1.00, 0.37:1.00, 0.35:1.00, or 0.33:1.00;
a molar ratio of neutral salt to total hydroxide that is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 1.0:1.00, 1.5:1.00, 2.0:1.00, 2.5:1.00, 3.0:1.00, 3.5:1.00, 3.9:1.00, 4.1:1.00, or 4.3:1.00 and independently is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 10:1.00, 9.0:1.00, 8.0:1.00, 7.5:1.00, 7.0:1.00, 6.5:1.00, 6.0:1.00, 5.5:1.00, 5.1:1.00, 4.9:1.00, 4.7:1.00, or 4.5:1.00;
a ratio of grams of component (B) to moles of hydroxide that is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 6.0:1.00, 10:1.00, 14:1.00, 18:1.00, 22:1.00, 25:1.00, 28:1.00, 30:1.00, 32:1.00, or 34:1.00 and independently, at least for economy, preferably is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 150:1.00, 100:1.00, 80:1.00, 70:1.00, 60:1.00, 55:1.00, 50:1.00, 40:1.00, or 36:1.00; and, when component (C) is used,
a ratio of moles of component (C) to moles of hydroxide that is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.010:1.00, 0.016:1.00, 0.020:1.00, 0.024:1.00, 0.028:1.00, 0.032:1.00, 0.036:1.00, 0.041:1.00, 0.045:1.00, 0.048:1.00, 0.050:1.00, or 0.052:1.00 and independently, at least for economy, preferably is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.20:1.00, 0.15:1.00, 0.10:1.00, 0.080:1.00, 0.070:1.00, 0.065:1.00, 0.060:1.00, or 0.055:1.00.
The absolute concentration of a replenisher concentrate is relatively unimportant when it is used, because the amount added can be adjusted to suit the absolute concentration and produce the same additions of active ingredients from concentrates of widely varying concentration. For economy in shipping, the maximum possible concentrations of active ingredients are favored, but there is of course a limit imposed by solubility and/or dispersibility of the active ingredients in water and possible chemical instability and/or unwanted phase separation during storage of a replenisher concentrate. For these reasons, the concentration of neutral salt of component (A) in a replenisher concentrate according to the invention preferably is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, or 18 percent and independently preferably is not more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 33, 31, 29, 27, 25, 23, or 21 percent. Preferred concentrations for other constituents may be derived from these by using the preferred ratios already given above.
A working composition in a process according to the invention is preferably maintained at a temperature that is at least, with increasing preference in the order given, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, or 90xc2x0 C. during its contact with substrates to be cleaned. If provision for reflux into the cleaning vessel is used, higher temperatures up to the boiling point of the aqueous liquid cleaning composition can advantageously be used. (If it is worthwhile, as it usually is not, to provide pressurized equipment for cleaning, still higher temperatures can speed the cleaning process.) The needed time of contact will depend on the temperature of the cleaning composition and on the amount and nature of intermediate length carboxylic acids, their salts, and/or other materials to be removed from the particular substrates being cleaned. The time can readily be determined by observation of the extent of removal of the materials desired in a particular instance, with minimal experimentation, by one skilled in the art. As a general guide, for removing a typical multi-layer lubricant coating of metal soap lubricant over zinc phosphate conversion coating as used for heavy cold working, a time not less than five minutes will normally be required and thirty minutes would normally be more than enough, with 10 to 20 minutes perhaps typical, when the aqueous liquid cleaning composition is maintained at 91xc2x0 C. during cleaning.
At least two different control methods have been found to be effective for maintaining the desired properties of a working composition according to the invention as the working composition is used to clean intermediate length carboxylic acids and/or their salts and optionally other materials such as conversion coatings from substrates. The most direct test of the efficacy of the flotation of dissolved anionic portions of removed intermediate length carboxylic acids and their salts is a Babcock splitting test of the liquid portion of the used cleaning solution. This test may be performed as follows:
To a 150 ml size beaker, add first 10 ml of Reagent Solution 51 and then add 10 ml of the liquid cleaning bath. Mix these liquids thoroughly and heat the mixture to boiling. Filter the boiling hot mixture through a fast filter paper such as Whatman 541 into a Babcock Test Bottle that is graduated from 1 to 8. Wash the beaker and filter paper with another boiling hot 10 ml portion of Reagent Solution 51 and add the washings to the Babcock Test Bottle. (The filter paper may now be discarded.)
Place the Babcock Test Bottle with its contents in a boiling water bath, with the bath at a sufficient level to cover most of the neck of the Babcock Test Bottle, and maintain the open bottle at the temperature of boiling water for at least 30 minutes. Then add 20 ml of Reagent Solution 44 to the Babcock Test Bottle, swirl the bottle to mix the contents, and heat the Babcock Test Bottle and its contents in the boiling water bath until a distinct floating liquid oily phase forms on top of the contents or for 10 minutes, whichever is shorter. If no oily phase forms, record the Babcock Test Value as 0. If an oily phase does form, add boiling hot water to the Babcock Test Bottle if needed until both the top and bottom of the floating liquid phase are within the graduated area of the Babcock Test Bottle neck. The difference between the graduations at the top and bottom of the upper liquid phase is the Babcock Test Value. (Do not remove the Babcock Test Bottle from the boiling water bath before taking the reading that determines the Babcock Test Value, because rapid cooling and consequent shrinkage will lead to an erroneous reading.)
Reagent Solutions 51 and 44 and Babcock Test Bottles are commercially available from Henkel Surface Technologies Division of Henkel Corporation, Madison Heights, Mich.
When a cleaning process according to the invention is operating as desired, the Babcock Number of the cleaning solution will be no more than, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.075, 0.060, 0.050, 0.040, 0.030, 0.020, or 0.010. Whenever a Babcock Test Value greater than this is measured, at least more neutral salt of component (A) and preferably also more component (B) should be added in an amount sufficient to reduce the Babcock Test Value below its target maximum. More preferably, a full replenisher concentrate as described above should be added in sufficient amount to reduce the Babcock Test Value below its target maximum.
It has also been found that the need for replenishment of an aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention can be more conveniently and rapidly determined by testing the free alkalinity of the composition as it is used. By this method of control, the composition is preferably replenished during use whenever its measured alkalinity decreases by as much as, with increasing preference in the order given, 1.0, 0.8, 0.6, 0.50, 0.40, 0.30, 0.20, 0.15, 0.10, or 0.05 points of free alkalinity from the value that the particular aqueous liquid cleaning composition had when freshly prepared. As with the control method using the Babcock Test Value, during early stages of use an aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention can be replenished with neutral salt only or with neutral salt and component (B) only, but eventually replenishment of alkalinity is also required, so that the most preferable replenishment is with a full replenisher concentrate as described above.
Under consistent operating conditions, of course, it may become possible to replenish an aqueous liquid cleaning composition according to the invention by experience alone, without the need for making any measurements to indicate when replenishment is required.

Cleaning metal salts of intermediate length carboxylic acids from surfaces


To provide a sock with a performance that matches its purpose of use and seasonal requirements. To change the thickness and strength of different parts of the sock according to the load distribution on the sole and the impact that the different parts of the sock are subjected to when walking and running.

Traditional terry socks have sole portions that are composed entirely of terry stitches. The purpose of this structure is, primarily, to warm the feet as well as to function as a shock absorber when walking or running. Because of this structure, the sole portion of the sock tends to be thick across its entire area, preventing the transpiration of sweat and in-shoe humidity, and causing a steamy feel. Moreover, because the sole portion is thick across its entire area, the wearer has to choose a shoe of a larger size than his/her actual foot size. In order to eliminate these characteristic flaws of the traditional terry sock, a sock having terry stitches distributed only over the necessary portions was conceived. This sock, known as a partial terry-stitch sock, is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
[Patent Document 1] Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication No. S60-165405
The sock disclosed in Document 1 has, as described in its claims, "terry stitches distributed in different shapes for the left and right feet in accordance with the shapes of the feet and the shoes. The purpose of this sock is to provide compatibility with the shoe that is worn. The Document does not say anything about varying the thickness of the terry-stitch structure. When walking or running, the heel, sole and toe portions are subjected to different degrees of shock. Ideally each portion has a different terry-stitch thickness and cushion performance. In order to eliminate the flaws in Document 1 above, different terry-stitch lengths may be used for different areas of the terry-stitch structure. A sock having such characteristics is disclosed in Patent Document 2.
[Patent Document 2] Utility Model Publication No. 3037207
The sock disclosed in Document 2 above is, as described in its claim 2, "divided into two or more of the portions including the inserting portion A, the calf portion B, the shin portion C, the heel portion D, the spur portion E, the sole portion F, the instep portion G and the toe portion H with each portion having a different terry length." For each section, i.e., area unit such as the heel portion and the sole portion, terry stitches of different terry lengths are formed. Within the same section, knitting structures of the same terry lengths are distributed. However, even within the same section, e.g., the sole portion, different areas are of different shapes and are subjected to different degrees of shock when walking or running. The sock disclosed in Document 2 above cannot provide a cushion performance that complies with the ground-touching pressure distribution on the sole portion. Because the terry stitches have the same length within the same section, there is not enough space between the sole of the foot and the sock that eliminate the steamy feel. Patent Document 3 discloses a terry sock that provides increased ventilation.
[Patent Document 3] Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-295104
The sock disclosed in Document 3, as described in its claim 1, has "an intermediate portion on the back of the sock where terry-stitched portions and plain-stitched portions are mixed." And as described in its claim 2, "the terry-stitched portions and plain-stitched portions are arranged in a grid." This structure simply incorporates terry stitches in the midst of plain stitches and does not provide a terry distribution or thickness that comply with the shape and ground-touching pressure of each portion of the sole. Patent Document 4 discloses a product having a variety of terry distributions.
[Patent Document 4] Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H9-41202
The sock disclosed in Document 4 is, as described in its claim 1, a knit product having a terry-stitch portion characterized by terry loops formed on wales of choice by rotating the knitting cylinder in a reciprocating manner. Terry stitches, which are made through a clockwise rotation of the cylinder, and non-terry stitches, which are made through a counterclockwise rotation, are combined to form terries on the wales. In a clockwise rotation, terry stitches always appear on the same wales. Similarly, terry stitches appear on the same wales in a counter-clockwise rotation. The product made by this method does not have a terry-pressure distribution or terry thickness that corresponds to the shape of the sole or to the distribution of the foot pressure when the foot touches the ground as the wearer walks.

Abstract: Knitting structures of different thicknesses and airspace ratios, e.g., flat stitches P, short-terry stitches SP, long-terry stitches LP, mesh stitches M, short-terry stitches based on mesh stitches M-SP, long-terry stitches based on mesh stitches M-LP, short-terry stitches based on reinforced mesh stitches M-R-SP, long-terry stitches based on reinforced mesh stitches M-R-LP, short-terry stitches with reinforcement yarn R-SP and long-terry stitches with reinforcement yarn R-LP are distributed in different parts of the sock.


A method for removing a resist layer, particularly in via holes, includes plasma to remove organic compounds, rinsing the device in deionized water, and sputtering with argon to remove inorganic compounds. The order of rinsing and sputtering can be reversed. These methods avoid the use of acids and industrial solvents.

In the manufacture of a number of semiconductor devices on a wafer, photolithography steps and etching, thin film deposition, and/or ion implantation steps are alternately performed to build up the devices. The photolithography steps typically include steps of coating a wafer with a photoresist, typically an ultraviolet (UV) photosensitive organic material; exposing the photoresist through a mask; developing the resist; and etching the exposed resist to leave certain exposed areas on the wafer surface. Further processing steps, such as deposition, implantation, or etching can then be employed on the exposed areas.
Etching is typically performed with either a wet etching process in which the wafers are immersed in a chemical etchant; or a dry etching process, such as downstream microwave plasma etching or reactive ion etching (RIE). After photoresist is patterned on a surface and after further processing steps are performed in exposed areas, the photoresist is stripped. During such further processing steps, the nature of the photoresist mask can change from its initial state because it can become contaminated with other materials. If, for example, an etching process is performed in the exposed areas to form via holes, high temperatures and ion bombardment from the etching can alter the photoresist. Such changes to the photoresist can make it more difficult to remove, particularly if the contaminants are nonvolatile and insoluble.
While the removal of residues and contaminants has been a concern among manufacturers of the semiconductor devices, manufacturers of equipment that performs the stripping have generally concentrated on the removal of organic resist material. Removal of contaminants and residues has been performed with acids and organic solvents as mentioned, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,995. Solvents of this general type include EKC-265, available from EKC Corp. of Hayward, California; and N-methylpyrollidone (NMP). Such solvents can be costly to obtain, hazardous to handle, and costly to dispose. It would be desirable to have equipment and processes for removing both organic resist and inorganic residues and contaminants without having to use acids or industrial solvents.

Processes for cleaning and stripping photoresist from surfaces of semiconductor wafers


A multi-function machine with interleaved job execution is disclosed. The multi-function machine performs multiple functions such as printing and digital copying. Multiple users of the machine are intermittently serviced as the machine switches from printing to copying jobs and vice versa. The manner of switching is partially determined by whether the requisite set-up time for a particular job is complete. The manner of switching may also be determined by user-set priorities. In either embodiment, jobs are interleaved so as to eliminate unused time associated with the period required to set-up a job. As a result, the machine operates optimally while intermittently making progress on multiple jobs.

Multi-function machines have been recently developed. These machines commonly include the capability to print a digitally formatted document which is downloaded from a host computer. As is known in the art, the print function of the multi-function machine is realized by utilizing a laser and a polygon mirror to write information on a photoreceptor. The photoreceptor is subsequently placed in contact with a piece of paper which acquires the image written on the photoreceptor. Prior to this print function, a set-up time is required for rasterizing the document downloaded from the host computer. The machine is otherwise idle during this set-up time.
Prior art multi-function machines also commonly include the capability to digitally copy a document. As is known in the art, the digital copying aspect of these machines is realized through a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) which acquires a digital data representation of an image. The digital image data is then conveyed to the printer portion of the machine which yields a printed document. Typically, for large copying jobs, a set-up time is required as an automatic document feed moves documents into a proper position for scanning. The automatic document feed is a mechanical device which is relatively slow. As a result, the set-up time associated with the document feed reduces the efficiency of the multi-function machine.
Prior art multi-function machines may also include a capability to send and receive facsimile documents. A received facsimile document is usually printed in accordance with the printer aspect of the multi-function machine. A facsimile document to be sent is typically scanned and encoded by the CCD element of the multi-function machine.
Multi-function machines are commonly utilized by a number of users. For instance, a multi-function machine may be directly coupled to a number of computers or may be coupled to a local area network. The users of the computers may simultaneously initiate requests to print documents. At the same time, an individual may be standing at the machine and request that a copying job be performed. Moreover, an incoming facsimile job may simultaneously require the printer function of the machine.
Thus, it is readily obvious that contention problems may arise with a multi-function machine. A user of a multi-function machine naturally desires that progress be made on his or her job at all available times.

Multi-function machine with interleaved job execution


An electronic apparatus connectable to an external electronic apparatus includes a wireless communicator configured to receive a wireless signal from the external electronic apparatus; a sound wave receiver configured to receive a sound wave signal from the external electronic apparatus; and a controller configured to, based on an initial distance between the external electronic apparatus and the electronic apparatus measured by using the wireless signal and the sound wave signal, measure a propagation constant between the external electronic apparatus and the electronic apparatus, and when the initial distance between the external electronic apparatus and the electronic apparatus is changed to a first distance, measure the first distance based on the propagation constant.

As portable electronic apparatuses have been widely used, a technology of connecting portable electronic apparatuses and other electronic apparatuses to one another through a wireless communication network to allow the connected electronic apparatuses to be used by interoperating with one another has been developed.
Also, as a plurality of non-portable electronic apparatuses may be controlled by using a Home Internet of Things (IoT) Platform or the like, a technology of connecting a plurality of electronic apparatuses located in a home to one another and using and/or controlling them has been developed.
According to these technologies, a distance between a plurality of electronic apparatuses that are connected to one another through a wireless communication network may be measured, and an operation of connecting or disconnecting wireless communication or maintaining connected communication may be performed based on the measured distance. Alternatively, a distance between a plurality of electronic apparatuses that are connected to one another through a wireless communication network may be measured, and an operation between the plurality of electronic apparatuses may be controlled based on the measured distance. Alternatively, a distance between a plurality of electronic apparatuses that are connected to one another through a wireless communication network may be measured, and the setting of a communication network formed between the plurality of electronic apparatuses may be changed based on the measured distance.
In order to perform the above operations, a distance between a plurality of electronic apparatuses that are connected to one another has to be accurately measured or estimated first.

Method for measuring distance between multiple electronic devices, and electronic device therefor


A reversible ratchet wrench includes a wrench body, one end of which having a ratchet portion that has an activating opening and a circular hole, and an arc ratchet slot formed therebetween; a control unit having a circular plate portion, one end of which extending to form a handle unit, while the other end of which forming a block unit, and a U-shaped base formed at the top portion of the block unit and a spring is disposed at the U-shaped base; a ratchet unit, one end which having arc teeth, the other end of which having a protruding restricting portion, and a column protrudingly extending from one end of the restricting portion; and a rotating unit disposed at the activating opening of the wrench body, and a teeth ring formed at outer periphery of the rotating unit to engage with the arc teeth of the ratchet unit.

FIG. 9 shows a conventional ratchet wrench (50) including a rotating unit (60) on one end to rotate the wrench (50) to tighten or loosen a nut or bolt. A teeth ring (61) is formed outside the rotating unit (60), one side of which has a corresponding ratchet unit (70), and the ratchet unit (70) can move in a first receiving space (51) inside the wrench (50). An arc surface (71) is formed on the other surface of the rotating unit (60), and a second receiving space (52) is communicating with the first receiving space (51). A control block (80) is in the second receiving space (52) and a plugging hole (81) is on the control block (80). A spring (82) is disposed on the control block (80) and a cover (83) is formed at the top portion of the spring (82), so the cover (83) can be pushed by the spring (82) to be against the arc surface (71) of the ratchet unit (70). With the control block (80) controlling the cover (83) to push the ratchet unit (70) to different sides of the first receiving space (51), a unidirectional driving effect can be generated.
However, the conventional ratchet wrench structure has some disadvantages: (i) the spring (82) and the cover (83) are disposed between the ratchet unit (70) and the control block (80), and one side of the cover (83) is pushed by the spring (82), and the other side is against the arc surface of the ratchet unit (70). When the wrench (50) is operated to shake the ratchet unit (70) or the control block is operated to switch, one end of the cover (83) moves to the arc surface (71) of the ratchet unit (70), and the other end moves to the plugging hole (81), the cover (83) and spring (82) can be easily deformed or pops out from the plugging hole (81); (ii) the control block (80) is disposed in the second receiving space (52) and secured the control block (80) to restrict the control block (80) to only rotate. Furthermore, the spring (82) is plugging into the plugging hole (81) through the first receiving space (51), and the top portion of the spring (82) covers the cover (83). Since the opening of the first receiving space (51) is facing the rotating unit (60), it is difficult to install the spring (82). Also, the spring (82) and cover (83) are small, they may be missing during the assembly process to further increase the difficulty during the assembly process; and (iii) the spring (82) and the cover (83) are disposed between the ratchet unit (70) and the control block (80), and one end of the cover (83) is pushed by the spring (82), while the other end thereof is pressed against the arc surface (71) of the ratchet unit (70). When the ratchet unit (70) is operated, the cover can push the spring (82), so a space for the ratchet unit (70) can be maintained between the ratchet unit (70) and the control block (80) and the cover (83) and spring (82) will be over-protruding from the plugging hole (81) to adversely affect the positioning of the cover (83) and spring (82). Therefore, there will still be a need for a new and improved ratchet wrench structure to overcome the problems presented above.


A switched bridge circuit comprises a first switch, a second switch, and a non-overlapping pulse generator. The first switch is coupled to a load. The second switch is coupled to said load. The non-overlapping pulse generator is coupled to the first switch and the second switch and coupled to receive an input signal. The non-overlapping pulse generator in response to the input signal generates a first control signal and a second control signal that respectively control the first and second switches. The pulses in the first and second control signals are not overlapped so that the first and second switches are not simultaneously enabled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to driving techniques for supplying power to a load, and more particularly, to driving circuitry in full bridge or half bridge inverter applications having non-overlapping pulses for vertical branches of the bridge, i.e., low voltage channel and high voltage channel.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1a illustrates a typical structure of level shift stage circuit 10 in the prior art. The level shift stage circuit 10 is provided with two HV DMOS transistors 14 and 16 for providing SET and RESET pulses to a RS flip flop 12. The input pulses applied to the Driving logic block 18 are decomposed into SET and RESET short pulses synchronous to the rising edge and falling edge of input signal. The level shifter, i.e., the transistors 14 and 16 generates two pulses, SETBAR and RESETBAR. These pulses are inverted once and are then applied to the RS flip flop 12. The output Q of the RS flip flop 12 will generate one square wave pulse, which is applied to the external power MOS transistor 13 and via a driver 15. Referring FIG. 1b, it depicts the timing diagram of the input signal, the SET signal, and the RESET signal.
The most important feature in the translation function when driving pulses from low voltage side to high voltage side is that using high voltage MOS/DMOS or BJT (Bipolar Junction Transistor) transistors result in dissipation of power, increase of cost, and occupation of space.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a converter circuit which is able to minimize the number of the transistors and the dissipation of power.

Pulse translation method from low to high voltage level in half and full bridge application


The present disclosure provides techniques for determining the position and/or orientation of a pointing device relative to the screen on a touchscreen device. A method may include receiving first orientation data from a first device that may include a capacitive touch surface. A touch point may be received indicating a location of a touch by a user on the capacitive touch surface. Second orientation data may be received from a second device. The first and second orientation data may be correlated to determine a relative orientation of the first device to the second device. A position of a pointing device may be determined based on the touch point and the relative orientation of the first and second devices. Additionally, multiple distances relative to a capacitive touch surface may be received, and based on the multiple distances, a position of a user's finger, hand, and/or arm may be determined.

When a user interacts with a touchscreen device, it can be determined which part of the screen the user is touching based on capacitive properties of the touchscreen display. In general, however, it is very difficult to determine additional information about the user's interaction with the touchscreen using conventional techniques. For example, knowing which hand is being used by the user and the orientation of the user's hand relative to the touchscreen can be difficult to determine.

Determining user handedness and orientation using a touchscreen device


A detectable label and associated methods of making a detectable label are provided. One example of the detectable label may include a coil and a capacitor arranged in an LC circuit. The flux direction of the LC circuit is generally parallel a package when the detectable label is attached to the package.

RF labels (sometimes referred to as "electronic article surveillance labels" or "EAS labels") are commonly used in a number of settings, including in retail loss prevention. In this regard, retail theft prevention systems, often referred to as EAS systems, use antennas located at the exits of a retail establishment to detect RF labels that are affixed to sale items. An RF label may be affixed to a sale item, and if the label is not deactivated at a point-of-sale during a sales transaction, an EAS system will detect the RF label when the RF label is in within range of the EAS system. The EAS system is often disposed near the exit of a store so that the range monitors for RF labels leaving the store.
For instance, the EAS system uses a transmitter to emit a signal at a predetermined RF frequency. The RF label is tuned to the predetermined frequency so that it responds to the signal and a receiver detects the RF label response. This response can then be used for determining whether to set off an alarm or not. An alarm may be triggered because the removal of an active RF label from the retail establishment is likely to be associated with an attempted theft. Because the RF labels are affixed to external surfaces of the items, the size of the labels is a concern because the labels can obscure product packaging and information.
In another aspect, traditional EAS labels may not work when applied to a package with electric conducted surface, such as metal boxes, cans, aluminum foil bags or packages decorated with metalized ink or foils. For example, traditional EAS labels are passive RF labels and do not work when they are applied to energy beverages, cosmetic products, or the like. Accordingly, many items, especially prone to theft, in a store may not include EAS labels.
There remains a need to provide EAS labels capable of detection on different types of sale items, including metal packages or metalized decorated packages. Moreover, there is a need for smaller more efficient, effective, and compact EAS labels.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An approach to characterizing beams of electromagnetic radiation such as are applied in ellipsometer and the like systems, involving considering the beam to be comprised of a number of spatially distributed beam rays, each of which is represented mathematically as an effectively independent source.

The use of electromagnetic beams in ellipsometer and the like systems, wherein a single Angle-of-Incidence (AOI) and Plane-of Incidence (POI) of the beam to a sample surface under investigation, (that typically being the (AOI) and (POI) of a Central Beam Ray), is applied in characterizing the sample, is known. This is sufficient in many settings, however, decreasing sample size, increasing demand for measured parameter accuracy and increased information content in beams has led to measurement systems becoming more complex. In newer systems each part of a measurement beam no longer produces equivalent results when compared to other parts. In measurement systems where different parts of a measurement beam produce different sample characterizing data, a single data set representative of the natural addition (or convolution) of these different data sets (from each part of the beam) is produced. And, when this single data set deviates enough from a data set taken with a uniform beam at a single (AOI) and (POI), then a more detailed System calibration and data Analysis procedure is needed that takes into account the different optical paths that each part of the measurement beam experiences. Various parts of a sample investigating beam can produce different results because of different reflection, refraction, coordinate System changes, (AOI), (POI) and general polarization state changes, as well as source beam uniformity, aperture effects and variable attenuation effects. These effects are referred to as Multi beam-ray effects (MBRE) herein. In some cases Multi beam-ray effects are small or trivial such as those that cause simple (AOI) smearing. The Present Invention is concerned with non-trivial Multi beam-ray effects but is also applicable to the trivial cases if desired. The present invention provides particular Utility where some or all of the 16 sample Mueller Matrix elements are used to derive sample Parameters, while in some cases the Mueller Matrix elements themselves are the Parameters of interest.
Results from ellipsometer or the like Systems that experience significant Multi beam-ray effects are improved by application of the present Invention, which seeks to overcome the problems as listed above by subdividing the measurement beam into a certain set of beam-rays. The proposed method includes providing parameterized mathematical models for each beam-ray that takes into account the various multi beam-ray effects, and determining Sample Mathematical model Parameter values in a data Regression calibration step that includes convoluting said parameterized mathematical model. A sample investigation system characterized in a way directed by the present invention is then used to Analyze data from an unknown, (hereafter "sample"), sample to determine Parameter values thereof which are free from considered Multi beam-ray effects and which deviate less from theoretical "true" values than would have been obtained from a "single ray" ellipsometer or the like System.
A known Patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 7,671,989 to Liphardt et al. This Patent describes preserving information in a beam of electromagnetic radiation by, when utilized, apertures to, for instance reduce beam size, are applied so as to preserve the angle-of-incidence (AOI) at which the beam is directed toward a sample. That is, equal amounts of beam are interrupted at top, bottom, left and right locations. The beam involved is considered to be a single beam. Another known reference is Published Patent Application No. 2011/0246141 by Li. This reference discloses modeling a beam of electromagnetic radiation as a plurality of rays, and applying said beam to a diffraction grating, (ie. a "structured" sample), which is fabricated in close proximity to a workpiece, such as a wafer, photomask or magnetic medium. For emphasis, Li 141 teaches that the beam of electromagnetic radiation involved is caused to diffract off a periodic structure which is fabricated near a simultaneously fabricated workpiece, and the diffracted electromagnetic radiation is analyzed. Insight to whether or not the workpiece was fabricated correctly is obtained from analysis of the diffracted beam, (ie. a structured sample) as opposed to investigating the workpiece directly. For insight at this point, it is noted that the present invention does not require use of a structured diffraction producing system to determine characteristics of a sample under investigation, but rather applies electromagnetic radiation to directly investigate samples.

Method of characterizing a beam of electromagnetic radiation in ellipsometer and the like systems


Regional borderlines that are the borderlines between the first region and the second region on a diffraction grating of an optical pickup partially overlap a group of y-axis parallel borderlines that are borderlines between pattern A and pattern B that are parallel to a direction parallel to the y-axis.

Optical disks are used in many fields such as audio equipment, VCR, computers as an information recording medium that enables to record many information signals in the high density. In order to read out information signal, which has been recorded in micrometer unit, in the information recording medium such as an optical disk, it is necessary to accurately carry out tracking of a light beam with respect to a track on an optical disk. There are well-known various methods for detecting of a tracking error signals for carrying out the tracking (hereinafter referred to as TES).
One of the tracking methods is a difference push-pull method (hereinafter referred to as DPP method). According to the DPP method, an offset in TES, caused by a shifting of the object glass and by a tilting of an optical disk, is corrected by finding a difference between a push-pull signal (hereinafter referred to as a PP signal) of a main beam and PP signals of sub-beams. The main beam and the sub-beams are generated by a three-beam diffraction grating.
In the DPP method, in order to cancel an offset, a phase difference of sub-beam PP signals is set to 180° with respect to the main beam PP signal. However, in order to provide the phase difference of 180°, it is necessary to carry out respective position adjustments of the main beam and the sub-beams that are converged on the track on the optical disk. During the adjusting, it is necessary to carry out an accurate rotation adjustment or the like of the three-beam diffraction grating.
In view of the circumstances, the DPP method is improved, and a phase shift DPP method is proposed. In the phase shift DPP, the position adjustments of the main beam and the sub-beams converged on a track of an optical disk are omitted. This allows the simplification of adjustments during assembling of an optical pickup. The phase shift DPP is disclosed in Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2001-250250 (Tokukai 2001-250250; published on Sep. 14, 2001).
As shown in FIG. 16, according to the phase shift DPP method disclosed in the Tokukai 2001-250250, laser light emitted from a light source 101 is converted to parallel light via a collimator lens 102, and is divided into a main beam 130, a sub-beam (positive first order light beam) 131, and a sub-beam (negative first order light beam) 132, via a diffraction grating 103. These three beams are converged onto a track on an optical disk 106 by an objective lens 105 after passing through a beam splitter 104. The light reflected from the optical disk 106 is further reflected by a beam splitter 104 via the objective lens 105, and is directed to a photo detector 108 (108A, 108B, 108C), via a collective lens 107. As such, far field patterns of the reflected light of the main beam 130 and the sub-beams 131 and 132 are directed to a two-division photo-detectors 108A, 108B, and 108C.
Here, it is assumed that an original point is at a center of the beam, x-axis extends in a radial direction of the optical disk, and y-axis extends in a track direction. In the diffraction grating 103, a periodical structure of the grating grooves of the first quadrant has a phase difference of 180° from that of the grating grooves of the second through fourth quadrant. This causes the sub-beams 131 and 132, diffracted by the grating groove, to have a phase difference of 180° in the first quadrant. As such, as shown in FIG. 17(a), difference signals outputted from the two-division photo-detectors 108B and 108C, i.e., the PP signals 131 and 132 of the sub-beams are substantially zero (0) in their amplitudes, compared to the PP signal PP130 of the main beam, i.e., the difference signal from the two-division photo-detector 108A without phase difference.
The PP signals derived from the sub-beams 131, 132 are not detected regardless of the track position. Therefore, substantially the same differential PP signals are obtained when the sub-beams 131 and 132 are directed onto the same track where the main beam 130 is directed, and when the sub-beams 131 and 132 are directed onto a different track, respectively.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17(b), as to an offset in TES caused by tilting of the objective lens 105 or the optical disk 106, the PP signals 130 and 131 (PP signal 132) have common mode offsets of Δp and Δp′ in accordance with the light amount. As such, a differential PP signal 134 that has been subject to the cancellation of the offsets can be calculated and detected using the following formula.PP134=PP130−k(PP131+PP132)=PP130−k·PP133  (1)
Note that a coefficient k in the formula (1) is for correcting the difference of the light intensity between (i) the zero order light main beam and (ii) the positive and negative first order light sub-beams 131 and 132. For example, when the ratio of the light intensity is expressed by zero order light: positive first order light (+): negative first order light (−)=a:b:b, the coefficient k satisfies k=a/(2b). Moreover, as shown in the formula (1), the PP signal 133 is the sum of the PP signals of the sub-beam 131 and the sub-beam 132.
In this way, the sum (the PP signal 133) of the sub-beam PP signals 131 and 132 has amplitude of 0 regardless of groove depth. Since the amplitude is thus 0 regardless of the position of the beams on the track, it is not necessary to carry out a position adjustment, such as the rotation adjustment of the diffraction grating, for the three beams. As such, it is possible to greatly simplify the assembling adjustment of the pickup.
However, in case of adopting an optical pickup utilizing a phase shifted diffraction grating, the offset sensitivity (lens shift signal) for the PP signals of the sub-beams that indicates a shifting of the objective lens (hereinafter referred to as lens shift) may not change linearly with respect to the lens shift of the objective lens.
More specifically, when center values of the of the PP signals of the respective amplitude (values corresponding to Δp and Δp′ shown in FIG. 17 (b)) are used to evaluate an offset value for the lens shift, the lens shift signal may change as shown in FIG. 18. In other words, the lens shift signals for the main beam PP signals (a solid line in FIG. 18) change linearly, whereas lens shift signals for the sub-beam PP signals (a dotted line in FIG. 18) may change nonlinearly.
The nonlinear change in the lens shift signals of the sub-beam PP signals is attributed to structures around a border between regions, in the diffraction grating, that have different phases from one another. In other words, the lens shift signals of the sub-beam PP signals are easy to be affected around the border by an interference of the light beams that have passed through the regions having their respective phases and/or by a deviation of the grating groove around the border from a realistic design state etc. This causes nonuniformity of the amplitude of the lens shift signals of the PP signals of the sub-beams in accordance with position relation between regions around the border and a division line of the photo-detector (see reference numeral 108 in FIG. 16), thereby causing the lens shift signal to change nonlinearly with respect to the lens shift.
If a rapid change occurs in offset sensitivity of PP signals as described above, the correction of an offset in TES becomes inaccurate, then it becomes difficult to carry out better tracking servo with respect to an optical pickup. Thus, an optical pickup utilizing a phase shift diffraction grating leaves room for an improvement in reliability in tracking servo.


A semiconductor device includes a code generation block configured to generate an output clock by delaying a reference clock which is inputted from an exterior, control a delay value of the output clock based on a result of comparing phases of the reference clock and a feedback clock, and generate a first control code corresponding to the delay value of the output clock, a voltage generation block configured to generate an internal voltage with a voltage level corresponding to the first control code, a clock generation block configured to generate an internal clock with a frequency corresponding to the first control code, and a feedback delay block configured to generate the feedback clock by delaying the output clock by a delay value corresponding to a second control code.

1. Field
This patent document relates to a semiconductor device, a semiconductor system, and a method for operating the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A system-on-chip (SoC) is a technology that incorporates various function blocks such as a CPU (central processing unit), a memory, an interface, a digital signal processing circuit and an analog signal processing circuit in one semiconductor integrated circuit. Application examples of SoCs include computer systems, electronic systems, and integrated circuits (IC) fabricated for various electronic devices.
The SoC is being developed with more complicated systems by absorbing various functions associated with processors, multimedia, graphics, interfaces and security. If the SoC technology is developed, the space occupied by chips on a circuit board may be reduced. Therefore the size of a product may be scaled down remarkably and noise generated by collisions in networking among chips that otherwise would be separately mounted may be eliminated. Also, power consumption for signal transmission between separated chips may be avoided and the fabrication cost may be reduced.
Such SoCs are being used in information communication devices and various other electronic devices and, recently, they have been applied to portable devices such as smart phones and tablet PCs. In portable devices that use batteries, power consumption is battery leading factor in determining battery life. Therefore it is important to minimize power consumption while still delivering a chip with the performance that is demanded. Since performance (processing speed) and power consumption have a trade-off relationship in semiconductor circuits, it is important to appropriately retain the balance between performance and power consumption, based on the particular application.
One of technologies that is being researched to satisfy both requirements of performance optimization and minimization of power consumption for an SoC is DVFS (dynamic voltage frequency scaling) technology. The DVFS technology controls the frequency and voltage of a semiconductor circuit. As the clock signal frequency in a semiconductor circuit increases in conjunction with a high voltage power supply, the operation speed of the semiconductor circuit increases and power consumption increases as well. Conversely, as the clock signal frequency decreases and the voltage level and the power supply voltage is lowered, the operation speed of the semiconductor circuit decreases and power consumption decreases as well.

Semiconductor device, semiconductor system and method for operating semiconductor device


The invention is directed to a device for sealing a natural or artificial opening of the large intestine, or the rectum, of a patient, and for occluding same, and/or for removing stool therefrom, particularly for continuous, and/or intermittent irrigation, preferably into an external, bag-like collection container, comprising an inflatable balloon with an approximately annular structure formed from a flat, everted tube section, wherein the outer layer of the everted tube section is provided with a radially enlarged region for insertion into the rectum, and has a region that is tapered relative thereto, and that remains at least regionally outside the rectum during use, the intrarectal balloon section having no functional or spatial connection to the transanal balloon section.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a device for sealing, or occluding, an opening of the large intestine (colon), or rectum, of a patient, and, as appropriate, for continuously and/or intermittently draining, or removing, stool therefrom, preferably into an external, bag-like collection container, the device comprising an inflatable balloon with an generally annular structure formed from a flat, everted tube section, wherein the outer layer of the everted tube section is provided with a radially enlarged region (intrarectal balloon portion) for insertion into the rectum and is provided with a region that is tapered relative thereto (transanal balloon portion) and that remains at least regionally outside the rectum during use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Devices for continuously draining, or intermittently removing, stool from the large intestine (colon), or rectum, of a patient into an external, bag-like collection container, particularly also by means of a rectally administered enema of irrigation fluid, are known.
Drainage, or collection, of stool in the case of immobile, uncooperative patients is preferably carried out with the aid of so-called fecal collectors. These are bag-like structures that are adhesively attached in the anal fold just above the anal opening. Although preanal adhesive attachment is usually sufficiently stable and leaktight for short periods of use, maceration of the exposed skin surfaces is often observed as a result of the continuously moist and chemically aggressive medium in the adhesion area.
An alternative is the use of so-called intestinal tubes, which are inserted through the anal canal into the rectum. Due to the accompanying risk of intrarectal injury, as well as the permanent dilation, and thus the potential for damage to the sphincter muscle, intestinal tubes are normally used for stool drainage only on a temporary basis.
Systems for largely atraumatic stool drainage that can be used over a long term (indwelling fecal drainage), of the kind recently introduced by Zassi Medical Evolutions Inc., Florida, USA, and ConvaTec, New Jersey, USA, are structurally similar in design to balloon catheters for the continuous drainage of urine. Urine is drained from the bladder via a balloon-equipped catheter element, and flows through a connected drainage tube into a collection bag. The balloon element in this case is used primarily to anchor the catheter in the bladder. It also performs a sealing function to some extent, preventing urine from flowing down through the urethra past the shaft of the catheter. Analogously, the known stool drainage systems include a balloon-equipped head portion that anchors the device, collects the stool, and conducts it away, and, connected to this, a tube element that debouches into a collection container.
Modern stool drainage systems, such as the aforesaid, also serve, in addition to the drainage function per se, the purpose of actively managing fecal excretion of the patient within the context of stool management (fecal/bowel management) by therapists.
The concept of stool management includes the option of relatively high-volume or large-volume colorectal irrigation via the anus. Large-volume enemas into the colon have been used for active excretion management in patients with surgically created colostomies. The irrigation fluid injected into the colon mobilizes the contents of the bowel and stimulates intestinal peristalsis, thus causing the colon to largely empty in a manner that is initiated, or triggered, by the user.
Similarly, the contents of the bowel in immobile, uncooperative, bedridden patients can be mobilized and drained by large-volume transanal enema. Defecation is thereby monitored and managed by a therapist. A stool-free, virtually continent interval of one to two days can be achieved in this way.
Colorectal enemas (so-called colorectal irrigation) have been used in clinical practice heretofore primarily to mobilize the stool in the presence of constipation or bowel voiding dysfunction.
The principle of colorectal irrigation has been used successfully in mobile, independent, incontinent patients who, for a wide variety of reasons, have lost ability to evacuate the bowels (defecate) under deliberate control. In these patients, the volume of fluid irrigated into the rectum or colon via the anus has the effect of stimulating intestinal peristalsis, with the objective of emptying the large intestine as completely as possible. The result, for the patient, is a stool-free interval during which there is no possibility of uncontrolled passage of stool through the anus, despite manifest insufficiency of the anal sphincter. Crucial to adequate irrigation is that the injected volume must both mobilize stool in the colon and trigger peristalsis or the defecation reflex. The instillation of the enema solution is usually followed by an interval of several minutes during which the large intestine remains quiet, until peristaltic contractions finally set in and the colon or rectum begins to expel the contents of the bowel. To ensure that the necessary enema volume is retained in the bowel until reflexive expulsion begins, transanally introduced irrigation apparatuses are often equipped with a sealing element. This is usually in the form of a tightly filled balloon that is placed in the terminal rectum; the balloon is mounted on a tube-like inserting element and is designed to keep irrigation fluid from exiting the anus during the waiting period before colonic peristalsis begins.