A wide area atmospheric pressure plasma jet apparatus including a transmission mechanism, a plasma housing and two plasma-generating devices is provided. The transmission mechanism includes a rotation output end that has a center axis. The plasma housing has an opening. The plasma housing further has a air-attracting hole near the rotation output end and extended from an outer wall of the plasma housing to the interior of the plasma housing, so that the heat of the plasma housing can be dissipated due to the generated gas circulation. The plasma-generating devices are disposed within the plasma housing and connected with the rotation output end. Each of the plasma-generating devices has a plasma nozzle located at the opening and tilts from the center axis. When the rotation output end drives the plasma-generating devices to rotate, two plasma beams are obliquely ejected from the plasma nozzle and the plasma processing area is increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to an atmospheric pressure plasma jet apparatus, and more particularly to a wide area atmospheric pressure plasma jet apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Atmospheric pressure plasma refers to the plasma generated at an atmospheric pressure or near an atmospheric pressure. Compared with the conventional vacuum plasma technology, the atmospheric pressure plasma system is definitely advantaged in terms of cost. In terms of equipment cost, the expensive and heavy vacuum equipment is not required. In terms of manufacturing process, the work piece is not restricted by the vacuum cavity, and continuous type manufacturing process is applicable. The technical features effectively reduce manufacturing cost, and the system can be configured in small and portable equipment according to actual needs, hence making the area of application wider.
Atmospheric pressure plasma is generated by driving an electric field between two electrodes at normal atmospheric pressure, wherein plasma is generated when the gas between the electric field avalanches and becomes dissociated. There are different types of plasma source and design which can be classified as corona discharge, dielectric barrier discharge, plasma jet and plasma torch according to the form of plasma. Plasma jet is advantaged by having concentrated energy and fast processing speed. However, under the requirement of large-sized area, to process the surface treatment of the work piece by way of atmospheric pressure plasma and at the same time meet the requirements of low temperature and fast speed, normally multiple plasma-generating devices are used. As the cost of multiple plasma-generating devices is relatively high, many manufacturers withdraw from employing multiple plasma-generating devices due to cost benefit consideration.
Currently, the effect of large area plasma processing is normally achieved by dielectric barrier discharge technology. Despite dielectric barrier discharge technology is capable of processing a large area, there are many problems such as lower processing rate (due to weaker power) and discharge of equipment, therefore the system and the work piece are very close to each other, and the gap therebetween must be as small as a few millimeters. Besides, as the manufacturing equipment is easily over-heated, the manufacturing process of dielectric barrier discharge technology is not applicable to many polymer materials.
Furthermore, the plasma cleaning mechanism mainly uses the chemical reaction between the electrons or ions of plasma and the surface of the base material. However, is will cause to etch the surface and there are micro-particles left on the surface after cleaning process, and affect subsequent manufacturing process.

Wide area atmosphere pressure plasma jet apparatus

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A method and system is disclosed for examining mask pattern fidelity. A mask picture is generated from a first mask with a first OPC model applied to a mask design. The mask picture is converted into a mask based simulation file. A first simulation is conducted under a first set of predetermined lithography processing conditions using the converted simulation file to generate one or more files of a first set representing wafer photo resist profile thereof. The first OPC model is applied to the mask design in the database mask file. A second simulation is conducted under the first set of predetermined lithography processing conditions using the OPCed mask design to generate one or more files of a second set representing wafer photo resist profile thereof. The first and second sets of files are evaluated for inspecting mask fidelity.

The present disclosure relates generally to integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing, and more particularly to an improved method and system for examining mask fidelity to determine an appropriate method to create a mask.
Photolithography is one of the principal processes in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, and consists of patterning the wafer's surface in accordance with the circuit design of the semiconductor devices to be produced. More specifically, a circuit design to be fabricated on the wafer is first patterned on a mask or reticle. The wafer is coated with a photo resist material, and is then placed in a photolithography tool to be exposed to light passing through the reticle to produce a latent image of the reticle on the photo resist material. Thereafter, the exposed photo resist material is developed to produce the image of the mask on the wafer. After the completion of the photolithography process, the uppermost layer of the wafer is etched, a new layer is deposited, and the photolithography and etching operations are started again. In this repetitive manner, a multi-layer semiconductor wafer is produced.
As is well known, photolithography tools utilize a lamp or a laser as a light source, and utilize a relatively high numerical aperture (NA) objective to achieve a relatively high resolution. The optics of such tools are generally designed to produce reduction (negative magnification) of the image of the reticle onto the wafer. In order to obtain operating semiconductor devices, the reticle must be defect free. Moreover, in most modern processes, the reticle is used in a repeated manner to create many dies on the wafer. Therefore, various reticle inspection tools have been developed and are available commercially.
During the photolithography process, certain entities on the mask will be distorted or lost altogether. This is referred to generally as a fidelity issue. It includes phenomenon such as line end shortening, corner rounding, and small serif disappearance, etc. Some of those are caused by errors on the masks themselves, while others can be caused by processing mistakes. When generating an actual photo mask from a digital mask design, a mask fidelity problem may occur. When circuits on the wafers are made from such a mask, certain errors will then show on the wafer.
It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that to produce an operational microelectronic circuit, a mask must be as defect-free as possible, preferably completely defect-free. Therefore, mask inspection tools are needed to detect various defects in the masks that can potentially reduce the microelectronic circuit fabrication yields. Smaller feature sizes on the masks used in the photolithographic process, as well as the use of OPC masks, require more sensitive tools for mask inspection. Numerous systems for mask inspection have been developed in response to the growing demands for inspecting mask fidelity problems.
The earliest automated inspection tools for detecting mask errors utilized a technique termed die-to-die inspection where the acquired images of a die on the mask are compared to corresponding images of a second die from the same mask. Any difference between one die to the other die indicated the presence of a defect. The technique was limited in that certain mask surface defects (called "surface" defects, for example, a particle on the surface of a mask) could remain undetected and later appear in a critical mask region after handling of the mask.
Moreover, defects can be detected by inspecting the mask using the image of the mask produced by the light transmitted through the mask and the light reflected by one face of the mask. The mask inspection tool that uses this method acquires both images then analyzes the images. The results of the analysis of the two images yield information on the condition of the mask. The image analysis method may use die-to-die comparison, die-to-database comparison, or reflected image to transmitted image comparison. In the die-to-database method, the acquired die images from the mask images are compared to images that are simulated using the mask design specifications.
Such an inspection system can detect defects that may or may not print on the photo resist during the actual photolithographic process. The major drawback of this method is that it studies the physical structure of the mask independently of the optical image actually produced by the mask on the wafer. For instance, variations in the line width of the image that the mask produces frequently are higher than the corresponding variation in the line width of the mask itself. It is desirable, therefore, to relate the physical structure of the mask to the actual image that the mask creates on the photo resist, and to study directly the image that the mask actually produces.
In order to facilitate the evaluation of the mask performance at the wafer level, tools have been developed that are able to scan a mask and yield an aerial image of the mask as it would appear at the wafer plane. According to this method, the mask inspection system replicates an optical exposure tool's critical parameters used during the exposure of the photo resist during semiconductor device fabrication. The mask inspection device then applies a set, or a plurality of sets, of exposure conditions that may be used in the actual photolithographic process to create an aerial image, or plurality of images, from the mask. In particular, these systems match the wavelength, the partial coherence of the exposure light, illumination aperture and the imaging numerical aperture (NA) of the optical exposure system. The created aerial image is typically magnified and detected using a CCD camera that is sensitive to the ultraviolet radiation. The use of the aerial imaging method permits the detection of the mask defects that would print during the actual photolithographic process. The acquired aerial images are analyzed using software algorithms developed for defect identification.
The inspection methods based on die-to-database comparison that are used by the existing aerial imaging systems are not always effective, especially for highly complicated mask designs. The die-to-database comparison method uses models describing the behavior of an optical exposure system used in the mask manufacturing process to produce the simulated image used in the mask inspection. However, various optical and mechanical factors during the mask making process will impact the final mask. As a result, there are limitations in the accuracy of the transformation from database to simulated aerial image. In addition, after the sequence of writing, developing and etching the photo mask, certain errors may be present on the photo mask or in the realized photo mask layout which are not readily detectable as mask defects. For example, variations in the line widths of the image that the photo mask produces at the wafer plane are frequently higher than the corresponding variations in the line widths of the mask itself. This phenomenon is referred to as the Mask Error Enhancement Factor (MEEF). In effect, the MEEF describes the amplification of reticle errors realized on the wafer surface. This MEEF effect is most noticeable when the lithography involves resolving features on a semiconductor wafer which are smaller than the exposing wavelength of the light used by the exposure tool which forms the patterns on the wafers. The mask defect inspection method utilized by the mask vendor, typically specified by the customer, is often the last automated layout inspection a mask receives prior to use in the wafer facility. After receipt at the wafer fabrication facility, the mask is used to image semiconductor wafers for production of semiconductor devices
While photo mask manufacturers strive to deliver zero-defect photo masks to their customers, there is a certain limit in their photo mask inspection capabilities. From the perspective of photo mask manufacturers, the ideal goal would be to create a circuit on the wafer that closely mimic what is in a digital design in a database. What is needed is an improved method and system for detecting mask fidelity problem so that it can be determined how an appropriate mask should be created.

System and method for examining mask pattern fidelity

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd


The invention relates to in vitro method for quantitating the antibodies specific for High mobility group box I (HMGB1) contained in a sample, in particular a serum sample or a cerebrospinal fluid sample obtained from a patient, and the use of this method in the prognostic and/or diagnosis of neurological disorders. These methods are in particular applicable to the monitoring of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of a subject who is known to be infected with HIV and in the prognostic and/or diagnostic of the state of progression of Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or the state of progression toward AIDS, in particular the state of progression or the state of progression toward neurological disorders associated with AIDS. Finally, the invention is also about method to determine the immune deficiency or level of immune activation of a patient, in particular a HIV-infected patient.

1. Field of the Invention
The application relates to the quantitation of the protein HMGB1 or of the antibodies specific for HMGB1 in biological sample, in particular serum and CerebroSpinal Fluid (CSF), and their respective correlation with prognostic methods of the state of progression of neurological disorders or toward neurological disorders, in particular neurological disorders associated with HIV infection and with diagnostic methods. The invention also relates to the correlation of the protein HMGB1 or of the antibodies specific for HMGB1 with the monitoring of HIV infection or with viral load as well as prognostic methods of the state of progression of AIDS.
2. Description of the Related Art
Shortly after infection, HIV-1 is able to penetrate the brain, eventually resulting in HIV-1 associated complications in the Central Nervous System (CNS). HIV associated dementia (HAD) is clinically characterized by motor and behavioral dysfunctions leading to seizures, coma, and death within 6 months of onset. HIV-encephalitis, the pathological correlate of HAD, is characterized by widespread astrogliosis, oxidative stress, cytokine/chemokine dysregulation, and neuronal degeneration (Gonzalez-Scarano and Martin-Garcia, Nat Rev Immunol 2005, 5: 69-81). Since neurons are not infected by HIV-1, the current thinking is that these cells are damaged indirectly by pro-inflammatory chemokines released by activated glial cells. IP-10 (CXCL10) is a neurotoxic chemokine that is upregulated in astroglia and has been suggested to enhance retrovirus infection and mediate neuronal injury. Elevation of IP-10 in CSF was reported in HIV-infection, and its level correlated with CSF HIV viral load (Cinque P et al. J Neuroimmunol 2005, 168:154). It was also reported a possible association between CSF macrophage chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1 or CCL2) levels and the development of HAD in a HAART-experienced cohort with advanced HIV infection (Sevigny J J, Albert S M, McDermott M P; et al. Neurology. 2004; 63:2084). Another study reported an association between plasma MCP-1 levels and HIV-associated dementia (Sevigny et al. Arch. Neurol. 2007, 64:97).
The high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein is a non-histone chromosomal protein that acts as a potent proinflammatory cytokine when actively secreted from activated macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells or other cells such as NK cells. HMGB1 behaves as a trigger of inflammation, attracting inflammatory cells, and of tissue repair, recruiting stem cells and promoting their proliferation. Moreover, HMGB1 activates dendritic cells (DCs) and promotes their functional maturation and their response to lymph node chemokines. Activated leukocytes actively secrete HMGB1 in the microenvironment. Thus, HMGB1 acts in an autocrine/paracrine fashion and sustains long-term repair and defense programs (Bianchi and Manfredi, 2007; Lotze and Tracey, 2005).
In recent studies, HMGB1 was shown to trigger HIV-replication in HIV-infected DC, thus contributing to the constitution of viral reservoirs in DCs (Saidi H, Melki M-T, Gougeon M-L, PLoS One 2008). Considering that DCs are the first targets for HIV in the first hours of mucosal infection, which will then migrate to secondary lymphoid organs where they will transmit HIV to T cells, these findings challenge the question of the in vivo involvement of HMGB1 in the triggering of viral replication and replenishment of viral reservoirs. HMGB1 was produced during a cross-talk between HIV-infected DCs and activated NK cells, also resulting in resistance of HIV-infected DCs to NK killing. DC survival was associated with the upregulation of two apoptosis inhibitors, c-IAP2 and c-FLIP in infected DCs, a process induced by HMGB1 (Melki M-T et al. PLoS Pathogens 2010, 6 (4) e1000862). Blocking HMGB1 activity by specific inhibitors, such as glycyrrhizin or blocking antibodies, abrogates HIV replication in infected DCs (Saidi H, Melki M-T, Gougeon M-L, PLoS One 2008), and restores the susceptibility of infected DCs to NK killing (Melki M-T et al. PLoS Pathogens 2010, 6(4) e1000862). These findings, which provide new insights into how HIV hijacks DCs to promote viral dissemination and to maintain viability of long-term reservoirs, have made the object of patent application PCT/EP2009/06828.
These findings also challenge the question of the in vivo involvement of HMGB1 in the triggering of viral replication and replenishment of viral reservoirs. To address this question, HMGB1 concentration in sera from HIV-infected patients have been quantified (Elisa, Shino test, IBL) to assess the in vivo contribution of circulating HMGB1 to plasma HIV viral load and to disease evolution. Moreover, considering that auto-antibodies specific for HMGB1 could be found in autoimmune diseases such as SLE (lupus) (Hayashi et al., 2009), a specific Elisa assay was developed to check whether anti-HMGB1-specific antibodies in sera from HIV-infected patients were detected in HIV disease.
The measure of both HMGB1 and anti-HMGB1 antibodies in patients' sera has been reported in patent application PCT/EP2009/06828. The following conclusions have been drawn up:                (i) chronic HIV infection triggers the production of HMGB1, detected at increased levels in sera from infected patients, which in turn induces the production of neutralizing antibodies;        (ii) an inverse correlation is detected between HMGB1 and anti-HMGB1 antibodies (Abs), indicating that when HMGB1 is bound to the antibodies, it is not detected anymore in serum samples;        (iii) the more anti-HMGB1 antibodies (meaning the more HMGB1 produced earlier) in sera, the less CD4 T cells, suggesting that increased levels of serum anti-HMGB1 antibodies are associated with disease evolution; and        (iv) potent anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) reduces serum levels of both HMGB1 and anti-HMGB1 antibodies and may normalize them under baseline levels.
Patent application PCT/EP2009/06828 also made the hypothesis that the more anti-HMGB1 antibodies in sera, the less serum viral load. However, this hypothesis has not been confirmed in a thorough analysis of the experiments performed and in a greater cohort of patients. Indeed, the correlation established between anti-HMGB1 antibodies and serum viral load disclosed in patent PCT/EP2009/06828 was further shown to derived from an improper statistical analysis of the results derived from a cohort of patients encompassing both untreated patients and treated patients (treatment having an effect on the viral load).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

HMGB1 and anti-HMGB1 antibodies for the prognostic of neurological disorders


A clip for holding one or more buttons of a medical device in a pre-use state. The clip includes an elongate band for wrapping around the medical device. A receiving portion formed in the elongate band that is configured to receive at least one button when the band is wrapped around the medical device and a retaining means for retaining the band around the medical device.

The following references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the following prior art discussion does not relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the inventive step of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part.
Often, sensitive medical equipment needs to be transported and stored for a period of time, before being used. It is thus often necessary to maintain the medical device in a pre-use state whilst the device is being transported/stored to maximise the device's integrity or to limit any alterations to the device that can affect its use. A particular example of a medical device where it is important to maintain the integrity of the internal tubing mechanism is a suction/irrigation device.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the clip can be sterile or non-sterile. Further, the clip can be formed from any suitable material, such as, for example, any type of polymer, such as, but not limited to Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE).
The present invention seeks to provide a clip which may ameliorate the foregoing shortcomings and disadvantages or which will at least provide a useful alternative to maintaining a medical device in a pre-use state.


An adsorbent having a microwave absorption property is provided. The adsorbent having an improved microwave absorption property, which has a core-shell structure including a silicon carbide bead disposed therein, and an adsorbing material disposed outside the silicon carbide bead, can be provided. Also, the adsorbent may further include a plurality of silicon carbide particles dispersed and disposed therein and having a diameter of 1 μm to 10 μm, and the adsorbing material may be ion-exchanged with a cation. Therefore, the adsorbent can be useful in improving desorption efficiency since the adsorbent may be rapidly heated by microwaves to reach the desorption temperature due to high reactivity to microwaves. Also, the adsorbent can be useful in maintaining full adsorption capacity without having an influence on adsorption quantity since the silicon carbide bead is disposed in the inner core of the adsorbent. Further, when the adsorbent is applied to conventional systems for removing organic compounds using microwaves or dehumidification systems, the adsorbent can be semi-permanently used, and may also have an effect of enhancing the energy efficiency by 30% or more, compared to adsorbents used in the conventional systems.

As interest in the atmospheric environment increases with improvements of quality of life, rules regulating the emission of air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated in various industrial processes, coating facilities, sewage disposal plants, or incineration plants have been revised. Strong administrative measures such as suspension of business have been imposed on companies violating such rules. Therefore, much research has been conducted on removing such volatile organic compounds.
Representative conventional technology for removing volatile organic compounds includes an adsorption tower system using activated carbon, an evaporation system, a regenerative catalytic oxidation (RCO) system, and a regenerative thermal oxidation (RTO) system. However, the use of an adsorption tower causes an increase in maintenance cost due to a demand for its periodic exchange. Also, the evaporation system and the RCO and RTO systems have a problem of low energy efficiency.
To solve the above prior-art problems, technology for removing volatile organic compounds using microwaves has been developed. Specifically, the technology of removing volatile organic compounds using microwaves includes adsorbing volatile organic compounds onto an adsorbent and removing the volatile organic compounds by desorbing volatile organic compounds from the adsorbent. In this case, the adsorbent may be semi-permanently used since the adsorbent may be regenerated by means of the adsorption and desorption. To maximize the efficiency of such technology of removing volatile organic compounds using microwaves, adsorbents having high adsorptive strength to the organic compounds that are targets of removal and a high ability to absorb microwaves are required.
Meanwhile, the energy issue problems have emerged as a pressing matter all over the world as the demand for energy rapidly increases every year and the importance of technology requiring a large quantity of energy is being emphasized at the same time. Particularly, a rotor-type dehumidification system used in semiconductor and LCD processes is representative technology in which a large quantity of energy is consumed. To solve such energy-related problems, development of an energy-saving dehumidification system capable of enhancing energy efficiency using microwaves has been attempted. In the case of such a dehumidification system using microwaves, there is also a need for development of adsorbents which have both excellent adsorptive strength to moisture and an excellent ability to absorb microwaves with which the adsorbents are irradiated to be regenerated, thereby further improving the energy efficiency.

Adsorbent having microwave absorption property


A method and apparatus for controlling access to information over a network. Information and video/audio streams are transmitted across a network by a head end to a member space manager or set-top box where the information may be utilized or viewed. The frequency that a given stream of information is transmitted on is rotated or switched based on a switching algorithm. For example, a given stream (e.g., a motion picture on a pay-per-view station) may be transmitted on one frequency for a specified time interval, then switched to another frequency for a specified time interval, etc. To enable the member space manager to determine which frequency a given stream of information is transmitted on at a particular point in time, switching software may be provided by the head end server to the member space manager. Switching software may be encrypted prior to transmission to the member space manager. According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the stream-to-frequency mapping is determined, the mapping is transmitted to the member space manager where it is installed and executed, the stream of information is transmitted on varying frequencies to the member space manager, and the member space manager tunes into the appropriate frequency to receive and utilize a continuous stream of information. By transmitting information in this manner, all encryption, frequency/channel switching, configuration issues, etc. are transparent to the end user who merely has to select a virtual channel to view.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of information networks, and more specifically to controlling access to information over a network.
Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Java, JavaBeans, JavaTV API, and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.
2. Background Art
Cable T.V. is a common mechanism used to distribute television channels and programs. Cable companies charge a subscriber for access to the various channels and programs distributed (referred to as "basic" cable). Such "basic" cable may be viewed using a cable-ready television. For additional money, a subscriber can pay for premium channels such as HBO, Showtime, and the Movie Channel or specific programs (e.g., movies) using a pay-per-view system. To restrict access to unauthorized viewing of the premium channels (and pay-per-view movies), cable companies scramble the television signals and provide a set-top box (also known as a cable box) which has the ability to descramble the information. However, cable boxes (referred to as "illegal" boxes) that "descramble" or "clarify" unauthorized television signals are often sold and advertised for sale in the back of technical magazines and on the internet. This results in "data theft" because data that should be paid for is obtained for free.
Another area that suffers from data theft is the internet. Like television, some of the information accessible via the internet and world wide web may be subscription based. To prevent unauthorized access to the information, a username and password may be required. However, usernames and passwords and other authorization techniques may be bypassed by hackers and other unauthorized users.
Owners of the information, including cable companies and television stations, desire a way to ensure that unauthorized users do not gain access to information and broadcast signals without authorization. Additionally, a method that is not easily bypassed or worked around using illegal boxes or by hacking is desirable.
To better understand cable and information/television signal distribution, a description of how information is transmitted and the transmission mediums will now be discussed. Currently, information may be shared and provided between various devices (including computers and cable systems) linked together in a network (including a world wide network such as the internet). A network can be a small system that is physically connected by cables (a local area network or "LAN"), or several separate networks can be connected together to form a larger network (a wide area network or "WAN"). Other types of networks include the internet, tel-com networks, the World Wide Web, intranets, extranets, wireless networks, and other networks over which electronic, digital, and/or analog data may be communicated. The World Wide Web (WWW) was developed to provide a simpler, more uniform means for accessing information on the Internet. The WWW is an application of the internet that is commonly used to view (by a mechanism referred to as a web browser) and retrieve information (in the form of web pages).
A network may not be limited to the connection of computers and may include the connection of any type of device such as a television or radio (e.g., a cable area). It is desirable to communicate the information to the various devices on a network based on whether that device has proper authorization (e.g., providing television channels to cable subscribers and restricting access to non-subscribers).
As described above, to prevent unauthorized access, prior art mechanisms merely scramble the information prior to transmission and descramble the information for viewing by a particular user (using a cable box). However, regulations that will take effect in the near future restrict the ability to scramble/descramble the information using the current mechanisms available.
The devices on a network may be connected using a variety of mediums. For example, television signals and other information may be transmitted by cable, telephone wire, or by satellite. Various entities may transmit the signal or information. For example, the transmitting entity may include but is not limited to a software developer, a local cable company, a local phone company, a television station, or a motel/hotel operator, etc.
The information transmitted over a network may consist of confidential or copyrighted material for which the owner (or device/entity transmitting the information) may want to limit access. For example, the owner of computer software (e.g., Sun Microsystems Inc.™) or motion picture rights may want to limit the transmission of the computer software or motion picture to particular authorized persons. Similarly, a cable company may want to transmit certain channels for free and require payment for other channels or programs.
As described above, in some cable networks, a viewer or subscriber pays for the level of service/transmission desired. For example, a subscriber may pay one amount for several "basic" channels (a basic subscriber), and may pay additional money for "premium" channels (a premium subscriber). The subscriber can also elect to pay further money for a particular program referred to as "pay-per-view" or "video-on-demand" program. To prevent a subscriber from viewing an unauthorized transmission, numerous schemes have developed.
Information is transmitted across a variety of transmission mediums (e.g., cable, satellite, etc.) in analog form. Most mediums have a spectrum (a given range of transmission frequencies) across which the information may be transmitted. For example, a television signal may be transmitted on an ultra high frequency (UHF) or a very high frequency (VHF) and radio stations may transmit information across a certain frequency range (e.g., 89-108 MHz (megahertz)). A particular channel is transmitted on a particular frequency and remains on that frequency. For example, channel 2 may be assigned to 110 MHz and is always transmitted on the 110 MHz frequency. Thus, the prior art requires the manual assignment of a particular channel (stream of information) to a particular frequency. Thus, channel 2 may be assigned to 110 MHz and channel 4 may be assigned to 145 MHz, etc. With respect to radio, a particular radio station may be assigned to the frequency 106.7 MHz and another station to 98.7 MHz, another to 97.1 MHz, etc. Thus, the prior art provides for manually assigning and setting the transmission for a given stream of information. Manual assignment is necessary because the receiver has no mechanism for determining the transmission frequency of a given channel other than by a passive predetermined arrangement. In addition to transmitting television or other signals in an analog form, digital signals may also be transmitted across similar assigned frequencies.
FIG. 1 illustrates a common prior art scheme for preventing unauthorized access. Transmitter 100 may be a site on the internet (referred to as a web site), a local cable company, a video source, or other transmitter of information. Transmitter 100 transmits the information to scrambler 102 (also referred to as a "head end") where the information (e.g. television signals) are scrambled such that the information cannot be viewed unless descrambled. The scrambled information is then transmitted by satellite, cable or other communication medium 104. The information is then received in a set-top (cable) box 106. Set-top boxes may be distributed by a cable company to subscribers, for example. Inside the set-top box a descrambling mechanism 108 maintains the ability to descramble the information so that it may be viewed. Set-top box 106 may be connected to television 110 for viewing the descrambled information. By utilizing the scheme of FIG. 1, only those end-users with accurately configured set-top boxes may descramble and view the information transmitted from transmitter 100.
Descrambler 108 may be configured to descramble the information in a variety of ways. For example, a key may be utilized by scrambler 102 to scramble the information and applied to descrambler 108 to descramble the information. The key may be changed from time to time, transmitted to the set-top box (or a decoder within the set-top box) and applied to the descrambler by the set-top box (or decoder). The key may be transmitted as a data signal within the normal television transmission. Normal television signals have a vertical blanking interval (VBI) in each field and a horizontal blanking interval (HBI) in each line between the chrominance and luminance signals. The key may be transmitted within either the VBI or HBI.
Pay-per-view programs provide the user with the ability to pay for a specific program or channel for a specific period of time. For descrambler 108 to descramble a specific program, each set-top-box 106 or descrambler 108 may have a unique address that permits transmitter 100 to selectively communicate with it. A program tag may be transmitted with the television signal that identifies a particular location in the memory of descrambler 108, for example. The memory location of descrambler 108 stores information regarding whether that particular user is authorized or not authorized to receive the particular program. The set-top-box 106 or descrambler 108 may communicate with transmitter 100 and the memory location may be updated to provide for the reception of the particular program. Thus, programs may be viewed on an individual basis.
Transmitted information may be transmitted in a variety of manners. For example, the information may be transmitted in (1) a straight non-scrambled mode (e.g., scrambler 102 may not modify the signal); (2) a first scrambled mode where the content of all odd-numbered display lines in each frame are inverted while remaining lines are noninverted; and (3) a second scrambled mode wherein the content of all even-numbered display lines in each frame are inverted while remaining display lines are noninverted. Further, this scrambling may be performed on a program by program, or channel by channel basis. However, using any of these transmission examples, it is easy for someone to examine the odd numbered display lines and even numbered display lines and create an unauthorized descrambling device that will enable viewing of all of the channels. A method for preventing unauthorized access or viewing of information transmitted over a network that is not easily bypassed is desired.

Controlling access to information over a multiband network


A system and method manages lock state information in a storage system. A meta-data volume node includes a lock state database which is a comprehensive source for lock state information about data containers in the system. A plurality of data volume nodes include local lock caches, which contain information about locks. Lock state messaging between the meta-data volume node and the data volume nodes is used to assign locks and to update local lock caches. The meta-data volume node is configured to determine whether input/output requests should be allowed or denied and to instruct the data volume nodes of this input/output operation result. Lock information is also sent to the data volume nodes for storage in local lock state caches to the extent the data volume nodes have the network capacity locally.

A storage system typically comprises one or more storage devices into which information may be entered, and from which information may be obtained, as desired. The storage system includes a storage operating system that functionally organizes the system by, inter alia, invoking storage operations in support of a storage service implemented by the system. The storage system may be implemented in accordance with a variety of storage architectures including, but not limited to, a network-attached storage environment, a storage area network and a disk assembly directly attached to a client or host computer. The storage devices are typically disk drives organized as a disk array, wherein the term "disk" commonly describes a self-contained rotating magnetic media storage device. The term disk in this context is synonymous with hard disk drive (HDD) or direct access storage device (DASD).
The storage operating system of the storage system may implement a high-level module, such as a file system, to logically organize the information stored on volumes as a hierarchical structure of data containers, such as files and logical units. For example, each "on-disk" file may be implemented as set of data structures, i.e., disk blocks, configured to store information, such as the actual data for the file. These data blocks are organized within a volume block number (vbn) space that is maintained by the file system. The file system may also assign each data block in the file a corresponding "file offset" or file block number (fbn). The file system typically assigns sequences of fbns on a per-file basis, whereas vbns are assigned over a larger volume address space. The file system organizes the data blocks within the vbn space as a "logical volume"; each logical volume may be, although is not necessarily, associated with its own file system.
A known type of file system is a write-anywhere file system that does not overwrite data on disks. If a data block is retrieved (read) from disk into a memory of the storage system and "dirtied" (i.e., updated or modified) with new data, the data block is thereafter stored (written) to a new location on disk to optimize write performance. A write-anywhere file system may initially assume an optimal layout such that the data is substantially contiguously arranged on disks. The optimal disk layout results in efficient access operations, particularly for sequential read operations, directed to the disks. An example of a write-anywhere file system that is configured to operate on a storage system is the Write Anywhere File Layout (WAFL®) file system available from Network Appliance, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif.
The storage system may be further configured to operate according to a client/server model of information delivery to thereby allow many clients to access data containers stored on the system. In this model, the client may comprise an application, such as a database application, executing on a computer that "connects" to the storage system over a computer network, such as a point-to-point link, shared local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or virtual private network (VPN) implemented over a public network such as the Internet. Each client may request the services of the storage system by issuing file-based and block-based protocol messages (in the form of packets) to the system over the network.
A plurality of storage systems may be interconnected to provide a storage system environment configured to service many clients. Each storage system may be configured to service one or more volumes, wherein each volume stores one or more data containers. Yet often a large number of data access requests issued by the clients may be directed to a small number of data containers serviced by a particular storage system of the environment. A solution to such a problem is to distribute the volumes serviced by the particular to storage system among all of the storage systems of the environment. This, in turn, distributes the data access requests, along with the processing resources needed to service such requests, among all of the storage systems, thereby reducing the individual processing load on each storage system. However, a noted disadvantage arises when only a single data container, such as a file, is heavily accessed by clients of the storage system environment. As a result, the storage system attempting to service the requests directed to that, data container may exceed its processing resources and become overburdened, with a concomitant degradation of speed and performance.
One technique for overcoming the disadvantages of having a single data container that is heavily utilized is to stripe the data container across a plurality of volumes configured as a striped volume set (SVS), where each volume is serviced by a different storage system, thereby distributing the load for the single data container among a plurality of storage systems. A technique for data container striping is described in the above-incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/119,278 of Kazar et al., entitled STORAGE SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE FOR STRIPING DATA CONTAINER CONTENT ACROSS VOLUMES OF A CLUSTER. In such an environment, a SVS comprises one or more data volumes (DV) and a meta-data volume (MDV). Each DV and the MDV is typically served by a separate node of the distributed storage system environment. In the environment described in the above-incorporated U.S. Patent Application, the node may comprise a network element (N-module) and a disk element (D-module) that includes a file system. As used herein a D-module serving (hosting) a DV is referred to as a "DV node," while a D-module hosting the MDV for a SVS is referred to as a "MDV node."
Most file access protocols include locking capabilities. A lock is a mechanism that enables a client or system administrator to prevent access to a shared resource. An entity later attempting to access this shared resource will be notified of the lock, which may prevent others from accessing the resource. The types of locks can vary. For example, in some instances, there may be a write lock placed on a resource by the owner, yet other entities may be able to simultaneously obtain read access to the resource. The type of lock, and/or the absence of a lock over a particular data container, such as a file, or to portion thereof are referred to herein as a "lock state."
Various challenges arise with respect to managing lock state information regarding a distributed storage system. The volume of lock state information can be potentially large and subject to constant change as information is updated and edited.
Known techniques for managing lock state information include an approach in which lock state information is distributed directly to end clients. In this case, clients and/or end users utilize specific lock state management software applications and special protocols that allow the users to create, edit and manage lock state information.
Another approach stores lock state information in a central repository for the entire system; however, this centralized approach can result in a bottleneck for file access in a large, distributed system.
The approach described in the previously incorporated parent application Ser. No. 11/264,831 discloses a method and system in which a lock state manager configures a MDV as the authoritative source for lock state information for data containers on the SVS. Client requests for access to a particular data container or a portion of a container are directed to the MDV node, which searches its lock state database and returns the resulting lock state information to respective DV nodes associated with the data containers that store the requested data. The lock state information for each data request is returned by the MDV node to the DV node for storage in a local lock cache on the DV node.
Many DV nodes, however, have limited memory resources, thus limited space. In such limited memory situations, the DV node does not have adequate memory space capacity to store all lock state information provided to it by the MDV node. Secondly, the DV node may be unable to render a decision about whether to process a read or write request, e.g., directed to a file, because it may not have all of the respective lock state information for that file. In other words, if the DV node has consumed all of its memory capacity prior to receiving all of the lock state information, then it cannot retain all of the information locally and thus, may be unable to make a processing decision. Moreover, the DV node may not even be capable of returning a response to the MDV node, which to may cause the system to hang up or other similar error condition.
The parent application further discloses the use of permissive areas, which are similar to locks that are pre-assigned to designate one or more areas in a file that contain no locks. Permissive area information is sent to a DV node upon a request to the MDV node for lock state information about a file range that includes a respective permissive area. However, the request for permissive area information also requires additional memory capacity on the part of the DV nodes in order to locally store and maintain the information at the node.
Thus, there remains a need for a system that provides lock state information between an MDV node and its associated DV nodes, which requires only limited memory resource space, i.e., a small memory footprint, particularly in a local lock cache of the node. In addition, there remains a need for a technique for controlling lock state information while maintaining the ability to rapidly update this information on the distributed storage system without requiring the use of specialized software programs, and without requiring large memory resource capacity on each DV node.

System and method for managing hard and soft lock state information in a distributed storage system environment


The present invention is a method for increasing the refresh time of DRAM. This invention is for decreasing the stress between the bird's beak of field oxide and silicon substrate by using fluorine ion implant before field oxidation and the optimal structure of LOCOS to effectively preventing the current leakage from the bird's beak of field oxide. Therefore, this invention can increase the refresh time of DRAM and greatly enhance the performance in DRAM.

Generally, in the DRAM processes, the technology of field oxide isolation is used to form the LOCOS structure (as shown in FIG. 1) on a substrate. FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a stage in the conventional fabrication of the LOCOS structure. A field oxide layer 12 is formed on a substrate 10 and a pad oxide layer 13 is formed between the field oxide layer 12 on the substrate 10. The field oxide layer is a silicon oxide layer. There is the stress existing between the edge of the field oxide layer and the substrate. The smaller IC scale the more stress. This stress is generated from the different size of silicon lattices and silicon oxide lattices. Furthermore, after forming the field oxide layer, the sequential step is a etchback step. The etchback step is to remove the pad oxide layer and bird's beak and to define the active area. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of completing the etchback step in the conventional fabrication of the LOCOS structure. This etchback step is done by a wet etching process with 10% HF solution. Usually, the wet etching process has an over-etching to ensure removal of bird's beak. This results in the field oxide edge with the steep angle of about eighty to ninety degrees. The steep angle will make the stress on the bird's beak stronger, indicated by arrows 27. The stronger stress on the bird's beak, the easier to appear the dislocation phenomenon on the substrate. Moreover, the stress will cause the stress-induced defect in LOCOS structure, indicated by an arrow 28, because the sequent processes, such as the plasma etching or the ion implantation, damage the lattice resulted in releasing the energy of the lattice when the heating process. This defect, indicated by an arrow 28, will cause the current leakage from the junction of memory cell in the DRAM. The total leakage current of the cell must be low enough that the cell does not discharge and lose its memory state between refreshes. Thus, the refresh time of the DRAM will reduce or the retentive memory of the DRAM will discharge resulted from the current leakage. It makes the performance of the DRAM worse.
In addition, the stress of the field oxide edge will retard the next step, the gate oxide layer growing, so as to further lead to the gate-oxide-thinning effect. The gate-oxide-thinning effect is that the gate oxide layer can not grow on the bird's beak of field oxide layer as shown in FIG. 3. This thinning occurs even after a sacrificial oxide process, due to the large oxide stress. From the FIG. 3, a field oxide layer 12 is formed on the substrate 10 and then a gate oxide layer 13 is formed on the field oxide layer 12. The phenomenon of the thinning effect is indicated by the arrow 29. This field-oxide-thinning effect can produce the problem with respect to field-edge leakage. Finally, it also results in shortening the refresh time of the DRAM and makes the performance of the DRAM worse.

Method for increasing the refresh time of the DRAM


A computer-implemented method includes: receiving, using a computer system, first metadata portions regarding each of multiple first-platform roles defined for a first platform, each of the first-platform roles identifying at least one of multiple first-platform applications; generating, using the computer system, second-platform roles for a second platform, each of the second-platform roles corresponding to at least one of the first-platform roles; for each of the second-platform roles, accessing the first metadata portions for the corresponding at least one of the first-platform roles, and comparing, using the computer system, the accessed first metadata portions with second metadata portions assigned to multiple second-platform applications; and for each of the second-platform roles, assigning, using the computer system, at least one of the multiple second-platform applications to the second-platform role based on a match between at least one of the accessed first metadata portions and at least one of the second metadata portions.

With the proliferation of mobile applications in general, for example in the corporate environment, the task of assigning these applications to the right users in the organization, and managing the assignments, is consuming more and more time and resources. For example, a role or other group that is merely a denominator or a folder has no context as to what can and should be encompassed by the role. In addition, various platforms or other environments exist (e.g., types of mobile devices, desktop or browser environments), each associated with multiple tools, for example to manage the applications for each individual user, configure the user's email and to deactivate a mobile device if it is lost. Managing many environments for many users can also be create a security risk for the organization.

Generating roles for a platform based on roles for an existing platform


The disclosure includes embodiments of an improved catheter bag comprising a bag portion, a top tab portion and a bottom tab portion with a one way entry valve extending through said top tab portion to permit fluid to enter the bag portion. A draining valve is provided in the bottom tab portion operable from an open to a closed position. The catheter bag is provided with pairs of parallel vertical slots sized and shaped to retain straps for retaining the bag against the body.

When using a catheter, a collection bag for the urine is often placed along the leg of the patient. Numerous different types of devices have been developed to hold the urine or catheter bag. In most cases if the patient is mobile and active (walking) over time the bag has a tendency to slip down the leg putting stress on the catheter hose that is connected to the patient's bladder.
In addition when sleeping, if the patient is tossing and turning or moving around in their sleep, strain is again placed on the catheter hose. The bag often begins to rotate on the leg and ends up either around to the other side of the leg or works its way down the leg again, putting pressure on the catheter hose.
Another problem with many known catheter bags is the catheter bag will have a tendency to bunch up and when this happens it creates an area of chafing and discomfort for the wearer. The bag is long and in cases the bag is positioned close to the knee joint and as the bag slips slightly when sitting or moving around the edges of the bag catch the area where the knee bends, giving the wearer another chafing area.
There is a need for a better system of holding the catheter or urine bag on the leg of the patient so that it does not slip down the leg. There is also a need for improvements I the design of the catheter bags to provide better comfort to the patient.


A steam oven includes a cooking cavity for receiving food product and a water reservoir for receiving water to be heated to generate steam, the water reservoir defined in part by a bottom wall structure of the cooking cavity. A heater plate located adjacent the bottom wall structure delivers heat through the bottom wall structure to water in the water reservoir. A spring-loaded heater plate mount arrangement supports the heater plate adjacent the bottom wall structure while permitting some movement of the heater plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,530 discloses a steam oven construction in which the oven chamber includes a lower water reservoir with an associated heating element for heating water in the reservoir to generate steam. One type of heating element useful in connection with such a configuration is a resistive heater plate, which is a plate structure with one or more resistive heating elements embedded therein. In the past such heater plates were mounted at the underside of the oven cavity (e.g., directly adjacent the exterior of the bottom of the water reservoir) using fixed studs and bolts. This configuration did not allow for the heater plate to readily expand and contract.
It would be desirable to provide a mounting arrangement for the heater plate that more readily accounts for and/or permits the heater plate to expand and contract.


A method of making an emergency call that includes dialing a three-digit emergency number on a communication device, translating the three-digit emergency number into an emergency service number at an interface, where the interface uses the emergency service number to initiate the emergency call with a public switched telephone network, and sending the emergency call in the public switched telephone network to an emergency selective router, where the emergency selective router routes the emergency call to a public safety answering point. Also, a system to make an emergency call that includes a communication device having an input to dial a three-digit emergency number, an interface to translate the three-digit emergency number into an emergency service number used to initiate an emergency call with a public switched telephone network, and an emergency selective router that receives the emergency call and routes it to a public safety answering point.

The present invention includes systems and method for making emergency calls. More specifically, the present invention includes routing an emergency call (e.g., an E911 call) through a public switched telephone network without sending the call through a dedicated emergency service (ES) trunk.
In the field of telephony, equipment and services for handling emergency telephone calls in the United States have been associated with the three-digit telephone number (TN) "9-1-1". This system has gained widespread support and acceptance by telephone users over previous systems that normally required knowledge of the seven or ten-digit telephone numbers of public safety access points (PSAPs) (e.g., operators and dispatchers for police departments, fire departments, poison control centers, emergency medical services (EMS), hospitals, hazardous material recovery departments, etc.) that were in closest geographic proximity to the emergency situation. For a detailed legislative and technical history of the 9-1-1 system, please see U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,932, filed Sep. 11, 2000, and titled "System and Method for Providing Language Translation Services in a Telecommunications Network", the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by this reference.
When systems and methods were first developed to handle emergency calls by dialing a three-digit emergency telephone number, network designers were concerned about managing such calls through existing public switch telephone networks (PSTNs). PSTNs at the time frequently experienced the so-called "Mother's Day Effect" when the number of telephone subscribers and users simultaneously using the network (e.g., people calling relatives on Mother's Day) exceeded network capacity and resulted in significant numbers of call failing to get completed.
Network designers and public safety officials agreed that emergency calls should not fail to be completed due to the Mother's Day Effect, and developed an more reliable (though more expensive) network infrastructure for emergency calls. This infrastructure (e.g., the 911 network infrastructure) had emergency calls (e.g., calls initiated by dialing 9-1-1) bypass the PSTN and to be placed directly on dedicated emergency service (ES) trunks that would send the calls to the appropriate emergency service router. The emergency service router would then route the calls to the appropriate PSAP. Typically, government regulations required that two or more redundant ES trunks be dedicated to each emergency service router so emergency calls would be assured of completion in the event of an ES trunk malfunctioning and/or failing. The system put in place did boost ease of use and reliability for completing emergency calls, but at a significant increase in infrastructure costs.
The burden of building and maintaining current 911 network infrastructure is relatively small in concentrated urban areas where costs are spread out over a large number of subscribers (e.g., metropolitan areas having more than 150,000 subscribers). However, in less densely and sparsely populated areas, the burden on individual subscribers to build and maintain this infrastructure is much larger, and often subsidized by state and federal fees on non-resident telephone subscribers. This fee revenue, however, may face significant reduction in light of the increased technological changes and cost competitiveness in the telecommunications industry. Thus, there remains a need to provide reliable emergency call service to all network users and subscribers at reduced costs.

Systems and methods for processing emergency calls through a public switched telephone network

Qwest Communications International, Inc.


A signal-processing device includes an analog-to-digital converter for the generation of a digital input signal from an analog input signal, an intermediate memory for the intermediate storage of the digital input signal and a digital signal-processing unit for the digital processing of the digital input signal. The signal-processing unit can be switched by means of a switching device in such a manner, that the signal-processing unit is series-connected optionally either to the intermediate memory or, by-passing the intermediate memory, to the analog-to-digital converter.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to a signal-processing device particularly suitable for use in high-frequency measuring technology, e.g. for the evaluation of mobile telephone signals.
2. Related Technology
One problem in the realization of measuring devices for message signals for various telecommunication standards, especially for mobile telephone systems, is that some applications require an evaluation in real-time, while in other applications, an evaluation in real-time is not possible, because of the high data rate and the limited resources of the digital processing unit. In this case, reprocessing is required.
EP 0 629 044 B1 discloses a signal-processing device, specifically applicable to image processing for digital cameras. The image recording takes place via a rapid analog-to-digital converter, and the image data generated in this context are stored in an intermediate memory. To provide a zoom function, interpolations between the individual pixels must be carried out in order to generate intermediate pixels. These interpolations take place not in real-time, but at a processing rate determined by the interpolator, so that the clock-pulse rate, at which the data are read out of the intermediate memory is lower than the clock-pulse rate at which the image data are written to the intermediate memory. The interpolated data are made available in an output memory.
However, a disadvantage with the signal-processing device known from EP 0 629 044 B1 is that the data must always be placed into intermediate storage in the intermediate memory, even if no interpolation has to be carried out and/or even if only a rough interpolation has to be carried out for a few intermediate pixels, so that the processing can also take place in real-time. Because of the intermediate memory, which is always connected between the analog-to-digital converter and the interpolating signal-processing unit, the total processing time for the processing procedures, which can take place in real-time, is unnecessarily prolonged.

Signal-processing device with real-time and reprocessing operating modes


An optical head for a magneto-optical recording/ reproducing apparatus includes a semiconductor laser, an object lens for condensing a light beam from the laser onto a magneto-optical recording medium, an optical element disposed in an optical path from the laser to the lens, the optical element including three substantially right-angled prisms, and light detectors. The emitted light beam enters a first end face of a first substantially right-angled prism made of a uniaxial crystal of the optical element. Part of the light beam is reflected by a second end face of the first prism to exit from a third end face for separation into first and second light beams. These light beams are focused by the object lens as first and second light spots on the recording medium. Reflected light beams from the recording medium enter the first prism from the third end face thereof, partially pass through the second end face thereof to enter a second substantially right-angled prism made of a uniaxial crystal, emit from a second end face of the second prism, enter a third substantially right-angled prism from a first end face thereof which is joined to the second end face of the second prism, and then exit from the third prism almost perpendicularly to separate the first and second reflected light beams into first and second emergent light beams and third and fourth emergent light beams. The light detectors detect these emergent beams from the third prism. The optical head allocates the quantity of light from the semiconductor laser to the two spots.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magneto-optical recording/reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an optical head for a magneto-optical recording/reproducing apparatus in which an overwrite and a verification immediately after recording can be performed simultaneously by a single laser beam source.
2. Related Background Art
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 51-107121, there has been proposed an overwritable magneto-optical disk which adopts a system to modulate a magnetic field applied to a magneto-optical recording medium in accordance with information to be recorded. Also, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-82348, by way of example, proposes an optical disk apparatus that, in addition to the above system, a plurality of beams for recording and verification are arranged over a track to permit all steps of erasing --recording--reproducing while a disk is making a turn, with an aim of improving data processing speed for magneto-optical disks.
The prior art will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 In FIG. 1, denoted by 1 is a magneto-optical disk as a rotating recording carrier which has, on a disk-like transparent substrate 103, a magneto-optical recording medium (film) 101 having a magneto-optical effect and a protective film 102. Light emitted from a light source comprising a semiconductor laser 2, for example, is converted by a collimator lens 3 into a parallel beam and then by a beam shaping optical system 4 into a beam having a circular distribution of the light intensity. Subsequently, the light is separated by a diffraction grating 5 into a plurality of beams (i.e., three beams of 0th and .+-.1st orders) which enter a condensing lens 7 through a beam splitter 6. The light beams condensed by the lens 7 impinge upon the disk 1 from the side of the disk substrate 103 to form small spots of about 1 .mu.m diameter on the recording film 101. The condensing lens 7 is attached to an actuator 8 so that the focal point is always on the recording film following vertical deflections of the disk 1 and the spots are always on a desired track following eccentric offset of information recording tracks on the disk. The reflected light from the disk 1 passes through the condensing lens 7 and is reflected by the beam splitter 6 to be led to a signal detection optical system 9 for detecting a magneto-optical signal and optical spot control signals in relation to a focus deviation, a track deviation, etc.
FIG. 2 shows respective light spots on the recording film and the intensity of those light spots during periods of recording and reproduction. The following description will be made in connection with the case where three light spots are formed by the diffraction grating. A central spot SP.sub.2 corresponds to the diffracted light of 0th order, while SP.sub.1 and SP.sub.3 correspond to the diffracted light of .+-.1st order. Taking a disk rotating direction as shown, the light spots SP.sub.3, SP.sub.2, SP.sub.1 pass over some point on the disk in this order. Accordingly, it is possible to assign SP.sub.2 to a recording/erasing spot and SP.sub.1 to a reproduction spot for error check. The light intensity ratio of one spot to the other is set such that, during the period of recording, the reproduction spot has reproduction power and the recording/erasing spot has recording power. This setting can be optionally determined by changing the structure of the diffraction grating 5. When the reproduction power is 1 mW and the recording power is 7 mW, for example, it is only required for the light intensity ratio to be 1:7.
FIG. 2 also shows a radiation power of the laser beam source during the periods of reproduction and recording. During the reproduction period, the laser 2 is operated to emit a beam at low power P.sub.1. At this time, SP.sub.2 has the reproduction power to (a) reproduce a magneto-optical signal, (b) reproduce a signal of address information or the like in the case of disks that such information is previously formed in the form of rugged pits, (c) detect a focus deviation signal, and (d) detect a track deviation signal. SP.sub.1 is not used here because of low power.
Next, during the recording period, the laser 2 is operated to emit a beam at high power P.sub.w. At this time, SP.sub.2 serves as a light spot for recording/ erasing, i.e., overwrite. Upon irradiation of the laser beam at high power, the temperature of the recording film 101 is raised to lower a degree of magnetization and coercive force. On this occasion, when a magnetic field with its polarity inverted depending on the information to be recorded is applied by a magnetic head 10, the recording film 101 is fixedly magnetized, while being cooled, in the direction of the magnetic field applied. Since the previous information is erased upon a rise in the temperature of the recording film 101, it is possible to simultaneously erase old information and record new information, i.e., to perform an overwrite. During the recording period, SP.sub.2 also detects both the focus deviation signal and the track deviation signal. On the other hand, SP.sub.1 now has the reproduction power and thus serves to reproduce the magneto-optical signal for error check immediately after recording.
The signal detection optical system 9 will be next explained. In the illustrated prior art, the detection optical system comprising a .lambda./2 plate 901 and a polarizing beam splitter 903. The focus deviation signal is detected using a lens 902 and light detectors 904, 905 arranged at respective positions spaced forwardly and rearwardly of the focus point by the same distance, to thereby obtain the focus deviation signal from changes in size of the light spots on the light detectors. Further, the track deviation signal is detected by the so-called push-pull technique.
In the above prior art, however, because of using the diffraction grating 5 to create the recording/ erasing (overwrite) spot SP.sub.2 and the reproduction (verification) spot SP.sub.1 for error check, there has produced the spot SP.sub.3 which is not necessary for the specific purpose. Thus, the quantity of light emitted from the semiconductor laser 2 has been wasted in an amount assigned to the spot SP.sub.3, thereby requiring a semiconductor laser of higher output power and a collimator lens 3 of higher N.A. to compensate for the wasted light amount.
Moreover, an angle adjustment for placing the plural spots from the diffraction grating 5 on the same track has been time consuming and hence costly.
Due to manufacture errors in the diffraction grating 5, it has been also difficult to keep constant a light amount ratio of the overwrite spot SP.sub.2 to the verification spot SP.sub.1 and a spacing between those two spots on the track.
In addition, detecting the magneto-optical signal has required complex and expensive optical parts such as the .lambda./2 plate 901 and the polarizing beam splitter 903.

Magneto-optical recording/reproducing apparatus including an optical head with an optical element having a plurality of prisms


The present invention provides NAD-independent Mycoplasma synoviae of strain MS1. The invention also refers to microbiological cultures comprising Mycoplasma synoviae of this strain. Next to this, the invention refers to live vaccines derived from these strains, for the protection of poultry against Mycoplasma synoviae infection. Furthermore, the invention provides methods for the preparation of such vaccines. Also, the use of NAD-independent Mycoplasma synoviae strains for the preparation of live vaccines for the protection of poultry against Mycoplasma synoviae infection is disclosed.

Mycoplasma synoviae is a mycoplasma that is highly infectious to poultry. Mycoplasma synoviae infection is a severe problem in the vast majority of broiler breeder and layer industries. It also often appears in turkey flocks.
Disease caused by Mycoplasma synoviae leads to a decrease in body weight gain and loss of egg production. Morbidity in both chickens and turkeys usually varies between 5-15%. Mortality in chickens is usually low, but may be significant in turkey flocks due to trampling and cannibalism.
Infectious synovitis was first seen at large scale primarily in chickens in growing birds between 4-12 weeks of age in broiler-growing regions in the USA between 1950 and 1960. During that time, the disease was for the first time described and associated with a mycoplasma (Olson et al.; Poult. Sci. 33: 1075 (1954) and Olson et al.; Am. J. Vet. Res. 17: 747-754 (1956)).
Transmission of the infection occurs through the respiratory tract. Natural infection is seen from one week of age in chickens and usually between 10-24 weeks in turkeys. Mycoplasma synoviae infection may occur as a subclinical upper respiratory infection, but can also lead to severe airsacculitis. In other cases, Mycoplasma synoviae becomes systemic and results in infectious synovitis, an acute to chronic infectious disease in chickens and turkeys. This disease is characterised by infection of the synovial membranes of joints and tendon sheaths, producing an exudative synovitis, tenovaginitis or bursitis. Especially problematic is the fact that during vaccination against Newcastle disease or Infectious Bronchitis (or other respiratory poultry pathogens), a standard procedure in almost all chicken-producing countries, animals carrying a M. synoviae-infection are also vaccinated. In these M. synoviae infected animals the ND- and IBV-vaccinations often trigger respiratory infection and air sac infection (Kleven et al.; Avian Dis. 16: 915-924 (1972), Springer et al.; Infect. Immun. 10: 578-589 (1974)). It is clear, that M. synoviae infection, both as a synovial infection and as a respiratory infection, causes great economic damage to the poultry industry. Therefore, efficient vaccines against M. synoviae would be highly appreciated.
So far only inactivated Mycoplasma synoviae vaccines are used in the field. U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,819 discloses an inactivated vaccine against mycoplasma infections. These vaccines however are expensive, since relatively large amounts of antigenic material are necessary to trigger a sufficient immune response. Moreover, all inactivated vaccines have to be manually applied by e.g. eye-drop or parenteral route, requiring individual handling of each individual animal. This is a very labour intensive method of vaccination. Live attenuated vaccines are more desirable, because they have several advantages over inactivated vaccines. First of all, they may comprise less antigenic material because they are self-replicating. Moreover, they give a better protection because they closely mimic the natural infection. As a basis for live Mycoplasma synoviae vaccines, live attenuated Mycoplasma synoviae strains are needed. Only one specific live attenuated strain has been described (Nonomura et al.; Avian Dis. 26: 763-775 (1982)) but no live attenuated vaccine based on this strain has been put on the market. The live attenuated strain by Nonomura, as well as wild-type strains, has the disadvantage, that it must be grown on culture medium containing Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide. This is an expensive component, that can in addition not be sterilised by heating, thus making culture medium preparation more complex. NAD-independence is therefore a highly advantageous feature.
Strains that are adapted to nicotinamide (NIC) instead of NAD are described by DaMassa (DaMassa, A. J. and Adler H. E.; Avian Diseases 19: 544-555, (1975)). These strains however have the disadvantage that they have their original virulence, which makes them not suitable as a basis for live attenuated vaccines.
In addition, the live attenuated strain described by Nonomura, just like the inactivated vaccines, has the disadvantage that it must be administered by dropping into the nostrils of each individual animal. As mentioned before, this is a very labour intensive method of vaccination.
Therefore, a live attenuated strain effective if administered by spraying, and capable of growth on an NAD-free medium is highly desired.

Non-virulent Mycoplasma synoviae and vaccine thereof


A potentiometric position sensor (16, 40) is shown having first and second electrical contact wipers (24, 26; 24', 26') mechanically coupled to the control rod (14) of an automotive manual transmission. An electrical resistive circuit is formed on a flexible substrate (28, 28') which is mounted on the inside cylindrical surface (28a, 46a) of a housing (18, 46). The first contact wiper is adapted to wipe over a first set of resistive elements (28a, 28b, 28c; 28a', 28b', 28c') and the second contact wiper is adapted to wipe over a second set of resistive elements (28f, 28g, 28h; 28f', 28g', 28h) to provide unique analog voltage outputs dependent upon the position of the control rod along a translational and rotational axis (14a). In one embodiment the contact wipers (24, 26) are mounted on a rotor (22) which in turn is mounted directly on the control rod (14). In a second embodiment the contact wipers (24', 26') are mounted on a rotor (42) which is mechanically coupled to the control rod (14) via a ball and socket mechanism (48a, 50a).

It is known to provide an electrical signal indicative of the position of the detent lever used with an automatic transmission by linking contact strips in the form of a quadrant with contact wipers coupled to the detent lever so that selected angular movement of the detent lever caused by moving the shift selector will in turn result in the opening or closing of selected circuits to thereby provide an electrical signal corresponding the selected gear state. This signal is inputted to a microprocessor control in a known manner. With regard to manual transmissions, individual sensors could be used responsive to the respective translational and rotational position of a control rod of a manual transmission to provide separate outputs corresponding to their respective positions; however, there is a need to provide cross checking capability between the two outputs. As used herein, cross checking is the function of providing the position of the control rod on both the translational and the rotational axis from the output of either axis.


The present invention provides a carbon nitride-based photocatalyst and a preparation method thereof. The photocatalyst is prepared by reaction of melem with 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride. The photocatalyst according to an embodiment of the present invention achieves energy level matching in structure between the melem structure and the 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride, reduces a singlet-triplet energy gap (ΔEST), promotes an intersystem crossing process, thereby enhancing the singlet oxygen production and improving the selective photocatalytic oxidation ability.

As a simple way to obtain complex organic oxidation products and to store solar energy into chemical energy, a high-efficiency selective photocatalytic oxidation provides a support for sustainable energy utilization. Reactive oxygen species with high reactivity and oxidizability play important roles in the high-efficiency selective photocatalytic oxidation process, where a singlet oxygen (1O2) has been proven to be an effective reactive oxygen species for many selective organic syntheses. At present, a series of reactions using 1O2 as oxidant has been extensively studied, including selective sulfonation oxidation, selective oxidation of primary alcohol to aldehyde, and transformation of anthracene derivatives into anthraquinones. However, ground state oxygen (3O2) cannot directly produce 1O2 by absorbing light due to the spin forbidden limitation, and therefore the photocatalysts are highly required.
In the past, the research of conventional photocatalysts were usually based on transition metal complexes (Pt(II), Ir(III), Ru(II), etc.) or some organic chromophores containing I or Br, since heavy atoms were proved to enhance spin orbital coupling (SOC). However, these compounds have small molar absorption coefficients in the visible-light spectrum and thus are poor in the utilization of visible light, thereby limiting their practical application. In recent years, conjugated polymers without heavy atoms have shown an attractive prospect in the production of 1O2, therefore the carbon nitride (C3N4) with a conjugated structure has received great attention. However, the biggest disadvantage of the conjugated polymers is that the intersystem crossing (ISC) process is quite limited, which prevents the conversion of singlet excitons into triplet excitons. In this way, the 1O2 production is essentially limited.

Carbon nitride-based photocatalyst and preparation method thereof

CHINA UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM (EAST CHINA)


In an EL element having an anode, an insulating film (bump) formed on the anode, and an EL film and a cathode formed on the insulating film, each of a bottom end portion and a top end portion of the insulating film is formed so as to have a curved surface. The taper angle of a central portion of the insulating film is set within the range from 35° to 70°, thereby preventing the gradient of the film forming surface on which the EL film and the cathode are to be formed from being abruptly changed. On the thus-formed film forming surface, the EL film and the cathode can be formed so as to be uniform in thickness, so that occurrence of discontinuity in each of EL film and the cathode is prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device including an element having a thin film of a chemical compound capable of electroluminescence (EL) (which film hereinafter referred to as "EL film") (which element hereinafter referred to as "EL element"), and to a method of fabricating the display device.
EL comprises phosphorescence caused at the time of transition from a triplet excited state to a ground state and fluorescence caused at the time of transition from a singlet excited state to a ground state.
An inorganic material or an organic material may be used to form an EL film. "Organic EL film" refers to a film of an organic material formed as an EL film. "Organic EL element" refers to an EL element having an organic EL film interposed between electrodes.
In this specifications "thin-film transistor (TFT) device" refers to a semiconductor device having at least three electrodes. These electrodes comprise a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. Each of the source electrode and the gate electrode may also serve a wiring function in some case.
2. Description of the Related Art
Display devices using an organic EL film can be reduced in weight and thickness in comparison with conventional CRTs, and application of such display devices to various uses is being advanced. Portable telephones and personal portable information terminals (personal digital assistants: PDAs) capable of being connected to the Internet have been developed and the amount of information to be visualized on a display device has become markedly large. Under these circumstances, there is an increased demand for multicolor and/or high-resolution display devices.
As a means to achieve improved resolution of a display device, a method is adopted in which voltage is applied to an EL film by means of active elements such as thin-film transistors (TFTs).
Display devices having pixel portion formed of EL elements are of a self-light-emitting type and therefore require no such light source as a backlight used for liquid crystal display devices. EL elements are therefore considered to be a promising means for realizing lightweight thin display devices.
EL elements are ordinarily constructed in such a manner that an EL film is formed over anodes formed in correspondence with pixels, and a cathode is formed as a common electrode on the EL film. In EL elements constructed in such a manner, however, a discontinuity can be easily caused in the EL film at a side surface of the anode, because the thin EL film having a thickness of 30 to 150 nm is formed over the anode having an increased thickness of about 200 nm, which is selected to set a low resistance. If a discontinuity is caused in the EL film, the anode and the cathode are short-circuited, light emission from the corresponding EL film portion is thereby made impossible, and a black-dot defect results.
A structure such as shown in section in FIG. 18 has been proposed by considering this problem. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional EL element. An end of an anode 1000 is covered with an insulating film 1001 for the purpose of preventing discontinuity in an EL film 1002 and, hence, short-circuiting between the anode and a cathode 1003. The insulating film provided at the end of the anode is generally called a bump.
The structure shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 18, however, entails several problems in an actual fabrication process. If the side surface of insulating film 1001 is linear as shown in FIG. 18, discontinuity is liable to occur in the EL film at a joint 1004 between the upper surface of the anode and the side surface of the insulating film. That is, failure of deposition of the material of EL film 1002 occurs in a place where the gradient of the film forming surface of the EL film changes abruptly, thereby forming a gap in the EL film. Through this gap, the anode and the cathode are short-circuited. Even if discontinuity does not occur in the EL film, the thickness of the EL film may be reduced at the joint 1004 between the upper surface of the anode and the side surface of the insulating film. In such a case, an electric field is converged at the thinner portion of the EL film, so that light emission is caused only at the thinner portion.
In a case where the cathode on the insulating film is electrically connected to a wiring below the insulating film via a contact hole formed through the insulating film, discontinuity in the cathode at the side surface of the insulating film may cause failure to apply the necessary potential for display to the cathode.
Also, discontinuity is liable to occur in the EL film and in the cathode in the vicinity 1005 of the line at which the side and upper surfaces of the insulating film 1001 meet each other. Ordinarily, the insulating film (bump) is in the from of a strip such as to cover the space between adjacent pixel portion. If, on the bump formed so as to surround one pixel portion, a discontinuity is formed in the cathode and extends continuously to form a closed curve, then the portion of the cathode within the closed curve serves no electrode function and no voltage is applied to the EL film. That is, a point defect results.
In manufacture of display devices using EL elements in which the number of pixels is increased to improve the resolution, the occurrence of point defects due to short-circuiting between the anodes and cathode or due to discontinuity in the cathode is a factor which causes a reduction in yield or in image quality, and there is an urgent need to cope with this problem. Also, convergence of the electric field due to the state of the EL film locally reduced in thickness makes the luminance of the defective pixel portion different from that of nondefective pixel portion, resulting in a reduction in viewability. It is also necessary to cope with this problem.

Display device and method of fabricating the display device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


An engine, a first motor generator and a second motor generator are controlled by calculating an engine power target from a driving power target required for a vehicle, and finding a target engine operating point expressed by a set of an engine speed target and an engine torque target on a target operating line determined in response to the engine power target. When the found target engine operating point is different from the previously found one, a change in engine speed target is limited to a predetermined amount of change and the engine torque target of the set is reset versus an engine speed target involving the limited change based on the determined target operating line. Consequently, the engine power target and thus the driving power target are ensured so as to restrain or prevent sudden or frequent changes in engine speed with the efficiency kept high.

For example, Patent Literature 1 listed below describes one of hybrid electric vehicles including an electric motor, as another power source, other than an engine. In the hybrid electric vehicle disclosed in this Patent Literature 1, when an engine speed target that is a target value of engine speed and an engine torque target that is a target value of engine torque are the coordinates of each of engine operating point targets, interconnecting efficient engine operating point targets in succession to provide target operating line (s) and mapped, and an improvement of fuel efficiency is made by operating the engine at engine speed targets and engine torque targets on the target operating line(s).

Drive control apparatus for providing drive control to a hybrid electric vehicle, and hybrid electric vehicle